Author: mvpbethklepper

You know what happens when you make a video without strategy?

Exactly nothing. Nada. Zilch.

We’ve been saying it for years (a gajillion times, to be exact)… but this week, we’re pulling back the curtain so you can hear it straight from the Mainstream team.

From big-budget shoots to scrappy Zoom recordings, we’ve seen it all and we’ve got some thoughts and data driven insights about what actually makes a video work.

Check out this week’s #BehindTheStream, it’s a little bit “meet the team,” a little bit “tough love,” and a whole lot of what makes us tick.

ROI.

It doesn’t stand for Random Office Intern (sorry, Chad).

At Mainstream, we love trying new editing tricks or filming a video that just popped into our heads, but that’s not really why we get out of bed in the morning.

We’re a business, and like our clients, what really makes us happy is results.

A polished video looks great. But if it’s not helping you sell, grow, or reach more of the people who matter… it’s just expensive decoration for your website.

Check out this week’s #BehindTheStream where we are breaking down how we think about ROI at Mainstream and why video should always be treated as a tool, not just a pretty clip.

Everywhere you look, AI is the headline.
Write your copy! Edit your video! Schedule your content!

And honestly? The tools are incredible. We use them, too.

But here’s the thing: the real magic isn’t in the automation. It’s in the story you tell.

Your voice, your perspective, your why. That’s what cuts through the noise.

This week’s #BehindTheStream is our take on why creativity still matters, and why no algorithm will ever replace the power of good storytelling.

This year, I’ve noticed a lot of businesses pulling stunts to grab attention online.
Flashy graphics. Gimmicks. Overpromises.

Sure, it works for a second but then? The spotlight fades.

We’ve learned something different in our own marketing: You don’t need to contort yourself into a new trick every week. Having a balanced strategy that actually supports your brand long-term is the real way to go.

This week’s #BehindTheStream is a playful reminder that you don’t need to juggle fire just to get noticed you just need a show that lasts.

Have we mentioned how much we’ve been learning this year?We’ve been cranking out more content than ever and most importantly, tracking the crap out of it.Because if there’s one thing I know about selling video (and making videos that actually sell), it’s this: if you can’t measure it, you can’t plan it, and you can’t track ROI.And yeah… those TikTokers and weird late-night creators you get stuck watching?

They’re actually onto something.

The trick is taking what those kooky creators are doing to rack up gajillions of views (not a real number, obviously) and making it work in your brand voice while keeping the level of professionalism you want to sell with.

That’s what we’re pushing ourselves to do every week: create content that sells what we sell, and actually stops people mid-scroll long enough to watch.

Check out this week’s #BehindTheStream and see how we did.

Are first impressions really everything?In the world of online video, the answer is a big yes.We spent several dollars running value-packed LinkedIn ads, and here’s what we learned: if you don’t grab attention in the first 5 seconds (which is incredibly hard in the endless scroll), it doesn’t matter if you have the perfect solution to your audience’s problems… because they’ll never stick around long enough to see it.Now, how to stop the scroll?

That’s the art. I usually go for a bold, click-baity graphic to get the job done. But our VP of Creative (you know her as Stephenie) thought something a little more artistic could work just as well.Only one way to find out.Check out this week’s #BehindTheStream and see if you’d keep watching past the 5-second mark.

Whoa, have we learned a lot about “view rates” this year. And guess what? In the world of LinkedIn advertising, they don’t mean much. Engagement rate is what you really want to chase. Cool, people watched your video. But did …

Behind the Stream: View Rates Watch The Video »

This year’s been… a lot. Every week there’s a new AI tool claiming it can make video better than us (we’re barely offended). The economy’s “uncertain,” and apparently the news needs to remind us every five minutes. And life outside …

Behind The Stream: Anyone else had a YEAR? Watch The Video »

… with the idea of video!

It’s okay.

Most marketers are.

You’ve got a great product. You’ve got a growing audience. You know video could take it to the next level… but actually doing it? That’s a different story.

If you’re not ready to go all in yet, we get it.

But when you are? We’re here.

Until then, why not indulge in a little research?

We’ve got a decade of video marketing insights just waiting for you in our Behind the Stream blog.

It’s where we share the strategies, the mindset shifts, and the occasional hard truth that’s helped businesses like yours finally press record and make it count.

So go ahead, have a look. and then lurk a little😏

And when you’re ready to take things public?💋 You know who to call 📞

Seven years ago, I did something that made me very uncomfortable. I put myself on camera talking sales strategy. And even though I’d been doing video for years already, this one felt different, because it was for us.  Our brand. …

Behind The Stream: This Made Me Cringe Watch The Video »