Video has been a great marketing tool for many years. From TV commercials to web
marketing videos, you probably have ran into them all. Well, maybe not all but a good chunk of it!
Back in the day, or in the 50’s, to be more specific, almost every American household owned a television. Back then the TV was the primary source of information propagation and in turn, it was also the main tool used to spread and shape the opinion of the public. Television has been a huge part of our lives and it has shaped our society in many ways.
Today, video is so integrated into our everyday routines that many times we fail to realize the impact it has on us. We use video for entertainment, to keep up with the world around us, to learn, for inspiration, and the list goes on and on. The presence of the internet has changed the way we interact with video quite a bit.
The marketers around the world saw a great opportunity in
video as a form of marketing. They use it as a tool to communicate their products and their brand because with video they are able to capture their viewers faster and easier than they would with print. That’s because with video we can use both audio and visual aids to help us engage with our audience and create a long lasting impression on our viewers. And even though the essence of video marketing hasn’t changed that much, strategies used to capture our audiences have. It’s all part of the cycle.
But even throughout all the changes the internet brought to video marketing one thing is certain, if you want to stand out from the competition, the quality of your video should be awesome. So in this post, we’ll share some tips to help you bring your A-game to your video production.
Here’s how you start.
1. Write down a production schedule
When you start recording your video your focus should be on the footage you are gathering, not on all the other things you need to do in order to produce your video.
Planning your production schedule ahead of time will give the peace of mind you need to stay focused on your tasks at hand.
Start by setting up a deadline and work your way back to the beginning of the process. Keep in mind you need to set realistic expectations and be flexible in case things don’t go your way. Hey s**** happens! All you can do is adapt. By the way, the S-word is “stuff.” Here, at Digital Brew, we pride ourselves in having clean mouths. Don’t believe me? Count the numbers of *’s.
2. Shoot with your camera horizontally
When you shoot with your camera vertically you end up with a video that has a black panel on each side of the screen. It does not look professional and we certainly don’t recommend it.
If you try fixing it afterward you will end up having to crop your video and it will probably not look how it should.
Here’s some homework for you. Type “vertical video meme” on google images. Here’s a preview of what you can expect to see.
You’re welcome!
3. Use a tripod
You don’t need a fancy and expensive tripod, a cheap(ish) one will do, just make sure it can handle your camera securely. The last thing you want is to save money on a tripod just to have it damaging your camera. Using a tripod will drastically improve the quality of your videos. It makes your footage look much smoother, polished, and professional.
4. Use an external microphone
The cool thing about a video is that people get to enjoy your message visually AND auditorily. That means not only your visuals have to be on point but your audio as well. Just like your tripod, your mic does not need to be expensive. You can find good quality equipment for pretty good prices on the internet.
Before you grab your wallet, however, you should do some research and figure out what kind of microphones would work best for the type of conditions you find yourself recording your videos in. There are many options out there and some of them may not work for you.
5. Great lighting
Great lighting is essential for a good quality video. We’re pretty sure you know that already. This is one of those things that everyone knows, yet some people still don’t want to spend time or money setting up a well-lit filming area. Don’t be that person. Instead, do your research, be creative, and persistent. Sometimes it can be difficult to find the right set up. But once you do find it, your video will go from zero to hero. We’re not exaggerating!
6. Composition
If you are making a video, I assume you want it to look good. With a good quality camera, good lighting, and good composition you can achieve that. But what on earth is composition? Well, composition is how you choose to frame the images you are capturing. Although a good composition is subjective there are many different techniques you can use to achieve that. You don’t have to become an expert but it’s definitely worth taking some time to read and learn about it before you start shooting so that you have a basic understanding.
7. Change it up
If your shots are pretty static, such as an interview, try switching things up a bit and make your videos more dynamic by positioning your cameras at different angles. When editing, switch up between those footages. Otherwise, your video will most likely be pretty boring.
8. Use B-roll
B-roll is supplemental footage that you can add to a video to help tell a story. Add B-roll to your video especially if you are shooting an interview or someone just talking. Just like the previous tip, adding the extra touch will make your video more dynamic and fun to watch. It also helps people visualise what the person is talking about.
9. Transitions
So, if you are following our advice you are thinking about using B-roll. Even if you are not, you will probably have to move from one shoot to another. That means you will need to use transitions.
Transition is what connects one scene to another. There’s a fine line between a good transition and a tacky one, so be careful. Do your research and figure out what type of transitions you should use on your video and when to use them before you start the editing process.
10. Think before you share
The finish line is near my friend. We can see the light at the end of the tunnel, can you? You worked hard on your video and you can’t wait to share it with the world but is your video ready to be shared? Maybe yes, but maybe not. If you are making videos just for fun and you think it’s done, then go ahead and scream from the top of your lungs “MY VIDEO IS READY!” Ok, maybe that’s not the most effective way to share your video. But that’s not the true advice here.
The true takeaway is that, if your videos are meant to represent a brand or a product it needs to be damn good. Your audience will associate a bad video with a bad brand or a bad product. So you better step up your game and make sure your video quality is up to par with the quality of what you are selling.
Let’s continue the conversation – tweet at us @DigitalBrew_co! 
You’re welcome!
