In this episode of On Camera On Brand, host Rob Ruscher sits down with Josef Newton from Sway. They delve into the world of B2B video content, discussing the growing importance of this medium in the business landscape. Josef shares his journey from being a freelance creator to co-founding Sway, a company that helps businesses create and repurpose video content for their social platforms.
The conversation takes a deeper dive into the concept of content repurposing, a hot topic in the digital content sphere. Josef emphasizes the value of repurposing long-form content like podcasts into bite-sized social media posts. He also shares how Sway was born out of these discussions around content and social media.
The duo also explores the technical aspects of creating high-quality video content. Josef underscores the importance of good production quality in building trust with the audience. He reveals how Sway takes this seriously, providing clients with equipment and helping them set it up virtually. The episode is a treasure trove of insights for anyone interested in B2B video content and content repurposing.
Featured Guest
Name: Josef Newton
What he does: Co-Founder
Company: Sway
Noteworthy: Co-founder of Sway, Josef is a pioneer in B2B video content and content repurposing.
Key Insights
From Freelancer to Founder
Josef, Co-Founder of Sway, shares his transition from being a freelance creator to establishing a business. He always aspired to chase bigger opportunities beyond freelancing. The alignment of stars led him to identify a significant shift in the B2B landscape – the increasing importance of video content. This realization sparked the idea for Sway, a company that aids businesses in creating and repurposing video content for their social platforms. Josef’s journey is a testament to the power of recognizing market trends and acting upon them.
Content Repurposing: The Hot Topic in Digital Content Sphere
Content repurposing is a hot topic in the digital content sphere, and Newton is a strong advocate. He emphasizes the value of repurposing long-form content like podcasts into bite-sized social media posts. This approach not only maximizes the use of content but also caters to the preferences of social media users who prefer shorter, more digestible content. Josef’s insights highlight the importance of adapting to the evolving content consumption habits of audiences.
Remote Video Production: The Core Differentiator of Sway
Sway’s unique selling proposition lies in its remote video production service. Traditional video production methods can be costly for many businesses. Sway addresses this by providing a financially viable solution without compromising the quality of the output. The company sends a package to clients, who then shoot their own content. Sway then helps them cut and distribute the videos. This innovative approach to video production underscores the potential of remote work in the creative industry.
Episode Highlights
Josef’s Professional Journey: From Freelancing to Entrepreneurship
In the early part of the podcast, Josef shares his journey from being a freelance creator to becoming a business owner. He discusses his aspirations to chase bigger opportunities and how he identified a significant shift in the B2B landscape – the increasing importance of video content. This realization led him to co-found Sway.
“I think I’ve always wanted to go after the bigger thing. I was never gonna stay a freelancer. So for a few years, I’ve been looking for the big opportunity […] Video as a medium is becoming a lot more important in B2B. I saw the opportunity, and without tooting my own horn, I think we were in the best position to solve it.”
The Birth of Sway from a Podcast
Josef talks about how Sway was born out of a podcast he started with his co-founder. The podcast, which initially focused on content and social media, eventually led to the creation of Sway. This part of the conversation highlights the organic evolution of ideas and how conversations can lead to business opportunities.
“It wasn’t necessarily something that we started to boost Sway. So it was, it was funny. I think starting the podcast created Sway because by talking and having these conversations, we naturally just came to the conclusion that Sway made sense as an opportunity as a business.”
The Appeal of B2B
Josef discusses his attraction to the B2B sector and how it led to the creation of Sway. He talks about the unique challenges and opportunities in B2B, such as making the “boring” interesting and the different business model dynamics.
“I’ve just personally never been as interested in that. I think there’s something about B2B, like taking the boring and making it interesting. But also, just from a more business model perspective, I just think B2B is more interesting.”
Measuring Success in Video Content
Josef discusses how they measure the success of their video content. He emphasizes the importance of qualitative signs, such as thoughtful comments and direct messages, as indicators of success.
“I think the biggest way, and I’m not the first one to say this it’s qualitative signs. I think in the very early days of any form of video content, and you’ll hear a lot of people, especially on LinkedIn, who talk about podcasting success also mention this, you’re just looking for qualitative signs.”
