Video Business Cards - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

Danahy · 11-26-2006, 08:37 PM

Anyone use these? I seen on of these from a Real Estate Agent, and thought it was pretty neat. I would probably use this for estimates myself. Perhaps some before and after pics type slide show, with 4 or 5 short video references from customers, and such...

I don't know what to think of this, anyone hear of this? Costs?

Nat; feel free to move this if you think its in the wrong spot...

Mike Finley · 11-26-2006, 10:34 PM

I don't know if I would call it a business card, but I've been thinking about this for awhile. A DVD or CD rom to use as a presentation piece whether it is a leave behind or given out at a home show or such.

One thing I want to develop at some point is a time lapse sort of thing of a nice remodel job. I think that would be a cool thing to have on such a thing.

RobertCDF · 11-26-2006, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Finley

I don't know if I would call it a business card, but I've been thinking about this for awhile. A DVD or CD rom to use as a presentation piece whether it is a leave behind or given out at a home show or such.

One thing I want to develop at some point is a time lapse sort of thing of a nice remodel job. I think that would be a cool thing to have on such a thing.

Why do you people have to take my ideas?? I wanted to do a time lapse video of a deck sometime too.

Danahy · 11-26-2006, 11:01 PM

time lapse is a really good idea... I'm diggin that.

Mike Finley · 11-26-2006, 11:06 PM

Sorry, too late Robert, I got dibs.

GoodPainter · 11-27-2006, 03:12 AM

Its actually what many people are thinking...

I was thinking since I have a projector, I could go to estimates with it and a disc or two of the slide show of pics and maybe a short video of me in action(adding previous customers video testimonies would be great too) but I have to worry about the cheesiness of it .. It would have to be done professionally , which would cost alot of money with the world we live in today

Think about going into a 100k, 200k or 500k house with a video taken by yourself on a vhs transfered to dvd or something
actually dvd videocams are getting cheap though (maybe<1k) but people are bying HD tvs now so maybe 2-3K for cam and another 2K for edit SWare and the time--havin it done prof. with a presentation peice would prob be 10K or somewhere around there to get it done right

But back to my original thought a slide showand short cheap video(forgeting about powerpoint) on projector would be prof. work and maybe leaving a copy to the HO if they dont have time at the estimate

Its just another selling power but at a cost like a website or or advertising

Just giving them a cd/dvd with a mini-commercail advertisment would be nice but you still got to worry bout pofessionalism

Robert

Richard · 11-27-2006, 06:24 AM

sounds cool I suppose--many of my customers are old fashioned though...could be hard to win them over to something so "advanced" to them

you have an example of one?

PAINTWERKS · 11-27-2006, 07:35 AM

What if you guys posted the video up on your website also. So people searching the web for contractors could see. Might have one step up on the next guy. Just a thought.

Thanks dan

Danahy · 11-27-2006, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoodPainter

but I have to worry about the cheesiness of it .. It would have to be done professionally , which would cost alot of money with the world we live in today

I agree... I find something about it kind of cheesy myself. The part I'm diggin more specifically would be the reference part. Most of my business comes from referrals so I don't really need them. With that being said, when ever I need to come up with references I have to scramble around to gather new numbers, of more recent customers.

I remember the video that came with my laminate flooring, cheesy yes, but something was cool about it.

I imagine things like a brief video (done by a videographer, guy that does weddings and such) explaining what customers need to do in order to prepare for a paint job (or any trades work), what to expect, things we do, where we might start, payment schedules, etc etc... I wouldn't include how we do it, as I'm sure the competition would get ahold of that in a hurry...

Once this guy makes a video, transfers it to cd... I'm sure I could handle making my own copies, perhaps on those little business card sized cds...

If I get my hands on one, I'll figure out somewhere to post it somehow...

kbdesigns · 11-27-2006, 08:03 PM

I have been using CD biz cards for several years now. I have gotten a lot of business from them. They are small and fit in the inner slot of computer or DVD. They are a conversation piece for people when you give it to them and they show a portfolio of my work. You can also have a link to your website and email on them. I use a more complex software now for them but when the first couple of years I used this software. http://www.ez-rom.com

**Teetorbilt** · 11-27-2006, 09:10 PM

I've picked up a few of the CD biz cards at boat shows, a lot of info in a small space. Cost???????

kbdesigns · 11-29-2006, 12:13 AM

If you burn them yourself, you can get a pack of 100 blanks for about $20 plus the cost of label blanks which you can print off on your own computer. If you want a large quantity and don't want to do them yourself, then you can get 1000 CDS, replication of any standard shaped CD biz card, up to 3 color silk-screen on the disc, assembly into a protective clear vinyl sleeve - for $799.00. The more you order the cheaper it is. I like to burn about 50 at a time myself because I am always updating the portfolio. You can also put movies and sound on them.

Danahy · 11-29-2006, 01:20 AM

brief daydream here...

"Excuse me. You're a painter right? Do you have any cards, I'm thinking of having some painting done at my house." says person in parking lot.

"Yes I do, here you go... My card is also a cd for your computer, tells all about me, and what I do, feel free to check it out" says painter.

"I will, thanks", says person...

.... suddenly I awake, and remember that I'm typing in a little thread on contractortalk at 1:20am in the morning, and I need to get up early... oops!

b34nz · 12-07-2006, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danahy

brief daydream here...

"Excuse me. You're a painter right? Do you have any cards, I'm thinking of having some painting done at my house." says person in parking lot.

"Yes I do, here you go... My card is also a cd for your computer, tells all about me, and what I do, feel free to check it out" says painter.

"I will, thanks", says person...

.... suddenly I awake, and remember that I'm typing in a little thread on contractortalk at 1:20am in the morning, and I need to get up early... oops!

lmao

I was thinking the same thing at 2:30am last night!