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Post by MinnieMom on Jun 3, 2024 10:34:44 GMT -5
Happy Monday! It's been busy. DH and I had a meet with GC this morning. Good news - plumbing passed inspection last week; water/sewer sub is scheduled to start work on underground utilities for campsites next week; electrical inspection is scheduled for this week; we may be able to start sheetrock in Welcome Center next week. Other GC news - some delays with planned work this week due to illness. I have a big live show planned for tomorrow. It will be the premiere of a new ~4 minute preview video for Standing Pines. This one incorporates the Forest Friends characters and uses a mix of recent camping at Standing Pines + other media to convey what we envision camping at will be like for guests here. Last Friday was fun. One of the local libraries invited illustrator Rebecca and I to do a book reading/signing. That was so much fun! About a dozen kids seemed to follow along with complete interest as I read the story to them. We sold out of all the copies of the books I brought to the event - not bad!   One of the library volunteers decorated a fabulous cake for the occasion. It was super cute! I got her contact info as I think I'll ask her to do something similar for events for us.   Family friends joined us this weekend and finished the gaga ball pit. They had fun playing a few rounds this morning to wear the kids out before heading home.   We also indulged in some typical camping fun with our friends, who brought their motorhome. Campfires, card games, s'mores - all good!    Seeing our friends off this morning was interrupted by the need to fix a discount code. A state camping club (awesome supporter for Standing Pines!!) and I collaborated to schedule an event for May 2025. That post went up as scheduled this morning and there was a problem with the discount code. I got first notification at 8am. By 10am, we had found and fixed the problem, did an admin fix to credit the one reservation made so far appropriately, called that person directly to make sure they saw the credit and chat, created a new graphic that showed where/how to enter the code and posted that one the page. Obviously I'd rather the code worked correctly with no drama, but this was the first discount code we offered. That likely won't be the last time we have a learning experience and need to act quickly to take care of guests. My only goal for the rest of today is to put together the show for tomorrow. I am exhausted and badly need a nap. More updates on the way later this week! |
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Post by disneyteach on Jun 3, 2024 14:21:02 GMT -5
Always love following along!
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Post by MinnieMom on Jun 4, 2024 14:26:57 GMT -5
Always love hearing from you disneyteach! Hope all is going great your way. Another Tuesday, another Building Memories episode complete. The full episode is 20 minutes. About 15 minutes in, we show the draft video previewing the experience of camping at Standing Pines. That ties together a lot of the work we have been doing into a visual story for guests. There is still more to do on this, but early feedback is that it shows a much more complete vision for what we intend for the campground. I'd love to get your thoughts if you have time to watch this one. www.youtube.com/live/U9NGd137r9Y?si=359LMXgI-o8Kt1Powww.youtube.com/live/U9NGd137r9Y?si=359LMXgI-o8Kt1Po |
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Post by MinnieMom on Jun 5, 2024 8:02:46 GMT -5
Lightbulb Moment: I just realized one possible reason stats indicate viewers drop off for my weekly show in the first minute. Most video shows are video, not static slides. I think I'm going to try changing at least the intro to a video intro and make some other format changes to be less like a slide show.
Does anyone have any favorite youTubers - especially ones who do regularly scheduled, on-going shows - that do a good job getting and keeping attention? Now that I've got this lightbulb moment going, I think I know what to try next. Still, a bit of research is almost always in order for a change! So if you do have a channel with an intro you particularly like, please let me know! I'll happily go watch some!
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Post by Adelard of Bath on Jun 5, 2024 9:58:12 GMT -5
I tried thinking about what I watch, I have a few cooking guys I watch off and on, a couple woodworking things I see sometimes, a Disney guy who I don't watch as often as I used to. Then I thought of this father/son team I've been watching a couple years, my guess is the dad and his college age (?) son started making videos during the pandemic, the dad does home remodeling stuff and is well spoken, and the son probably said "dad we should make youtube videos!" and their channel has grown a ton. They are now building a garage and a house, and they make probably two videos a week showing it. Kind of like "This Old House" except I would say there is more detail. What is very different than the rest of us, though, is they seem to be making a full-time job of making these videos - production is good, equipment is good, editing, etc.
I also thought about the other people I regularly look at, and what they all have in common...I would say a short intro, then right into the action (or talking or whatever) without a long intro or musical song or flashy effects.
But a few days back, I was doing research for a project, and I kept coming across these videos that were basically a powerpoint. Like "Okay everybody welcome to my junior college night class, today we are going to go over the basics of sizing a gas line" and the video is pretty much just what you'd see if you were sitting in that classroom.
(The sound of me clicking the back button)
Another thing that makes me click off is when I see it is too long. Like "I don't want to sit here for 23 minutes" kind of thing.
