One of the spam filtration tactics the majority of hosting companies use including Foremost Media is greylisting.

What that means is that each time a given mailbox on our email servers receives an email from an unknown contact (ip), that mail is rejected with a "try again later"-message (This happens at the machine level and is transparent to the end user- in other words our mail server asks the sending mail server to resend the message). This means that all mail gets delayed for a matter of seconds until the senders email server automatically tries to deliver it again. Most legit mail servers are set up for this and try again in a few seconds- where most spamming software will not try again later.

Why use Greylisting?

Greylisting is a very effective method of spam blocking that comes at a minimal price in terms of performance. Most of the actual processing that needs to be done for Greylisting takes place on the sender's server. It has been shown to block upwards of 95% of incoming spam simply because so many spammers don't use a standard mail server which will do automatic retries.

Can I turn off Greylisting?

While logged into your web admin panel there is a check box to enable/disable greylisting. If checked, this will allow users to selectively turn off Greylisting (useful if you have an account that receives time sensitive mail)



Many of our customers have received a letter via the US Post office from a company called DNS Services containing a "Fake Invoice".

This company has been sending realistic looking bills like the one below, which are really just a solicitation for  their DNS services (A service that Foremost Media hosting customers already enjoy for free. While this practice is  not technically illegal, it is pretty unethical and has caused a lot of confusion for businesses receiving the "fake bill".  If you read the fine print on this invoice you should see this statement:
THIS IS A SOLICITATION FOR THE ORDER OF GOOD AND SERVICES, OR BOTH, AND NOT A BILL, INVOICE, OR STATEMENT OF ACCOUNT DUE. YOU ARE UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO MAKE ANY PAYMENTS ON ACCOUNT OF THIS OFFER UNLESS YOU ACCEPT THIS OFFER.
We at Foremost Media strongly recommend that if you receive this bill you just throw it away.  We do not recommend using their services.  The Foremost Media Name appears on the bill because we currently host your DNS and we have no association with this company.

If you ever have any questions about invoices you receive regarding your website or online marketing don't hesitate to contact us.

Copy of the DNS Services Scam Letter (Sorry About The Quality)


This scam does not appear to be isolated to Foremost Media Customers.  Several other websites have similar warnings to their customers about this very letter:





Foremost Media Server Update Notice:

Monthly Microsoft Windows Update Notification Start Time: Tuesday, October 9, 2012 @ 3:00 AM in the Server's Time Zone
End Time: Friday, October 12, 2012 @ 4:00 AM in the Server's Time Zone 
Impact: Websites may be temporarily offline while servers reboot

What will be done? 
Whenever new Microsoft updates are released, the servers will automatically apply the patches within a patch window of 3:00AM-4:00AM in the server's time zone (based on the server zone you have chosen to be in). This generally happens once per month and starts on the second Tuesday of the month.

How will this maintenance affect me? 
During a Microsoft Update, patches will be installed and servers will automatically reboot. The entire patching process typically takes less than 30 minutes; however, in some cases where Microsoft releases a service pack or large number of patches, it may take longer. During a reboot, your website will temporarily be offline.

Does this require any action on my part? 
This is a general notice and does not require any action on your part. 

Who do I contact if I have questions about this maintenance? 
If you have any questions or concerns, you may simply visit our website and contact our team.  We will be able to assist you. If your website or control panel are unavailable in a manner inconsistent with this notice, please open a service ticket for immediate assistance.
This blog post is meant to help you with the first step for beta testing an iPhone application currently in development at Foremost Media. This is NOT the process that all your users will have to go through to install your app. Once you app is ready for prime time we will get your application digitally signed by Apple (Required for distributed on the App Store) and set up distribution through the
App Store.

In the mean time while we test and develop your application we will need to know your Device ID (UDID). Once we have your UDID the application will be signed specifically for your device so you can test it.

Below are some simple instructions on how to retrieve your UDID:

Search iTunes App Store for "UDID" by Harrison Apps, LLC.  This is a free download.


