Producing a video for your company can be an exciting and potentially stressful experience. There's more to it than simply assigning a video production company to the task and crossing your fingers.

To get the most from your video production dollars, we'll take a look at seven top tips for making your corporate video a success.

1. Start with Results. The first step in the proces is to work out exactly what you want your video to achieve. Is it to train staff on a new procedure or is to increase interest at trade shows? Design your video concept around the desired result. Often clients get caught up with showing off their company that the main message gets lost.

2. Write a brief. Once you know what you want to achieve, work out what you want to show and explain in your video. Formulate a brief that specifies your objectives, target audience, the countries your video will be viewed in and any required languages. A list of all the shots that you need is also helpful. Will the bulk of the shots be at your premises and do you need your CEO to talk to camera? Video production companies will try to calculate how many days filming are required to work out the cost, so it's important to know how much needs to be filmed at the outset.

3. Know your image. What sort of image do you want to present to your customers? While watching your corporate video, your customers will be left with an impression of what type of business you are and what to expect when doing business with you. If your television program happens to be radically down-market than your up-market product suggests, then you create cognitive dissonance in your prospects. This will mean that your viewers will be left with an uneasy feeling that something isn't quite right with your company and will automatically distrust your message. To avoid this, make sure the quality of production reflects the quality of your product/service. This involve using a professional camera operator gear to having a
(c) Marie-Claire Ross 2005. All rights reserved.

Marie-Claire Ross is one of the partners of Digicast. Digicast works with organisations who are not satisfied that their marketing and training materials are helping their business grow. She can be contacted at mc@digicast.com.au. The website is at http://www.digicast.com.au

Torticollis: Torn Muscle
by Linsey Warner, Barrie, Ontario

My older sister was pregnant too, due three months before me. She planned a homebirth: I thought she was crazy.

I am a large woman, and didn't hear my sweet baby's heartbeat until I was 25 weeks pregnant, and never felt her kick until 30 weeks. My sister gave birth to a beautiful girl at home. Our mother was lucky enough to witness it.My due date came and went. The obstetrician concluded I should be induced, and added, "If it doesn't work you'll have to have a C-section. As heavy as you are, it will take a long time to recover." I got my clothes on and got out of there.I was in hospital in labour for 18 hours, and pushed for three. The doctor finally showed up for the last 45 minutes and suggested the vacuum extractor. "Like hell," I thought and pushed with all my energy, love and might. Five pushes later, Emily Rebecca was born, her face mashed and purple. She wasn't breathing. The doctor cut her cord, rushed her to an isolet and revived her, in the longest 15 seconds of my life. She had come out transverse, or head and shoulder first, causing Torticollis, a torn muscle in her neck.After nine months of chiropractic, and massage therapy, Emily is strong, health, and a totally breastfed little girl.

The rest of my children will be born at home.