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Why This Is A Better Time Than Any To Up Your Video Content Game

As we have mentioned in a previous blog, digital marketing is hands down the best way for businesses to thrive and attract more clients and opportunity. Video marketing, on the other hand, has been an essential aspect of companies’ marketing techniques in recent years.

On top of that digital consumption right now is at its all-time peak, and the reason for that is, well, take a look around, you don’t see people walking around the streets. There are office buildings that are sitting empty. People are now working from home. Digital consumption is there. People are also turning to social media for information, for guidance and for help, and that’s where you need to be if you’re not already.

If you needed some reassurance about why video should be used in your social media strategy here it is  (stats from tubularinsights, Cisco and Hubspot):

  • 81% of businesses use video as a marketing tool
  • Viewers retain 95% of a message when they watch it in a video, compared to 10% when reading it in text.
  • 64% of consumers make a purchase after watching branded social videos
  • By 2022, online videos will make up more than 82% of all consumer internet traffic
  • Marketers who use video grow business revenue 49% faster than non-video

So now as you clearly see, video is here to stay!  So let’s hop in to 11 tips to improve your video content from home.

1. Use Plenty of Light. (Natural if you Can)

Lighting makes a huge difference in the quality of a finished video, so it’s critical that it becomes one of your top priorities during filming. If you don’t use enough properly-placed light, your video will most likely look amateurish, even if your ticking all the other boxes.

The sun is definitely one of the best light sources for video. If you’re planning on filming in natural light, do your best to get your footage in the morning or evening, when the light is softer. Midday light coming from straight overhead can be very glary, overpowering and can cast harsh shadows on your subjects, while morning and evening light is more flattering. If you do need to film in the middle of the day, try to do so on a cloudy day, or find a shady area for softer light.

2. Use a Clean, Professional Background.

Nothing looks less professional than a messy or distracting background. So you need to be deliberate about the background you use for filming.

One easy way to get a professional look for your video is to use a solid coloured background. A wall, a bedsheet, or a large sheet of backdrop paper are all good options. But preferably we recommend shooting in your “professional” environment: the place where you actually work or spend time.

3. Clean Audio is a Must.

Statistics show that people are more likely to watch a video with poor visual quality rather than audio quality so your audio quality is actually more important than your professional video quality. I think from experience you’d know that fuzzy, indistinct audio is usually enough to make you hit the “back” button within a few seconds of starting to play a video.

Due to the immense importance audio carries, we recommend that a good microphone is the first piece of equipment you should invest in. Get the best one you can afford. For $100 to $200, you can get a microphone that performs well and will last a long time. There are also some decent options under $100 if you’re on a tight budget, especially with lapel mics.

4. Shaky Footage is a no-no.

Shaky footage has the potential to undo all the other measures you’ve taken to upgrade the quality of your video! Our production team can definitely agree with this when we say it’s hard to hold a camera completely steady, so try not to hold your camera at all if you can help it. Instead, use a tripod, or set your camera on a sturdy surface.

5. Get a good understanding of the Rule of Thirds.

The rule of thirds is one of the most basic principles of film composition.

Depending on what device your using to capture the video, it may incorporate a lower thirds grid on screen (you may have to toggle this on in the settings), if not imagine that there’s a 3-by-3 grid laid over the field you’re filming. Instead of placing your subject right in the middle of the shot, you should place your subject along one of the lines of the grid. The points where the lines intersect are particularly strong areas of focus, so situate important elements of the video there, if you can. This is also helpful in the post editing process if you are going to incorporate graphics like lower thirds

6. There’s No Problem with Using Your Phone, Just Use it the Right Way.

Worried about how you’re going to record good quality video without a DSLR camera? No problem. Unless your phone is prehistoric (before 2014) or cheap it should do more than just the job, it should capture relatively professional video footage – that is of course if it’s set up right. These are the steps to get your phone to optimal performance before you use your phone for video creation.

