Business

  • Unlock the Secret for Crafting Perfect Videos

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    You know you have a great message to share with your audience, but do you get tongue-tied the minute you start recording?

    Don’t worry – I GOT YOU!!

    Today we’re going to discuss the 5 key elements that make up an effective video that will keep you from losing your place or getting sidetracked.

    Now, this is building off of last week’s blog post where I share the number one mistake you could make when starting video marketing for your business. Do you remember what it was?

    No strategy!

    So if you haven’t checked out that post yet, click here. Trust me, you don’t wanna be making videos until you have a strategy to make those videos. So head back over and watch that video first.

    But once you have your strategy in place and you know the three kinds of videos you’re going to make for your business, now we’re to talk about the videos themselves. I mean, what the heck do you even say in a great video?

    5 elements of an effective video

    1- The Hook.

    This is the first 3 to 5 seconds of your video. Okay. Say something that is going to grab your audience’s attention And make them want to hang out for the first 30 seconds of your video. It should also repel the wrong audience.

    In my hook right before the intro of my video above, I share that I am giving the five basic elements of effective videos for those that are new to creating videos for business. I don’t need to talk to people who’ve been doing this for years. They got it. They’re not my audience, right?

    So you want to make sure that your hook draws in the right audience and repels the wrong audience.

    2 – The Intro

    Who are you? Now, this is actually great because you can cover this in one of two ways. You can do it by verbally introducing yourself – always a great option. Or you can also create that little clip like the one that I have here at the beginning of my videos where I show:

    • my name,
    • my face (to a certain extent – I’m jumping into a cup of coffee but you know it’s me right who I am)
    • what I do so you know why I have any authority to talk about what I’m about to share

    So that intro can be verbal, it can be a clip, or, double whammy baby, do both!

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    3 – The Pain Point

    Now we’re getting into the meat of the video. What is the pain point of your audience?

    Relate to them. Maybe you can tell your own personal story. Was there a time that you too suffered from that exact same pain point? Did you walk, walk through that exact same struggle? Are you basically talking to a version of you from five years ago? 10 years ago?

    Maybe that’s not the case, but you have clients with this pain point. Personally, I have never really struggled with making videos. It’s just something I’ve always done, but I work with clients who struggled with making videos. They don’t know what to say! So when I listen to them, tell me what they’re struggling with, I then can turn around and say, okay, this is a massive pain point that I need to talk about.

    4 – The Solution

    This is the biggie – you have to solve the problem caused by that pain point. In this particular case, I am solving my audience’s problem of not knowing what to say by giving them the five elements of an effective video.

    You want to give something that they can implement when they stop watching your video and get a small win right away. Because when your audience has a small win, guess what they want to do – come back for more!

    5 – The CTA (call to action)

    What do you want your audience to do after they’ve watched your video? There are a lot of options!

    • subscribe to the channel
    • like and share the video
    • comment by answering a question that you propose
    • get on your email list
    • head over to the website and purchase the product
    • sign up for a course
    • schedule a discovery call for some services
    • and more!

    Make sure that your audience knows what it is you want them to do after they watch the video.

    So the five elements of an effective video are the hook, the intro, the pain point, the solution and the C T A.

    By using these 5 simple parts to your videos, you’ll be able to create engaging videos that will spur viewer engagement and conversions and you’ll be on your way to crafting perfect videos no matter what you’re trying to say!

    LEARN MORE ABOUT

    THE BUSY ENTREPRENEUR’S
    GUIDE TO YOUTUBE!

  • How to PUBLISH your video content

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    Want to know the absolute SCARIEST part about creating video content to grow your business? It’s actually NOT recording it (sorry to burst your bubble if that part of the process felt like Mt Everest to you)…

    It’s loading that video to a platform and hitting the button that says PUBLISH because now all your hard work (and insecurities) are “out there” for the world to see (and have an opinion on).

    Did you just throw up a little bit in your mouth? 🤢 Been there! (Check out this post on how to look comfortable on camera even when you’re not!)

    And then there is the frustration of not knowing HOW to publish your content to even get it out there. 😣Been there too!!

    But you (and I) need to push past the fear of what people think (haters gonna hate) and share that video because there is someone that needs to hear what you have to say and will benefit from the wisdom you have to share!

    And when you finally get past that fear and are ready to go for it, here are

    3 Basics you need to PUBLISH your video content

    1 – Know your platform

    Where are sharing this video? Because different platforms are used for different things by different people (and require different size videos!)

    • YouTube is generally where you will find long-form content that should be filmed in landscape mode (though they did start offering “YouTube Shorts” which are only up to 60sec) Check out this list of ideas for YouTube videos.

    • Instagram features Reels up to 90sec. The topics of these videos can range from pure entertainment to promoting your products/services to sharing tips & tricks. These videos should be recorded vertically. This is a great place to share repurposed content from your long-form YouTube videos.

    • TikTok is a video-sharing social media platform known for its funny lip-syncing videos though people share much more than just that. Check out this list of ideas for TikTok (also uses vertical video format).

    • Facebook is where you want to build your “insider community” within a FB group and share exclusive video content that isn’t available publicly on any of the other platforms above. Share vertical or landscape videos. Short or long form. Entertainment, educational, or promotional.
    • LinkedIn is used to build your professional brand as well as to network and make connections with other professionals. As per the LinkedIn site, your video content should consist of sharing your perspective on news stories, giving an insider look at an industry event you’re attending, or showing off a new product your startup just launched. This platform only allows videos in landscape format.

    2 – Write an enticing Title & Caption/Description

    • Choose an SEO-friendly title that makes someone want to click & watch like:
      1. How To _______
      2. WARNING: Avoid doing ______
      3. # Best Tips to _______
      4. # Worst Ways to ______

        *Watch this video for some great tips on video titles!

