The Curious Creative

In this episode, Mike Kepka kicks off an educational mini-series with his data analytics and video tracking partner, Tim Jarvis —founder of Film and Content— to demystify why most video marketing fails to see a return on investment. Together, they break down the ACDC Funnel (Awareness, Consideration, Decision), a strategy designed to guide viewers through a meaningful buyer's journey rather than just crossing your fingers for a viral hit. Tim shares how he helped one nonprofit turn an organic video into a campaign that raised tens of millions of pounds by leveraging retargeting and data-driven optimization. They discuss moving past "vanity metrics," the role of AI in analyzing transcripts for creative direction, and why focusing on the "end goal" is the only way to ensure your video content is an asset, not an expense. 🔗 Connect with Mike: 🌎 kepkahouse.com 💼 linkedin.com/in/mike-kepka-91721751 📸 instagram.com/kepka 🔗 Connect with Tim Jarvis: 🌎 filmandcontent.com 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/timjarvisonline/ 💬 Are you still tracking "views" as your main metric for success? Drop a comment below and let’s talk about real ROI!📢 Don't forget to LIKE & FOLLOW to stay updated on future episodes of The Curious Creative! #VideoStrategy #ROI #DigitalMarketing #ContentStrategy #ACDCFunnel #VideoMarketing #DataAnalytics

In this episode, Mike Kepka sits down with Sean Stipp, 3× Mid-Atlantic Emmy Award-winning visual journalist and Director of Visuals at TribLive, to explore the critical role of professional storytelling in an age of misinformation. From managing a newsroom that generates 50 million monthly clicks to navigating the ethics of AI, Sean shares why authentic, vetted "visual evidence" is the ultimate currency for building community trust. They discuss the delicate balance of leveraging high-traffic sports coverage to fund deep-dive investigative projects, the evolving technology behind modern photojournalism, and why "bad audio" is the one thing no audience will tolerate. Whether it's flying drones over 28-car pileups or documenting the release of Pittsburgh natives from foreign prisons, Sean dives into why real journalists remain essential to the democratic process. 🔗 Connect with Mike: 🌎 kepkahouse.com  💼 linkedin.com/in/mike-kepka-91721751  📸 instagram.com/kepka  🔗 Connect with Sean Stipp: 🌎 triblive.com  💼 linkedin.com/in/sean-stipp 📸 https://www.instagram.com/triblive/ 💬 In an era of AI-generated content, how do you verify the images you see online? Drop a comment below! 📢 Don't forget to LIKE & FOLLOW to stay updated on future episodes of The Curious Creative! #VisualJournalism #Storytelling #Photojournalism #TribLive #MikeKepka #KepkaHouse #TheCuriousCreative

In this episode, Mike Kepka sits down with Seth Graye —VP of Business, Operation, and Technology at Mainstream Video Productions— to dive into the "nuts and bolts" of how data transforms video from a creative gamble into a measurable success. Seth shares how he moved from the world of high-stakes cemetery sales to mastering the metrics behind video funnels, proving that while creative can be nebulous, numbers never lie. They break down the mechanics of a real-world LinkedIn campaign, discussing how to funnel an audience of millions down to high-intent leads and why changing just one variable at a time is the secret to successful iteration. You'll learn why the first seven seconds of your video are the ultimate battleground against the "scroll" and how "self-qualifying leads" can magically move through your funnel without you lifting a finger. Seth also explains why your video strategy matters more than your camera gear and how Mainstream achieved a 500% increase in their quarterly conversion rate average through disciplined data tracking. 🔗 Connect with Mike:  🌎 kepkahouse.com  💼 linkedin.com/in/mike-kepka-91721751  📸 instagram.com/kepka 🔗 Connect with Seth Graye:  🌎 https://www.mainstreamvideoproduction.com/ 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-graye-550365198/ 💬 In the absence of data, whose opinion wins in your office? Drop a comment below! 📢 Don't forget to LIKE & FOLLOW to stay updated on future episodes of The Curious Creative!   #VideoData #ROIVideo #MarketingAnalytics #VideoFunnel #ACDCStrategy #DigitalMarketing #TheCuriousCreative #Mike Kepka #Kepka House