Install the application on your apple device and then launch it:


The application will retrieve your UDID information and you can click on "Send Device Info Email" in the application to send it to your project manager at Foremost Media.


Once we have your UDID the application will be signed specifically for your device and will send further instruction on how to install the app on your device. 




I got a note from a perspective client who heard from a competitor that:

"aspx language was less secure and a dead language to build a site in"

I ran that thought by our development team and it stirred some heated debate (Were a .net shop but some of our guys use to program in .php before starting with us)  Here are the points that I was able to take away from the conversation:  

That sounds like a PHP developer talking. That is almost like saying the iphone is dying because of Android when the reality is both operating systems have market share. This is just opinion but here are a few points about asp.net (aspx) to consider:

  • asp.net (Aspx) is typically associated with more enterprise level software. It's a Microsoft language and in the past some of the software you need to develop in it and run it cost money were PHP is more of a free or open source type of language. It's my belief that with paid programs comes better documentation, support, performance, updates and security. 
  • Another reason we develop in aspx is that many of the companies we work with have Microsoft ERP or internal systems and integration between these systems is so much easier when they speak the same language to begin with. 
This debate is more like what's better Chevy or Ford. The reality is they are both good products but to say aspx is dead couldn't be farther from the truth. It's almost sounds like a sleazy used car sales man type of pitch. We've used php in the past and it has some great features but we feel like we can deliver a better quality and more secure product using ASPX. I'm not knocking PHP it is used by a lot of popular sites but I don't believe it is a better product.

Posted By Jon Ballard
Most of our clients will upload their video to a site like YouTube or Vimeo and then embed from there. These are the settings we recommend when exporting your video for Vimeo or YouTube

Video Settings

Codec: H.264
A codec is the format in which your video will be encoded. Different codecs have different features and varying quality. For best results, we recommend using H.264 (sometimes referred to as MP4).

Frame rate: 24, 25, or 30 FPS
If you know at which frame rate you shot, it is best to encode at that same frame rate. However, if it exceeds 30 FPS (frames per second), you should encode your video at half that frame rate. For example, if you shot 60 FPS, you should encode at 30 FPS. If you're uncertain what frame rate you shot at, set it to either "Current" or 30 FPS. If there is an option forkeyframes, use the same value you used for frame rate.

Data rate: 2000 kbps (SD), 5000 kbps (HD)
This setting controls both the visual quality of the video and its file size. In most video editors, this is measured of kilobits per second (kbps). Use 2000 kbps for standard definition or 5000 kbps for high definition video.

Resolution: 640x480 (SD), 1280x720 (HD)

Choose 640×480 for 4:3 SD video, 640×360 for 16:9 SD video, and 1280×720 or 1920×1080 for HD. If you have the option to control the pixel aspect ratio (not the display aspect ratio), make sure it's set to "1:1" or "1.00," sometimes referred to as "square pixels."

Audio Settings

Codec: AAC (Advanced Audio Codec)
For best results, we recommend using AAC for the audio codec.

Data rate: 320 kbps
320 kbps is the highest quality audio data rate we currently support.

Sample rate: 44.1 kHz
44.1 kHz is the highest audio sample rate we currently support.
Google's Matt Cutts explains the process in a video. Google's Quality Raters classify URLs as good, bad, spam and other classifications.

After an algorithm update, Google's engineers can do a side by side (blind taste test) directed to the Quality Raters and the raters say which side they like better."

We still get quite a few calls or emails from clients who have been solicited by companies offering to "Submit their site to the search engines".  My recommendation is run away from these types of companies.

Honestly the best way to get on the search engines these days is to get links from other sites.  Post links to your site on Facebook, twitter and any other blogs or foms where people might be intrested.  This is the quickest and best way to get indexed by the major search engines.  Most of the submit services are a scam.

You should however submit a dynamic site map to the major search engines.  These site maps come standard in most content management sites and basically let the search engines know which pages have been updated etc.

