Feel Good Friday: TOMS

Courtesy of Start Something That Matters

In staying with this year's theme to surround ourselves with only 'good media' we're heading to The Arlington Theatre in Santa Barbara, CA tomorrow afternoon for another dose of inspiration. This uplifting mission will be presented by the self-proclaimed "Chief Shoe Giver" (AKA, TOMS Shoes founder) Blake Mycoskie who will be speaking about his mission to put shoes on the feet of "every child in need," his thought-provoking book Start Something That Matters and his innovative "One for One" entrepreneurial business model. We'll check back in with you to tell you all about it!

Behind-the-Scenes-Saturdays: Big Sur Scouting

Big Sur River Inn & Pfeiffer Beach

Traveling...ahem, we mean scouting is what makes this whole video production gig simply electrifying. And this week's assignment of taking a second peek at Big Sur for a future video shoot completely validated our intention of bringing breathtaking and awe-inspiring travel videos your way. Perhaps it was the first stop at the Big Sur River Inn where the MDF crew sat in the river adirondack chairs chatting it up with new friends from Germany for over an hour that we first crossed over into vacay mode. Or maybe it was the drive down famed PCH where the spectacular and rugged California coast cast a spell on our previously stressful moods. But, coming out of a fog bank and into the late afternoon sunshine at majestic Pfeiffer Beach surely sealed the deal and begged us to ask, 'Isn't this what traveling is all about?' 

Behind-the-Scenes Saturdays: Cupcakes Anyone?

Whodidily!

Somtimes, life just throws you a curveball, and when that happens - a cupcake is in order! So, when a beautiful, sunny, summer day hit Santa Barbara this week coupled with a day gone bad, a yummy cupcake was the antidote. Heading directly into Coast Village into the picturesque Montecito area of Santa Barbara, MDF foodie, Hilary took a down-and-out friend to the one and only place to cure the blues, Whodidily Cupcakes! That's right closet-cupcake-consumers, what'ya waiting for? Drive yourself directly to this whimsical and delish place and knock yourself out! Chat it up with the genuinely friendly owner Wendy Jones, and you'll be skipping your way out of there having just received a dose of joy and scrumptious sweet treats. Our faves: Lazy Daisy, Peanut Butter Yumptious or a 'little bites' assortment. Head to the beach with a couple of forks and all your troubles will vanish.

   

Video vs. Pics: Marketing Myth or Math?

The Huntington Library

The Huntington Library

Now here's a simple question that we're certain you have the answer to. Which keeps you on a website longer: pictures or video? If your answer was video, you are one of the 88.6 million people who watch online video per day (you know you are!). Don't get us wrong, pictures may speak a thousand words, but videos have the ability to engage the viewer in a way that most pictures simply don't.  And not only is video being used for pure entertainment but it's also used for marketing and advertising purposes on business and commerces' websites and their social media sites such as Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn; and that's just the tip of the iceberg! 

So why are so many companies choosing to use video instead of just pictures and text for their website content? (stay with us - it'll pay off!). Well, websites that contain videos will rank higher on search engines than those without video as stated by Bruce Clay of SMX, an SEO company. Why is this you ask? (there you go asking more good questions). One reason is that search engines such as Google look for those websites that have 'long clicks' (the length of time a user clicks and stays on your website) and users will tend to stay on a website longer if they are viewing a video; thus making the page more 'sticky' (are you getting pumped up yet?). In addition, Google tends to rank websites with videos higher because it's believed that video provides more highly engaging content than pure text or pictures and will therefore rank those sites with video first. 

Of course, Google has other motivations too  - keep reading...

This being said, we may be able to deduce this little mathematical equation:

Google (#1 SEARCH ENGINE ON THE PLANET) + Youtube ( #1 LARGEST VIDEO SITE ON THE INTERNET & OWNED BY GOOGLE) = Websites (WITH YOUTUBE VIDEOS & LINKS) that may get rated higher on Google.

So, if you or your company are ready to hop aboard the video train, contact MDF! We'll help you enrich your online presence and ultimately increase your sales; and hopefully your smiles, too! 

lynda.com-What's not to love!

lynda.com is our go-to place for all new technology learning! 

Laguna Beach, Revisited!

                   image courtesy of The Orange County Register

If you've never heard of Tableaux Vivant, you're in for a real treat; if you have, you know what we mean when we say that you MUST take the opportunity to visit the Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach, CA!  It's located at the Festival of Arts and is literally a 'living picture' production of famous works of art. It takes place annually during the summer and involves hundreds of volunteers in the local area assisting in recreating masterpieces on stage; definitely a site to behold!  The theme is different each year and literally draws thousands of visitors each summer so make sure you get your tickets early in order to get the good seats! Word to the wise- bring binoculars as you wouldn't want to miss the miniscule chance of seeing one of the motionless models move an inch.


And while you're in the area, don't miss the Sawdust Art Festival located across the street- and yes, there really is sawdust.  Also held every summer, this art festival is laid back, family-friendly, and features more than 200 Laguna Beach artists ready to show you how they create their fine arts and crafts. 


If you want a sneak peak of this festival, you can check out one of our past videos of the Sawdust Art Festival located on our website.  http://moderndayfilms.com/mediaprojects.html

Behind-the-Scenes Saturdays: Romeo - TAKE 2!

How is it that this four-legged little 'Divo' (there's no 'Diva' equivalent), gets more camera time than the MDF crew? Sitting upon his middle-seat throne while we're doing all the work, our little MDF mascot is particularly gratified with his view from MDF's 'ViviVan.' Always quiet on the set, his temperate demeanor lends the crew the grounding and calm disposition often needed during a lengthy-light-chasing-hurried shoot. So, hail to Romeo - a crew's best friend!