While many creators will get by using only photos for their stories, knowing how to create great video content is an important trick to have up your sleeve. Video is more instantly captivating, it allows you to get more information across more quickly, and it is ideal for showing some personality.
The problem is that many business owners completely freeze at the prospect of making video. The following tips should help.
HD
First of all, it’s absolutely crucial that your video be crisp and high definition. You’re trying to make your business look high tech and professional here, and if it looks like you used a camera that came from a Christmas cracker then you really won’t send that message. At the same time, the clearer your footage, the clearer your message will be.
This is less of a problem these days as even the most affordable phone comes with a somewhat decent camera. But still, if this is going to become a large part of your business, then it’s worth investing in something really good. Think about the quality of the rear shooting camera AND the selfie camera. And shoot in portrait… of course!
Sound
Spend as much time worrying about your sound as you do about your image quality. Again this needs to be crisp, clear and loud, and that means that you need to make sure that you have a good quality camera and that you’re close enough to the mic.
If you sound like you’re underwater then people will turn off.
Music
The right music can really enhance your video and create the mood you’re trying to sell. At the same time though this needs to be music that you own the rights to and that you are allowed to use, and it needs to be edited in such a way that it fits the length of your video.
This is a great way to set yourself apart from the crowd, seeing as a lot of Stories don’t use any backing music for exactly those reasons. Music instantly helps set the mood, and again helps you to stand out.
Read Also: 7 Apps & Resources You can Use to Create Better Social Media Stories.
People
If your video features people talking or being filmed then these people need to look the part – ideally, choose the members of staff that come across well on camera.
Again, you walk a fine line here between showing an authentic vibe at your business and a polished and staged version of your reality. But just giving your staff (or yourself) a few pointers can make a huge difference. Try to speak more slowly.
Surroundings
You also need to choose surroundings for your video that look professional and that don’t distract from the message.
Choose a spot in your office that looks clean and tidy.
Video Editing
Just as photo editing can make all the difference to your photos, the same is true of your video editing.
This is an easy way to improve your presentation skills too – cut out the dead air (any silence between takes) and the videos will become instantly more snappy, engaging, and professional.
These are some video editing software you can use:
Lumafusion
If you’re on iPad or iOS, then you can actually edit your videos live from your mobile device. While several apps on both Android AND iOS claim this, only one can really pull it off at the moment: That’s Lumafusion.
It’s used by a number of big Instagram and YouTube stars, and it is intuitive while still being powerful. It’s not free, but compared with Adobe Premiere it’s extremely affordable.
Lapse It
One of the most interesting types of videos you can upload to a Story is a timelapse. This is a stop-motion video made up of hundreds or thousands of stills taken over a long duration.
You might use this to show time-passing outside your office for instance or to show a whole workout in 1 minute.
Magisto
Magisto allows you to make incredible videos without ever leaving your smartphone in three easy steps: First you’ll choose your video editing style (the type of story you’re telling), then you’ll choose the photos and video clips you’d like included, and lastly you’ll pick your music from Magisto’s built-in music library.
Using artificial intelligence (AI), this intuitive app helps organize your footage in a video that best delivers the message you have in mind. Why not stop at the free version? Upgrade to Premium or Professional for a small monthly fee and make longer movies with more of your own content.
Social Media Stories are a powerful “weapon” for the online marketer. If you would like to know more about how to post the best Stories that create Engagement and Sales you should read our free book presented below:
