Grow Your Video Business with Ryan Koral

Who doesn't want to land a high-budget project for a big brand? That may be the goal of many of us, but seldom can you start there. Before you get booked to make something big, you often have to do something much smaller. Today's guest is an expert in video marketing who's going to tell you how to introduce yourself to big clients by offering smaller projects. Key Takeaways When talking to clients...

There was a time I tried promoting my studio with Facebook ads. It didn't end up working out. I suppose there was a lot I didn't know at the time that would have made the difference. But why would a video studio want to consider Facebook ads or ads of any kind? Today's guest will answer that question and tell you how to do it the right way. Key Takeaways The best lead magnets will position you as...

As creatives and entrepreneurs, we sometimes find ourselves up against a wall, unable to make money the way we thought we would. This is where we can put our creativity into action. There are so many options for us in this business. It just may not be obvious what they are right away. Today's guest has explored numerous creative and non-traditional ways to make a video business profitable and is h...

There's a lot of excitement for video freelancers when they start out. But often after a point, they realize that things aren't going as planned. In order to stay in business, you have to be adaptable and clear on your mission. Today's guest shares lessons learned from recent pivots and how you can keep your business running during tough times. Key Takeaways Basing your success on how others see i...

If you've ever found yourself poised to create something but unable to actually do it, you're far from alone. There's a whole psychology behind this paralysis that afflicts so many creatives. That's why I've brought on an expert to help us understand it better and figure out how to overcome our self-imposed obstacles. Key Takeaways When you notice yourself afraid to move forward with your work, id...

What drives your business? I bet it's not what you think. It's not your style or your gear. It's not even the amazing videos that you create. It's your marketing. When you put marketing first, the business will follow. Today's guest explains how to market your business while still staying true to your work. Key Takeaways An effective showreel should go way beyond just clips of your videos. It shou...

The secret to lasting social change is to create compelling content that actually gets results. I'm joined by Ben Gilbarg of Big Picture Anthems to talk about where he spends his money, who he works with, and how he distributes his videos to maximize his client's return on investment. Key Takeaways It's more important to spend money on what'll bring you the biggest return on investment. If that me...

Your time is precious. I'm sure that as you get further and further into the business of video production, more things are competing for your time, especially marketing. It's so easy to lose countless hours on social media or in your inbox marketing what you do. Don't get trapped! Today's guest is here to tell us how to avoid this all while maximizing your outreach and landing repeat customers. Ke...

Rejection hurts. Nobody likes the feeling of it. But we need to take risks in our lives and businesses for progress to happen. Today's guest shares some great advice for how to get over rejection and even turn it into an asset. Key Takeaways All your communication to clients should center on getting them what they want. Be clear on what the problem is that you can solve for them and how you are go...

Although the best advice urges us to pick a niche and stick with it, that's really hard to do. We're creative people and entrepreneurs. We want to do all the things. It's in our very nature. That's why stepping back and taking a more hands-off approach can be a challenge. Today's guest understands the struggle and has some great advice for any of you going through it. Key Takeaways Having a well-d...

It's that time of the year again. Well, it's the end of the year. That's why I want to take some time to talk about how it went. There have been wins and there have been losses. Some goals were met and others weren't. I hope that this will help you get some perspective on how 2020 went for you and set you up for an amazing year ahead. Key Takeaways The business and video landscape changed drastica...

Turning down opportunities can sometimes be a good thing for you and your business. It's not easy to say no to jobs and money. Yet, strategically doing so opens up doors to what you actually want to do. Today's guests have successfully built their studio around this idea. Key Takeaways It's natural to want to branch out your business into many fields. However, this will dilute your talent and ener...

Many of us get into this work to feed our creativity. We love to create and see our visions become reality. But we still have clients who have their own visions and ideas. It can be a tricky balance creating a business with the structure to satisfy both your clients and your own creative needs. Today's guest explains how he manages to do just that. Key Takeaways Your business is built on relations...

Your business will be made or broken on relationships. Building trust and being passionate is central to this. Whether it's your team, your clients, or your competition, these relationships are crucial. Today's guest has not only built an amazing business based on relationships but clearly loves what he does every day. Key Takeaways Finding opportunities to take on side-gigs will keep your skills...

As a freelancer or small business owner, buying gifts for your clients may feel frivolous and wasteful. The truth is, it can be a small investment with a huge reward. However, we often get it wrong when it comes to determining the best gifts to give. If you are hesitant to spend a little extra to treat your clients, this is the perfect episode to change your mind. Key Takeaways Showing up and givi...

Those of us with a YouTube channel know this frustration. You put in a ton of work into creating amazing content, but no one sees it. It may be because of your naming strategy, scheduling, title, image, or something else entirely. With so much to keep in mind, wouldn't it be nice to have the right information on your side? Key Takeaways Even if you're busy with client work, find the time to shoot...

Tax planning. Just those words make me shudder. Over the last 17 years, I've learned some hard lessons on this subject. I really wish I knew what I know now when I got started. It would have saved a lot of worry and frustration. While this is not the most glamorous topic, this is the kind of stuff that makes or breaks a business. Key Takeaways It's well worth the upfront costs of having an expert...

Making smart gear purchases can help grow your video business. It can also be an expensive distraction. With such a large variety of choices and features, it's easy to get lost down a rabbit hole of gear. To help shed light on this, I've brought on a true expert to this episode. If you are new to live streaming, make sure to test it out thoroughly before you go live. Get the right gear, but don't...

Seventeen years of running my own video business have taught me that success is not about getting the best shot, or having the best demo reel or the best gear. There's so much more to it. It boils down to your priorities and how you choose to focus your energy and time. In short, you need to become an essentialist. Key Takeaways Not everything is equally important. Start your day with the question...

It's hard to believe it - 200 episodes! When I started this podcast, I never imagined that I'd make it to 200 episodes. But here we are. I know I'm here today because of you. I do this show on a weekly basis for you. Your countless messages of gratitude keep me going. This episode is going to be different. I have a bunch of really amazing and fun messages from listeners like you. It really is both...

Have you ever had a friend or family member ask you for a big discount or to make a free video? If it hasn't happened yet, it's only a matter of time. As a giving person, it's tough for me to turn them down. However, as a business owner, it's really hard to do the work that I do for free and bad for my business in the long-run. Key Takeaways It's okay to say no to any project, even if that means t...

There's a lot to consider as your business grows. When I started my studio, I was my only employee. It wasn't too long before I realized I needed to hire some people on to keep things running. I was hesitant. It costs a lot to take on employees. But what I soon realized was that a larger team led to more and better work in the long run. Key Takeaways There's a cost in hiring employees. However, ha...

This year has not gone as expected. That's true for my business as much as anything else. The mechanisms that used to bring clients and projects my way don't work like they used to. However, virtual summits and meetups have exploded. Today, I'm sharing how I've been harnessing the potential of these virtual events to grow my business. Key Takeaways In times of COVID, we need to shift how we build...

As a small business owner, you actually have a lot of flexibility. You can pivot what you do and make offers that big companies can't. Especially during tough times like these, you can find opportunities that may not have existed before. As today's guest is going to tell you, there's a gift that lies in scarcity. Key Takeaways It's important to keep priorities in mind when running a small business...

An emotional connection often exists between creatives and our creations. We want to have an influence and an impact with what we do. So it's easy to take it personally when people either like or dislike our work. Yet there are many ways to stay in control when putting your creations out into the world. Key Takeaways When presenting early drafts to clients, the less you critique, the better. Secon...