Why would anyone hire you if they can watch your training video for free?

Fellow professional speaker Suzannah Baum poses the question:

“A client videotaped my presentation and would like to post it on their website. I welcome the added exposure, but it raises the question — why would anyone hire me in the future if they can just watch my training online (and for free).”

Madonna said, “There’s no such thing as bad publicity,” although Michael Jackson might not agree.

The simple answer is, they like what they see. Guerillas know that the more visible you are the better.

Confidence is the #1 buying motive, and a sample is the #1 way to build confidence. Obviously the client was happy or they wouldn’t publish your work.

As to concerns about copyright: in the absence of arrangements to the contrary, you automatically own the rights to the performance, while the cameraman (or the company who hired him) owns the rights to the video tape, so the client CAN’T publish your work without your permission. On the other hand, if they pay EXTRA for the right to videotape you, then it falls under “Work for Hire” which is a whole other kettle of fish, and ALL rights revert to the client.

Address this in your contract and AV rider. Use the language, “All Rights Reserved. Exclusive, non-transferable permission granted for non-public exhibition to [limited group or audience] for a period of [limited time frame, typically one year].”

We add an extra 50% to the fee for being videotaped, UNLESS the client agrees to send me a copy of the finished product AND the original master tapes when they’ve finished editing. Then you can add clips to your demo reel. Add them to your YouTube Channel (you DO have a YouTube Channel, don’t you?) Put them on your website. Link to them in your blog. Click here to see an example.

Then let every client, customer and bureau partner you work with know that they’re out there.

–Orvel Ray

Home

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »