You know you need to create business videos to get the most attention on social media. But when you press “record,” you freeze up. Does that mean you will have to miss out on making videos for your target audience?
Absolutely not.
You can still create videos in different ways for social media—even if you don’t feel confident doing a solo presentation.
Whether you use words, pictures, animations, or even lean on a photogenic support person, you have many options regarding video production. Sign up for a free trial of Agorapulse and schedule and post videos (then see what resonates with your audience.)
Make Sure Your Video Equipment Is Top-Notch
If you have professional-quality (not necessarily expensive) equipment, you’re more likely to approach this with a more professional approach. And that can help calm your nerves.
So, decide what your goal is for video first. Then take the time to research the best equipment for your needs and decide whether you need:
- Budget video creation tools
- Business video creation tools
- Outsource
You may also decide to opt out of a professional-quality camera and try your hand at mobile apps for your business videos.
Types of Business Videos
1. Slideshows
Do you like to take pictures? You can use those to make a video. There are several tools out there to help you make slideshow videos, but the easiest is to do it directly on Facebook.
Start by creating a new post, and click on the “Photo/Video” option.
You will see several video options, including “make a slideshow.” Once you open this, you can load 3-10 photos, determine how long to show each photo, and even add music.
Use a slideshow to:
- Do a quick recap of your day’s event with photos you took at the event.
- Showcase your customers.
- Share quotes of customer testimonials.
- Show off your new product.
Remember that you can use any image file. So, you can take your own photos, use stock images, or create text graphics with an online tool like Canva. These videos are fun and fast—and a good part of your content mix.
2. Show and Tell
Do you have a product or service that is very visual?
Would seeing your product or service in action be helpful? Consider making an explainer video. Explainer videos are what they sound like: videos that explain something.
Some examples of businesses that lend themselves to this kind of video creation are:
With a little creativity, you can demonstrate almost any product or service.
For example, you can do a demonstration of your product or service both showing and telling what you are doing.
But if you really don’t want to be on camera, keep the focus on the product or service.
Example
You could do a walk-through of a house for sale if you are a realtor. Or as a pastry chef, you can put a fixed camera above where you are decorating a cake, so only the in-progress cake is visible.
3. Screen-capture videos
You also might want to do a screen capture.
For graphic designers or Web creators, a sped-up screen capture video showing your work can be a powerful testament to your skill.
These type of videos will take a little more preparation (especially the first time you do it). Make sure you are aware of the lighting and that the camera is steady.
4. Unboxing business videos
Have a new product? Shoot some video of you unboxing the latest product or something related to your business.
(You can even have some fun with anything that you’ve had delivered to your office building or home office!)
These types of business videos can help grab the attention of potential customers.
The good news is once you have your set-up just right, you will be able to do more in a lot less time for future business videos.
5. Animated videos
Another way that you can create videos for the Web without being in front of the camera is by making an animated video.
Does that sound really expensive or impossible unless you are a professional artist?
It’s not.
Many tools are available for anyone to use for their video marketing strategy. The tools often have built-in animations, text elements, and more.
You can create a narration to go along with your video or only use pictures.
One tool that I love is Powtoon. They have plans starting at free, up to $99/month depending on what features you use.
Creating these animated videos is as easy as drag and drop. However, expect a learning curve and time to get the video just the way you want it.
Like show and tell style videos, once you establish your branding and look, you can more easily create more videos.
Once your video is done, you can download the movie file for easy scheduling on Agorapulse.
How to Create Your Online Videos with a Guest
Creating a video alone can be awkward. You can feel as if you are talking to your computer.
Avoid that feeling by giving yourself a real person to talk to.
Who would make a good guest?
- An expert in a complementary field to the products and services you offer
- A customer or client with experience working with you
- Someone with an interesting story to share
- Partners or collaborators who are working on a project with you
You might want to try Facebook LIVE for your video. You can do work together in the same room or use a tool like BeLiveTV to coordinate feeds from different locations.
(If you’re interested in creating a Facebook Live, you can dig into deciding whether to do a Facebook Live video or prerecorded video. Then, if you decide on a Live, follow these steps to start a Facebook Live.)
You also have the option to record on your phone or a camera. Doing so gives you the opportunity to edit it later.
Then you can also schedule the video to multiple social media platforms. Agorapulse makes it easy to schedule videos and customize the post for each platform. You can even publish video directly to Instagram.
How to Be at Ease in Front of the Camera
Being confident on camera is a skill that you can learn.
Here are some ideas that can help you out of your comfort zone:
- Create a script or at least an outline first.
- Make sure the space you are recording is well lit and comfortable.
- Eliminate sounds and distractions when you make your video.
- Practice in front of the mirror to get more comfortable.
- Try singing karaoke, doing stand up on open mic night, or taking a public speaking class to push you outside your comfort zone.
- Put a picture of your very favorite customer or client next to your camera and pretend like you are talking right to them when you are recording.
In Conclusion
After crafting different styles of business videos without your being in front of the camera, you may feel more comfortable on the other side of it.
Take control of your social media. Check out our free trial of Agorapulse to help you schedule, track, and measure all your social media efforts.
