10 Tips You Should to Know Before You Film A Marketing Video

Looking to make your business stand out?

With millions of businesses in the US alone, distinguishing yourself can be an ordeal. A good place to start is to build your brand identity. It’s more effective if you use video marketing because of its visual aspect.

Before starting, ask yourself: how can you film a video worth watching? Once you answer that, you’ll get the right audience for your brand. Read on as we discuss some wonderful tips for video marketing.

1. Use Sufficient Lighting

A professional video benefits the most from lighting. It’s one of your priorities while filming. Otherwise, your video looks amateur, even when it does great in other respects.

The best light source for videos is the sun. If you use natural light, it’s softer. Morning or evening footages are more flattering compared to midday videos.

Midday light comes straight overhead. It casts harsher shadows on your video subjects. If you want to film during this time, opt on a cloudy day or go to a shade.

2. Use a Clean Background

Never pick random backgrounds when filming a marketing video. A messy or distracting background screams unprofessionalism. An easy method is to use a background with solid colors.

If you have walls with a solid paint job, it’s your best choice. Otherwise, using a bedsheet or backdrop paper work as well. Ensure that subjects are at least 6 feet away from the background to avoid casting shadows.

Another option is to shoot in areas where your employees work. Never film near a window or another surface. You might film your camera in the reflection.

3. Pick a Good Video Editing Software

Your raw footage becomes great with the help of video editing. You have lots of simple tools like the iMovie. For more professional videos, check out high-end apps like Adobe Premiere Pro.

Regardless of your choice, the video editor must have some important features. These will include:

Add text to videos
Trim and crop videos
Transitions between scenes
Modify the aspect ratio
Filters and overlays
Stock videos and sounds library

Depending on your needs, you might need more features to market your business through videos. 3D animations are becoming more popular nowadays.

4. Keep Editing Simple Enough

Various effects can bring fun during the process of video editing. However, going overboard is never a good idea. Your videos will look more professional if you use a clean editing style.

When editing, clean background noises using noise canceling. Adjust the lighting when necessary. Get rid of awkward silences and pauses.

Add transitions to separate important video points. To make it more interesting, use some background music. Check out this guide if you want to know common uses for royalty free music.

Need to cut from one scene to another? Do it when both segments have movements. It’s much smoother and looks more natural.

5. Get Clear and Crisp Audio

Your video’s audio quality matters more than its visual counterpart. Most people will tolerate videos even when they aren’t in HD. It can be a little grainy, but everything else must be better.

However, almost everyone will back out if they hear fuzzy, incomprehensible audio. It will usually happen within the first few seconds after hitting the start button.

Since audio is important, get a good microphone first. Get the best mic your budget can afford. You can buy a durable and trustworthy one for $100-$200.

Put the microphone as close to your subject as you can. Use a pop filter to get rid of blips and crackles after recording.

6. Avoid Using Shaky Footage

Any shaking on the final video makes it look homemade. It can also distract viewers or make them dizzy. Use a tripod or set your camera on a level surface to avoid the shakes.

After setting the camera, never move it unless necessary. Your video looks less professional the more you pan around. Cut from one shot to another if you want a different perspective.

Look for video stabilization software if everything else fails. Some cameras have this feature. Slower footage also can make shaking less obvious.

7. Understand the Rule of Thirds

The rule of thirds is one of the pillars of film and photography composition. Always imagine a 3×3 grid over your video. Instead of putting the subject in the middle, place them alongside one of the grid lines.

Strong areas of focus are where the lines intersect. Put important video elements within those areas whenever possible. As you become more adept, you’ll know when to stick and when to break the rule.

8. Work on Camera Presence

Your subject impacts the professionalism of the video content. It’s the way they carry themselves that affects how people see your video. If they look nervous or uncomfortable, your message may not be impactful enough.

It’s something workable with lots of practice. Most people won’t have an innate camera presence. However, using calm and open body language is a good start.

Smiling can make you appear more friendly and approachable. When talking, it’s crucial to have clear enunciation. Use your diaphragm to speak instead of your throat.

9. Use Various Angles to Shoot

Jumping from one angle to another is a simple method of maintaining visual interest. It’s a useful technique for how-to videos or product demos. Videos with lots of action benefit the most.

When changing perspectives, the shift must be at least 45 degrees. Smaller shifts won’t make desirable effects. This can jar your viewers and lead them to click off your video.

10. Plan Videos

Unprofessional videos aren’t only because of poor technique. Poor planning makes audiences feeling underwhelmed with the final video. Take the time to make a thorough plan before production starts.

Define the purpose of the video and your intended audience. Write a script and storyboard. Revise until you feel satisfied.