Treat Your Videos Like Your Business Cards
This week’s tip is about production value when you’re shooting a social media video. Now, because it’s social media and not TV, your video doesn’t have to look like a Spielberg film. In fact, there’s a certain charm in the video feeling organic. But that is NOT an excuse to throw just any old thing out there on social. Here are some things you must keep in mind.
If you make a bunch of mistakes on your performance, press delete and do it again. Some people just want to shoot the video and get it over with, so they do it once, post it, and hope for the best. But that video is your brand! It’s your calling card. It doesn’t make sense to put it out there for the world to see, if you trip on some words or don’t articulate your point well. That doesn’t make you look good, especially when the solution is SO EASY. Press delete and do it over. I know, I know, you’re rushed for time. But trust me it’s worth it to take your time with this process.
And if you’re biggest problem is that you can’t remember what you want to say (which is a very common problem) here’s a secret that can help you big time! You can download one of several teleprompter apps for your phone. Then, you can upload a script onto the app and use it while you shoot your video. As long as you can effectively read a teleprompter (which takes skill and practice) you’ll never have to worry about memorizing a script again. By the way, the one I recommend is called Teleprompter Premium.
Here’s another tip: if you’re holding the phone while you shoot and it’s unsteady, go buy a tripod. They’re not that expensive. Nobody wants to look at shaky video; it’s unsettling. Plus, if you don’t have to worry about holding the phone to record, it will free your hands up and allow you to focus more on performance and storytelling. Trust me, the fewer things you need to focus on other than storytelling, the easier your life will be.
And if you’re shooting your video outside, your audio may not be great. In fact, I can pretty much guarantee it won’t be great. There is just a lot of noise outside that you can’t control. So, when you’re buying the tripod, buy a lavaliere microphone as well. It will improve your sound quality immeasurably and it also looks cool. It looks like you take your craft seriously … which you should.
As I said earlier, at the end of the day, this is your brand! Take pride in it and don’t post the video until you feel great about it. Nobody has to know how many “takes” you needed, the only take that matters is the last one.
If you’d like help shooting social media videos or have any other questions about media coaching, you can always reach out to me for a free consultation.
Have a great day,
Dave