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Understanding Aspect Ratios In Video Production: A Comprehensive Guide

Whether you’re working in-house as a marketer, or you’re an agency tasked with creating video content for clients, it’s important to have a solid grasp on the technicalities of producing high-quality videos. 

And one of the biggest factors that can make or break the success of your video is the aspect ratio. 

In this article, we’re going to dive deep into aspect ratios – what they are, why they matter and why it’s crucial for clients to consider them when planning their video projects. 

We’ll also look at some of the most common aspect ratios used in the industry, so you’ll be armed with all the knowledge you need to brief in video projects that will be highly effective on any platform. 

What is aspect ratio?

Aspect ratio refers to the proportion between the width and height of a video or image. You’ll often see it expressed as two numbers separated by a colon, like 16:9 – the first number represents the width, and the second number represents the height. 

Now, you might be thinking, “why does aspect ratio even matter?” Well, it’s significantly important because it can impact everything from the overall visual layout of your content to how it appears on different platforms.

So, whether you’re creating videos for social media, a website, or even a cinema screen, understanding aspect ratio is key to making sure your content looks amazing and is easily digestible for your audience. 

What are the most common aspect ratios and where are they used?

16:9 – this is the standard aspect ratio for most modern screens and is widely used in video production. It’s the recommended aspect ratio for most social media platforms, including YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. 

9:16 – i

4:3 – this aspect ratio was common in older televisions and is still used in some video production applications such as live streaming and webinars. 

1:1 – is a square aspect ratio used primarily in social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook. 

2.35:1 – also known as the CinemaScope aspect ratio, it is commonly used in film production to create a cinematic feel. 

How does aspect ratio impact video success?

When it comes to video success, aspect ratio is a major player. In fact, choosing the right aspect ratio can have a huge impact on the viewing experience, engagement levels and overall impact of your video. 

So, let’s take a closer look at some of the ways aspect ratio can make or break the success of your video content: 

Viewability 

This refers to how easily and seamlessly your video can be viewed across various devices and platforms. It is therefore essential to adhere to the aspect ratio requirements of different devices and platforms to avoid distorted or awkward-looking videos.  

By selecting the right aspect ratio, you can ensure that your video content appears visually appealing and is viewable on all devices and platforms. 

Engagement 

Believe it or not, the aspect ratio of your video can impact viewer engagement. Certain aspect ratios can create a more immersive viewing experience, drawing your audience in and keeping them engaged from start to finish. 

And as we all know, higher engagement can lead to higher conversion rates. 

Aesthetics 

Finally, aspect ratio can have a big impact on the overall aesthetic appeal of your video content. Choosing the right aspect ratio can help you achieve a specific look or mood, making your video more visually appealing and memorable. 

So, whether you’re going for a cinematic widescreen look or a more intimate square aspect ratio, the right choice can really elevate your video content to the next level. 

Why is aspect ratio important for clients to consider when planning video projects?

When it comes to planning video projects, aspect ratio is a key consideration that can make or break the success of your content. 

Choosing the wrong aspect ratio can result in a suboptimal viewing experience, lower engagement, and ultimately, lower ROI. That’s why it’s crucial to consider aspect ratio during the planning phase of your video projects. 

By doing so, you can ensure that content creation is planned accordingly, rather than awkwardly trying to retrofit graphics and footage to different aspect ratios later. This approach helps ensure that your videos are optimised for maximum impact across all social platforms and devices from the get-go. 

So, if you want to make sure your video content is hitting all the right notes with your audience, paying attention to aspect ratio is an absolute must. 

To sum it all up

Aspect ratio is an absolute game-changer when it comes to video production. It’s a critical component that you simply can’t afford to overlook when planning your video projects. 

The right aspect ratio can make all the difference – enhancing the viewing experience, increasing engagement, and ultimately leading to higher ROI. 

But to achieve these results, it’s essential to carefully consider aspect ratio and select the appropriate one for each platform and device. By doing so, you can ensure your videos are optimised for maximum impact and success. 

So if you want to take your video content to the next level, be sure to give aspect ratio the attention it deserves. Trust us, your audience will thank you for it. 

To find out more about the video, animation, photography and graphic design services Dead Ready Productions can offer your business, please feel free to get in touch via the button below or by calling +44 (0)208 339 6139.

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Should ChatGPT Write YOUR Video Script?

In our latest vlog, Mike Plenty, Managing Director at Dead Ready Productions, discusses the hot topic that is ChatGPT and specifically how it can help write scripts for corporate video productions. The content of which can be found below.

Hello everyone!

