Crafting Connections: How Video Transforms Business Stories

Kristina Stubblefield: [00:00:00] Today, we have a special episode lined up as we dive into the dynamic realm of video marketing. I'm thrilled to introduce our guest for today's discussion. Dave Carroll, founder of One Stop Media Kentucky. Dave brings a wealth of experience and expertise in the world of video production, and he's here to shed light on how video can transform Business storytelling.

Dave will share insights into his journey, highlighting the importance of storytelling and capturing the essence of a brand's mission and vision, whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting on your business journey, this episode is packed with valuable wisdom to help you harness the full potential of video marketing.

So grab your favorite beverage, sit back and join us as we embark on a journey into the art of crafting connections with video. Without [00:01:00] further ado, let's welcome Dave Carroll to the show. 

 Welcome to Simplified Solutions, your go to resource for small business owners and entrepreneurs seeking practical advice, innovative strategies, and simple solutions for business, marketing, and technology. I'm your host, Kristina Stubblefield. If you're eager to take your business to greater heights, then you're in the right place.

We're here to help you unleash your business's untapped potential, boost your visibility and maximize your investments. Let's dive into the world of simplified solutions. Stay tuned and let's simplify success together. 

Okay everybody, you are in for such a treat. My good friend Dave Carroll is here from One Stop Media KY.

And Dave, we are gonna talk about video. Yeah. Now wait a second, don't go pausing or turning this off, stay with us. You [00:02:00] know, I, a lot of times say I help people with simplified solutions and when they start to hear video, eyes glaze over or they know they need it for their business, but they feel like, and I'm speaking from experience of working with people, it's this daunting task.

There's a list of so many things to do. And I want, I just want to shatter that whole myth that video has to be complex. 

Dave Carroll: Man. Well, first of all, thank you for having me on. Uh, it's an honor and I feel like that was too gracious of an intro, even though it was very brief about the fact that I'm like, I'm not an expert per se, but I'm going to be the expert today for you.

Kristina Stubblefield: You are an expert and I've been very fortunate to work with Dave and can't wait to do more. And it was important to have you because I feel like video. It's a must. You know, it used to be, it was great to have, or if you were [00:03:00] elevating your game, you would add in video. It's not the case anymore. You just can't it regardless and interesting enough.

We're recording this after Facebook and Instagram was down for a set amount of time yesterday Which I saw so many posts where people were reeling but this topic right here isn't just all about social media 

Dave Carroll: You're absolutely right 

Kristina Stubblefield: So let's dive in where we can initially start and hang tight because you're gonna get to hear all about Dave and his business so Tell me what it means to you for video for a business, no matter small business, nonprofit, entrepreneur, coach, speaker. Tell me what video should mean or means to you. 

Dave Carroll: Absolutely. Well, I'm going to have to piggyback on something that I heard you say in your conversation with some business owners, both, you know, entrepreneurs, you know, long time, some of them were brand new in the room. Some of them had been doing it for 20 years.

Uh, but you said something that has stuck with me. Uh, and I'm not just saying that cause we're on this podcast together, [00:04:00] but you said that so many people are going to social media first. And I know we're going to talk about more than just social media, but. People in my generation specifically, and I'm one of those people, we will go to social media first to learn about a business.

And to be honest with you, if that, if that social media page is just a bunch of Canva edits, which can was great. I love that tool. 

Kristina Stubblefield: It has a place. 

Dave Carroll: It has a place, but if that's all they have, or if I have seen that, if I see that they have not posted in six months to a year, especially video content.

Depending on what it is, I'm probably not even going to continue looking for that, you know, business or whatever to go to their website. 

Kristina Stubblefield: You're not even going to consider taking the next step. Forget what the next step is. You're not even going to consider it. 

Dave Carroll: Absolutely. And so for me, video is just so crucial. And it does not matter who you are. You've got to get whatever you do in front of the camera. Whether that's a service that you offer, a product that you sell. If it's you as a speaker, a consultant, um, if you're a [00:05:00] nonprofit and you offer a service like people have to be able to see it and visualize it and conceptualize it to be attracted to it, to want to go with your specific service or sale, you know, to the sale of your product, right?

Kristina Stubblefield: Well, and you're touching on something really important when it comes back to Video is your mission, and that's one of the videos that I talk to people about is why do you do what you do? Why did you even get in the industry you're in? It's so much more than just, I have this product, and it's for sale. I offer this service, and here's what it does.

No, it's the transformation that these things help others with. And video, it's a storytelling opportunity. It offers a different component than photos, wording, and in some cases, you're right, it starts with social media. Now, it depends on who your target audience is. It could start on Google. 

Dave Carroll: Correct, yep.

Kristina Stubblefield: Which makes [00:06:00] Google Business Profile important, but guess what's on there as well? Video. And the other thing is, when I say to people, you know, your website is the foundation for your business. 

Dave Carroll: Mhm. 

Kristina Stubblefield: What I mean by that is that doesn't necessarily mean that's the entry point for someone to learn about your business or be introduced to your business.

A lot of times from doing this over two decades, you know, people find someone on social media or Google or another search engine or word of mouth. And then, they go out and start researching and that comes to your website. And that's the thing is I try to explain to people is a video is one of the best tools that is required now in your toolbox because it's also able to be repurposed.

And what I do a lot of times I talk about saving time, energy, effort, and all the other things you want to add in. And so, When I see people's expression change, when I mention a [00:07:00] video, I immediately say, wait a second. You are talking about a piece of content that can be used across multiple platforms, including your website and search engines, but also it's social media content.

 It is also something that can be utilized for months. And or longer. Yeah. Now there's a caveat to that because I do think there's an importance to updating your content. But so many businesses and entrepreneurs are missing out by not having video content, whether it be through a professional or these smartphones these days.

Dave Carroll: Right. 

Kristina Stubblefield: The capabilities behind them are important, but I also want to have this conversation because I believe that there is a time and place for cell phone video or video that you do on your own and a place for professional video services. I would try to say that cinema, I always mess up that word, but you know what [00:08:00] I'm thinking.

Yeah. Okay. And I think it's important for people to understand that, that yes, you should use your cell phone to capture content and do videos on a regular basis, but you should, just like branding photos and headshots, you should also have professional video that help tell your story, who you are. What it is you offer.

What's that transformation. So I've just spent a lot at you. I know that's okay, but let's talk about that key element there of doing it on your own and a professional. 

Dave Carroll: Yeah. So even just like what we were talking about with the Canva posts, right? Like I, more than even that with cell phone video is that they have more than a place for even just the Canva, uh, edits that people do. Not the Canva edits, but the, um, 

Kristina Stubblefield: Carousels and the, and the templates are a great place to start. Yeah, absolutely. 

Dave Carroll: And, and cell phone video is in a similar boat, but even greater because. There is a need for that. 

Kristina Stubblefield: And it's authentic.

Dave Carroll: It's [00:09:00] authentic. It, it feels like, okay, you know, when we talk to people in the wedding industry, right? Or that offer some sort of professional service, right? Like, it's important for their day to day. Like, document once or twice a week, 30 seconds. It's a little just B roll clip, throw some popular music on it and let that be, you know, what, something you do every week and just a good cadence to have right now, professional video where, where in my opinion, this comes into play and what I strive to teach my clients about is like, I want you and I'm not here to be taking the things that we do and talk about and thinking about how you can do that with your phone.

Um, but also know like. I'm here to do this for you, right? And so that's then where it comes into play, where I'm going to bring in a lot of quality. It's going to have great audio. Like we're going to make sure that it reaches your audience and tells your story. 

Kristina Stubblefield: It's an elevation. You're completely elevating the product.

Dave Carroll: A thousand percent. 

Kristina Stubblefield: The service. 

Dave Carroll: Yes. And so for me, like the [00:10:00] way I always explain it is like, especially with small businesses and nonprofits and medium businesses, but you see it a lot with small businesses, entrepreneurs, and nonprofits. The reason that the people that start them do them is because they're passionate about it and they love it, 

right?

Kristina Stubblefield: But they don't want to do anything outside, so to speak, in their mindset is this is my business, this is what I do, this is what I offer, this is what I'm honed in on. 

Dave Carroll: Yes. And so that's where somebody like myself can come into play and say like, I want to communicate your passion to your audience in a way that they've never seen it before and help you to reach new audiences, right?

That's my goal. That's my job. And so, you know, when you have a, you know, for instance, this clothing store that's, uh, in my town, right? Shout out the page. Simply Blessed. They're amazing. She does such a good job on social media. Um, you know, with her phone, she takes fantastic pictures, but it was so cool to share her video a couple of weeks ago and see people in LaGrange comment on it.

I'm in [00:11:00] LaGrange, Kentucky to see people comment on that. Oh my gosh, I can't wait to visit the shop now because of her story. 

Kristina Stubblefield: Yeah. It's a whole different perspective. The way that those videos come to life. 

Dave Carroll: Yes, 

Kristina Stubblefield: so to speak. 

Dave Carroll: Yeah, 

Kristina Stubblefield: but there's so much to be said about that authenticity piece and you filmed when I did a lunch and learn Recently, which I love doing those on a smaller scale just that intimate part of a smaller audience and I spoke a lot about online presence.

Dave Carroll: Yeah, 

Kristina Stubblefield: that was the conversation. It wasn't really so much as speaking. It was some teaching but it was conversation about online presence and visibility and when you take. You need to share out to the world You're best foot forward. 

Dave Carroll: Yeah 

Kristina Stubblefield: Right now and I've said it over and over again people are making buying decision based on what they find online. 

