Are you wondering how to create great videos for social media?  Or for your website or YouTube channel?  And more importantly, how you can create those eye-catching videos that people just can’t seem to stop watching?

Well, we’ve helped over a dozen clients with video production!  So in this blog, we’ve pulled together our tips on how to do it yourself!

This is a follow-up to our How to Take Better Photos blog, and today we will teach you how to develop those video skills!  You will learn:

• 7 Steps to Create Great Video Content
• Video Production for Smaller brands, B2B companies, and Startups
• How to Work with Content Creators, Videographers, or Video Editors

Why It’s Important to Include Video Creation in Your Marketing Strategy

With video representing 82% of all internet traffic, it is king when it comes to marketing for B2C and B2B companies.  Fun, shareable and educational videos are all powerful tools to connect with your audience, reach new customers, and generate brand awareness!

Accordingly to Hubspot, 93% of brands say they acquired a new customer because of a video on social media channels like YouTube, Instagram, or Tiktok.  And with so many content distribution channels to share your videos, this gives you the opportunity to tell your brand stories and promote your products or services in new, interesting ways. 

And, in addition to social posts, videos can also enhance email marketing, blog posts, and websites!

A full video production can set you back $$$. And not just for the videographer. Often you are paying for a space rental, lighting, microphones, talent, and a set director. Then you need someone to edit the raw video files!

How Small Brands, B2B Startups, and Non-Profits Can Approach Creating Videos

Large outdoor and lifestyle brands often have larger budgets, and greater access to talent, videographers, etc.  They can afford to pay athletes or models and a crew to travel to remote spots, shoot onsite for a few days, and bring all the footage back to a video editor that pieces everything together.

However, small adventure brands, B2B startups, and non-profits may need to DIY their videos to save money.   And it’s more feasible than you might think!

Why?  Well, smartphones and GoPros have made creating videos relatively inexpensive and accessible.  In addition, smaller brands, non-profits, and B2B startups can shoot videos right from their homes, offices, or backyards.  This saves on venue rentals, lighting, voiceovers, etc.

Furthermore, Adobe Stock and Envato have millions of stock videos that you can piece into your video recording to give it more polish.  A fully-styled shoot is fantastic if you have the budget, however, you can create these videos yourself with a small budget!

Example #1: We worked with former pro surfer Rochelle Ballard to help her build a library of content for her startup online surfing course!  To save on production, Rochelle helped to create the outlines, together we built a script, and then we organized each topic into lessons.  The videos to go with each lesson were then shot in Kauai by a professional surf photographer, edited by an experienced video editor, and then we uploaded each into LearnDash, an e-learning platform!

Read more about the project or head over to Rochelle Ballard’s Flow to check out the course!

Rochelle Ballard’s online surfing course took over a year to develop, from video production to editing to pulling together the final courses.

Working with Content Creators, Freelancers, and Stock Footage to Create Videos

If hiring a full video production team isn’t part of your budget, do not worry.  You may want to consider recording the video yourself, and then using stock video or hiring someone to help you piece it all together!

Here are a few examples of where you might look for help:

• A freelance video editor can take your raw video content and transform it into a short, catchy video with music, motion graphics, and text overlaid
• A content creator who specializes in YouTube, or who knows the ins and outs of Instagram Reels and TikTok, can create fun videos in short periods of time!
• Adobe Stock Videos– you can buy a monthly subscription starting at $29/mo or simply credits to gather video content relevant to your product or service
• Envato Elements– another subscription service at just $16.50/mo!

When searching for the right fit, look for pieces that match your brand’s style and come across as authentic.  If you’ll be working with a videographer or video editor, discuss your goals and most importantly your budget.  Our last blog on working with photographers and videographers can help you further outline some of these items. 

Pro rider Kelly Catale during our Seven Cycles photo shoot at the Sea Otter Classic with photographers Wil Matthews and Jake Orness.

7 Steps to Create Great Videos: The DIY Method

Do you feel like you can take the reins on video production for your business?  Here are seven tips for being your own video content creator:

1. Invest in Video Recording Tools

In addition to your iPhone or Android, you may want to purchase a GoPro, and even go as far as buying and learning how to pilot a drone!  Why?  Well, a GoPro will make it easier to capture active adventures like surfing, skiing, or rock climbing.  Additionally, adding a drone to your video-capturing arsenal will help you get beautiful footage from the air!

Here are a few more tools you may want to invest in:

Tripod, Gimbal, and GoPro Mounts

First, you want to avoid those shaky video images.  And although you feel that your hand is quite steady, it is not.  Therefore, invest in a gimbal, a tripod, and mounts that will work for your GoPro and/or smartphone to capture crisp, steady video content. 

A tripod is useful if you will be on camera for longer periods of time and standing in one place.  Never heard of a gimbal?  It’s a handheld image-stabilizing tool you can easily carry with you to events and on adventures.  And those GoPro mounts?  Great for wearing your GoPro on a helmet, a chest mount, or attaching it to your surfboard or ski poles!

Lighting

Proper lighting is a crucial element in creating high-quality YouTube video content.  Good lighting can significantly enhance the overall visual appeal of your videos, and ultimately improve the viewer’s experience.  Meaning they will be more likely to like the video and subscribe to your YouTube channel!

Well-lit videos can give you a more professional and polished look.  In addition, you can control the mood and atmosphere of your video with proper lighting.  Whatever mood you decide to set for your videos, establish a consistent setup for a cohesive brand image!

Lightbox

A light box can help you shoot clean, crisp product images or videos in a flat-lay style on a white canvas.  You can also use a lightbox to help you create those stop-motion videos where it looks like an item is being folded, a box is being unpacked, or your product is moving all on its own!

Microphone

Want to capture sound better?  There are several microphone attachments you can purchase to capture great sound quality from your iPhone or Android!

Wireless Remote

Lastly, a wireless remote or camera shutter remote control can help you start and stop your recording with ease if you are in front of the camera. 

Tip: An Apple watch can help you with the remote control shutter if you’re an iPhone user!

Capturing that content on the go? Pick up a few tools to stabilize the image, improve the sound quality, and keep your hands free!

2. Identify the Hook for Your Video

When it comes to creating B2B explainer videos, YouTube videos, TikToks, or Instagram Reels, capturing the viewer’s attention is key!  Therefore, give viewers a reason to keep watching.  Here are a few things to try:

• Answer a frequently asked question on camera, and have some fun theme music from a game show to go along with it
• Share a behind-the-scenes look at your office space, lab, or gear closet
• Using trending audio and sound bites, or record your own
• Interview your team members or volunteers
• Use the tools within apps like Instagram and Tiktok to create captivating visuals.  Here’s more on How to Create Instagram Reels. 
• Incorporate fun things into your video, there’s a reason those pet videos perform so well!

Example #2: Save the audio of your favorite or trending Instagram Reels or TikToks as this is a great way to have a stack of pre-saved audio ideas for future videos.  We tried this for one of our Instagram Reels in Colorado’s Box Cañon and it got lots of love!

We had so much fun creating this quick video together while exploring Ouray, CO.  And it took all of 5 minutes to record, edit, and post!

3. Remember to Create Videos in the Right Format

Globally, users are 1.5 times more likely to watch videos and video ads on mobile.  Therefore, take videos in the correct orientation or aspect ratio for the platforms they will be viewed and shared on.  And consider that viewers might have the sound off so overlay text if needed. 

If you are recording for B2B, YouTube, or your website, record your video horizontally or in landscape mode.  If it’s something for Instagram Stories, Reels, TikTok, YouTube Shorts (videos that are less than 60 seconds) or Facebook Reels, hold the phone the way you normally would, vertically.  Want to save time and record in both formats at the same time?  Set up two phones, each on its own tripod!