I’m here today to talk about something that’s on everyone’s mind – ChatGPT.

For those who don’t know, ChatGPT is a cutting edge language model developed by OpenAI that can generate humanlike text in response to user inputs.

And it’s been generating a lot of buzz lately.

Today, I want to talk about how ChatGPT can help with writing scripts for corporate video productions.

In our projects, clients usually create the first draft of the script, and this can often be a time consuming and daunting task. But that’s where ChatGPT comes in.

ChatGPT can help speed up the scripting process when planning videos. It can generate ideas and concepts that you can then refine and develop into a full script.

This means that you can focus more on the creative aspect of scriptwriting and less on the time consuming task of coming up with ideas.

But it’s important to note that ChatGPT is not a replacement for people.

It won’t write your script for you, but it will be an invaluable tool in helping you come up with stronger creative content more quickly.

As proof of concept, the script for this very video was created using ChatGPT in a matter of minutes.

So you see, ChatGPT is not just a cool technology, it’s a game changer for scriptwriters and video producers everywhere.

I hope this has given you a glimpse into the power of ChatGPT and how it can help you in your scriptwriting process.

If you haven’t tried it yet, I highly recommend giving it a shot.

Thank you for watching and I’ll see you in the next video.

 

For more helpful information, top tips and useful guides on video production, keep an eye out for our next vlog – coming soon!

If you would like to discuss how Dead Ready Productions could help you to further enjoy the benefits of video for your business, please get in touch via the button below or by calling +44 (0)208 339 6139.

The Benefits Of Video And Why It Is Essential To Any Marketing Strategy

Video has proven itself to be a highly effective marketing tool for businesses. It helps spread the message of your brand, products and services in a uniquely compelling way, delivering a host of benefits unmatched by other mediums.

By incorporating video into their marketing strategies, marketers enjoy a range of advantages to help their business connect in a more engaging and impactful way with their target audience.

In this article, we explore the benefits of video and why it should be an integral part of any successful marketing plan.

Increased Engagement

The dynamic nature of video means it has the power to keep people interested and engaged for longer.

According to Optinmonster, 72% of customers say they would rather learn about a product or service by way of video, whilst 83% of video marketers claim that video has helped increase the average time visitors spend on their website pages (Wyzwol).

This increased engagement can translate into higher levels of brand awareness, increased website traffic and stronger relationships with your target audience, making it a powerful tool for communicating your message and ultimately leading to more people buying from your brand.

Greater Emotional Impact

Research by Insivia, found that viewers retain 95% of a message when they watch it in a video, compared to 10% when reading it in the text.

With the help of social-sharing platforms, video content that is emotional, educational, and relatable is the most likely to go viral within hours, potentially acquiring millions of views for your business.

So, whether you’re trying to evoke laughter, sadness, joy or any other emotion, creating an emotional connection with your audience can be a powerful motivator for them to take action.

This powerful and thought provoking video, Real Beauty Sketches, which is one of the most famous Dove films is a great example of the power of emotion to hook an audience.

The video explores the gap between how others perceive us and how we perceive ourselves as each woman is the subject of two portraits drawn by FBI-trained forensic artist Gil Zamora: one based on her own description and the other using a stranger’s observations.

Another example is the below video by Getup! – an independent movement of more than one million people who are working to build a progressive Australia and help put people back into politics.

This video highlights the support of marriage equality and although now over 11 years old, it’s message is as impactful and thought provoking as it was when first released.

Better Reach

Video content is shared 1200% more times than links and written content combined, with people two times more likely to share videos with their friends than any other type of content. So, when it comes to potential reach, video is unbeaten.

As a result, video can help you connect with the right people and reach your target audience on a scale that would be difficult to achieve with other marketing methods.

Add into the mix the popularity of social media platforms and when people share video content, it exposes your business to an audience outside of your original target market.

According to The Marketing Helpline, posts on social media that contain video get 48% more views. As a result, word-of-mouth marketing can have a significant impact on conversions as people are more likely to watch a video shared by those they know.

This is why video has the highest organic reach of all types of content.

Improved Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)

Video is a powerful tool for improving your search engine optimisation efforts, with search engines such as Google, favouring websites that incorporate video into their content.

One of the biggest ways that video content can improve your SEO has to do with Google’s internal algorithm for generating search engine results pages.

Google values two things above all others – the quality of your content and its relevance to someone’s original search terms. So, if your website features a mixture of text and quality visuals, like video, it means your pages are as varied as they are informative.

