In this video/article I am going to show you the key steps for filming and editing your own online video.
It is predicted that by 2018, 80% of ALL online traffic will be online video.
Recent interviews from top Facebook executives are also predicting that by 2020, Facebook will most likely be the majority, if not all video.
Not to mention that video gets shared 40X more than text and it dramatically increases customer purchase confidence.
And new recent research from Google found that for some brands amateur-style promotional videos achieved much higher sales than their professional polished counterparts.
That’s why I believe everyone needs to know how to make your own video.
Watch this video to discover how…
Subscribe to Download My Promotional Video Story Formula.
Tell your genuine and compelling story. A one-page worksheet for discovering what your story is and how to tell it. Can be used for making powerful testimonial and promotional videos.
Subscribe to download my promotional video storytelling template.
Step 1: Planning Your Own Video
Planning your video is critical if you want it to look good and to be effective. If you are just working on a personal project for sharing with friends this isn’t a big deal.
However, if you want to create video content that will grow your business then planning is critical.
In fact, if you plan your content well then how you film and edit will become less important.
Because you know that your video will work before you even pick up your camera.
Here is a video from The Skool Network that lays down some great principles for telling compelling stories.
You might also find Derek Halpern’s take on video writing helpful. He also has a helpful downloadable template worth checking out. Check that by following the link below:
Step 2: Equipment For Filming your own video
There are four key pieces of equipment you must have to film your video.
Camera, microphone, tripod, and light.
Camera
Honestly the type and quality of your camera will do little to affect the overall quality of your final video.
If Steven Spielberg had just an iPhone and a tripod, he would make a better film than me any day. Even if I had a whole studio filled with professional gear.
That’s because there is so much more to making a video than what camera you are using.
If you are considering buying a camera I personally would suggest you go with an interchangeable lens camera.
Having the ability to swap lenses gives you much more flexibility in the types of shots you can get with your camera.
And having an external microphone input would also come in handy if you are searching for a camera to buy.
However, if all you have is an iPhone. Then it will do just fine.
Microphone
In my experience viewers tend to be less gracious when it comes to hearing bad quality audio.
That’s why I recommend putting in a bit of extra effort to recording high-quality audio for your video.
Yes, your camera has a built-in mic, but it usually sounds terrible on its own.
One of the easiest ways to increase the quality of your audio is to use a lavalier or a shotgun microphone plugged straight into your camera with a 3.5mm jack.
Lav mics clip onto your subject while shotgun mics are pointed at them.
Personally, I use a lavalier mic. I use the Rode Filmmaker Kit lav mic and it is a great piece of equipment. It does cost around $400.
If you are looking for a cheaper alternative you can check out the Giant Squid lav mic or the Audio Technica A380 lav mics.
If you are using an iPhone you will need a separate adapter to make your lav mic compatible with your phone. These can be purchased for a few dollars from eBay.
Tripod
Stabilising your video is super important. Just like bad-quality audio, viewers have little patience for shaky footage. Please use a tripod.
If you want to get fancy then I would recommend getting a tripod that has a fluid head. That way you can make smooth pans and tilts to give life and movement to your video.
Lighting Equipment For Making Your Own Video
How you use light in your video can change the whole mood and feel of a scene.
I personally use two lightboxes with a third backlight to give a flat clean look with a gradient on the wall behind me.
Quick tip, the sun is a great free light source. However, if shooting outside on a bright sunny day try standing in the shade. Being in the direct sunlight can give you bright overexposed spots on your subject.
How to edit your own video
My top free video editing software recommendations:
iMovie on Mac computers
Movie Maker on windows computers (now replaced with Microsoft Photos)
These two software programs are already built into your computer.
Here are some introductions for editing in both of this software:
iMovie Tutorial Mac
My preferred paid video editing programs are:
- Final Cut Pro X on Mac
- Premier Pro on Mac/PC
- Premier elements on Mac/PC
- Hit film on Mac/PC