Those are all better than nothing, but too passive. Don't wait for clients to come looking for you -- GO TELL THEM they need a video and that you are the one to do it. There's nothing better than a personal letter and demo video sent to the right person in the organization. NEVER cold call on the phone or send email.
When I used to do tons of corporate work, some of the best clients didn't even know they needed a video until I told them them needed a video.
Think of what your work can accomplish for the client. Focus on the results your video will get (sales or training mostly) and then sell them on the idea that your video will accomplish those goals.
Don't waste time talking about your equipment or how you'll do it. Clients don't care anymore about that than you'd care about the brand of wrenches your plumber uses. It's the guy running the wrench that matters.
Show examples of your work and quote exact costs. If clients can see what they get for their money and then estimate the benefits they'll get from it, then it's a no brainer not to commission the video if it's something they can use. That's not always the case. Sometimes you'll get nowhere with a client, and they are right to pass on your offer. I've seen a lot of companies piss away a lot of money on videos they didn't need or were not executed right. Just because they say "No" doens't mean they are wrong or you didn't do your job right.
Make sure your website is up to par, but don't expect it to do any advertising for you. No local client is going to "find" you online, but they will want to learn all about you from your website once they know you exist. Having a website is like having a phone number. Nobody's going to use it unless YOU make them aware of it.
My advice to stop being so passive. Be the aggresor and don't waste any money on yellow pages ever again. Only advertise in the newspaper if it's a business newspaper and reaches a high number of potential business clients. If you spend money on a regular newspaper, you're wasting money on 99% of the readers who aren't even in the market for your services even if it was free. If you look at the CPM you spent to reach actual potential clients, you might as well have flushed your money down the toilet.
So, who NEEDS a video? Which potential clients are prime candidates to chase? That's the real secret isn't it.
Doug
i need the cash so i guess ill be doing a few. i cant believe what prices people are giving. $1000, etc for an edited video. come on! I wont do an edited video for under 1600. how can you eat and even pay bill for 1000 wedding? i know i cant. and even 1600 is too low but i got nothing but cheap brides around me. -RV