Learn More About Google Site Maps Here:
http://googlewebmastercentral.blogspot.com/2011/08/submit-urls-to-google-with-fetch-as.html


Posted By Jon Ballard
Michael Martinez posted a great article on how the wrong ISP can create negative effects on your SEO efforts. I thought the key points were worth relaying:

The ISP Blocks Web Crawlers At Their Router

In an effort to minimize load on their servers some ISP's can actually block the web crawlers that help the search engines understand what your site is about. If your ISP is doing this your site won't rank well on the search engines.

The ISP Puts You On A Crowded Server

It's a proven fact that Google and the other major search engines use site speed to help determine rankings. If your on a slow server with lots of other sites your rankings can and will suffer.

Your Hosting ISP Won’t Create Backups For You

Rolling back a major Website update that breaks your search optimization strategy is a major operation and you need to make sure you control the backups.

Read the full article here



Since we do a lot of work with clients and their Facebook pages and we come across this question a lot, we wanted to post it for all of you to see so you know how to make someone else an admin of your pages. Remember though, that Facebook changes literally every week so be sure to stay on top of the changes that happen. Follow these steps to make whoever you'd like an administrator of your Facebook page:

1) Login to Facebook and go to the page that you would like make the other person admin of
2) Click "Edit Page" in the upper right hand corner


3) Click "Manage Admins" in the left hand column of the next screen

4) Type the name of the person that you would like to make an admin in the empty box, EXACTLY how it appears on their Facebook account

5) If you're friends with that person on Facebook, they're picture and name will appear. (If you're not friends with them, it will send email to them, requesting they confirm you want them to be an admin) Click it and then click  "Save Changes." You'll then have to enter your Facebook password to confirm the change.

That's it!
Stay Ahead of the Curve
Facebook is an ever-changing beast and this morning, they announced that it won't be changing anytime soon. As of March 30th, Facebook will REQUIRE the upgrade of your business' Facebook page to the new "Timeline" format. This comes on the heel of the update to the personal Facebook pages that was highly scrutinized. Although we don't agree with the personal page changes, this Timeline feature for Business Pages could be GREATLY beneficial for promoting your brand and its products.

New Features
1) Brand Your PageAdd a unique cover photo and showcase your most important news on your Page timeline. This will allow you to showcase your brand and products as you like. The only thing you really can't do is use the spot for advertising of any type. That's against Facebook Policy.
Example: Here's Starbucks' cover photo showcasing their coffee bens

2) Highlight What MattersPin a new post to the top of your Page each week so people notice what's important. We've all made cool posts about stuff that got really good reaction from fans and followers and wished we could post it at the top for a while. Well, now you can prioritize for those important posts and information.

3) Manage Everything in One Place
See and respond to your recent activity and private messages right from the top of your Page. Most people are sick of trying to keep a hundred logins and keep up with how to administer their pages. Now you can do all of it from the top of your business page. Saving you time!

If you're interested in having us update your Facebook page and make it look GREAT, click the green button below to contact our Social Media Expert Aaron Manogue (amanogue@foremostmedia.com) or call (608)758-4841.

We all know that Search Engine Marketing (SEO) is something that each and every online business should be doing at all times. It is essential to you and your business that people can find your site and your products and services when they go to Google, Yahoo, Bing or one of the other of the millions of search engines out there. What's the point in spending thousands of dollars on a pristine site with all the bells and whistles if no one can find it when they are looking for products like yours?

At Foremost Media, we run a meticulous SEO program that has been proven successful and effective, time and time again.  As much as we help our great clients with their SEO, there is still inevitably a part of the campaign that you need to make sure you are taking part in. Remember, the more eyes you have on your campaign, the better the results. Here are 5 things you can do to make your SEO campaign a success, counting down from 5:

#5A: Be Involved! 
Ok, so there are two #5's, but they both deserving of being on the list. 5A is to stay involved in the SEO campaign. I say this because lots of online companies seem to hire a marketing firm or online web development firm much like Foremost Media, pay their bills and are completely hands off. There's NOTHING wrong with that, after all, it IS our job to run the SEO campaigns for you.

