"Tomorrow's World.... Today's Challenge."

Spiralling resource costs, flooding, civil unrest, threats to biodiversity, rises in environmental refugees and even all-out war – the implications of our unsustainable lifestyles are grim to say the least.

These are just some of the effects we are almost certain to experience over the next five to 20 years as the consequences of our environmental looting catch up with us.

Even today, the effects are showing themselves. Save the Children published results of a survey today, showing one-third of parents in countries including India, Nigeria and Bangladesh, don’t have enough food to provide for their children. One in six said their children were forced to skip school to work for food.

The current state of the planet is one that cannot go on!

I believe business can and must play a central role in reversing this situation and driving environmental and social change. Not just because it’s the ‘right’ thing to do but because it’s more profitable too.

Protecting the environment is at the heart of sustainable business. The resources that every business relies on come, ultimately, from the natural world.

That’s why making sure the value your business creates is sustainable in terms of the environment and its people is common sense. Whether your business suffers in one year because you don’t operate sustainably or in 10, the problems will happen.

Recognising the need for sustainable employment practices – after years of pressure and adverse publicity – Apple this week asked for the Fair Labour Association to inspect its supplier Foxconn in China where most of its products are made.

Pursuing profit at all costs is a destructive strategy that ultimately prevents you enjoying the fruits of your labour. It’s something that more and more business people are recognising and companies like Puma and Kingfisher – which operates the B&Q brand of DIY stores – are playing a leading role in driving a change towards sustainable thinking thanks to visionary bosses like Ian Cheshire.

David Brown - Rotary International:



Business can become the engine of sustainability within society if companies realise the substantial benefits of acting in a more responsible fashion – that was the message from the Tomorrow’s World . . . Today’s Challenge seminar hosted by ourselves here at design and innovation firm PAULEY.

With delegates from management consulting firm Capgemini, architecture specialists Eco Design Consultants and Rotary International, the event explored the consequences of failing to embrace sustainability both at an environmental and business level.

Through a series of talks and practical exercises, the event uncovered practical ways businesses can proactively support sustainability.

The event, sponsored by engineering consultancy Atkins Global, was the result of collaboration between us and Phil Williams from Plan-It Eco.

The event looked at the need for businesses to be more pro-active and innovative in their approach to sustainability. What it revealed was the multiple benefits there are in doing this.

Acting sustainably is not a burden but an incredible opportunity to improve efficiency, engage and inspire staff, and ensure that profits are maximised in the medium- and long-term.

Take our recent work with Eurostar for example. We created an e-training system for repair and maintenance staff to learn and test their mechanical and electrical skills.

The company was able to save tens of thousands of pounds on traditional one-to-one training that involves bringing an entire train up to the central repair depot.

By using interactive, innovation-led design tools companies like Eurostar can enjoy logistics and time savings with a training system that is enjoyable and less resource intensive. In other words, you can get the job done without the environmental, time and financial impact of shifting an enormous train around.

The sustainability event was the first in a series of events at The Farm Sustainability Centre – our dedicated educational centre set in the rural outskirts of Milton Keynes.

The event reminded me that environmental responsibility and profit don’t need to be mutually exclusive. Today, it’s more possible than ever that we can enjoy the benefits of both.

Powering Sustainable Innovation - The Cat and Mouse in a Flooding House

It's ironic and symbolic of our times that an area of the world now appallingly wealthy thanks to being stocked to the eyeballs with oil is now under threat from the unsustainable impact of its trade in the black gold.

A rise in sea levels of 1m will put 1,155km squared of Abu Dhabi's coastline underwater. According to an Abu Dhabi government report on global warming, precisely such an event is "not unlikely" to happen by 2050 they say. So the UAE really does have good reason to champion renewable technology.

The impact of climate change made for a concerned mood at the 2012 World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi. The event was hosted by some of the world's largest oil and gas companies. On the surface, it was a showcase for emerging renewable energy technologies, with a heavy focus on glass solar photovoltaic panels and wind.


The tone and opening presentation championed innovation like a demi-god bearing the keys to the gates of paradise. Innovation was the key driver to defeat climate change; the last great hope to avert an energy crises; the tool to encourage environmental responsibility and the only way to create a sustainable future of prosperity fuelled by renewable energy.

Innovation, innovation, innovation was the mantra at the top of the list for the swathes of Heads of State, key industry spokesmen and comperes: "Our world has always been driven by innovation and powered by imagination." Arguably true but it belied the short-term, profit-driven decision making that still dominates our planets energy sector.