Dave Carroll: Yeah, absolutely.

Kristina Stubblefield: So If we're comparing apples to apples, do you want them making a [00:12:00] buying decision on a quick video that you shot with your cell phone. Hey, first of all, if you've at least taken that step, great kudos to you because there's a lot of people that don't. And honestly, you really can be a step ahead of your competition just by turning on your camera.

Dave Carroll: Absolutely agree with that. 

Kristina Stubblefield: Or would you like people making a buying decision based on a professional video, just like headshot branding shoots that you utilize about your business. 

Dave Carroll: Yeah, absolutely and it's so crazy. I was just talking about this with one of my clients yesterday She was talking about how like video is such an investment and it's not just an investment in the person that is doing the video, right?

Like it's not just an investment in me as her, as the person that does this for her, it's an investment back into herself. And she was saying that a lot of people don't realize that like. They need to understand that whatever they're doing, as long as it's planned out and thought out carefully, um, [00:13:00] that you have to determine that worth.

And you have to see that like, Hey, look, this isn't just a social media one time video that I'm going to go live and talk about this product. Like this is something that's going to live on the internet and I want it to live on the internet and I want it to be the reason that people buy from me that come to my place of business because it's my, like you said, it's my best foot forward.

Right. And so for me, when I heard her say that was just such a great clicking moment of like, yeah, cause I'll oftentimes I'm thinking so much about people, uh, making sure that I'm the right fit, but they have to also understand that this is, they have to think, are they worth it? Are they worth the investment of that video for themselves?

And I just thought that was so impactful because it is important to know that the people you're buying from. Put their best foot forward and everything may do. And at the time, everybody's best foot looks different. Like you said, first step camp, you know, in front of your phone. That's, that's great.

Please do that. Like I tell everybody get in front of the camera, always 

Kristina Stubblefield: invest in a $20 or $30 tripod that comes [00:14:00] with a cell phone holder and just start doing it. That start is so important because you can always level up as you go. 

Dave Carroll: Absolutely. We got to get started somewhere. And so then it's that, okay, so now I've gotten started.

I've got my doors open. I've got business. How do I get to the next level? How do I create that product that people are going to keep coming back to and back to and back to? And what does that look like? And who's going to capture that for me? Because ultimately the other piece is not only, you know, having a camera, a good camera, all those sorts of things that come in good audio, but it's somebody like me who wants to build that relationship and I want to see you win.

And that's what I tell people all the time. Whether you go with me or go with somebody else or not, our conversation starts a lifetime of me wanting to see you win. 

And so that's important. 

Kristina Stubblefield: And that's really important. The other thing is, and I used to talk a lot about this, is it's planting those seeds.

And what we're talking about with something such an authentic, professional piece is you're laying that groundwork. You're [00:15:00] planting those seeds to be out there for quite a while. And the other thing is with. Online presence. Which is so much more than social media. If social media platforms were gone tomorrow, guess what?

The world wide web is still there. And I pause because I feel like you can only, there's some things that's, I always hate that saying about beating a dead horse because I don't, I don't like that saying. I'm very much an animal supporter. We do a lot with different animal groups and non profits, but I feel like sometimes I harp on this is, you know, your best foot forward. If they didn't meet you, they didn't see you, nothing. All they did was go to your website because hopefully the content that's on your websites, on social media, on your Google business profile, wherever. It's almost as if a person has blinders on making a decision.

If they are going to consider you for whatever type of business, product service, anything. [00:16:00] And I, I think. In talking with people, professional videography and video shoots is something that big companies do. 

Dave Carroll: Right. 

Kristina Stubblefield: And that I feel like has started to change them. But for years I've worked with a lot of different clients in a coaching aspect.

I'm not the professional videographer. I'm there. As my relationship with that client knowing about their business What their bullet points are that they want to make sure they get across but getting them the hell out of their own head and just being themselves and I love that capacity because I know how great they are from working with them and I want them to be able to come out of their shell.

Are they ever going to be really fully comfortable, but enough to where they're authentic. They're themselves talking about their business product or services. And that's why I wanted to tackle this topic is [00:17:00] because when people start to hear about it, and it used to be the same thing with brand shoots.

Oh, I mean, you've got to pick out a wardrobe. Then you've got to this, this, and this, and whoa, you're already stacking things up. That's going to make you think twice about it. And I think a lot of times people get in their own head about this. They don't question as much about spending ads on social media, or there are still people that run ads and publications and depending on your business, that that could be a good fit.

But. I also have seen people run Google ads and things like that and not even have a Google business profile and it's almost at what point in time are you putting the cart before the horse? And I've had those conversations with clients recently that are spending a good amount of money on ads, but their websites four or five years old or It's not updated.