4. Write a Script, Sketch Out the Storyline, and Create a Shot List

Writing a video script, building a storyline, and creating a shot list are often things we organize for B2B clients, smaller brands, and non-profits who cannot afford a professional video or photo shoot.  Start a Production Outline in Google Docs or Google Sheets and share it with your team to start the creative juices flowing!

Example #3: We developed a compelling video for Brandon Barett, a pro bass fisherman, without ever having met him in person!  In order to do this, we wrote a script, outlined what he would record for the voiceover, and then gave him a shot list of short clips to record in the morning while he was getting ready for fishing.

Then, we worked with a video editor to piece together the audio, video clips, text, and overlay music.  The end result was something Brandon could use in his Kickstarter campaign!

Having more professional-looking photos and videos can help you inspire potential customers to make a purchase, or simply engage with your brand.

5. Take a Videography or Video Editing Class

If creating videos and editing them is something you want to master, whether for your business or just a personal goal, a videography class can give you more technical skills.  And just a one-time investment gives you the confidence you need to start recording and editing videos on your own!  

Try a Masterclass with YouTube star MKBHD!  In addition to Masterclasses, both Udemy, and Skillshare have videography, film-making, and video editing classes.

6. Use an App to Help with Editing

In addition to a videography class, we’ve listed a few apps below that are helpful for video editing.  Keep in mind, you can edit directly within apps like iMovie, TikTok, and Instagram!  In addition, this post teaches you how to use Instagram to record videos, overlay music, and text, or create those scenes where people ‘jump’ into different locations, into different outfits, you name it!

Most of the video editing apps below are great for YouTube, TikTok, or Instagram.  We are big fans of Canva for all things- creating graphics, photo editing, presentations, logos, and social posts, but did you know their video edit tools are pretty robust?  Yes!  You can also select from dozens of templates to make a video, along with creating intros, outros, banners, thumbnails, and ads! 

• Splice
• Adobe Premiere Pro
• Canva- this is the easiest tool for beginners!
• Promeo
• iMovie

Learn how to take better adventure photos and videos through Jimmy Chin’s MasterClass!

7. Provide Value with Each Video You Create

It might seem obvious, but make sure your videos are actually providing value to your potential customers.  Especially for B2B businesses.  You may have a very long sales funnel, and you need to keep your audience engaged and keep your brand name top of mind. Here are a few ways to do this:

1. Make your viewer feel inspired!  Tell your story of how you got started
2. Make them laugh.  Use sarcastic wit or goofy humor; try sharing tips or how-tos with some comic relief
3. Jump on the bandwagon! Those trending videos and audio are catchy for a reason- use them, but incorporate your brand style
4. Remember the importance of community.  Ask your audience what they want to see. Try re-sharing user-generated content, videos from brand partners, thought leaders in your industry, and non-profits you love.

Final Thoughts on Creating Videos for YouTube, Social Media, and Your Website

Whatever your video creation skill level is, it is a worthy pursuit to keep improving it.  We’ve helped so many B2B and B2C clients create great videos for social, their websites, or fundraising campaigns.  So don’t be afraid to experiment and have fun—TikTok is a great app to test ideas and see what gains traction! 

In the meantime, don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you need suggestions for a videographer or content creator you can work with!

Meredith McConvill, Top Rope Media

The post How to Create Videos for YouTube + Social Media appeared first on Top Rope Media.

What are Instagram Reels?

 

Instagram Reels are short, 15-30 second videos that function similar to Tiktok videos.  And, this is why dozens of Tiktok celebrities have started using Instagram Reels to share their content.  So if you want to keep your TikTok channel going, but grow your Instagram followers, Reels are the way to do it!

What kinds of Reels can you create?  And which ones will get the most love?  We’ll tackle all of that in this blog!  First, here’s an example of a Reel we helped to create with our friends at Frank Subaru:

 

Videos with animals are definitely some of the top watched Reels, and we had a lot of fun putting this together!

 

What Can You Do with Instagram Reels?