In this episode, Mike Kepka sits down with Beth Klepper—founder of Mainstream Video Productions, based in Littleton, Colorado—to discuss how she transformed her business from straightforward production to a results-oriented approach to video content. Beth shares her journey of overcoming the "frivolous marketing tool" perception of video , emphasizing that one video cannot possibly do all things: awareness, consideration, and decision. They dive into why the ACDC (Awareness, Consideration, Decision) strategy is the key to proving ROI for clients. Beth details how running her own ACDC campaign revealed the critical importance of the hook in awareness content , and how the data informed her to pivot quickly and iterate. They also discuss the crucial difference between a 45-second "nice-to-have" video and the necessary runtime for a decision-stage VSL (Video Sales Letter) for clients ready to buy. Ultimately, the goal is to stop being a video vendor and become a tenacious, strategic partner, letting the data do the talking. 🎧 P.S. Stay tuned for the next episode with Seth Gray, who works with Beth on the data side of these campaigns!  🔗 Connect with Mike: 🌎 kepkahouse.com 💼 linkedin.com/in/mike-kepka-91721751 📸 instagram.com/kepka 🔗 Connect with Beth Klepper: 🌎 https://www.mainstreamvideoproduction.com/ 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethkleppermainstreamvideo 📸 https://www.instagram.com/klepperbeth 💬 What's the biggest misconception you hear about video length? Drop a comment below! 📢 Don't forget to LIKE & FOLLOW to stay updated on future episodes of The Curious Creative! #VideoStrategy #ROI #ACDCStrategy #ContentMarketing #StrategicPartner #Filmmaking #TheCuriousCreative

In this episode, Mike Kepka sits down with Nick Szpara—National Sports Emmy winner and owner of Freedom Digital Media—to discuss the pivotal shift from traditional video production to results-based video strategy. Nick shares his journey of moving beyond one-off projects and "sending videos into the ether" to leveraging data and advanced tracking to quantify return on investment (ROI) for clients. They roleplay a pitch for a union recruiting video, breaking down how a single three-day shoot can be turned into a full-scale, multi-stage campaign (Awareness, Consideration, Decision) that dramatically increases conversions for apprenticeship programs and other corporate needs. 🔗 Connect with Mike: 🌎 kepkahouse.com 💼 linkedin.com/in/mike-kepka-91721751 📸 instagram.com/kepka 🔗 Connect with Nick Szpara: 🌎 https://www.freedomdigital.net/ 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickszpara/ ✉️ [email protected] 💬 What's your biggest challenge in justifying your video projects to the C-Suite? Drop a comment below! 📢 Don't forget to LIKE & FOLLOW to stay updated on future episodes of The Curious Creative! #VideoStrategy #StrategicPartner #ROI #ContentCampaign #ProductionCompany

In this episode, Mike Kepka sits down with Matt Fuller—filmmaker, founder of The Inside Picture Company, and Hollywood veteran—to unpack how the ACDC (Awareness, Consideration, Decision Content) video funnel is moving video production from an expense to an investment. Matt, who transitioned from big-budget films to serving homebuilding and healthcare verticals , shares how his focus shifted from making "beautiful creative" to creating results-based video strategy. They break down the three stages of the funnel, how to use projections and data to justify your value, and how Matt's agency now offers clients guaranteed results (like 15 new appointments in 90 days). 🔗 Connect with Mike: 🌎 kepkahouse.com 💼 linkedin.com/in/mike-kepka-91721751 📸 instagram.com/kepka 🔗 Connect with Matt Fuller: 🌎 http://insightpictureco.com 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/thefullerman/  ✉️ [email protected]  💬 What's your biggest challenge in proving the ROI of your video content? Drop a comment below! 📢 Don't forget to LIKE & FOLLOW to stay updated on future episodes of The Curious Creative! #VideoMarketing #ContentFunnel #ROIVideoStrategy