It doesn't have recent pictures or recent testimonials. And unfortunately what ends up happening is you're wasting [00:18:00] a percentage of the money that you're spending with ad dollars. When you come back to that investment piece that you mentioned, yes, it's an investment, but it's having all those tentacles.

It has to do with so much more than just that video shoot. There's so many different ways to use it and that's why I just wanted it was really important to have a conversation about that. So Now before we run I try to keep these short and sweet, but this was an important topic I want you to take a little bit of time and share with my audience about your business and I know that you're based in LaGrange, Kentucky, but you have bags will travel I also know that but honestly and I even want to know like tell me all about One Stop Media KY.

Dave Carroll: Yeah, yeah. First of all, I think that this has been such a cool, interaction because it is so important to see from both ends of the spectrum, right? Like, I think oftentimes it appears that, you know, [00:19:00] people that, uh, focus on SEO and websites, like, it's like, it doesn't matter. We just got to put something out.

Like, I hear that a lot. It's like, there's, there's almost like this butting head. Now when they work together, it's just beautiful and magical to understand that your presence is more than just your social media, but it's also more than just your website and SEO too. They've got to be kind of married in this space.

But anyway, all that to say, so one stop media, Kentucky, I've been doing this for a about a year and a half now, total, went full time back in October. It's been a really cool time. I operate mainly in Oldham County, Kentucky, which is just east of Louisville. But I, I do travel. I do a lot of stuff in Louisville, in Southern Indiana, Lexington, Cincinnati.

I've got, you know, kind of clients everywhere in between as well. I love telling people's stories. I'm a storyteller. That's, that's really what I'm passionate about. There's going to be people out there that have incredible camera work, great visual effects. They've got, the whole amazing, all this cool stuff there.

They've 20 years in the business. That's awesome. But like There, in [00:20:00] my opinion, there's nobody that builds relationships and connects with their clients to be able to tell their story well, like I do. And that's what I love to do. I love to help tell the story of why you do what you do and how to communicate with your audience, no matter what you do.

Whether you sell clothes at a boutique shop or you are selling a wedding service or whatever in between anything of that nature. I love doing podcasts. I love talking myself because I am passionate about what I do. Just like so many of these. Small business owners are passionate about what they do.

And so I love to help connect those dots for them and make sure that their story is told on a hyper local level at a price that they can afford. That's not these massive agency prices that work with the big businesses and not that I'm the cheapest in town either, but to make sure that I give them a great product that they can use for months.

That's my goal is to give them a product or products that they can use for months and months and months. And then we reconvene and we make even more, [00:21:00] and we do more stuff. My goal is to build relationships. I don't want to just come to your business one time. That's not my goal.

I'll do it. But like, I would rather say, Hey, I'll see you again next quarter. And, we'll do even more cool stuff and I'll bring this new equipment out or whatever, and you'll have this product out by then that's perfect. I'll come and shoot that. And I just, I love having my camera out and telling people's stories, and being able to do it and provide for my family.

 I have a wife and three children, one on the way in July, I love my family. I get to do a lot of amazing stuff with them because of this job. I get to do a lot of stuff for my church and I'm just grateful. I try to operate with an attitude of gratitude truly to be able to provide a service for my client.

That's honestly unbeatable and not from the perspective of just price or whatever, but just that they come and they know they're going to have a great experience with me. I'm going to treat them with utmost respect and I'm going to give them everything I have. And, I always try to, if I say I'm going to do something, I try to stick to my commitment, but also try to say, you know, I snagged these pictures and I just thought you look [00:22:00] how joyful you were, and I just always try to get candid shots too while I'm there.

And, just again, try to make people feel loved and welcomed, and appreciated for. One, partnering with me as a business, but two, just in general, because they're people and, I feel called to love them and care for them. And that's how I try to go up, try to treat all my clients in that way.

Kristina Stubblefield: So you made me think of a saying I used to say a lot. Attitude is a small thing that makes a big difference. Working with you, you can immediately tell how passionate you are about what you do. And it isn't just about the work you're there to do.

It's about nurturing those relationships and also being a connector for other businesses out there. And. Like many small businesses, you are really passionate about what you do and it shows in your work. So, I appreciate you taking the time to talk about this topic. And, I'm hoping that you will do it again with me in the future.[00:23:00] 

You know, you don't want to just see someone once. 

Dave Carroll: Yes. 

Kristina Stubblefield: You want to see people multiple times. But also, I would like to be able to share with my audience some behind the scenes because that is one thing that should have been more of a priority. Is consistent videos that are put out, not from a standpoint of just social videos, but that are why you do what you do. Who are you? What do you offer? Those pillars that I call them. I think it's really important. So I'm excited to show them some behind the scenes of that. Absolutely. I'm excited for that too. All right. Thank you so much. Now, you want to make sure that you follow Dave on all the social media platforms and you will find those linked below.

Thank you so much. Thank you.

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