Unless you've been living under a rock for the last 5 years, then you will know that video marketing is taking over the industry. So it's about time you jumped on the train and learn how to create them and, more importantly, use video to grow your business.
In this article, I'll run you through 5 steps to make better videos, generate more leads and build your business. Let's get started.
1. Plan ahead.
Creating videos isn't as simple as just pressing play and watching one. There are multiple factors that come into play to make a really great video STAND OUT in a overpopulated digital world. Believe it or not, this mostly comes down to the quality of how well you plan your video. Here is a series of questions that you should ask before making a start on your video:
What is the ideal outcome of this video?
Are we trying to generate leads, make people laugh, promote a product or educate the audience?
Who is our ideal target audience?
What type of video do we need this to be?
Have we got a script or a storyboard for the video? If not, write one.
Where are we going to film the video? Pick a location.
2. Use a camera.
An essential tip in creating great videos is the quality of your video. Choosing the right camera. Your mobile phone is okay and will do the job, but to take things to the next level, you need to invest in a camera.
If you have an iPhone 10 or more recent than that, the camera will do a great job to cut your teeth with video making and get you started. Even some of the latest mobile phones will shoot in 4k at 60FPS.
However, sometimes to create a next-level video a phone camera might not do it justice. The benefit of having a camera OR using a videographer is you'll get features that a phone might not offer, including built-in image stabilization, autofocus and the ability to swap lenses. So we suggest investing in a camera that is going to suit your needs. For example, purchasing a DSLR may be a good option if you're going to make in-house videos. But if you're going to create vlogs, then a mirrorless camera may be more suited to you, as carrying a bulky DSLR might not work for you.
3. Lighting. Natural / studio lighting.
For beginners, natural light is the best option. It doesn’t cost anything and can make the subject of your video look good. To use natural lighting to your advantage, remember to shoot outdoors on a cloudy day or during the golden hour. The natural light is super soft at this time and creates a cinematic effect — it won’t make your subject squint, and no harsh light will be hitting their face.
As you scale your production capacity, you’ll probably want to invest in lighting equipment to boost the quality of your videos.
Here are some lighting equipment you may want to add to your production gear:
Key light
Rim light
Triggers and flashes
Softbox or shapers
Reflectors
Check out this excellent video by Ben Johnson, who’ll walk you through all the steps you need to take to give your videos a nice, cinematic look:
4. Audio quality is everything.
People would rather watch a bad video with good audio than a good video with awful audio.
The audio of your video can make or break your content, and there are a few simple things that you can do to save the integrity of your video’s audio quality.
The best way to capture audio from your subject is to use any microphone other than your camera's built-in mic. No matter how good your camera’s built-in mic is, it's still not enough to replace a dedicated external audio recorder.
There are generally three types of microphones you can use:
Condenser microphones
Dynamic microphones
Lavalier microphones (or, lapel mics)
Each is ideal for different uses, so invest in one that gets your work done.
Before filming, always test the sound to ensure you’ve got all of the above set up correctly. For someone with no prior audio experience, that’s usually the only way to make sure you’re getting it right.
5. Use editing software to get the best results.
There are several video editing software to choose from, both free and paid. Here’s a list of some of the most popular ones:
Adobe Premiere Pro
Apple Final Cut Pro
DaVinci Resolve
Adobe Premiere Elements
Corel VideoStudio Ultimate
CyberLink PowerDirector
Pro Tip: Adobe Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro have several free and paid plugins to choose from, which will cut your editing time in half.
6. Final Bonus - Lights, Camera, Action!
Just do it. You’ll only get better with practice.
While camera presence may come naturally to some people, others have to practice how to control emotions, so they don’t look uncomfortable or nervous in front of the camera. To improve your camera presence, we suggest you sit/stand up straight with your shoulders back, so you look professional, focused and relaxed.
You should also try to speak slowly and enunciate each word clearly so your message is easy to understand.
As you continue to create more and more videos, you’ll get used to being in front of the camera, and your camera presence will improve in time. So, don’t be shy and keep practicing.
Final Thoughts:
Creating professional videos sounds intimidating, but it doesn’t really have to be.
All you need to do is follow the tips discussed in this article, and you’ll see a considerable increase in your video quality, engagement and results.
So, what are you waiting for? Go make some videos!
If you need a helping hand along the way, feel free to book a call with us here at Hello Social Avenue.
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