Maximized Media

05/08/2024

Have you ever started a new career and realized pretty quickly that you hated it?

When I first started Maximized Media, after officially taking the leap and going full-time into ‘my own thing,’ I remember feeling incredibly excited, hopeful, and overall massively optimistic about the future!

But not long after the ‘newness’ had worn off, I realized I actually didn’t like what I did…at all.

Don’t get me wrong, I was grateful.

Appreciative of the opportunity to do something new, chart a new course, set off on a ‘new adventure’...

But after doing it for a bit...

It just hit me hard...

This wasn’t it!

But why?!

I’d become all but obsessed with all things cameras and video production.

Why was I feeling so ‘off’ about the work I did...?

It took me a little while to put it all together, but what I realized was, I'd been leaving 99% of my ‘value’ on the shelf!

When I was hired to do a job and the client requests were predetermined, that didn’t leave any room for collaboration or a joint ‘ideation’!

Which, by the way, is EXACTLY how many in the production world want it.

They focus exclusively on showing up and capturing exactly what they’re hired to shoot.
Cameras and production are their ‘prime focus’ (cheesy camera joke)

But I realized this was NOT me.

Over the years of my career in fitness, I’d developed a passion for marketing (out of necessity, since if you don’t get clients… you don’t get paid).

But through that time I realized that I’d been leaving out something I not only enjoyed but what I believed to be the highest value I could provide to clients.

The ability to work with them to create a strategy that best meets their needs, aligns with the clients they serve, AND incorporates video that is still visually appealing and ‘creatively captivating.’

The best of both worlds, right!?

Well, I wasn’t doing any of this at first, as I was basically a ‘human tripod,’ just showing up to record, then editing the footage.

I’m glad I realized this early on, as I’m sure it has saved me from a few years of not being able to do what I enjoy most, and being able to truly provide the most value to those I work with.

Anyway, in case you didn’t know what Maximized Media was all about, now you do.

“We’re the ‘lovechild’ of Marketing + Filmmaking...
The beautiful 8lb 8oz baby of blending visually stunning & captivating creative with a marketing-focused strategy.”

And here’s our new site: maximizedmediaproductions.com

02/08/2024

We ALL know video is the best tool to use to market and grow your business,
but honestly.. creating them can really suck!
(If it’s not your full time thing)

I’ve been in this industry for 4+ years, and I see 2 constant problems for the clients and businesses I’ve worked with.

1 - NO TIME.. You don’t have the time to spend creating a strategy, filming, editing and then distributing the videos, so you just assume it’s better NOT to do them at all.

2 - Hiring an agency is EXPENSIVE! (Trust me, I know what we provide is not cheap, it requires a lot of moving parts and is time intensive)

But..
�I realized there’s a way to remove these problems AND be able to create consistent, high quality video content for your business!

Here’s how it works

Step 1 - You tell us a bit about your business, your audience / clients and goals, then we create a personalized video / creative strategy for you!

Step 2 - We take that strategy and create production guidelines for you to follow! (So you can capture and present like a professional!) *Really, we make it super simple so you don’t have to hate being in front of the camera!

Step 3 - (this is where the magic happens) We take the footage you send us, and our team of professional video editors work their magic to make it pop!!

Step 4 - (This is the part that most miss), We give you a detailed ‘distribution’ plan, for how to best use the videos we’ve worked on together, so you get the most out of them!

So if you’re ready to get started, you click the link and we’ll get you onboarded and on your way to killer videos!!

