10 Video Ideas for Small Businesses + Video Tips

 

Practically everyone wants to create video content for their social media channels, but that’s often easier said than done! Video tends to require high-quality devices, video editing software, and lots of storage on your computer, not to mention experience. However, it doesn’t need to be this way! Chances are if you have a smartphone in your pocket, it’s probably all you need to record videos for your social media channels. Find some basic video tips for recording on your phone, then start making some videos from this list to increase your engagement and reach on social media!
Basic video recording tips:

• Lighting: If possible, record in a room with lots of natural sunlight. If that isn’t possible, make sure the room is well-lit with artificial light. The best kind of indoor lighting is white light that’s pointed onto the ceiling, rather than directly in your face (which creates lighting that’s too harsh).
• Background: Pay attention to what’s in your background. Nice backgrounds include bookshelves, tidy office spaces, or plain walls (black is better than white because white often washes people out). If you’re using an empty wall, try to take a few steps away from it to reduce your shadow.
• Audio: Consider closing your door if you have kids running around or dogs that might bark. If you’re recording in an empty room, add some pillows/blankets to absorb the echo. I advise against recording outside because wind, cars and lawn mowers can all make it difficult for the audience to hear.
• Camera placement: I recommend placing your phone somewhere stationary and eye-level rather than hand holding it. This will keep your camera steady and allow you to use your hands freely while looking directly at the camera. If you’re creating the video for Facebook or YouTube, record it while your phone is horizontal. If you’re planning on using the video on Instagram Stories or IGTV (Instagram TV), record it vertically.
• Content over quality: Your videos don’t need to be perfect. Many viral videos are of low quality, but the content is what makes them shareable. Do you remember the “Charlie Bit My Finger” YouTube video? As of April 2019, it had over 868 million views on YouTube. The video is pretty poor quality, but the content is humorous and shareable. If you share valuable, interesting, or funny content, your audience will appreciate it, even if it wasn’t recorded professionally.

 

  video ideas:

1. Create a product: Show your audience what steps you take to make your product.
2. Explain product uses: Describe the different ways customers can use your product.
3. Discuss an upcoming event: Promote your event by telling your audience what’s in it for them to attend.
4. Answer your audience’s questions: Create a post asking your audience to post their questions and that you’ll answer them later in the week in a video.
5. Create a slideshow: Facebook has a built-in slideshow feature that allows you to select images and they’ll automatically turn them into a video. Pretty awesome, right?
6. Perform your service: Show your followers how you help your clients.
7. Educate: Record yourself sharing tips related to your industry or business that help your audience.
8. Create a Boomerang video (or many!): This fun, short videos can be applied to practically anything, and are a super easy way to create a video, even if the situation is otherwise better-suited for a picture. They’re often used to show excitement or food. How to create a boomerang video: Open the Instagram app to the camera and select “Boomerang” along the bottom. Press and hold the button while you record one movement. The video will play forward then backward (similar to a boomerang) repetitively.
9. Customer sightings: Did a cute puppy stop by? A kid wearing one of your products? (Make sure you get the legal guardian’s permission before posting a minor’s picture or video.) Take a video of the puppy, and a Boomerang (see above) of the kid doing something, such as putting his/her hands in the air.
10. Office happenings: Record interesting things that happen in your workplace. Did the office sing happy birthday to a co-worker? Share it online wishing your employee a happy birthday!

These tips and video ideas should help you create quick video content to improve your social media game. Remember, do the best with what’s available to you, and don’t be afraid to whip out your camera when something unusual is happening!