I am not the guy for this, that's for sure, but let's just say those pictures of adults and kids building the gaga ball pit happened to be filmed. You could edit that into a 3 minute segment followed by a very short clip of them playing, then the camera could pan around and show something else that got built last time and maybe something else that is getting ready for later. See you next time! Fade into your logo.
(Yep my new career, I can feel it)
I looked back through that "father/son" youtube channel I mentioned and selected one that shows them doing some ground work, excavation and stuff, thinking it may be more applicable to your campground action than tilework maybe. Within the first few seconds there is video footage of ground being moved, dirt being dumped, the guy described what they did "last time" and what we are going to do next.
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Post by WDWGoof on Jun 5, 2024 12:33:53 GMT -5
Lightbulb Moment: I just realized one possible reason stats indicate viewers drop off for my weekly show in the first minute. Most video shows are video, not static slides. I think I'm going to try changing at least the intro to a video intro and make some other format changes to be less like a slide show. Does anyone have any favorite youTubers - especially ones who do regularly scheduled, on-going shows - that do a good job getting and keeping attention? Now that I've got this lightbulb moment going, I think I know what to try next. Still, a bit of research is almost always in order for a change! So if you do have a channel with an intro you particularly like, please let me know! I'll happily go watch some! For Rving - Big Truck, Big Travels. They usually start with a few blooper spots and then leads into their music showing video of their rig. You start recognizing their music as an attachment to them. For Other - Clever Cowgirl. Short and sweet intro, then getting right to topic. |
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Post by MinnieMom on Jun 7, 2024 8:46:52 GMT -5
Thank you!! Watching these youTube channels reinforces the direction to move to more of a video show. A late afternoon meeting yesterday with our social media consultant refined this thought to shifting the Building Memories video show to youTube, with much shorter ~1 minute highlight reels created for Facebook and Instagram to direct viewers over to youTube. That's both more work on prep/production and simplifies the actual streaming for the show. I can move to having everything done on Mondays then focus solely on responding to comments as the show airs. That also gives viewers easy access to the library of content already created for Standing Pines on youTube in a much more accessible format than Facebook. I spent some time yesterday working on the introduction, welcome, agenda and overview segments of this new format. Together, these comprise ~2 minutes or 10% of the planned show. But this seems like the most critical to get right. Viewers decide to watch or click back in that first 30 seconds. And these segments are the ones I plan to adjust for each week's content and use on all future shows. What do you think? Is this more engaging, more likely to pull viewers in than the static slide and voiceover or miniature talking head format? www.canva.com/design/DAGHZIHa_uY/pbpC-8_4jS2GedKLLUH5Ig/watch?utm_content=DAGHZIHa_uY&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=editor |
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Post by dlwdwdvc on Jun 7, 2024 14:32:17 GMT -5
My daughter, the perfectionist… used to have a blog and I always shared the Making Gingerbread House with (mouseowners) …every year tradition.
It was fun because she condensed into a fast action version … Minutes into seconds of viewing
I’d love to see that as your Standing Pines Updates introduction !
Currently , I have to say that picture you just shared with…Husband roasting marshmallows looking bored ,wearing a propane tank hanging on his wrist….and the mysterious hand about to strike a Match…. “Scary True Tales around the campfire “ Join us nightly for more cooking & roasting fun
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Post by MinnieMom on Jun 7, 2024 16:22:08 GMT -5
dlwdwdvc - thanks for the feedback! Is the video on the link below more what you're thinking? The images in these video links are not right yet. Both are working drafts for concept. www.canva.com/design/DAGHL_xuXAE/rXUPTinKVSpNcaKGWvi7Lg/watch?utm_content=DAGHL_xuXAE&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=editorMy social media consultant thinks we should move to using most if not all stock videos/images to show essentially generic camping. I understand why. Those visuals are much more finished. But I'm thinking that while that's appropriate for instagram posts, some facebook posts, etc - - the Building Memories series is about building the campground. It may be a more limited group versus trying for the likely larger group that would be more interested in seeing what they could do while camping at Standing Pines. Increasing reservations is a critical goal, and I also want to be able to finish out the remaining 18 weeks of construction with that as the focus for Building Memories. Then, after a double length final episode celebrating the soft opening on October 15, I'll retire Building Memories as an active video series. Discovering Memories Together, a brand new video series showing guests enjoying the campground after the soft opening, will premiere as the new weekly show for Standing Pines on October 22. I see that as a much shorter video, more like 3-5 minutes, with each week highlighting a different amenity or site type. |
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Post by Adelard of Bath on Jun 7, 2024 21:20:25 GMT -5
I would say that 24 second videos you showed in the above links are the way I would want to go...to me they show what is clearly a campground (or a house or a farm or something) being built, but family time and fun is still happening. Your clips appear to be like 1.5 seconds long, which ironically is a little too short? My brain starts watching a little girl and says "oh what is happening in this story" and then it's gone. The kids playing ball, though, I can recognize the story in that time, but I still think it would be nice if it hung around a little longer. Also, I think the effect where the images "slide" off the screen and the new ones slide onto the screen made my brain take just a moment to focus on the new image.