We were invited to join the UK trade delegation at the Summit. Despite the sloganeering and idealistic talk, we were the only specialist innovation-focussed company exhibiting. We showcased our 2011/12 innovation incubator projects and focussed on our Marine Solar Cell technology as a lead to generate potential partnerships and thankfully we had overwhelming support from individuals on every stand we talked to.

Away from the public facing presentations, corporate financier complained about the practicalities of solar and wind power, the inefficiencies, the difficulties and the less favourable economics. Now is not the time to be investing in anything, let alone renewables or new innovation in energy.

Our Marine Solar Cells (MSC) were created precisely to tackle these challenges posed by the energy sector. MSCs are a hybrid solar and wave energy system with the unprecedented ability to establish photovoltaic power generation at sea. With interest from Masdar, Siemens, GE and MIT(EI) to name only a few, we are confident that we can deliver the first off-shore solar farm in the world. Fingers crossed post Summit.

The thinking behind the MSC design stems from the cost and availability of land as a significant hurdle in the installation of large-scale solar power facilities globally. Energy generated at sea could be channelled back to land through either underwater cables or through a network of "battery" shipping tankers. Alternatively, it could be used to supply power for off-shore construction projects, such as wind farms and tidal energy projects.

The economics of driving a new world energy economy aren't straightforward and one might think we have more pressing concerns at hand. On the other hand, shouldn't we all have a say in what we spend public profit on from natural resource extraction other than supporting a arthritic capitalist system?

Adu Dhabi's rags-to-riches story is a modern day fairy tale. However, it may not have a happy ending. This 40-year-old coastal state is built almost entirely on ground no more than three to four feet above sea level. If sea levels do rise, the UAE will be one of the first to disappear underwater.

Seemingly, we have passed the point of no return. We have to keep pumping natural resources to fuel construction of flood defences. We use air-con to stop the effects of global warming, all the while making the underlying problem worse. Take the proposed new London airport for example; built by profiteering from nature and designed to stop flooding caused by global warming reaching past the Thames Estuary.

Profits from natural resources will continue to be funnelled into infrastructure, especially NOW flood defences while only a small amount will pay lip service to renewable energy and new energy innovation. Most of these new technologies will be criticised for not performing as well as conventional energy sources however much demand or calling there is for them.

Profits from non-renewable sources will be plundered and spent on repairing damage caused to communities as a result of their use. However, rather than complaining about short-term difficulties, the smart money still flows into innovative renewable projects. It may be slow but it's the only long term option - especially if we want sustainable solutions that don't come back to haunt us when the tides come rolling in.

Looking Back on the Natural Disasters of 2011 and a Message of Hope For 2012

If you're moaning about the weather or the economy this Christmas, don't! We had it easy in the UK during 2011. This year will go down in history as one expensive and lengthy meteorological and environmental disaster. It added to the 13 hottest years on record, all of which have occurred within the last 15 years. Mother Nature at her rampaging worst effected every continent on the Earth...

January

Europe experienced some of the coldest weather on record. 

Some 6,000 flights in the UK alone were cancelled. 

Temperatures in Russia were the coldest for over a century. 

The northern US experienced prolonged arctic blizzards.

In Australia, torrential rains caused flooding on a scale the country had not experienced before generating 10" of rain in 24 hours. 

Brisbane River burst its banks creating 15ft-high floodwaters leaving 20,000 homes overwhelmed and an area three-times the size of Britain was declared a disaster zone. 

February

New Zealand was devastated by an earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale. 

The disaster, that destroyed the heart of Christchurch, wrecked more than 1,000 buildings with a rebuild cost estimated at over $30billion

March

Japan experienced an earthquake measuring 8.9 on the Richter scale - one of the five biggest quakes ever recorded. 

The movement of tectonic plates suddenly shifted seawater to the surface, creating a huge wall of water.

An estimated 10 billion tonnes of water hit the Japanese coast and travelled six miles inland. 

In the town of Minamisanriku, 10,000 people were killed and 95% of all housing was swept away.

The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear reactor was critically damaged causing reactors to overheat. 

In total, the disaster in Japan cost $310billion, claimed 20,000 lives and destroyed 100,000 homes.

April

USA experienced the worst series of storms in its history. 

The number and intensity was unprecedented with 200 tornados ripping through 16 US states in 48 hours leaving 38 people dead.

