So you want to start filming your own online videos?
As Online Video Producers, we have produced, filmed & edited over 2,000 online videos with entrepreneurs in the last 6+ years. And we get asked ALL the time about how we make our videos look so good, and what tips we have to help entrepreneurs make their videos look as high-quality as ours do (well, almost ☺).
This is a loaded question. Obviously, it’s a very broad subject. There’s a lot of information that we could share on the topic. The truth is it takes a lot of time, as well as the accumulation of years of education and experience in order to create the quality of videos that we do regularly for our clients.
However, here are a few general tips to help you get started if you’re thinking about filming your own online videos to promote your business.
Tip #1: Start With A Clear Strategy
Hopefully, you wouldn’t get in your car and go for a drive without knowing where you’re going, or without having directions to get there. Similarly, you shouldn’t start creating and filming your own online videos without having a clear plan about what you’re trying to accomplish and why.
The first and most important thing to consider is what types of videos will best serve your business goals. For example, do you need videos for your website? Do you need video content for your blog, social media pages, and YouTube channel? Do you need to integrate video content into your online course or program?
Keep in mind that there are many different ways to use video to grow your business. Most likely, you can benefit from several different types of videos that will all work together to drive traffic to your website, engage your website visitors once they’re on your site, and inspire viewers to invest in your products and services. Once you’ve figured out what types of videos to start with, you can create a step-by-step plan to integrate online video into your overall marketing efforts.
Tip #2: Production Values Matter
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but you don’t want to just grab your iPhone, hit the record button, and start talking. Just because you can use your iPhone to very easily and quickly create online videos, doesn’t necessarily mean that you should. We actually discussed this point in detail in a previous episode of Let’s Talk Video. You can watch it here.
Keep in mind that when you put yourself out there via video, you are making an impression on the people who watch your video – for better or for worse. We actually think that a bad video does more harm to your image and brand than a good video does to help you. It’s really all about perception – or in other words, what others think of you and your brand after watching your video.
This doesn’t mean you have to break the bank by purchasing high-end, professional equipment for thousands of dollars. But you DO have to acquire a general understanding about how to create the look and feel that will get you the type of attention you want and need from your online videos.
Knowing the basics about online video production, including how to use your camera, how to set up lighting, how to capture good audio, and how to do simple editing can go a long way towards increasing the quality of your online videos.
Tip #3: Promote, Promote, Promote
Finally, one big mistake we see many entrepreneurs make after publishing a video is that they do very little to make sure that their video will get seen.
You can create the best-looking videos, with great quality content, but if no one ever sees your videos, then they’re not doing you very much good.
Here are a few simple things you can do to increase the chance that people will find and watch your online videos:
- Make sure your video is optimized on YouTube
- Send your video out to your email list
- Promote your video on your social media pages
- Publish a blog post that includes your video
- Ask other people to share your video with their audience
We hope you found these tips useful as you get started in producing your own online videos.
Please share your thoughts and comments below. What are your burning questions about how to produce your own online videos to grow your business?
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And don’t just keep it to yourself, we’d love it if you would share our blog with other entrepreneurs you know who are also looking to use online video to be seen, be known and be profitable!
