10 tips for better video

We all now know that video is one of the best ways to grab people’s attention online. But many videos posted by businesses online are poor. So here are a few quick tips from someone who makes videos for a living; me!

Video is a great way to really engage with your audience, and a bit of preparation can make all the difference. If you want a professional video producer to film or edit videos for you then contact me for a chat.

1 PREPARATION IS KEY

Your video is telling a story - so write down why it’s useful and why it’s interesting. Have a clear title and a call to action at the end.

2 LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

Your location can tell part of the story if you’re an estate agent or a baker. But wherever you’re filming make sure it’s light and quiet.

3 LET THERE BE LIGHT...

Diffused sunlight is the cheapest and best light for video. If you need to do calls or film when it’s dark then invest in a video light.

4 WHAT CAMERA?

Smartphones have great cameras. If you’re using your computer, make sure it’s got a good webcam, or buy another one. To go up another level then a camera like the Canon M50 is ideal.

5 KEEP IT CLEAN

Aside from poor lighting, a dirty camera lens is the biggest cause of poor quality video, especially mobile phone cameras - so clean it.

6 GET STABLE

If you’re making lots of videos on a proper camera or phone then invest in a tripod - just make sure it’s tall enough for your needs.

7 SWEET SOUNDS

Bad audio will get people to turn off. Use a microphone if you can, don’t record outdoors on a breezy day and if you have air conditioning indoors try to switch it off.

8 IT’S A SET UP

If recording on your phone make sure you’ve got airplane mode switched on so you’re not interrupted by calls or notifications.

9 ACTION!

If you’re recording videos for an online course, say, it’s useful to remember: pause, breathe, smile, speak, smile, stop. It’ll mean you can edit the video to start and stop on a smile.

10 TIME FOR EDITING

Editing can really help tell the story. You can add captions, opening slides, ending slides, logos, music… I spend about 80% of video project time editing. For simple videos you can edit on your phone. But for anything more involved it’s easier to do it on a tablet or computer.