Two weeks later, the disaster was repeated when a super-outbreak created 336 separate tornados in less than two days. 

In total, 753 tornados hit the US, the highest number ever recorded which caused $20 Billion dollars worth of damage.

May

A huge tornado hit Joplin, Missouri, USA, with winds traveling at more than 200mph, the tornado was more than one mile wide. 

Six square miles of Joplin were flattened and it was declared the single deadliest tornado since 1947.

June

Chile's Puyehue volcano underwent a violent eruption spewing vast clouds of electrically charged dust particles into the air creating colossal electrical storms and dazzling displays of lightning.

July

We all went on holiday.

August

Around 65 million people on America's east coast were thought to be at risk with seven states declared official emergency zones and mandatory evacuation notices issued as Hurricane Irene left a trail of destruction and wide spread panic.

Mercifully, Hurricane Irene never fulfilled scientists worst predictions, however, the rain storms that accompanied it created significant flooding, leaving three million homes without power and a $6billion repair bill.

October

Unprecedented rains plagued many countries around the world. 

Thailand experienced its worst floods for 50 years with four million acres of farmland drenched and floods swept into Bangkok, forcing tens of thousands of people to evacuate nationwide.

Turkey experienced the horribly destructive earthquake measuring 7.2 which destroyed 2,000 buildings and killed 6,000 people in the city of Van.

November

Severe drought plagued much of Africa especially in Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia throughout the year.

Some 13 million people required emergency aid.

This was followed by widespread flooding which destroyed homes and villages.

December

Flash floods and landslides caused by illegal logging tore through the Philippines. 

Approximately 350,000 people in 13 provinces were affected with most of their infrastructure, crops, livestock, houses, schools, roads and bridges destroyed.

Conclusion

This year has been defined by natural disasters on an unprecedented scale. With 50million social and environmental refugees forced to move this year alone, mankind's footprint becomes less defined, the population has fewer places to hide from nature than ever before.

With the effects of climate change and meteorological events widely predicted to create more unpredictable social and economic patterns, it is fair to say that man has not escaped his battle with the elements, himself, his leaders, his neighbours or the environment.

Increasingly, scientists and economists stress that there is almost nothing that can be done to prevent an increase in natural weather disasters if climate change is not addressed. And with this years global infrastructure rebuild cost estimate of over a trillion dollars, can the global economy afford to rebuild year after year of extreme events.

However, there is a small ray of light that I'd like to leave you with! 

According to the Mayans, 2012 marks a re-birth of our world, and the end of an important era founded in separation, greed, lack of social responsibility and a disconnection from our planet. The "NEW WORLD" that we move towards is about oneness and the concept of "WE ARE ALL ONE" across the world...

BREAKING NEWS: Planet Earth Plc Due Diligence

Following on from my last blog, we took a quick look at Planet Earth Plc’s performance over the last two millennia (or so) and found the results were a little disappointing in Q4.

Now if I were an (Alien) Investor, looking to invest in Planet Earth Plc, I’d need to do my 'due diligence' as is customary in any business transaction. I would need to investigate and evaluate the business and relevant aspects of the past, present and predictable future of the opportunity.

Initially an Investor carrying out due diligence would need to create a checklist of required information and thorough research would then be conducted using external sources. Appropriate investigation and verification into the most important issues often must be balanced by a sensible level of trust from the various departments involved.

The major players in this example have been broken down as follows:
The Customer (You)
The Suppliers (Corporates)
Management (Governments)
Experts (Scientists)
Finances (Bankers and Investors)

There are many reasons for conducting due diligence, including confirming that the business (or Planet!) is what it appears to be. It's important to identify any potential deal breaker or problems on the horizon and gain all the relevant information that will be useful for valuing the assets and deciding on the viability of the project. On the face of it Planet Earth Plc seems to be a uniquely beautifully blue piece of intergalactic real estate with an abundance of natural resources and resourceful inhabitants - but appearances can, as we know, be deceptive.

The results can be seen here at http://planetearthplc.com/

On first inspection, initially everything looked fine with Customer relations and the Human population was increasing at a very impressive rate and clearly human activity looked calm and progressive. Global GDP was up which suggested that productivity was thriving, however, that wasn’t really telling the whole story.

There were worrying signals which seemed to show an increase in refugees, unemployment, aggressive behaviour and a lack of co-operation. Full scale fighting between sovereign states and between internal factions was taking place in various power struggles across the planet. The trend seems to be for the population to be turning away from well established moral guidance and to be questioning previously trusted and respected leadership values.