But in order to have the most successful campaign possible, you MUST stay involved. Look at the reports every month and call your SEO guys to talk about how the campaign is doing. There are going to be things, such as writing content that your SEO guy will be limited in. The reason I say this is because your SEO guy doesn't work in your industry and he doesn't know all the details and lingo that go into it all. (See #1 for more information on content) You are in your position for a reason. You know your company better than just about anyone and you should be the one at the wheel of your campaign in every aspect possible.

Got a new product or service you're going to be offering in the next month? Tell your SEO so he can adjust keywords, page titles and structure so you can start the process toward ranking well, even before you offer the product. See a keyword slipping that you really need to rank for, tell your SEO guy. All these things aren't possible without your involvement, and as much as we'd like to , your SEO guy can't read minds.

#5B: Take the Rifle Approach, Not the Shotgun Approach
The biggest mistake most companies make is that they want to rank for every word they can possibly think of having to do with their business. Which in a perfect world, would be great. But the truth is unless you are a corporation who has been online for 20 years, and have millions of backlinks, that probably won't happen. Don't take the shotgun approach and try and go after hundreds of words at once. Take the rifle approach. Be more accurate and go after 5-10 keywords that you "must" rank for.

Your SEO guys SHOULD take those 5-10 "must-have" keywords and do what's called keyword research. This is the process of finding keywords that relate to your main keywords. They may be synonyms or just words that have to do with them that people are already searching for. We call them the "low hanging fruit." Words with lots of searches that have smaller competition.

#4: Relevant Page Titles
When you are adding a new page to the site for a new product or service, keep in mind that people searching don't typically know your specific product name. If you're selling a bag of fresh vegetables, don't make your page title "Best Company Ever's VeggieBag." People don't know your product exists yet, that's why they're using search engines to find products like yours. So your page title should be something like this, "Fresh Vegetables Grown Locally | Bes Company Ever's Veggiebag. Make Sense?

#3: The Necessary Evil: Social Media
We all know how time consuming and sort of a pain in the rear social media can be, but if you do it right, it can be a very important part of your SEO campaign. Facebook, Twitter and YouTube have millions, if not billions of incoming links, and having your own pages on these social media sites is becoming essential to search engines, especially Google. We have actually had success adding a keyword that a client of ours wanted to rank for to the page title of their Facebook page, and they went from being unranked to #1 in two weeks. Now, this is NOT the norm, but it just goes to show the importance and weight that incoming links (See #2 for more details) from social media sites to your website can do for SEO.

#2: Network for Incoming Links
You work with a lot of people within your industry, so network with them to trade links from your site to theirs and vice versa. Networking is all about mutually helping each other out and the longer you've been at your job, the more you probably have. Reciprocal links are very easy to put up and can help everyone. One thing to keep in mind too, is that the more links you have coming from companies in your industry the better, although any link from any site is great!

#1: Content is the King of All Kings
If you do SEO or have an SEO guy, you've definitely heard this, but that doesn't make it any less true. There are a few important factors to good content that we always tell our clients:

  • Give the reader something original: Unique content is the best way to get rankings and more visitors. Write something unique and original about your products or industry that hasn't been written before.
  • If you didn't write it, would you share it?: This is self-explanatory. Don't waste your time or your reader's time by writing something uninteresting or mundane. Make it enthralling and informative and make the reader HAVE to share it because it's so good.
  • Don't Let Your Site/Blog Spoil: Keep your content fresh. Don't go months or weeks without adding something new. Stay up to date with your postings and even though there isn't any exact period to be posting, we always recommend something each week.

Foremost Media offers monthly SEO packages that has been proven to increase traffic to your website and raise awareness for your brands and products. If you need help with yours, or even just have a few questions, please don't hesitate to contact our Search Engine & Social Media Marketing Expert Aaron Manogue at amanogue@foremostmedia.com or (608) 921-0742.