https://videoimpactpro.carrd.co

30/07/2024

I am NOT much of a handyman.
[Huge surprise, I know...]
(Stop laughing... it hurts my feelings.)
Anyway,
I AM stubborn enough to figure things out, and I often consult the prestigious minds of ‘YouTube University’.
This combination is usually sufficient to get basic jobs done.
But few times has it been more evident that I am not Tim ‘the tool man’ Taylor than during a recent disagreement with our washing machine.
Before I publicly embarrass myself by sharing these tragic events, I must first clarify that it wasn’t a lack of ‘knowledge’, but more a lack of paying attention...
So this is how I almost turned our brand new home into a houseboat.
Changing the hoses on the back of the washing machine, I had to navigate between these two Goliath appliances and wedge myself into a space where I could wield my tools and check one more item off the ‘honey-do list’.
Shut off water - check
Disconnect hoses - check
Remove drain hose - check
Secure drain hose to clamp on back of the washer - check...
You get the idea.
After connecting the new hoses and repositioning the washing machine, we’re back in business!
So, we toss in a load of clothes, and I’m on my way to the next task...
Feeling like I just may have grown my first chest hair, walking with my head high, because... I am handy!
I go outside to knock a few more things off the list,
and when I come back inside, I am quickly informed by my 7-year-old that we had water flowing in the hallway.
I sprung into action... (mostly panicking.)
Our brand new house, water flowing out like we were drawing a bath in the hallway.
I open the laundry room door to find about 1.5 feet of standing water, and rising.
Shut off the washing machine.
Frantically spend the next 20 minutes soaking up water with every towel we own.
(No shop-vac because... well, guess I’m not a handyman)
And after getting things as dry as possible, I pulled the washing machine away from the wall to try and find the culprit.
Did I not connect the hoses the right way?
This was so much water, where did it all come from?!
That’s when I noticed an empty drain where a hose should be, and found the drain hose, still securely attached to the back of the washing machine.
So, I’d just unintentionally submersive-mopped a significant section of our home.
Feeling like a failure, I realized in that moment the importance of paying attention.
So why do I publicly embarrass myself by sharing my accidental aquatic adventures?
Well, it’s to tell you I took that lesson to heart.
I pay attention much more now, and... It benefits some of you!
Here’s what I realized:
1. There’s been a very consistent problem that plagues MOST of the clients I’ve ever worked with (and so many who I’ve talked to and ended up not working with) — Time. (I found a way to solve that)
2. I can offer my services to a much larger audience, not bound by geographic location AND do so at a much more affordable price point. (Seriously, like 1/10th the price)
3. Being able to account for the areas of "what video content do we need to create’" actually creating it + "what do we do with it once it’s created" (you’ll get it all!)
Maximized Media is no longer bound by geographic proximity!!
So If you’ve wanted to work with us, but haven’t been able to due to location… this is for you!
If we’ve been previously just a bit out of your budget, this is for you!!
If you’re tired of ‘off the shelf’ video assets (you know the kind… the boring ‘vanilla’ stuff everyone else has...) this is for you!
If you’re awesome, this is for you!
If you know pineapples DO NOT belong on pizza, also for you (maybe...)
**And since this is literally brand new, I’m still working on finishing up the backend, (no this isn’t some ‘false scarcity’ sales tactic.. it’s true), it means I DO have a limit (right now), for how many clients I can take on for this new offering.
So if you’re interested, comment ‘hey, hit me up with info bro’ or something.. really anything.
Just comment or message me, and we’ll see if it’s a good fit for you!

24/07/2024

Local biz owner friends!

Before I spend time working on the details and logistics (and finding the space to work this into my schedule)…

I wanted to see if there’s enough interest.

The short of it is this..

Over the past couple months, I’ve had a handful of people (clients and non clients), ask for advice on setting up their own “studio” space to record video content.

I’ve given some general advice, but I’ve found the best approach to be evaluating what they have (space, equipment, etc.), and then giving the best personalized recommendations based on that.

This would be best for you if
- You’re already creating videos and want a more designated space to record..
- You want the quality of your videos to be better (both audio and visual)
- And even improve the video quality of your zoom calls.

Anyway.
If you’re interested, fill this out.
If enough people show interest, we’ll make it happen!

Otherwise, you’ll just have to scour YouTube and DIY it 😉

Access Google Forms with a personal Google account or Google Workspace account (for business use).

23/07/2024

I stumbled across this 'framework' a while back and now I seem to notice it in all of the Creative Video Ads I enjoy..

Be warned though,
it's a bit like the 'FedEx curse'..

Once you see it, you can't unsee it!!

18/07/2024

I was standing on my front porch, at like 9:00 pm, dressed like a vampire.