 

Instagram Reels are more entertainment-focused than Instagram Stories.  In Instagram Reels, you can:

 

• Combine several video snippets, editing just the part of the video you want to feature
• That pop/snap outfit change? Yup, you can do it with Reels
• Overlay a soundtrack, and select the specific section of a song you’d like to feature
• Add in text and special effects that fade in and out at certain parts of the video
• Make it look as though you are pointing or revealing the text in your video
• Publish your Reel directly to your main Instagram feed, or just save it to your Reels section
• Generate more views, reach, and engagement than with Instagram Stories!

 

Taking a step back, if you are just getting started with taking photos or creating videos for your brand’s Instagram feed, read our blog on how to use Photos + Videos to Market Your Business!

 

Where Can You Find Instagram Reels?

 

Below is what someone’s account looks like that is using Instagram Reels.  On Kendall’s profile page below, look for the blue Follow button. Once you find that, you will see her Highlight Circles – Yoga, Important, etc.  Not familiar with how to use the Highlight Circles?  More on these in a minute!

 

 

Below them, you will see a row of icons, the grid icon, and then the video/play button.  This is where to find Reels that a particular account may have.  So, from left to right on this profile below you see Posts (the grid icon), Reels, IGTV, and Images that they are tagged in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rewind: Creating Instagram Story Highlight Circles

 

 

So, if you weren’t yet familiar with Instagram’s Highlight Circles, this is where you can save your Instagram Stories!  Instead of them disappearing 24 hours after you’ve uploaded them, Instagram Stories can live on in one of your highlight circles.  A nice benefit, and something that’s not easily visible on your Profile Page with Reels.

 

 

Below, we’ve created themed highlight circles for our Instagram profile page to showcase some of what we do on the regular: Surfing, Cycling, Digital Tips, Photoshoots, Give Back, etc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not sure how to get started with saving your Instagram Stories to a Highlight?  Create a few highlight circles based on the different categories or features of your brand or product.  Then, create the cover graphic easily in Canva!

 

Need another example?  We just created Highlight Circles for one of our latest clients, the Colorado Mountain School.  Now their profile page pops!  And, visitors to the page can easily identify what courses they offer.  Not even dear Kendall (TikTok and Insta-famous celeb above) has done that.​

 

 

 

Back to Instagram Reels and How to Create One

 

1. Select Your Video or Take a New Video

 

To get started creating your first Instagram Reel, click the plus sign or Create button in the upper right corner of your Instagram Profile.  Select Reel.  Now, either record your video by tapping the Play button at the bottom of your screen, similar to recording an Instagram Story.

Or, piece together different videos you already have saved in your Camera Roll.  If you’ve ever wondered how people create those Reels where it looks like they ‘pop’ or snap into a new outfit, it’s right here!

Make sure you use a tripod to keep your phone steady, and once finished recording, trim and line up your videos to create a seamless transition when pieced together.  And, be patient.  Those first Reels may take an hour to record and edit!

 

Keep in mind, vertical videos will perform best.  And, those that are clear and in focus.  Other suggestions on videos to create?

 

 

• A fun how-to video to teach someone how to use your product
• Videos that share beautiful scenery, mountain top views, crystal clear lakes, etc.
• Exercise videos, but make sure to ramp up the speed to make it more fun! (read below on how to do this)
• Anything with your pets!
• An outrageous or daring video… Brands like RedBull are geniuses for creating those POV mountain biking videos!

 

 

How long can your video be?  You can record or add videos to create an Instagram Reel that is 15 to 30 seconds long.  To get started, select the length you would like your video to be on the left-hand side of your screen.  If you want specific help creating your own fabulous wardrobe change video, here’s one of our favorite tutorials!

 

 

 

 

Exercise videos or how-to videos are great for Instagram Reels, just remember to increase the speed so you can fit more in and make the video more fun to watch!

 

2.  Adding Music to Your Instagram Reel

 

 

Tap the musical note to add music to your Instagram Reel, or use the original audio that’s in the video.  Select by artist, theme, song title, etc.  Keep in mind the music will be played throughout all video snippets.

