As a small business owner, creating a video can be an effective way to showcase your products, services, or brand. However, it can also be intimidating, especially if it's your first time on camera or making a video.
Here are 5 tips to help you make your first video shoot a success!
1. Plan your message and script ahead of time
Before you start filming, you must take the time to plan out your message and create a script (or at the least an outline). This will help you stay on track and ensure that you deliver the information you want to convey. A good script can also help you stay organized and keep the video from becoming too long or rambling.
Pro Tip: Break the script down into sequences (1-3 paragraphs max). Not only will it facilitate things during filming, but it will allow you to break up your material into easily digestible chunks for your audience.
2. Keep it short and sweet
In today's fast-paced world, people have the attention span of a goldfish. So it goes without saying it servves you best to keep your video short and sweet, ideally under two minutes. This will help you keep your audience engaged and avoid losing their attention.
Pro Tip: If you have more to say, consider creating a series of shorter videos instead of one long one.
3. Use good lighting and sound
Good lighting and sound are essential for a high-quality video. However, it doesn’t mean you have to start investing on pro camera gear just yet. Cellphones have come a long way since the first flip phone and come standard with amazing camera optics, cinematic tools such as stabilization and are compact and lightweight.
Here is a short checklist when you are scouting a location in which to film.
• Make sure you film in a well-lit area, ideally with natural light.
• Windows are your friend or any surface that can reflect light, like a white wall or ceiling.
• Get as close to this natural light source and try a few different positions until the lighting on your face looks the best and most pleasing.
• If you're filming indoors and there are no windows nearby, use a lamp or stand a couple feet behind an overhead light to brighten your face.
• Use a microphone to ensure that your audio is crisp, clear, and easy to hear. If that is not an option get as close to your phone or camera as possible without distorting your features (stand too close to the camera and the optics will deform your facial features making you look like a cartoon character).
Pro Tip: Audiences are more forgiven of bad lighting than bad audio. So if you have to choose based on location or budget, always invest your resources on audio first.
4. Showcase your brand and personality
Your video is an opportunity to showcase your brand and personality. Use visual elements, such as logos or branding, to reinforce your brand's identity. Additionally, be yourself and let your personality shine through in the video. This will help you connect with your audience and create a memorable video.
Pro Tip: While prepping your content/scrip and filming your video focus on one thing to come across as candid and natural as possible: value. Focus on the value you are providing your audience with your video. This will take the attention away from yourself and get you to not think about how you look or sound, but rather getting the most benefit to your audience. This also helps when you are nervous being on camera.
5. Keep it simple and focus on one message
When creating your video, it's important to keep it simple and focus on one message. Less is always best in video when starting to grow your audience. So avoid trying to cover too many topics or cram too much information into one video. Instead, focus on one key message or idea that you want to convey. This could be your origin story, one key element that sets you apart, your best product, etc. This will help you create a clear and concise video that resonates with your audience.
In conclusion, creating a video can be a great way to promote your small business. By planning ahead, keeping it short and sweet, using good lighting and sound, showcasing your brand and personality, and keeping it simple, you can create a high-quality video that engages your audience and helps you achieve your business goals.Remember, quality takes time. So don’t give up if your first video falls short of your expectations. With time and practice the quality and content of your videos will get better. The important thing is to get started now rather than later.Best of luck on your shoot!
Need a second opinion? Consult with one of our creatives to solidify your game plan before you hit record. Simply fill out the form here and we will get back to you in two shakes of a lamb's tail.
