“…You better start swimmin’ or you’ll sink like a stone”. A line from Bob Dylan’s famous song ‘The Times They Are a ‘Changin’, could not have realyed the message any better. The digital age has flipped conventional business practices on their head.
Cisco’s white paper on the Visual Networking Index suggests by 2019 videos on the internet will contribute to almost 80% of the traffic.
While conventional marketing methods will yield results videos are becoming increasingly more important.
A great example showcasing this growth is Notify Fox. After posting their first explainer video on YouTube they garnered more than hundred new users. The same video also helped them significantly improve their customer conversion.
When you think videos you probably imagine big production costs, expensive equipment and the works. Good News- That is a thing of the past. There is help at hand.
With new age video making techniques you can create and edit videos at half the cost and the results will surely take your business to new heights.
Here is a list of things you can do to get you started on a shoestring budget.
KISS it all the way
Keep It Short and Simple- You’ve heard this adage being applied to almost everything under the sun. However, with videos it is even more relevant.
The hyper social age has changed the way we look at things. This has resulted in the average attention span being reduced from 12 seconds to 8 seconds!
A short and to-the-point video has the potential to go viral and get your business the attention it requires.
Case in point being Zendesk’s promo video. This one minute promotional video managed to garner over 116K views on Youtube.
With this kind of response Zendesk managed to drive home their core point of building relationships between organisations and their customers.
Takeaway: Grab attention and keep it. A short video with all the relevant information will drive home the point.
Get crafty
Don’t let limited resources get in the way of your creativity. You will have to be resourceful and make the best use of what you have.
Who knew an empty bottle could be used as a tripod. This gives turning trash into treasure a whole new spin. Plus the added benefit of saving money.
For lighting, use daylight whenever possible, The results will pleasantly surprise. You will not only save on the costs but also on time. No need to set up bulky equipment.
Make use of the space you have. You don’t need a fancy setting for a great video. A neat room with a bright wall will do the trick. A rented studio will not only inflate your costs but will also take away that personal touch from your work.
Get your friends and family to pitch in. This will not only lighten your load but also let you spend time with your loved ones. A total win-win for everybody.
For those seamless dolly shots or tracking shots you can use your office chair with wheels. Just make sure the floor is not uneven and your camera is still.
Takeaway : Lack of resources should not bog you down. Be hands-on with your approach and learn on the fly. Use everything you can.
DIY with ease
Yes, you’re not a professional videographer, but that should not stop you from making awesome videos. Your smartphone can help you create videos quickly and with great ease.
The quality of videos will however depend on practise. If there are award winning movies are being shot through smartphones then it couldn’t be that difficult , right?
The movie ‘“Tangerine” directed by Sean Baker was entirely shot on an iphone. It won accolades at the Sundance Film Festival and the Academy for Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences acquired the phone for their museum.
Invest in a durable hand grip or rig for your phone. This will stabilise your shots and the videos will come out neater.
Takeaway: Your smartphone can help you make great looking videos without any fuss. All you need is a full charge and some patience.
Edit to please
Now that you’ve shot the video, you need to add some finesse to it. Use an online video editor to add final touches to your work.
You can add background score, transitions, 3D effects, the options are endless. Work the video editor to your advantage and get that awesome video in no time.
A superb video editor like Lightworks can make you job easier. This phenomenal video editing tool will help you edit your videos and make them look super professional.
For people with limited desktop space, cloud based video editing is a great option. You can save all your work on the cloud and access it from anywhere anytime.
Takeaway: Use online video editors. You will not have to buy expensive software and the results will still be awesome.
Conclusion:
Videos, if done right can help your marketing strategy immensely.
Make sure to keep your video precise. No one wants to see lengthy videos with a drab end. A short film with on point information will check all the boxes.
Use all the available resources at your disposal. Video making is an expensive proposition so take your time thinking about the story you want to tell. The more time you spend thinking before shooting, the less you will spend on post production.
Have fun, If you don’t it will show in your videos. Keeping things light is the key, your stress can easily rub onto your crew.
Try and maintain a sense of humour. With it you will be able to diffuse a situation or even get work done faster.
So, keep these points in mind and don’t let your budget get in the way of awesome videos for you business.
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