In this day and age having a quality video to represent your business is essential. It is an important way for customers to engage visually with your brand and understand your story. Matt Hand knew the necessity of this medium when he began  Pinnacle Media in 2004 and has grown his business with this in mind. A strong advocate for his clients,  Matt cares deeply about providing the best product possible and superior service during the process. He also teaches classes in social media for businesses through Community Education at COCC,  with a new round beginning this fall. Today he brings his entrepreneurial experience and lessons learned on his business journey to share some tips with us.

Q. Matt, please describe your business:

A. Pinnacle Media focuses on what your story is with your business and becomes a member of your team. We use this unique ability to help tell a better story about you and your business through the use of visual media. We are expert story tellers and know how to engage your clients and customers with unique videos on the web or television.

Q. What inspired you to begin Pinnacle Media?

A. After almost 10 years building a successful local origination channel, COTV, I decided it was time to be my own boss and produce better quality long form content for local businesses. I began the business focused mainly on high quality event production, but realized that there were clients that needed our unique ability to help tell their stories through the use of better quality video production.

Q. What is the most challenging element of your business?

A. The most challenging part of the business is managing the numerous moving parts of the production world. In the case of BendFilm we are managing usually over 80 plus films being played at over 5 venues.

Q. What is most rewarding for you about Pinnacle Media?

A. The best thing about what we do is produce an exceptional video for a great organization and hear, or in some cases see, how they have gotten results using our video.

Q. What advice would you give to those starting their own business?

A. Be passionate about what you do. It is so important that you have passion. Because when you just worked 10 hours you may have 6 more to go. The passion you have will carry you through lot of adversity. 

Q. What has helped you to stay strong during the economic ebbs and flows?

 A. In surviving the ebbs and flows the one thing that has kept us going is our clients. We have some amazing clients and getting to know each of them has allowed us to build a stronger business as well as a stronger connection to the community.

Q. Is there any business or life advice you have received that has helped you along the way?

A. The biggest advice I have ever gotten is to be true to yourself as well as keep the passion alive.

Q. What has been the most important factor for you in the success of your business?

 A. It seems very cliché, but it really is to treat others as you would like to be treated. In this small community of Central Oregon we owe it to one another to treat each other with dignity and respect. I feel I have been rewarded because people know that I am honest and have integrity.

Q. How do you define true success- in life and/or in business?

A. Success is measured by how you give back to those around you- your employees, customers and even the community at large. We know we are successful by that level of giving back.

Q. Is there a book, blog, quote, etc. that consistently inspires you creatively?

A. I am a big fan of blog posts and the writings of Seth Godin. It reminds me that the creativity is within and we should not settle for second best.

Q. Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?

A. With an increasingly changing landscape of marketing the one truly amazing thing that has happened over the last several years is how easily we can capture the essence of a business and deliver that effectively through the web.

Matt leads his business with integrity, quality and a deep respect for his clients.  He is genuinely passionate about what he does and encourages other business owners to be true to themselves, treat one another with respect and give back to their community. The tips he has shared are applicable to our approach to business as well as our lives as a whole. Which of these insights have been most valuable for you? Are you currently using visual media as part of your marketing strategy?

Please leave any comments below and join us next Thursday as we near the end of our success series!