Grow Your Video Business with Ryan Koral

I cut my teeth 15 years ago filming weddings, sometimes as many as 40 a year. It was great work and I truly loved it. It taught me efficiency and how to work in less than ideal conditions. Filming weddings showed me how to make amazing films with little to no plan. It was filming weddings that introduced me to many of the elements of this trade that I still use every day, no matter what I'm shooti...

In business, there's nothing more important than creating an amazing experience for your clients. That's the difference between leaving them simply satisfied or wanting to come back for more. Having pride in what you do and communicating that to your clients in a key part of this, and few people understand that better than today's guest. Dan Cockerell has held various management and executive oper...

A creative director is a crucial role to be filled in any studio, big or small. But if you've ever wondered just what a creative director is, I've got a real treat for you. Today I'm sitting down with someone who's talents for this job I have been blessed to know first-hand, and he's going to tell you all about it! Today you're going to hear from my longest-standing employee. John Azoni is the cre...

There are many different elements that all add up to business success. Chief among these are providing great value and communicating that well to as many people as possible. My guest today has written an incredibly helpful book on doing just that and I'm truly thrilled to have him share his knowledge with you today. Bob Burg is a sought-after speaker at company leadership and sales conferences sha...

Most of us creatives get easily distracted by new ideas. Sometimes this is where real gems come from and are totally worth pursuing. Other times, they're wastes of energy and time and should best be avoided. The tricky thing is knowing the difference. Larry Wiezycki is a producer, editor, documentary filmmaker, winner of five Emmys and is based in Tampa, Florida. He is the co-founder of Creative o...

I often look at my business and wonder how it exists beyond myself. If we can build our businesses in a way that leaves a legacy for our children to benefit from, then I feel they will reach their most pure and ultimate goal. Today's guest has a business that has done exactly that. Ian Murray is the president of SpotOn Productions and the second generation in a family-owned video production compan...

In this solo episode, I share with you what I've learned while dealing with this challenge. Sometimes I feel very uncomfortable asking for a sale. To help, I'm sharing some tools and advice for making those conversations less awkward and make you more confident in the end. I discuss some tips for finding the clients that are the best match for you. You'll hear why it's not that different from dati...

Are you waiting for the perfect time to start your filmmaking career? I hate to break it to you, but there will never be a perfect time. Right now is the next best thing and today's guest is going to explain why and how to get into the game, even if you feel that you're not ready. Les Gaddis is a Texas-based cinematographer, blogger, and podcaster. He runs Gaddis Visuals , a production company tha...

The times we grow the most are often the times when we push our boundaries and get into new situations where we don't completely know what we're doing. There's a real value in this. It's what gets us, our craft, and our business to reach new and greater heights. My guests today, have taken this leap and are still reaping the rewards. Paul and Kelley Gilster are a husband and wife cinematography te...

In this gig-based business, it often feels like we're jumping from one job to the next just to keep afloat. But what if there was a system you could put in place that would eliminate this urgency? Today's guest has figured this out by discovering her unique value and it has given her the clarity needed to find and keep the right clients coming back over and over again. Diana Castro is the Co-Found...

As creatives, it can be all too easy to overlook our mental health and wellness. Sometimes we even feel that this better helps us tap into our creative side. Today's guest is not only a wildly successful filmmaker, but she also comes from a background of mental health counseling and helps others learn the importance of taking care of themselves. Shivawn Mitchell is a producer, director, and writer...

This may sound crazy at first, but humor me if you will. Doing nothing will help your business. That's right. Take a step back, start meditating, and don't get so caught up in that busy calendar of yours. As my guest on this episode is about to tell you, it will make you a better business owner and help your company succeed. Rob Dube is the president and co-founder of imageOne , one of Forbes' bes...

As entrepreneurs, we have the opportunity to be true to ourselves in our personal lives and use that to shape who we are in our business lives. You are your business' brand and that is something to be cultivated. leveraged, and appreciated.  Amina Moreau is the co-founder of Emmy Award-winning Stillmotion and Sway , companies that are committed to the meaningful impact of storytelling. As part of...

If we didn't have to do sales in this work then everything would be so much easier, right? There are ways to make sales easier, more natural, and ultimately more profitable. Today's guest has only been in the video business for a short time, but his dedication to sales has led him to success after success.  Jon Morgan's passion is selling. He is the owner and founder of JM Films , one of the top p...

It's not uncommon to feel that your business needs to do many different things to be profitable. Being able to offer all sorts of services or products sounds like it would lead to more opportunities. But without clarity on what you specifically offer, you're just going to struggle more. Today's guest has become wildly successful by being clear and specific in what his businesses really do. Matt Gi...

Those that know me, know that I am passionate about being all-in on whatever it is that I do. When I know what it is that I'm after, I go for it. This is true in how I do business and also with how I interact with my family and a key part of living my best life.  This is a bit of a personal episode. I want to share with all of you a little about me and what motivates me every day. A lot of it beca...

Sometimes things go wrong. The footage gets lost, equipment breaks, clients get angry. That doesn't mean it's game over for your business. How you respond to your clients makes all the difference and, if done right, can salvage almost any situation. That's just one reason why it's crucial to make client relations one of your top priorities. Wes Wages is the director and janitor at Armosa Studios w...

Getting stuck in a funk can happen to any of us. Other times the work pours in faster than we can keep up with it. Being an entrepreneur and business owner is unpredictable. It has its ups and downs and you don't always know which way the wind is blowing. My guests on this episode know what it's like to navigate this uncertainty and have some great advice that all of us can use. My two amazing and...

If you're like me, you started off in this business to make films, but now you find yourself as more of a business person. Priorities change and now you spend more time doing operations, sales, and marketing than filming. But, as you'll hear today, that doesn't mean you have to surrender your creativity. Chris Sharpe is many things. He's a writer, director, producer, and digital content strategist...

Some clients just can't give up creative control over a project. I and many of you know how frustrating this can be. Of course, they want an amazing video, but sometimes people get in their own way. Regaining and keeping creative control is so very important to delivering an amazing product, but just how do you do it? This episode is all about getting back your creative control. Having clients who...

Could your voice, your actual voice, be one of your best sales tools? This might sound strange since many of us feel that our voice sounds weird or annoying. But the reality is, most other people don't think that about your voice. It really is an overlooked asset that most of us are ignoring. This episode is all about how to make your voice into something that can work for you! Roger Love is one o...

If someone asked you right now, "What do you do?", how would you answer them? How confident would you be in your answer? How salesy would it sound? Would your answer be boring? If you've ever struggled to answer this common question, then you are far from alone. My guest today makes it his mission to help people like you and me explain what they do better so that we can find better clients and bet...

There often comes a time in every business owner's career when it feels like it's time for a change. That's why I'm here by myself today to talk about one very important but difficult topic -- whether or not it's time for you to pivot your video business.  Maybe you're feeling stuck, frustrated, or confused in some part of your work. Maybe it's lost the excitement that it once had. There's no need...

One of the biggest struggles for filmmakers is that we are in the business of trading time for money. But if we can create some passive income streams, then that naturally frees up more time for us while still helping us put bread on the table. Today, I have Sean Cannell on the podcast, someone who has had just a phenomenal amount of success in doing just that.  In case you didn't know, Sean Canne...

There are many moments in business and life when we are confronted with a situation where we just don't know what to do. However, these are often truly defining moments for us because, if we persevere, we almost always come out better on the other side.  Rob Booker , one of my new best friends, is many things. He is a former commodity trading advisor who managed a small hedge fund. Today he hosts...