"Facebook continues its dominance in ad campaigns with 89% of agencies planning to utilize the medium for clients (followed by Twitter (39%), YouTube (36%), LinkedIn (21%) and Google Plus (18% - up 28% over 3Q 2011).

There are currently two bills that sit before Congress that would censor the Web and cripple sites and businesses accused of piracy, without even proving that those websites are meaningfully doing so. It threatens the free flow of information and the potential for innovation online.

What are SOPA and PIPA?
Wikipedia's "Dark Wednesday" Message
Essentially, they are new ways to give copyright holders the ability to go after companies that host pirated content. Once accused, the site would be blocked from anyone within the U.S. to access them and all search engines would be required to delete links to the accused sites. Also, it requires advertisers and payment services (such as Google Adwords, Adsense, etc.) to withdraw their business with the accused site. This would literally mean that site would no longer exist, and it's days of business would be done for good.

Online giants such as Google, Twitter and Reddit have all publicly opposed the bills by "going black" today. Wikipedia has even gone completely dark by taking down the site and replacing it with a message stating, "Imagine a World Without Free Knowledge," with more information regarding PIPA and SOPA and the reasons they oppose the legislation.

Millions of Internet users and entrepreneurs already oppose the two bills, but we need everyone's help in opposing it by signing a petition created by Google.

Click here to oppose the bills and sign the petition!
Editors Note-  For this article I've asked Chris Larsen from our sister company Foremost Outdoor Television to help me answer a question I seem to be getting more and more frequently from customers wishing to start building their own content for their website, YouTube and Facebook-  "What kind of camera should I buy?"

By Chris Larsen from Foremost Outdoor TV

The Golden Era of Video is here. Thanks to computer based editing software and rapidly improving technology, the cost of producing videos in house is within reach for just about any business. The first item most aspiring video producers buy is a camera. The camera is a producer’s main tool. Without a quality camera that offers all of the options important to you, your end result will be less than satisfactory. Budget is usually the main consideration when purchasing a camera. Believe it or not, you can buy a camera that will fit the needs of most businesses without breaking the bank. Here are a few other things to consider:
Panasonic HMC 150

Audio Inputs

Most of us have a video camera for home movies. Capturing family moments on video was all you were interested in when buying that camera. Just about all consumer cameras have a built in microphone at the front of the camera. The microphone is made to capture sound in all directions around the camera, even unwanted sound. If you’ve ever shot a video outside on a windy day with a camera like this, all you hear is wind.

More expensive consumer cameras will have a microphone input called a “mini” or “stereo mini” plug. This allows the user to override the on board microphone with a higher quality external microphone. Some have an accessory shoe that allows a specialized microphone to be used without the use of wires. Those are very nice but keep in mind most of the microphones that can be used in those accessory shoes are brand specific and typically costlier than standard aftermarket microphones. A headphone plug allows you to monitor the audio while recording.

Professional cameras and many prosumer cameras have audio inputs called “XLR inputs”. XLR inputs offer the best quality sound and give the user more control over audio. Most allow on the fly adjustments for audio levels. Consumer level cameras typically control audio levels automatically. Professional cameras usually have both an automatic feature and manual controls. All prosumer and professional cameras offer a headphone terminal.

Why is this important? Let’s say you are shooting a video on the floor of a convention. An on-board microphone would capture all of the sounds on the convention floor. The background noise would be just as loud as the person giving the presentation. A lavalier microphone (commonly known as a clip-on mic) captures some background sound but focuses on the speaker. The result is audio that is clear with just a touch of ambient sound to add dimension to the audio.

Zoom

The key thing to look for with zoom is optical zoom. Many cameras boast zoom magnification of 40x or more. However, that is usually digital zoom. When you look at the fine print you’ll notice the optical zoom is usually somewhere between 12x or 20x. 12x zoom means the object you were shooting will appear 12 times closer when the camera is fully zoomed in than with the naked eye. Optical zoom uses the camera’s lens to generate magnification. Digital zoom uses the camera’s computer to produce magnification. The result of digital zoom is often a pixilated look. If you purchase a camera that has both digital and optical zoom, turn the digital zoom off for best results. Zoom isn’t a big factor in most business related videos. But if it is important for your field, compare cameras by optical zoom.