You can also leverage the power of video SEO through YouTube, which is the second-largest search engine after Google with more than 1.3 billion users and over 15 billion videos watched every day. (monsterinsights)

By featuring your video content on platforms such as these, it will help improve your search engine rankings and drive more organic traffic to your site, thus leading to increased brand exposure and a higher return on investment for your marketing efforts.

Increased Conversion Rates

Video has been proven to boost conversion rates. This is backed up by research carried out by WordStream, which found that including a video on your landing page can boost your conversion rate by up to 80%. In fact, 84% of people say they’ve been convinced to buy a product or service by watching a brand’s video. (Optinmonster)

These stats show that by showcasing your products or services in a visual and engaging way such as video, you can persuade more people to act and make a purchase.

This video which we produced for Wrapmaster to highlight their new 98% recycled foil product, had some great results for them, specifically within trade media, causing a spike in page views on the Wrapmaster website.

Some fantastic results were also achieved on social media, with high impressions, engagements, and media views.

Cost-Effective

Video is one of the most cost-effective marketing tools available. With varied production approaches that can be tailored as needed to match specific marketing budgets, cost is no barrier to harnessing the benefits that video can offer.

Compared to traditional advertising methods such as print or television adverts, video provides a higher return on investment. According to research by WordStream, marketers who use video grow revenue 49% faster than non-video users, making it a smart choice for businesses of all sizes.

Once produced, video can be easily shared and distributed across multiple platforms, ultimately maximising investment and providing long-term benefits to your business.

In Conclusion

Not only is consumer appetite for video content continually growing, but there is now a wide body of research demonstrating the significant impact such content can have for a business. We’ve outlined some of these research findings in this article, but this is really just scratching the surface.

By showcasing your products or services in an engaging way, video can persuade more people to act upon your call to action, driving awareness and sales, and increasing revenue for your business. What more could you want?

If you would like to discuss how Dead Ready Productions could help you to further enjoy the benefits of video for your business, please get in touch via the button below or by calling +44 (0)208 339 6139.

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Publishing Your Video – What To Check Before You Share It With The World

Once all stakeholders have had their say and the content of a video has been signed off, you don’t want to waste any time before publishing your video to the world.

However, it’s worth making sure you do a few things first, before you go ahead.

Mike Plenty, Managing Director at Dead Ready Productions, explains the steps you should take in our latest 60 second production tips vlog. The content of which can be found below.

1. Tell your production company

Your video production team will be best positioned to advise that the video is ready to distribute.

There may be elements of the video content that are still in a draft format, or require licensing, which they will need to address.

2. Check titles and web addresses

People often go by different job titles depending on the context, so make sure everyone who appears is happy with how their name appears in the video.

Also, check that all URLS and social media handles are correct.

3. Use the highest quality version

Don’t make the mistake of posting a low-resolution version of the video file online.

Always use the highest quality you can – video platforms can scale videos down if needed to meet different bandwidths, but they can’t scale up.

4. Download and keep an offline copy

Make sure you have a copy of the video file that you can keep on a local drive or server.

This gives you peace of mind and means you’re not reliant on always having an internet connection to watch the video.

For more top tips, helpful information and useful guides on video production, keep an eye out for our next vlog – coming soon!

In the meantime, if you have a filming brief, or you would like to find out more about the animation, photography and graphic design services Dead Ready Productions can offer your business, simply get in touch via the button below or by calling +44 (0)208 339 6139.

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Why Using Video In Your Marketing Will Help Turbocharge Your Sales

With the average person predicted to spend 100 minutes per day watching online videos, there is no denying that video content is a powerful marketing tool.

Used to increase engagement, reach and conversions, video is an essential part of any businesses’ marketing strategy.

At Dead Ready Productions we know this only too well, but to help get this message across (in the best way we know how), we’ve created a short infographic video. The content of which can be found below.

Turbocharge your sales

If people are looking for products like yours… how do they find you?

Online videos make up more than 82% of all consumer internet traffic.

Including video in a landing page can increase conversion by 80%.

If people have questions about your product… how do you educate them?

72% of customers said they would rather learn about a product or service by way of video.

84% of people say they’ve been convinced to buy a product or service by watching a brand’s video.

If people don’t know who you are… how do you earn their trust?

91% of consumers are likely to reward brands for their originality.

People spend 88% more time browsing on websites that have videos.

The customer now… knows you exist, trusts you, knows your product.

Marketers who use video grow revenue 49% faster than non-video users.

Your sales: Turbocharged

If you would like to find out more about the video, animation, photography and graphic design services Dead Ready Productions can offer your business, please feel free to get in touch via the button below or by calling +44 (0)208 339 6139.