Dogs in a camper, who doesn't love that!
Way more engaging than the slide show / PowerPoint.
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Post by MinnieMom on Jun 8, 2024 12:35:32 GMT -5
That is super helpful - thank you! DH said the same thing. He liked the short views, but thought they were too short to even really see.
I did some more work on this new format yesterday. After lunch, I'll come back and finish the script so I can film the headshots outside the RV tomorrow morning before it gets hot. It will be interesting to see if this change up makes a difference.
Speaking of videos, I have a favorite new camping accessory. After months of debating whether or not to spend $100, I saw one of the basic robot vacuums go on sale on Amazon last week. I ordered one for the two bedroom RV I'm currently using as a temp office to help with the constant battle to keep sand off the floors. Two days after getting it, I have clean RV floors! I love this! So I made a quick video 30 second video of it cleaning hard to reach places in the RV kitchen to share the fun.
It's funny. I am comfortable making big dollar decisions quickly. Likely because by the time we have decided to buy or do something, there's a lot of research already done so it's really just the go/no-go decision. It's the little purchases - under $1,000 - that both DH and I dither on. I kid you not, we once spent over a month deciding if we would buy a $20 item.
So for those like me who are really more into comfort camping - here's the Robot Vacuum RV video!
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Post by MinnieMom on Jun 9, 2024 18:50:15 GMT -5
It's been a super productive working weekend! Plus, time out to celebrate DD's birthday today. She wanted a chill day at home. She and DH have been playing a marathon round of a brand new video game most of the day. They are both extremely happy. Fun times!!
Among other things, I put together this fun little video story snippet for Rascal and Sage, two of the Forest Friends characters. By the grand opening in December, I plan to have enough of these little video stories on a youTube playlist for kids to watch them on one of the tvs in the media lounge in the welcome center. Sharing because it's fun!
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Post by MinnieMom on Jun 11, 2024 16:46:52 GMT -5
I posted the first show in the new format today. This takes significantly more work on my end - best guess is that I have well over 30 hours of work in this one 16 minute video. www.youtube.com/live/kgWgwRoOGe0?si=YY1re1Kd3zF2qP-ZTo be fair, some of that time was a one-and-done to set up the reusable format. Sometime the video shows when I use the video link icon and sometimes it does not. Just in case, here's the link: www.youtube.com/live/kgWgwRoOGe0?si=YY1re1Kd3zF2qP-Z In any event, I felt good enough about this show to text it to a couple dozen people who have expressed interest at different points in the project. That has already resulted in one potential investor/partner/sales person scheduling time for a follow up conversation next week. I don't expect much, but worth having the conversation with this lead to see what he is thinking. More happily, several professional/personal contacts sent back quick, positive, encouraging messages. So that's nice. Because my style is 80-for-the-20, I'm certain there are some mistakes in this video. I can live with that. It accomplishes the purpose - updating progress, recognizing those who are helping, putting out a new challenge and presenting a vision for what the Welcome Center in particular will be like when we soft open in 125 days. Now, before I call it a day, I have to track down a possible duplicate payment, reach out to GC about a pond contact I made, email DHEC, combine feedback from two teams working on related projects to keep them aligned, reach out to our electrical engineer with a question and have dinner with the family. Whoever said small business owners work half time - at least 12 hours of every 24! - knew what they were talking about!! |
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Post by Adelard of Bath on Jun 12, 2024 14:35:06 GMT -5
Well it may have been more work, but it shows in the product. I thought it was a good video.
Hopefully you can reuse most of the work and subsequent videos, like you said.
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Post by MinnieMom on Jun 16, 2024 14:29:09 GMT -5
Happy Fathers Day!!
Thanks, Adelard! There is for sure still lots of room for improvement. And it was time well spent on that work, I think. I'm reusing the template for next week. I suspect that time needed per week will continue to drop as I get used to this approach. I am also experimenting with the little semi-animated cartoon stories for the Forest Friends. I plan to do one of the ~1 minute shorts each week until we open. It's not right yet. The voice for Wisteria in particular is off. But it is getting closer to what I want to create each week, so that's a win!
This is fun - like my own personal imagineer experience!
Project management for campground construction continues, as does the business work on the ops prep and marketing side. Facebook is over 1800 followers now and continuing to grow, so I've turned my attention to trying to get the youTube channel to grow. That will take some time - but once it starts to grow, I think it has the potential to grow fast. I know if I started doing content on camping lifestyle with hacks and tips, it might grow faster. So that's a possibility to consider in coming weeks.
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