Moving onto the Suppliers, again productivity was excellent with higher than expected outputs. Profits were rocketing and, with seemingly endless demand, the picture couldn’t have looked better. However again there was an underlying indication of resource shortages that opportunistic entities were prepared to exploit for their own gain. Prices of valuable commodities were rising beyond the pocket of the ordinary consumer with Global conglomerates and even Governments controlling output to consolidate their powerbase.

Evaluating the Management report, closer inspection revealed serious flaws in succession planning in terms of environmental mitigation and financial direction. There seems to be a far greater emphasis on reacting to crises, both natural and manmade, rather than on innovation and proactive development to prevent, or at least ameliorate, potential disasters which can be reasonably predicted. This lack of foresight is a worrying lapse in forward planning and would be a cost effective means of addressing issues of which the relevant governments are now aware.

We then reviewed the Expert evaluation which highlighted a worrying trend towards future growth at the expense of the planet's natural resources and the means of potential recovery following the wholesale plundering of the essential assets and materials critical to life. It was found that there were grave concerns as to the supply of those most basic of requirements for human life - air quality, food and water - without which the Human population simply could not survive into the future.

Finally but optimistically we digested the Financial Statement. With Suppliers struggling to cope with demand and unprecedented profits, why were the Global Markets as they were? The development of thriving new markets in Brazil, Russia, India and China were masking heavy downturns in more traditional areas of the New and Old Worlds. Swamped by the devastation caused by the global financial crash of 2007/8, the US and Europe were drowning in the manmade crisis caused by greedy bankers effectively gambling away their clients' money by predicting that markets would fall and taking the profits from their bets. Even when given government rescue support to protect their customers, those same bankers consolidated their assets to rebuild their own balance sheets rather than extend the government largesse to their clients.

From the investor's point of view, the jury has to be out on the way forward for Planet Earth Plc. On the one hand the resources of Earth and both the initiative and talents of its inhabitants give cause for optimism. However the blatant exploitation of the planet is simply unsustainable at present levels and the coming years will lead to a 'tipping point' beyond which the situation could become irretrievable without consolidated intervention on a global scale.

Innovation will be a major factor with technological advances and smarter use of existing resources. The urgent need for greater awareness and a respect for the planet from all quarters, if harnessed properly, could be a tremendous force for good but failure to appreciate this very urgent need will further destabilise the situation. The contrast between the 'have' and 'have not' nations, already a potential area of conflict, if left unchecked will inevitably lead to a prolonged struggle in which the main loser is Planet Earth Plc. The difference, in my opinion, between complacency, scaremongering and well founded concern is the overwhelming evidence in support of urgent action for global alliance, co-operation and direction.

PAULEY teams up with sustainability guru Phil Williams of Plan-It Eco

Exciting times in the office today as PAULEY joined forces with Phil Williams (plan-iteco.com) for an on-going research project into sustainability and visual communications.

Sustainability is a big growth area so it’s an exciting time for us. Especially to have someone of Phil’s experience on board.

Phil is an expert on sustainability and one of the UK’s leading speakers on how sustainability issues affect businesses.

He set up the company Plan-It Eco in 1997. Since then he has delivered thousands of workshops and organised hundreds of corporate and educational trips to the Amazon rainforest.

Together, we’ll be investigating the synergies between design and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

We’ll research practical ways that firms can realise the value of CSR across their operations using design and visual communications.

We’re particularly keen to highlight how design-led innovation might lead to cost-savings, sustainability and revenue enhancement.

Phil has been recruited by local authorities and leading companies, including BP, WWF, Rotary International and the Welsh Assembly Government for Wales. We’re delighted to have the chance to use his expertise.

We’re sure it will mean lots of new initiatives and ideas to bring to our clients.

PAULEY has always been committed to promoting the benefits of design and innovation. It will be extremely interesting to investigate new ways of using that knowledge to help clients looking to improve their sustainability performance.

Well designed training and communications systems can not only save companies money but improve customer satisfaction and CSR performance too.

DWP Publishing - Media Bulletin Interview on: Creating Video Press Releases

What are the main advantages of a video press release in comparison to the traditional written version?

Increasingly, PRs want to connect with people beyond their traditional audience. Many have moved beyond simply connecting with people in the media. They want to interact directly with consumers and businesses, particularly through social networks. A traditional press release approach can’t provide the level of visibility, detailed information or entertainment that consumers demand. That’s why more and more PRs are turning to online video to get their message heard. 