Sweating profusely through my ruffle collared shirt and excessively thick Polyester jacket.

I turned around to see the old lady across the street, staring at me while smoking a cigarette, accompanied by 8 of her 32 cats.

I felt a little embarrassed for a moment, taking in the surroundings, my “garb” and wondering what the curious drivers who passed by must be thinking..

But, I’d come this far, and I needed to see this through.
Embarrassment or not.
So I did..

I set up the camera to film the next angle in the sequence and delivered my line to my own Ring Doorbell,, “Want to try a bite” They’re very good!” - in my best Vampire accent.
(Holding a fake product I made, “Garlic Bites”..)

Ok, you’re probably very confused and need a little context..

I was in the beginning of my Video Marketing career, and I’d just begun my business.
I wanted to create an ad to market my services, but I didn’t have any clients yet.. So I couldn’t do what most do, and use "testimonial" videos, since, well… I had none.

But.. I did have camera gear, a business to promote, services to offer and a childlike imagination.

So I did what any self respecting adult would do..

I ordered a vampire costume on Amazon and created my first “Creative Ad.”

My thinking was…
Since I had no testimonials to use, I needed to create a way to communicate the value I could provide and problems my service could solve.

So I decided to create a character | spokesperson that was CLEARLY exaggerated and obviously fictional to be the “creative conduit” of delivering my value proposition and business offer.

I didn’t realize it at the time, but this is the framework that so many of my favorite ads have used!

A rainbow-soft-serve- ice-cream-pooping-unicorn and a Prince … The Harmon Brothers / Squatty Potty Ad.

"The Most Interesting Man in the World" - Dos Equis

"The Man Your Man Could Smell Like" Campaign - Old Spice..

They all use this same framework!

A spokesperson in an exaggerated scenario using a product / service as their “perfect” solution.

And now it’s hard for me to find an ad I like that DOESN’T use this template!

Why do I share this?
Did the video I created go on to have major virality?
No
It’s honestly only gotten 500 ish views across all platforms.

It’s what led me to discover the “Creative Packaging” framework, that I believe is PERFECT for creative ads, no matter the size of your budget or business.

If you want to give it a try yourself, I made a Custom GPT trained on the framework, as well as Alex Hormozi’s “value equation” (just so you can be sure you’re clearly articulating the value your product / services offer.

Give it a spin and go create some fun videos!! https://chatgpt.com/g/g-ZI0KsiyBV-value-equation-with-creative-packaging
(Oh and if you spin up some solid ideas, tag me in them! I’d love to see!!)

08/07/2024

I had the pleasure of chatting with Daniel Murray, creator of The Marketing Millennials a while back.

He shared some of their journey and how they've had success in consistently creating content that resonates with their audience.

If you're into any of that,
check it out!

Check out this episode of the Creative Marketing Cut, where our guest, Daniel Murray (creator of the Marketing Millennials), shared some of his journey and experience to creating a massive community and audience.

02/07/2024

Not everyone needs what we provide.

It may seem obvious,
but it's helpful to know if your business does!

Here's a simple little quiz to help you to find out!

20/05/2024

I like to be generous... Sometimes maybe even a bit too generous.
But that’s ok!

Here’s what I’ve decided to do.

I’m basically giving my brain away for free.

If you’re struggling with video content, feeling stuck, or not sure how to add creativity...
If your videos seem generic, stale, or boring...
If your current videos aren’t doing your business justice...

I want to offer you my brain! What does that mean?

Glad I asked!

Based on your business details, goals, and target market, I’ll create a Video Plan for you!
Or the fancy name I’ve given it, your very own custom “Creative Video Pathway.”

This is something that has previously been reserved for active clients.
Only beginning the process once we’ve started officially working together.

But I realize that this is a problem that plagues so many otherwise great businesses, that I wanted to offer to help as many as possible!

So let’s work together to rid newsfeeds everywhere of those outdated, stale, boring and creatively - void videos.

And instead, let's get your personality, uniqueness and style injected into the content your business deserves.

Click the link here to get your free Creative Video Pathway!

If your business is stuck with video content, the Creative Video Pathway is for you!

