A Quick-Start Guide to Video Content: Become Confident on Camera in 5 Steps

A Quick-Start Guide to Video Content: Become Confident on Camera in 5 Steps

Reader Comments (23)

  1. I have been contemplating if I should give video a try to grow my inbound marketing agency for over a year. And this article has helped to realize that I will be fine by being myself and giving it a try. Thanks.

  2. Thanks for this post, Cheryl! I’ve been blogging for about 5 years now. I’ve been doing videos for a few weeks now for a volunteer team that I manage (around 160 people) every week. I took a couple of months to practice, making a video daily, for myself, before finally sharing with others… Certainly learned a lot just by re-watching myself.

    Thanks for your wisdom today!

  3. The biggest difficulty in creating videos, in my opinion, is just to start them, after a good start, you capture the attention of the public because I believe that the first 30 seconds of a video is very decisive for the public to be interested or not in seeing what I have to offer.

  4. Yes, I totally agree, Matheus. The beginning is the most difficult part. My take on the first part of the video is this: get to the point quickly. Tell the viewers what you’ll be telling them, tell them and then tell them what you told them. If you share your videos with the right audience and you follow that, you shouldn’t have a problem. How often do you create videos?

  5. Lots of great tips here! The quote in the first image really struck home. So many people want to use videos in their content marketing but they feel like they have to be perfect. Newsflash: people can’t relate to perfect! If you want to really connect the secret is to be yourself. That authenticity (hiccups, mistakes and all) will draw people in that “click” with you.

  6. I have 2 youtube channels. One is in education niche and another is in dance. It is safe to say – these are crowded market. (Like every other market)

    My first video is bad. It is 240 p and I can’t see my face clearly. I wrote on a paper and shot it. I used the basic terrace setting and it got hate comments. But I kept on making videos and I get less hate comments.

    The key is to start and keep on improving bit by bit. Slowly you will find your rhythm and your level would go up.

    Beautiful article. Stay Awesome.

  7. Rohan, thank you so much for sharing this! I totally agree. You can’t improve until you start creating. Kudos to you for continuing despite the negative comments. You stay awesome! 🙂

  8. I would like to do a video about my occupation as a licensed private investigator and my business, J. Edgar Investigation Agency. I have a Sony Handycam and a Logitech Web Cam. Which one should I use?

  9. I love that you have decided to move forward with creating videos, John.

    Either one is fine. Because you have two good pieces of equipment (and don’t forget your smartphone), you have a lot of options. The HandyCam will allow you to take your viewers behind the scenes. Maybe you can use it show how you get answers from your sources or how you track down people through unusual means (guessing here!) 🙂 The webcam will be for when you’re at your computer and want to be a “talking head,” the expert sharing some tips or tricks of your trade.

    Does that help?

  10. Lovely post, i really needed this. I am a budding movie blogger and publishing movie review, weekly round up for movie (Nollywood) news in videos is in my plans.

    I plan on kicking off after a year as a blogger and this has killed some of my fears and boost my morale.

    Thank You

  11. Interesting read, post production edit work is the most essential of all listed above. But again this is another ball game or different topic. Smart phones have made things much easy for beginners or for those who don’t want to mess with dslrs.

  12. Thanks, DP! There is SO MUCH to cover when talking about audio, equipment, lighting and post-production. But the clients I talk with first need a push to get started. I tell them they have to start somewhere. Do you create videos already?

  13. Thanks for the great tips! I wanted to add videos on my website describing some of the metal detectors that I review. I’m kind of shy and don’t know from where to start…
    Do you compose the text before filming or you go directly on the camera and record the video?

    • You can do this, Alex! There are MANY ways to create videos. The best method is the one you enjoy enough to stick with and make better.

      For someone new to this, I would suggest writing out a script, or at least putting together a brief outline.

      You want your video to have a clear, beginning, middle and end. And you must get to the point quickly.

      So, tell your viewers you’ll be reviewing this metal detector, give your three key points about it, recap your points and then tell them to go to your blog or landing page for more information.

      Take this script and get in front of the camera. Turn on the camera and start recording, with you facing the camera and using your script. If you look down, look down. Once you get your thoughts together, look back up at the camera.

      Do this a few times and you’ll have memorized large chunks before you know it. Over time, this process gets MUCH easier. But you have to get started first. I hope this helps!

  14. I love this sentiment Cheryl: “But remember this: If you are sharing information you know serves your audience, if your intentions are true, if you create a message with impact, then you have nothing to worry about. And it’s a disservice to keep your message to yourself.” If for nothing else, this may be the reason I make myself make videos. Thank you!

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