  • For starters use the camera on the back of your phone. The front camera’s quality is not as good on most phones.
  • Record in landscape mode (that is, horizontally instead of vertically). This will give you footage that looks good on larger devices, not just phone screens.
  • If your phone has a feature that allows you to overlay a grid on your screen, use it. This will help you keep your phone level and avoid tilted footage, not to mention your alignment with lower thirds!
  • Your phone should also generally have quality settings to shoot (generally the mid settings are set as factory settings), look at the following tutorials if you use an Apple or Samsung device:

If you use another brand phone look up the optimal shooting settings e.g ‘Best video recording settings for HTC Sensation’ or alternatively look at the tutorial for it.

7. Practice makes Perfect with Camera Presence.

If you appear in your professional videos, the way you carry yourself on camera has an enormous impact on how professional your content looks. Appearing nervous, fidgety, or uncomfortable on camera will distract viewers from your message.

Fortunately, this is something you can improve with practice. Here are a few of the main things to focus on when you are going to film yourself.

  • Make a point of choosing an outfit you feel comfortable in and looks put-together. Anything tailored, clean, and wrinkle-free is a great start.
  • Start out by speaking about anything you are passionate about to warm up and turn on your “speaker” personality.
  • Schedule plenty of time to film as many takes as necessary. You definitely won’t want to feel rushed. There is nothing quite as sweet as a well-made video you worked hard on.
  • Stay hydrated by taking sips of water between takes. Your parched throat could ruin an otherwise great take
  • Practice, practice, practice. Watch footage of yourself and identify the areas where you could improve. Then make a conscious effort to work on those things.

8. Shoot from a Variety of Angles.

Cutting from one angle to another is a good (and simple) way to add visual interest to your professional videos. This is an especially useful technique if you’re making a how-to video, a product demo, or another type of video that shows you doing something rather than just talking.

Along with this shoot plenty of relevant B-roll footage, which you will then use in the editing process.

9. Keep Your Editing Simple.

Use an editing program based on your skills and equipment. Learn more here. 

A simple, clean editing style generally looks most professional and is the most time efficient.

A few things you should be sure to do during the editing stage include:

  • Using noise cancelling to clean up any background noise.
  • Adjusting the lighting a little if you need to.
  • Cutting out awkward pauses and silences.
  • Adding background music and transitions.

If this is too complicated or time heavy for you, consider how you might outsource your video editing. Freelance video editors are freely available on websites such as Fiverr.

10. Plan Your Videos in Advance.

Each time you make a video, start by defining its purpose & goal. What is your objective?

Ask yourself what you want to achieve or communicate by making this video. In addition, define your target audience. How will you make your video be relevant to these viewers in particular? How are you going to add value to these viewers?

Once you’ve defined your video’s goals, write a script if it helps. Although we definitely advise that you don’t read the script like it’s a teleprompter because it will come off as not genuine. You want to seem as down to earth and genuine as possible to your audience.

11. Promote Your Videos.

Creating your videos is only half the battle. The other half is getting people to watch them. If you want to present yourself as a serious and professional video creator, you’ve got to promote your videos and grow your following.

It’s okay not to have a lot of views or audience interaction when you start out. Everybody has to start somewhere, and some channels naturally have more mass appeal than others, which gives them an advantage in picking up new viewers. But as you create and publish more videos, your viewership should grow over time. Having lots of videos, but almost no views, can make your channel seem amateurish to the viewers who do come along.

So how can you promote your videos effectively as a beginner? Here are a few strategies to start with.

  • Put your videos in the appropriate formats for social media.
  • Upload your videos to the channels your target audience uses. Don’t waste too much energy promoting your videos on platforms that aren’t popular with your audience.
  • Learn the basics of video SEO. Writing good descriptions, using keywords, and tagging your videos correctly can help you get more views.
  • Publish new videos regularly. Fresh content tells viewers that your channel is active and growing. This makes them more likely to come back.
  • Interact with your audience as much as possible. Respond to comments, answer questions, and thank viewers for taking the time to watch your videos.

If you require any assistance with any of your video content needs, feel free to contact Advantage Agency and discuss your requirements are how we might be of service to you.

Acknowledgements:
This blog includes tips sourced from https://wave.video/blog/12-simple-tips-for-making-your-videos-look-more-professional/