Tape, Hard Drive, or Card Based Media

Most new cameras record on card based media, usually SD cards. SD cards are fairly inexpensive and offer huge capacity in a small package. Cameras using SD cards are quieter & more energy efficient than cameras using tape. You never have to worry about the tape heads getting dirty or malfunctioning. SD cards can also be inserted directly into your computer, making the post production process more efficient.

Some consumer cameras have built in hard drives. I would not buy a camera that was hard drive only. If the hard drive is corrupted, your camera is worthless. Most current cameras with a hard drive also have SD card slots. I recommend using the SD cards primarily while accessing the hard drive as an emergency backup.

Many cameras, especially at the professional level, still use tape. Cameras with tape decks will eventually see those decks fail. But with care and maintenance, most will last several years. Tapes can’t be plugged directly into your computer like SD cards. You will need a Fire-wire or other type of input cable to capture your video digitally. That can be a disadvantage. However, tape does have one big advantage over SD cards. When it comes to archiving your footage, tapes are cheap. You can put a $3 tape on a shelf and it will still be there ten years from now. Quality SD cards with 32 GB capacity can cost from $40 to $200 depending on the speed. Most businesses can’t stack those on the wall. You will need an external hard drive to back up your video. A good external hard drive is usually pretty fail safe but if it crashes, everything stored on it crashes too. Still, the benefits of SD card media outweigh most of the drawbacks.

Standard Definition vs. High Definition

There are very few standard definition cameras on the market today but they’re still out there. High Definition cameras are now priced low enough that just about all businesses can afford them. So there really is no reason to invest in old technology. Keep in mind that not all HD is the same. Some cameras shoot in 720p which is a smaller version of high definition. Look for cameras that shoot in 1920x1080 HD. If you need to make the format smaller in post production the video will look much better than making smaller video larger in post production. Higher end cameras offer several HD settings such as 1080i, 60i, 60p and others. These alternate HD options allow the producer to change the look of the video in the camera. However, most business users won’t have a need for them.

Other Features

There are some other variables to consider. Image stabilization is important but generally hard to assess without using the camera. As a general rule, the more expensive a camera is, the better the image stabilization. But even inexpensive cameras can produce good footage if used with a tripod or monopod. When it comes to LCD screens, bigger is always better. A focus ring is another sought after feature. A focus ring allows the videographer to manually control what the camera is focused on. Some cameras offer on-camera editing and free editing software. On-camera editing is great for home movies. But for professional looking videos quality software is needed. The freebies that come with consumer cameras are an exercise in frustration in my opinion. Don’t buy a camera based on free software or on-camera editing.

The four main factors above should lead most business professionals toward buying a camera that fits their needs. Here are a few suggestions at varying price points.


Kodak PlaySport Zx5 $179.99 

Kodak PlaySport


This is what is known as a point-of-view(POV) camera. If you can only afford one camera, don’t buy a POV camera. However, they can come in handy as a second camera to get an alternative viewpoint. This camera doesn’t have audio inputs but shoots in stunning 1920x1080 HD. You can use audio from your main camera during post production. Think of it is an inexpensive way to add a second camera angle to your shoots. GoPro cameras have most of the POV market place and they are very good cameras as well. However, they are designed for action sports enthusiasts and lack many of the features the PlaySport has that will appeal to business pros. GoPro cameras have no zoom compared to the PlaySport’s 4x zoom. The big difference is the PlaySport has a 2” LCD screen. The GoPro does not have a built in LCD screen. If you have a use for underwater video, the PlaySport is waterproof in up to 10 feet of water.



