YouTube Channel

  • 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!

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    THE BUSY ENTREPRENEUR’S
    GUIDE TO YOUTUBE!

  • 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.

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  • How to RECORD Video Content for YouTube & Social Media – 5 Basics for Beginners

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    One of the biggest reasons that I hear entrepreneurs give for why they don’t want to add a video to their content lineup is because they think it is “too much work.”

    And they are right..and wrong.

    Video content actually isn’t any more work than a blog post or creating graphics for social media. In fact, it really goes hand-in-hand! (But how to repurpose your video content is a blog post and video for another day.)

    But don’t worry, friend.

    Today we are going to break down the basics that you need for RECORDING your amazing video content

    (For tips on how to make the editing process easier, click here)

    Decide which direction you will be recording your video in – vertical or landscape.

    This likely depends on where you plan on sharing it so check here to see what is most appropriate for your platform of choice if you are unsure.

    5 Things you will need to RECORD your video content:

    A camera

    I know, I know – duh, right? But here’s why I mention it – people think they need something fancy and this keeps them from moving forward. Honestly, unless you are shooting a wedding video, the camera on your smartphone is really all you need.

    You could also purchase a stand to hold your phone or put a Flipstick on the back of your phone.

    Good lighting

    Natural light is best so shoot during the day near a window (the window should be behind your camera, not behind YOU).

    If you don’t have natural light, buy an inexpensive ring light from Amazon. I recommend one that has a stand and holds your phone inside the ring which even distributes the light and doesn’t make shadows on your face.

    A script or outline

    Write down what you want to say but don’t just read off it! Think of it like a safety net beneath you, not like a harness wrapped around your waist.

    (To learn how to use this in a way that isn’t distracting, check out this post with tips on how to look comfortable on camera.)

    A prepared introduction

    Explain who you are, who you help, and how you help them. Keep it short, simple, and clear.

    Make sure you introduce yourself in EVERY video that you shoot because ideally, you are constantly growing your reach. People don’t know who you are!

    A clear CTA (call to action)

    End each video by telling the viewer the “next step” you want them to take – that can be to like, comment, subscribe, send you a message or email, download a freebie, or anything that encourages them to engage with you and your content.

    Now you have the basics so…START RECORDING!!

    *For tips on how to LOOK more comfortable on camera even when you are NOT, click here.

  • How to PLAN Video Content to Grow Your Business

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    If you are reading this post, you are likely in 1 of 2 camps:

    1) You have a TON of ideas for videos to reach your audience all swirling around in your head but never seem to have the time or ability to get them sorted out and actually implemented.

    OR

    2) You have ZERO ideas but you know that you want to start creating videos to grow your business and have no idea how to get started.

    Great news – this post is going to solve BOTH of those problems!!

    We’ve all heard the saying…Fail to plan and you plan to fail.

    As cliche as it sounds, it gets repeated over and over again because it is true and applies to every area of your life. So let’s apply it to your video content for business, shall we?

    It’s all about using my personal “Video Content Rule of 3’s”

    Grab a sheet of paper and write down each of these 3 categories:

    Tips/Tutorials/Training

    These are skills or tools you know how to use or tips you’ve had success with

    (if you are sharing something you just learned, that’s fine, but let your audience know you are a newbie and just so darn excited to teach them something that has transformed your business or life, but you are not an expert on it just yet)

    Showcase 1 specific aspect of your product or service

    Highlight how and why it contributes to the transformation your customer/client will experience

    Behind the Scenes and/or Personal Insights

    Remind your audience there is a real person behind the brand and help you connect with them on a personal level

    List 3 video ideas for each category:

    Here are a few thoughts for different types of businesses to help grease the wheels and get them turning if you need it

    Tips/Tutorials/Training

    • Digital creators – tech software you love to use for your biz
    • Physical products/crafters – tools you use to create your products
    • Coaches – tips that make staying on track easier

    Showcase 1 specific aspect of your product or service

    • Digital creators – different modules of your course, various benefits inside your membership program
    • Physical products/crafters – how, where, and when do you use them? How does it make life easier and more organized? 
    • Coaches – different levels of the transformation process, how long should it take to experience transformation, how does accountability work

    Behind the Scenes and/or Personal Insights

    • What does the creative process look like? Why did you create this product or service?
    • Celebrate milestones reached or share days when it all goes wrong (a reminder to your client/customer you are human)
    • How are you applying the very services you are offering or using the very products you are selling to your own life and what impact are they making?

    Congratulations!

    You now have 9 amazing ideas for video content

    Choose ANY 3 of these ideas and commit to recording them in the next 3 days:

    Having a plan is a step in the right direction but unless you actually take the next step and record your videos, you are dead in the water again, right? And it doesn’t matter which category they are in – feel free to “double up” in 1 category if you want.

    But did you just freak out a little reading the last step? 😬

    It’s okay, I get it.

    But no worries! I have a few helpful tips for looking comfortable on camera even if you are not! Check them out right here.

    Be sure to check out my YouTube Channel for more Tips/Training, Inspiration, and Behind-the-Scenes videos of my own.