We know the thought of making your own video for your small business can be scary, but we promise it doesn’t have to be!

Here’s our very best tips, advice and guide to help you when you are ready to create a social video. To make a great one just read these 7 tips below our Marketing expert Megan Wren shares with our clients on the reg! She knows her stuff about marketing for small business & now you do to too!

1. Plan the Story – Shoot the Story
  
  a. Determine beginning, middle & end of story.
  b. Determine setting
  c. Write a script – Consider thoughtful, emotional message that viewers will connect with
  d. If applicable to topic, make sure viewers know who you are, what you do, and how you can help them
2. Keep Camera Steady
  
  a. Invest in tripod
  i. Small mobile phone – 3C Smart Octopus
  ii. Larger mobile phone – GorillaPod
  iii. More fancy option – Mount on iOgrapher
3. Clear Audio
  
  a. Invest in internal mic
  b. Invest in external mic
  i. Rode SmartLav+
  ii. Mighty Mic
4. No Zoom
  
  Digital zoom can cause blurry video
  Avoid zoom by moving closer to person or object
5. Lighting is Key
  
  Choose a brightly lit setting
  Auto Exposure on mobile phones is often slow to adjust when changing scenes
  Avoid backlighting – find natural lighting if possible, but have actor face that lighting
  Avoid direct overhead lighting
6. Shoot for Intended Platform
  
  Horizontal is best practice
7. Consider subtitles or on-screen text
  
  You will need to create a SRT file
  Example instructions on how to add to social here
8. Use an editing app to trim your video.
  
  For all those bloopers, extra ums, and hiccups you need to remove we recommend using iMovie, and even YouTube has a video editor. But if you’re needing something with more power, we like Adobe Premiere Elements, and Final Cut Pro X. You want a professional looking video so don’t forget that means you need to edit!