How should PR companies get started when planning a video press release? 

The first questions you need to ask yourself are your desired budget, deadline and quality. Once you know those you’re in a position to make some sensible decisions about how to proceed. Planning the camera positions, post-production and sound recording are areas it’s easy to forget about in the rush to start recording.

What equipment [without mentioning brand names] is essential for the filming/recording/editing process? 

Even the cheapest modern video camera can give high quality results if you pay some attention to lighting, camera position and sound volume. It’s worth taking some time to think about those aspects before getting started. There’s plenty of free editing software available on the web which, for simple no-frills videos, can give excellent results. I’d only advise investing in more expensive software or camera equipment if you’re going to make video press releases a regular part of your PR offer.

Is it important to have narration or a presenter featured in the video, or can graphics and music be equally as effective?

There’s only one acid test; does the video get the intended message across? If in doubt, ask for feedback from people who are likely to tell you the brutal truth before finalising it. However, less is more in some instances – more well known brands can get away with less!

Are there any definite no-no’s when putting a video together? What should PRs avoid?

Don’t zoom in or out during shots. Ever. It looks terrible. The trouble is, people don’t seem to be able to resist the temptation. Don’t move the camera during shots either. Again, unless you’ve got enough money for a proper camera crane, it will look awful. Static shots are the way forward. Finally, don’t expect that the in-built microphone on your camera will pick up decent quality sound from more than a metre or two away, especially if there’s even a hint of background noise. Unless you’ve got a proper external mic, stay close.

Could you give an example of a particularly good/effective video press release you’ve seen? And a bad one? 

There are some terrible videos out there. Usually they could have been saved by doing less, rather than more. If in doubt, keep it simple. The worst video releases I’ve seen are ones that try to get as many graphics, as much music and as many clichés into the script as possible. The only salvation is if your video is so shockingly cheesy and crass that it becomes an ironic masterpiece. But this is obviously a risky strategy!

What are the best ways to make press release videos interesting/appealing to journalists, ensuring favourable coverage in the media for PR clients? 

First up there’s the IT issue. It’s one for your techies to sort out but is vital and easily overlooked. If you’re video is in an obscure format or requires 80 terabytes of memory to process you’re on to a loser from the start. Make sure it’s on all the usual social networks so that anyone with a computer can see it. When it comes to journalists, the usual questions apply: is it suitable, relevant, informative or amusing? If not, the journos will have your gaffes in all their full-colour glory rather than simply in print.

Working with PRs:

If you could make one change to the way PRs approach working with you, what would it be?

I would urge them to stick to the agreed script or narrative and not be tempted to change their minds halfway through production. It’s more cost-effective to stick with the original plan even if something even more exciting happens alone the creative process – as is often the case.

Name the three most important attributes that make a PR a pleasure to work with:

1. Being open to innovative ideas and creativity 
2. Realistic timescales, budgets and expectations.
3. A genuine excitement for how a project will evolve

In your opinion, what are the main challenges facing the PR industry today?

I believe the main challenge is visibility. It can’t be taken for granted any more. The challenge is coping with the explosion in publicity outlets and the background noise that threatens to drown out your message. Maintaining visibility means staying on top of the rising tide of media chatter. PR companies need to keep innovation and creativity at the forefront of their minds.

About you and your work: 

How did you originally get into this line of business/sector? 

Coming up with fresh ideas has always been my passion, ever since I was a child and first got hold of a pen and paper. I studied design which helped me learn how to visualise those ideas into viable concepts with practical applications. I love innovating and thankfully it comes very naturally to me and my outstanding team.

What have been the biggest changes in your field since you started the business?

When it comes to conceptual design and visual communications, the ability to generate innovative ideas is no different. What’s changed is the ability to implement them. Nowadays, more and more ideas fall within the realm of the possible. People able to understand, implement and communicate the vision of others are the people with the most to offer.

What’s the most memorable campaign you’ve been involved with? 

Our partnership with Aquos Yachts -  on a recent video charting the first 12 months of its 45m super-yacht Big Fish. The video charted its course around the world from New Zealand through to Tahiti, the Galapagos Islands, Antarctica and beyond. A full Circumnavigation of the earth on its maiden voyage – Incredible.  It was used as part of the yacht’s global PR and for its  first birthday celebrations with the original production engineers. There was so much energy and enthusiasm it was a joy to work on and we feel incredibly honoured to be involved with their ongoing campaign.

