The numbers don’t lie. Video is the king of content and it is rapidly becoming the most engaging form of content on the web. Still not convinced? Take a look at the stats below. We also give you suggestions on how to make great videos (at the bottom of the post).
How you can easily create your own marketing videos
Decide the purpose of your video
Most marketing videos try to do one of three things: 1) sell a product or service, 2) entertain, with the purpose of going viral, or 3) educate viewers about a cause, or your product or service
Decide which of these three suits your needs best
Write a short, catchy, easy-to-understand script
Most people get bored after 30-60 seconds of video. Thankfully, that means less work for you!
Try to keep the text of your first video (and most of your videos) under 150 words
Use simple language so that everyone can understand your message
Record the voiceover
There are many free recording tools, such as Apple’s GarageBand and Microsoft’s Mixcraft
Draw a visual storyboard
Sketch the corresponding visuals to each piece of text in your video.
Not every image needs to have live video: think of other ways to express your content, such as free photos, scanned drawings and screen captures, which are particularly effective for explainer videos.
Shoot live video segments
If you don’t have access to a video camera, feel free to use a smartphone
Pay attention to lighting
Near sunrise and sunset are the best times of day to shoot live video outside
Make sure your actors are well lit, but not “blinded by the light.” Also, be careful of shadows that may cover their expressions
Unless you have a professional camera, avoid shooting video under low light or outside at night
Pay attention to what is in the background
If you’re using a smartphone to record, try to stay in a steady position. If you are standing, lean on something, such as a pole or building
It’s best for actors to wear solid colors.
Last but not least, actors must speak in loud, clear voices.
Edit the video
There are many free tools, such as iMovie, ScreenFlow, PowerPoint, and Camtasia
Start with the voiceover and then add your visuals. You may need to cut clips and build in transitions to make it smoother
When you add music, make sure it is royalty free
Publish it!
Andrew Follett, Founder of explainer-video creation company Demo Duck, gives some helpful tips about publishing on YouTube. Once you test the video and make sure the format is right, give a good title, description, and tags so that others can easily find it!
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