When you think of B2B video, you probably think of high production value videos with Hollywood level special effects.
And while that may sound great, it’s probably not the best fit for a lot of businesses given the costs associated with making super awesome video content - which is why this style isn’t seen much in the B2B space.
That’s not to say that B2B brands aren’t creating high-quality content, they are!
But the truth is, today, anyone can create professional looking videos from their own home or office.
Before we show you how, let’s remind you why video is essential to every marketing strategy.
Video Is A Scalable Trend
Video is one of the most effective tools for marketing your content, and it's only getting more popular.
- Today, the average person views over 100 minutes of online video per day (most likely from their phones and social apps like TikTok or YouTube)
- 85% of people want to see more videos from companies in 2022
- B2B marketers are slightly more likely to employ video (71%) than their B2C counterparts (66%), according to CMI’s 2020 B2B and B2C research.
Getting Started With Creating Professional Videos At Home
If you’re looking to get started with video marketing, but aren’t sure where to begin. Then use our in-depth guide here and this article for reference.
And keep in mind, you don’t need to go out and buy a bunch of fancy gear to simply get started. Begin today with the equipment you already have — your phone or computer. They both record quality video.
Oftentimes, the gear can get in the way of consistent content creation. There’s a learning curve with new technology versus a camera feature on phones that allow you to simply open the app, frame your shot, and hit the big red record button.
If concerns about quality are holding you back from pressing record?
Does the thought of filming from home only intensify your concerns?
If so, here are five tips to help you create professional videos from home or anywhere:
- Use a tripod. No matter how steady your hands, a tripod will help you get more professional-looking footage.
- Get the light right. If you're filming indoors, pay attention to the lighting in the room and adjust accordingly.
- Use a microphone for high-quality sound recording. Poor-quality sound and background noise can ruin an otherwise great video, so make sure your area is free from distracting sounds before you start shooting.
- Learn about camera angles and framing techniques that will help you capture the most compelling visual story possible—it's worth doing some research beforehand!
- Don't forget about editing! It's easy to think of video production as just shooting footage, but actually creating a final product requires thoughtful editing that can make all the difference between an amateurish and professional-looking video (and also save time down the road).
Now let’s expand on these tips further to cover the 3 phases of video production.
Pre-Production (for filming DIY-style from home)
Know Your Message
When creating any kind of video it’s important to know what you’re going to say and the main message you want your audience to receive.
First start by clarifying your message with our brand messaging framework, Story Supply.
Then apply what you discover to how to script or plan your next video message.
Know Your Audience
If you don’t know WHO you’re talking to with your message and videos then your video marketing will not work!
So, show a clear understanding of who your audience is and what they need to know from the message you’d like to share.
These are some quick tips and starting points when it comes to planning a video and creating it from home yourself.
#1: Pick a topic that matters to you.
This could be something personal like how you lost weight or a video about how you're going to change the world. It could also be something more broad, like how to get more followers on Instagram or how to make more money as an entrepreneur.
*Tip: Don't try too hard with this one—just pick something that excites you and get started!*
#2: Decide who your audience is going to be before you start filming.
Are they fans of yours? Are they strangers?
Are they people who might be interested in buying your product or service?
Once you've got an idea of what kind of person this video will actually help, it'll make it easier for you to know what kind of content needs to go into it!
Production (for filming DIY-style from home)
When it comes to filming videos yourself we recommend focusing on three essential areas: camera, lighting, and audio.
Video Cameras
There are hundreds of video cameras available to buy across the internet that range from home video style to Hollywood-level, cinematic quality.
So how do you know which camera to use and how to use it?
Here’s what we recommend:
- The easiest way to get started is to film in 4K on your phone first. The image quality is amazing and we imagine this is a camera you already own!
- If you’re ready to level up your camera then browse our recommended camera equipment here for budget-friendly solutions that range from $300 to $3,000.
- Or, work with a video production company to take care of the entire camera selection and video production process for you — explore our services to get this done for you!
Audio and Microphones
The quality of your sound and audio is just as important as your video image quality. We recommend investing first in a professional microphone before anything else.
The best microphone is a condenser mic because it can capture a wide range of frequencies from low basses to high trebles, making it ideal for voice overs. The RODE NT1A is a great choice if you're looking for something affordable, or you can go all out with the RODE NTK for studio-quality recording.
Lighting for Video
Once you've got your mic sorted out, it's time to think about lighting! Lighting can make or break how good your video looks (and sound).
We recommend using three lights: one on each side and one overhead. You'll want to avoid harsh shadows by tilting them slightly away from the subject's face.
If you have a choice, try to shoot in natural light. But if you're working with artificial light, make sure to get it as close to natural sunlight as possible. That means shooting during the day, not at night!
Video production can be a lot easier than many first think, especially with today’s affordable tools. What will make your videos really stand out will then come down to the editing.
Post-Production (for filming DIY-style from home)
Video is a great way to reach an audience.
It’s also a lot of work.
We get it!
You don’t want to spend your time editing videos that nobody is going to watch.
But you also don’t want to put out something that doesn’t reflect who you are or what your business stands for.
So how can you make sure your video performs well?
One of the best ways is by creating a script that hits all the right notes and makes sure people stick around long enough to watch what comes next.
When both planning and editing your video, ask yourself if you’re giving your audience members enough within the first ten seconds to entice them to watch the rest of the video.
With the scrolling nature of social media, a few seconds is typically all you have to convince someone to stop and stay a while.
For the same reason it’s wise to focus the bulk of your attention on the headline and opening paragraph when writing a blog post, it’s a good idea to heavily scrutinize the first ten seconds of your videos – viewer attention drops after that point.
So make sure to edit your videos with capturing and maintaining the attention of your audience.
Simplify your video editing process by deciding on one of the following solutions:
- Delegate all of your video editing to a professional team who has spent the time to train in the right softwares, while learning the marketing channel nuances and how to customize each video for better performance. Video Supply offers professional video editing services where everything is 100% done for you — get started here! This works best for marketers and brand owners who don’t want to DIY anything.
- Learn how to edit videos yourself like a pro. So whether you want to quickly jump into any social media app or professional video editing software, explore Video Supply’s online courses to learn how to DIY video editing yourself.
Now let’s get rolling!
Congrats, you’re all set to create professional video content from home for your business.