Do you find social media an effective tool in your work? Would you recommend it to PR clients planning a campaign? 

Of course it depends on the specifics of the job but to me, it’s something that needs to be ruled out only after deliberate consideration. There need to be good reasons not to take advantage of it. A great PR campaign can draw huge attention through social media. Get it right and it will spread like wildfire!

Is there a particular client you’d love to create a video with? 

I’d love to work with UNESCO World Heritage Centre. It’s the one organisation for me that champions the wonderful diversity of culture’s past and present on this earth. I’ve always been facinated in this and that’s why I set up www.CultureOdyssey.com to explore the design aspects and inspiration of culture throughout the world – it really focuses our visual communications delivery.

Describe a typical day at work; what are your daily responsibilities?

I’ve always been an early bird so I’m in the office by 6 or 7am at the latest. That means I can get through emails before things start to get busy. It’s also a chance to gather my thoughts about new concept and product designs. Once the office gets busy I’m usually tied up with phone calls and working with other design staff so that quiet time is important. Meetings follow creativity follow inspiration follow client feedback, fine tuning and client feedback! I finish around 6 and can’t wait to get home to my beautiful wife and our newborn daughter India.

What interests you most about your job?

We get to work with so many different sectors and communications professionals from both large and smaller organisations on a wide range of visual communications requirements. We drive innovation through our creativity and promote business sustainability by identifying cost savings in time and money through the implementation of innovative and interactive techniques. It’s the pleasure my team get from exceeding client expectations time and again that is the real joy in owning and running your own business. In my opinion, that’s priceless!

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

At times, managing your own business can be a lonely and thankless journey for you and the staff on whom so much of the business’s success depends. In the early days I was referred to the Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge which was a great source of inspiration – quietly brilliant, a poetic PR masterpiece of its day. 

Digital content specialist helps PR professionals make the most of video press releases

PR professionals are increasingly aiming to reach beyond their traditional audience in the media, interacting directly with consumers and businesses through social networks. The traditional press release can’t always provide the detailed information - or entertainment - that consumers demand and many PRs are turning to video press releases to help. Designer and entrepreneur Phil Pauley, founder of digital content specialist Pauley Media, has produced a 10-point checklist to help PR professionals understand the options video offers their campaigns.

Many options are available to PR professionals producing a video press release. Budget, deadline, and the desired quality of the final film will inform your choices along the way. Areas that should be considered when making those choices include:

1) Camera equipment - there is a huge range of options here including standard definition video cameras or high definition DSLRs

2) What type of video would you like to produce? Short and simple with a single shot, or using a range of shots and a narrative? What is the ideal duration for your film?

3) Sound recording - Quality sound is essential. Are you going to use the camera's on-board microphone, or record sound separately?

4) What background would you like to use? A live background with depth and activity or a clean backdrop with a company logo? Perhaps a “green screen” and its flexibility is more suitable?

5) How are you going to light your shoot? Is there sufficient natural light at your chosen location or do you need to hire a lighting rig?

6) Should you storyboard? If using a range of material or shots, this can help to plan your shoot and save you time. It will allow you in identify when and where you could incorporate additional visualisation to help delivery your story in a more dynamic way.

7) Narration - Who will present the press release and what qualities would you like them to have? Will you read it yourself or ask another member of staff, your client or another professional?

8) Will you make use of a voice-over or soundtrack? Both are brilliant tools for adding texture, delivering information, and adding fluidity.

9) Will you use graphics? Animation can illustrate points, additional video clips add value, whilst company logos and contact details can be used for marketing and highlighting your call to action.

10) Finally, post-production - this can include keying, colour grading, titles, and after effects - a great deal of thought should go into how to take advantage of all that it can offer.

Considering all of the above areas and options, and making decisions regarding each one, will, in the end, make the production of your video press release run as smoothly as possible. You’ll be better placed to decide what you can do in-house and where you should outsource services, products and people to help you make a success of your video press release and reach your new audiences most effectively.

About Pauley Media

Pauley Media is a versatile and creative independent family company specialising in Concept Design, 3D Interpretation, Cultural Communication, e-Learning and Corporate Presentations through 3D Modelling and Immersive Audience Engagement. Find out about previous successful video and design projects for its range of international clients at www.pauley.co.uk/Media/

Contact the company on info@pauley-media.com or +44 (0)1908 522532