30 minutes here, 30 minutes there, and before he knew it, Matt Hoots had created nearly 80 videos for SawHorse Design Build and Remodeling, the Atlanta company where he is CEO.

"We like to use video because because it's an easy way to communicate with images and audio," Matt told me yesterday. "Any time we find ourselves repeating the same message over and aover again, we create a video and then refer people to it. A lot of times we've even converted prospects to sales this way."

It's official, remodelers: Video marketing has found its way well into the remodeling and small-business mainstream. You don't need a marketing agency, a high-end editing suite, or even a tech-savvy freelancer or teenage nephew to master it.

Take the video below. Like most of the videos on SawHorse's website and YouTube channel, Matt created it himself in 30 minutes or so using inexpensive video cameras (and still images, in some cases) and Windows Live Movie Maker software. Only a few include kids -- but the cute factor never hurts.

SawHorse videos cover a broad range of topics -- about the company, client testimonials, how solar hot water heaters work, for starters -- and appear in multiple places for maximum viewing, including appropriate spots on the company's website and as pop-ups in company e-letters.

"We just signed a contract today," Matt said yesterday. A big part of the new client's education and buy-in came from video links that he had sent her in response to some of her questions.

SawHorse and Square Feet Studio have been selected to oversee the transformation of a 1300 square foot retail space in the 999 Peachtree building into 'g' Green Design Center's fourth location. 

'g' Green Design Center - Atlanta is a family-owned franchise purchased by Metro Atlanta native Gene Cox, his wife Xiorelis, and his father-in-law Elvis Ferrer.

"We are preparing to open what we believe will be the region's most sophisticated and interactive green living showroom," said Gene Cox.

Cox promises home and business owners, contractors, designers, and architects will not have any trouble finding Atlanta's first A to Z  green design center.   The signature 'g' will be prominently displayed adjacent to the popular Taco Mac restaurant located at the corner of Peachtree Street Northeast and Peachtree Place.   

'g' Green Design Center - Atlanta will follow in the footsteps of the three other 'g' locations in Cape Cod, Boston, and Toronto by creating opportunities for customers to feel like they are doing something good for themselves, their health, and the environment.

"The 'g' idea is to work closely with a network of local trade partners including painters, contractors and others.  We are connectors for those professionals to home and business owners," said Cox.

SawHorse, an EarthCraft remodeler of the year and Square Feet Studio,  a top retail designer in Atlanta are creating the retail space design along with 'g' Co-Owner Xiorelis Cox (pronounced: Sea-or-ellis) who holds a masters degree in architecture.   Both Gene and Xiorelis are professional credentialed LEED Green Associates and are members of the United States Green Building Council (USGBC).

Construction of the 999 Peachtree space is expected to begin this month with an anticipated completion in late November or early December.

Be sure to follow the progress of 'g' Green Design Center - Atlanta:

www.facebook.com/ggreenatlanta

www.twitter.com/ggreenatlanta

For additional information on the design team:

www.sawhorse.net

www.ggreenatlanta.com

www.squarefeetstudio.com