Fun fact: Recent studies show that adding videos into your marketing strategy increases brand awareness by around 70%, traffic to your website by 51%, and overall sales by 34%. So, if you are not already incorporating video on social media, your website, or in your digital ad campaigns, what are you waiting for?!
One common answer is that you may not have the budget to drop on a professional video production crew to help you build your video library. The great news is that today, all you really need is a phone with a decent camera to start taking fun marketing clips that will reel your customers in and help you reach your business goals.
Before you head out to start shooting, there is one thing to consider – although viewers like and engage with authentic, unpolished footage, if your videos are too amateur, you may be doing more harm than good. However, if you follow the technical tips below, you’ll be well on your way to creating winning clips for your company.
1. Perfect your lighting
Nothing ruins an otherwise great video like inadequate lighting. If you plan on shooting outdoors, aim for the morning or evening, when the light is softer and won’t cast unflattering harsh shadows on your subjects. If you’re filming indoors, avoid overhead lights for the same reason, as they are a big source of shadow. Try to set up in front of a window for a great natural light source or use a lamp or other source of artificial lighting to make sure your object can be properly seen. You may want to test the lighting on camera before you try to film your finished product and make adjustments so the end product is more polished.
2. Consider your background
Have you ever watched a YouTube video where the messy room in the background demanded all the attention? Don’t let this happen to you by carefully planning your video’s backdrop. If you’re filming indoors, tidy up before you hit the “Record” button. You can also film in front of a solid-colored background like a wall or sheet to minimize distractions. If your video will be taking place outdoors, make sure you’re not shooting in front of a scene that will divert attention away from your main focus, and that there are minimal people and animals around that can video bomb you (although this does make for some great outtakes footage).
3. Boost your audio
There’s nothing like shooting a video that you think is absolutely perfect, and then finding out that you can’t even hear the critical information that is being relayed. Prevent that from happening by investing in a microphone that you can connect to your phone, and try to record as close to the action as possible.
4. Don’t shake things up
No, we don’t mean you shouldn’t try something new and exciting. What we’re referring to is shaky footage that will leave your viewer feeling seasick. Use a tripod or phone stabilizer such as these to reduce instability in your video.
Let Midwest Marketing take care of the work in building your video library! Our team will take the work out of your hands by planning, shooting, editing, and distributing attention-grabbing video content for your business. Contact us today!