 

Not finding the music you want?  Based on your country of origin or the type of Instagram account you have, there may be some permission issues.

 

For example, an Instagram Business Account may not have access to as much music as an individual account due to Instagram and Facebook’s licensing agreements.

 

3. Change the Speed of Your Video

 

At this step, you can either slow down or speed up your video.  Speeding it up to 2x or more may be helpful if you’ve recorded a long how-to video!  This will also allow you to add more video snippets to your Reel.

 

 

 

4. Add Text and Effects to Your Reel

 

Just like with Instagram Stories, you can overlay text and add effects to your Reels.  However, to ensure your Reel gets shown to the most users, keep the text to a minimum and avoid covering up the image or video. 

 

In addition, have you ever wondered how people get that text to fade in or pop up so that it looks like they are pointing to it in the video?  It’s at this step!

 

Be patient as it may take a while to add in your text.  Click ‘Preview’ to view your video, and then the Text icon to create your text.  First, type in your text and style it.  Then, select the duration for which you want the text to appear.

 

Narrowing down the amount of time your text appears on the screen will make the text fade into the shot, and then fade out when you select it to end.  Keep doing this for each piece of text you want to use. Creating a video where you’ll be pointing to the text?  Make sure you drag the text to the right area so the effect you want is achieved.

 

Also, keep in mind that if you are going to feature your Reel in your main Instagram feed, make sure you select a good Cover image!  And, confirm the graphic overlays and text you’ve added will fit nicely inside the main feed ‘window’ by selecting the crop for your cover image.  You can do both of these things right before you post your Reel.

 

 

Adding text and music to your Reel can help you better tell your story!

 

5.  Touch Up

The Touch-Up feature allows you to ‘touch up’ content.  So, smoothing skin tone or making a landscape appear more attractive.  You get the idea.  Just don’t get carried away and make your images and videos look fake and inauthentic! 

 

6. Timer

The Timer feature in Instagram Reels allows you to set a timer for 15 or 30 seconds if you will be recording your Instagram Reel right then and there.  There’s even a countdown timer that gives you 3 seconds to get prepared to record!

 

 

 

 

 

Why Use Instagram Reels vs. Instagram Stories?

 

Why use Instagram Reels over Instagram Stories in your digital marketing strategy?  Why not try both?  I boil Reels down to Instagram’s answer to TikTok, and a way of keeping more users on the platform, and for longer periods of time.

 

 

So, if creating and editing videos is something you or your team enjoys and has time for, add Reels to your marketing strategy!  It could be a great way to have your content viewed by a larger audience!  And, keep people more engaged with your brand.

 

 

Whether it’s swimming laps in an alpine lake or teaching someone how to make your famous enchiladas.  Showcasing an epic descent in the backcountry or teaching someone how to build out their camper van.  Whatever you choose, create video content that is fun and enjoyable for your viewers.  But, remember to stay true to yourself and to your brand.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Downside to Instagram Stories and Reels

 

If you find it stressful to create a video, and even uploading images to Instagram Stories seems overwhelming, this may not be where you want to spend your time.  Instead, you may get more bang for your buck on Facebook, or with email newsletters. Blog writing or podcasting.

 

 

There are so many options these days when it comes to reaching your target audience.  So, pick the digital marketing tools that work best for your business.  Got a question about where we recommend you start?  Drop us a line!

 

 

Summing Up Instagram Reels

 

All that being said, the more people you reach with Reels, the higher your Instagram follower count and engagement may be.  Want to learn more?  Hootsuite ran an experiment earlier this year to test out whether or not Instagram Reels significantly increased their follower growth and engagement.

 

The results?  Both follower count and engagement did go up, but not at a rate much higher than before they began posting Reels.

 

Want to get more digital marketing tips?  Browse the rest of our blog posts or sign up for our monthly newsletter!  Until next time, happy adventuring in the world of Instagram,

 

 –  Meredith McConvill

 

The post Instagram Reels vs. Stories: How to Create and Which is Better appeared first on Top Rope Media.