In this episode, Mike Kepka sits down with Derrick Lorah —Flagship Visuals, Partner / Head of Client Experience & Director in Virginia Beach, Virginia— to unpack what it means for a production company to "think like an agency." With over 15 years of experience, Derrick shares how he and his team evolved from traditional video production to becoming strategic partners, focusing on client pain points and desired outcomes, not just deliverables. Discover how their approach, which includes understanding the nuances of various industries from tactical to lifestyle brands and working with clients like Real Truck and Operation Smile, helps them build lasting relationships and achieve measurable results. Derrick emphasizes that in today's landscape, "good work is par for the course," and the real win lies in solving the client's problems and reducing their friction.  🔗 Connect with Mike: 🌎 kepkahouse.com 💼 linkedin.com/in/mike-kepka-91721751 📸 instagram.com/kepka 🔗 Connect with Derrick Lorah: 🌎 https://flagshipvisuals.com/ 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/derrick-lorah-17475162/ 📸 https://www.instagram.com/derricklorah/  💬 How do you go beyond just "delivering a video" for your clients? Drop a comment below! 📢 Don't forget to LIKE & FOLLOW to stay updated on future episodes of The Curious Creative! #VideoProduction #AgencyThinking #ContentStrategy #ROI #ClientPartnerships

In this follow-up episode, Mike Kepka catches up with past guest Bob Kelly of KPG Creative to get an update on his latest results-driven video strategies and ROI models. Bob shares exciting new projects, including a lead that took nearly a year to convert. Discover how perseverance pays off in securing high-value clients and expanding video campaign scopes. They also discuss optimizing LinkedIn landing pages for decision-stage content and targeting niche audiences with precision. Watch the previous Bob's episode:  From Hollywood to Corporate: Bob Kelly on Results-Driven Video Strategy https://youtu.be/V8OG-qTzQS0 🔗 Connect with Mike: 🌎 kepkahouse.com 💼 linkedin.com/in/mike-kepka-91721751 📸 instagram.com/kepka 🔗 Connect with Bob Kelly: 🌎 https://staging.kpgcreative.com/ 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobkellykpgcreative/ ✉️ [email protected] 💬 What's your longest lead-to-conversion story in video marketing? Drop a comment below! 📢 Don't forget to LIKE & FOLLOW to stay updated on future episodes of The Curious Creative! #VideoMarketing #ROIDrivenVideo #ContentStrategy #Perseverance

In this episode, Mike Kepka sits down with Paul Jew —the driving force behind Moji Cinema in Albuquerque, New Mexico— to unpack a textbook example of results-driven video strategy. Paul, who transitioned from still photography to video, shares how his agency uses the ACDC system (Awareness, Consideration, Decision) to deliver dramatic ROI for clients. Paul Jew shares a case study where his video strategy made 2 million dollars in annual revenue for a new school, proving that when the right strategy is in place, the sky is the limit. Discover how they track engagement, convert viewers into customers, and achieve a "magical" 40x return on video investment. 🔗 Connect with Mike: 🌎 kepkahouse.com 💼 linkedin.com/in/mike-kepka-91721751 📸 instagram.com/kepka 🔗 Connect with Paul Jew: 🌎 http://mojicinema.com 💼 linkedin.com/in/paul-jew-bba2346 ✉️ [email protected] 💬 What’s your biggest challenge in proving video marketing ROI? Drop a comment below! 📢 Don't forget to LIKE & FOLLOW to stay updated on future episodes of The Curious Creative! #VideoMarketing #ContentStrategy #ROIDrivenVideo 

In this episode, Mike Kepka sits down with TJ Packer —Founder and Creative Director at Crew Pictures — to unpack the true meaning of "results-driven, high-end film and video" for brands. TJ shares his unique perspective on balancing tangible ROI (like sales and leads) with the often-overlooked intangible results, such as client satisfaction and brand pride. They dive into how understanding your "why" drives powerful video strategy and why authentic storytelling still reigns supreme in capturing audience attention and building lasting connections. 🔗 Connect with Mike: 🌎 kepkahouse.com 💼 linkedin.com/in/mike-kepka-91721751 📸 instagram.com/kepka 🔗 Connect with TJ Packer: 🌎 http://crewpictures.com 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/tjpacker/ 📸 instagram.com/tjpacker/ 💬 What results matter most to your brand's video content? Drop a comment below! 📢 Don't forget to LIKE & FOLLOW to stay updated on future episodes of The Curious Creative! #VideoMarketing #ContentStrategy #BrandStorytelling