    • Your caption or video description will vary depending on the type of video you are sharing, but should always include a:
      1. Hook – an opening statement to capture someone’s attention
      2. Insights – engage the viewer by sharing some important details or explanation
      3. CTA – give the viewer the exact next step(s) you want them to take when they are done watching your video

    • Use keywords, tags, and hashtags to make your video easier to find by those looking specifically for what you are talking about. Make sure they are relevant to your topic and think about what your viewer is asking – not what you know.

    3 – Design an easy to read Cover/Thumbnail

    Because so many people are scrolling on their phones, be sure your graphic is easy to read on a small screen. Use a clear font and bold, contrasting colors. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel here! Canva has TONS of free templates!

    Don’t have time for this?

    I got you! Learn more about my video services or click here to send me some details about your video content and publishing needs and get a custom quote:

    Let’s work together to get your videos published so they can start growing your business!!

  • How to LOOK Comfortable on Camera (even when you’re NOT)

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    There is nothing more nerve-racking than seeing that blinking red light that’s letting your know a recording is in progress! 

    Am I right?! 😬

    I started making videos years ago as a direct sales consultant who did 100% of my parties online. I wanted to demonstrate the products I loved so much and transfer my excitement for cleaning supplies to the women on the other side of the screen.

    (Scroll to the bottom of the post to find out exactly how comfortable I got!)

    Here are a few things I learned to do that really helped!

    4 Tips that will help you LOOK comfortable on camera

    (even when you’re not)

    1 – Look directly at the camera and not at yourself on the screen

    This will allow you to make “eye contact” with the viewer and builds the Know, Like, and Trust between you and a potential customer or client.

    2 – Smile and use intonation when you speak.

    Ironically, many people get so nervous that they repress the ebb and flow of their voices. No one wants to watch a video where you look like you are miserable and sound like the teacher from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

    Where are my 90’s babies at?!!

    3 – Keep notes or an outline handy.

    This helps you from being overly stressed about remembering everything you want to say.

    PRO TIP: When you need to look down, finish a complete sentence, pause, glance down, look up, pause, smile, and start talking again. Then simply clip this section out when you edit your video.

    *If you are doing a Live video, use a sticky note next to your phone/camera. It’s okay to glance at it from time to time, no one will care! Just don’t read off it the entire time.

    4 – Finally, the BEST tip is to practice what you want to say in front of the mirror.

    Will feel stupid and even more awkward at first? Yes! But you will get a much better idea of what your audience is seeing and it will make you more aware of your bad habits
    (And if you are worried your family will hear you, shut your bathroom door and turn your fan on to help muffle the sound 😂)

    So just how comfortable did I eventually get on camera?

    It took some time and a LOT of practice, but I actually got to the point where I was comfortable enough to go Live on FB while sitting on my toilet (lid closed, I wasn’t using it!), wearing a crown (cuz I was the “Mean Green Cleaning Queen) while talking all about how I loved my toilet brush.

    Yup, I seriously did that. 😂

    You may not be quite that crazy, but you can still benefit from these tips to look comfortable on camera even if you’re not.

    I would love to know which one is the most helpful to you so comment on this post and let me know!!

  • 4 Video EDITING Tips for Beginners

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    This is probably the step in the video content process that stops most people dead in their tracks because they don’t even know where to start.

    And I get it! What kind of editing software should you use? How do you add special effects like music, text overlays, and transitions?

    It’s just so complicated!!

    Editing videos can be tricky at first but, just like riding a bike, the more you do it, the easier it becomes and you’ll be yelling, “Look Ma! No hands!” in no time if you don’t give up.

    Here are 4 basic tips that will make editing your videos easier so they are ready to be published fast and easy.

    When you are RECORDING your videos:

    Don’t stop the recording and start a new clip

    If you mess up, just pause, take a deep breath, smile and start talking again. This prevents you from having a ton of clips on your phone that you have to fit together later.

    Then, when you are editing your video, simply cut and delete your mistakes.

    Be intentional about your INTRO and OUTRO to the video

    Start your video explaining what the viewer can expect to see, then introduce yourself.
    End your video by thanking the viewer for watching and giving a clear CTA (Call To Action).

    Later, you can add music and/or a title slide to make the video look more professional.

    (Learn more about these – How to RECORD Video Content for YouTube & Social Media)

    When you are EDITING your videos:

    Use text overlays

    As you explain steps to a process or make important points, having text on the screen helps your audience have a clearer understanding of what she should be taking away from the video. Most video editing software makes this super simple.

    Music makes your video more entertaining

    That being said, make sure it is instrumental music (lyrics will be distracting) and the volume is quiet enough that your voice can easily be heard. Another option is to just use music during your intro and outro of the video.

    A few other thoughts…

    Create a folder on your computer or the Cloud and keep your script, cover graphic, raw video footage, editing software project file, and final video.

    *This is important in case you later see a mistake and need to go back and re-edit your video OR want to grab short clips to promote your entire video.

    Editing software ranges from super simple to extremely complicated. Here are a few of my favorites:

    • Consider starting with a free app like InShot on your phone, it works great! 
    • For longer videos or if you just prefer to work on your computer, my personal fav is Cyberlink PowerDirector 365. The annual subscription is worth every penny.
    • Lumen5 and Canva have slide deck templates that you can use but you have less freedom to get exactly what you want.

    *Personally, I use all of these tools for different types of videos, but I suggest you start with one, play with it, and add another over time.

    Think this all sounds great but still rather NOT do it?

    Good news,
    I can do it for you!!

    Click here to learn more about the Video Creator Support Packages that include a strategy session, video editing, YouTube channel assets, and promotional graphics!