08/05/2024

Universal?
Maybe not...

Indispensable?
Absolutely!!

Discover the marketing videos your business can't afford to miss!

07/05/2024

There’s no “one size fits all” process for anything in the creative process, and I’m certainly not here to “sell” you on one.

I simply want to break down a process that’s worked well for me, and in doing so, hopefully it provides a template for you to follow.

26/04/2024

Need a little help getting “unstuck” with content marketing?

This should help!

*And if you’d rather have us do it for you, and create the content, message us and let’s see if we’re a good fit!

20/03/2024

“Nail Your Marketing”

Episode 02 of the Creative Marketing Cut is live!
I had the chance to chat with TK Kader, a super successful SaaS Founder, Entrepreneur and Angel Investor.
He shared some incredibly valuable insights around his experience and what he sees working with other startups.

Check it out!!

https://youtu.be/EWtpbFWjHpA?si=NTQoXnxdMXuTak8h

https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/WmNeFQuu7Hb

TK Kader is an incredibly successful entrepreneur, with several "wins" in SaaS. He now helps other Startups on their journey to growing their companies, and ...

12/03/2024

I REALLY love good, creative - ads!

The ones that are so gripping, moving or just flat out entertaining.

The ones that bridge together two worlds (Marketing and Visual Storytelling (maybe even filmmaking??!)

Anyway..

I leaned into this obsession to find out why I’m so drawn to some, and not so much with others.

What I found is what I believe to be a pretty consistent template for making a great ad!

07/02/2024

Brand Film: Black Level AV

If you don’t know them yet, you should!

*We’re putting more of an emphasis on Creative Ads and Brand Films from now on..
So if you want your content to stand out..
we can help!

16/01/2024

Most Ad’s are absolutely boring!

Sure, that’s an opinion (but I’m pretty sure I’m not alone in thinking that..)

Utterly uninspiring. Same old spiel – someone hyping up their product, telling you it's a once-in-a-lifetime deal you can't miss…

There’s no degree of “appreciation” for the person watching (you), there’s less than no creative aspect, and the worst part of all… it’s pushed in your face and follows you around on the internet!

*scrolling through your Facebook feed, minding other people’s business ..and, *BAM*!,
same boring ad you’ve already seen, haunting you everywhere you go.

But…
*cue infomercial voice* “
"What if there was a better way?!”

Cheesiness aside, I REALLY do despise awful ads. If there’s not even an attempt to make it somewhat engaging, entertaining or enjoyable, it feels “lazy” to me (at least from the creative standpoint.)

And I’ll spare you my “assumptions” as to why I believe so many sink into this apathetic approach to ad creative, but instead, let’s focus on what can be done!

It’s simple really!

Just put a little effort into the creative!

(I am DEFINITELY biased here, but I think it’s the best part!!)

Imagine this: an ad that grabs you, clever, entertaining, relatable, or maybe a bit bold.
It snags your attention, and before you know it, you've watched it a bunch of times, even shared it with your friends.

THIS is the type of ad creative I can get behind!

Remember the first Dollar Shave Club commercial?
Most Liquid Death Ads..
Or pretty much anything from the Harmon Brothers (Squatty Potty, Lume Deodorant, Chatbooks, … )
They’ve all MASTERED the creative!

And sure, they have teams of world class writers, producers, marketers and everything else you could ever need to bring these ideas to life.

But, there’s a secret sauce that just about anyone can apply.

And to be fully transparent, it’s what I’ve been working on as our own template to follow for the creative ads we make!

So if you want to do your best Jim Harbaugh / Michigan impression, and steal it..
This is your chance!
Just follow this Creative Ad Blueprint.

And, if you know yourself well enough to know you won’t actually DO IT,
Then let us do it for you!

(simply shoot me a message saying you’re ready to create your own creative ad, and we’ll take over from there!)

19/10/2023

If you haven’t been to Sideways BBQ, you’re missing out!!

29/09/2023

Had the great pleasure of capturing some footage this morning for a joint podcast with Knucklehead Media Group and Medevac Podcast, such a great cause!

Texasvalorproject.com
Texas Valor Project