Canon VIXIA HF M400 $549.99 

Cannon VIXIA HF M400


The HF M400 is a superb camera for the serious business pro that is just getting started in video production. It offers audio inputs, a headphone terminal, and manual audio controls. The M400 has a 10x optical zoom, has two SD card drives, and shoots in 1920x1080i. There are two separate image stabilizers that work together to produce rock solid video. The M400 does not have a manual focus ring but you won’t find one on any camera at this price point. This camera also does well in low light situations. If you do want to invest in an on-camera light, the M400 does have a hot accessory shoe.





Sony HDR-FX7 $1998.00 

Sony HDR-FX7


The Sony FX7 is an update to one of Sony’s most popular prosumer cameras, the FX1. This camera has a mini microphone input, a headphone jack, and a manual audio dial. It has a powerful, 20x zoom which is an upgrade from the 12x zoom of the FX1. If the idea of recording on tape rather than SD cards appeals to you, the FX7 fit’s the bill. It uses ordinary MiniDV tapes that can be purchased just about anywhere. It shoots in Sony HDV 1080i which is 1440x1080. The FX-7 has a giant 3.5” LCD screen and a manual focus ring. You won’t find those features at this price point in many other cameras.





Panasonic AG HMC-150 $3,170.00 

Panasonic AG HMC-150


A camera of this quality would have cost over $10,000 five years ago. The Panasonic HMC-150 has professional dual XLR audio inputs, headphone jack, and manual audio controls. The camera features a 13x optical zoom and shoots on SD cards. There are several different HD modes including 1920x1080i. The HMC-150 has a 3.5 inch LCD screen and manual focus ring. It is very widely used by television stations and production companies. It is probably a little pricey for startups. But if you have the budget, you won’t be disappointed.

Must Have Accessories

Choosing a camera is a big step but you’re not ready to produce a high quality video yet. You will also need a tripod, camera bag, microphone(s), and a spare battery to get started. When it comes to tripods and camera bags, judge what you need by how much money you spent on your camera.

A consumer level $40 or $50 tripod may be just fine for a lightweight consumer camera. I wouldn’t let a Sony FX7 or Panasonic HMC 150 anywhere near one of those. The Manfrotto 501 Fluid Head ($180) is about as good as it gets for tripod heads. Couple that head with a quality set of legs ($200-$300) and your video will be rock solid with smooth pans and tilts. A $20 camera bag from Target will be sufficient to protect a consumer level camera as long as you’re not rough with it. For larger cameras like the HMC-150 a more heavy duty bag from Porta Brace ($190) is worth the investment. For those of you that often travel by air, an airline safe case is a necessity.
Lavalier Microphone

Just about every business oriented video producer is going to want a lavalier microphone. These are the clip on style mics. Lower quality microphones tend to have interference problems like hissing. Audio Technica and Shure have solid offerings at reasonable prices. If most of your subjects will be seated while speaking a hard wired microphone will be just fine. However, if you plan to shoot at conferences or trade shows, a wireless microphone kit is worth investing in. Using a lavalier microphone requires the producer to attach the microphone on the subject. If you plan to interview several people, a handheld stick microphone will be more efficient. For outdoor shoots like sporting events, I recommend a shotgun microphone.

No matter what camera you buy, purchase an extra battery. Even the high end cameras come with just one battery that usually lasts a few hours. A high capacity spare battery typically lasts four or five hours and costs between $50 and $100 depending on the camera.

Other accessories to consider include a light kit, editing software, and noise cancelling headphones.

Where can you buy these products? If there is a local retailer you’re comfortable with, by all means use them. If there is a problem you can walk right into their shop and get face-to-face service. Personally, I purchase all of my equipment from B&H Photo Video in New York. They have an incredible website with detailed information & reviews on everything they stock. Most of the professional producers I know also buy from B&H. In addition to great service, they have the lowest credible prices on everything you need to complete a professional video production. Yes, there are some sites that advertise lower prices on some products. But I wouldn’t trust most of them with my credit card information.

Good luck with your new endeavor into the world of video production. Remember, most video producers have years of schooling and experience. They couldn’t walk into your office and do your job as well as you do. It’s going to take some time and effort before you’re fully satisfied with your videos. However, today’s equipment and software has certainly shortened the learning curve.