Let’s admit it — creating content for your business can be exhausting. And also… kinda boring. Social captions, emails, and even other lead generation tools like PDFs might start to feel like a dime a dozen. Want to create something your customers will actually enjoy watching, while making sure your brand sticks with them at the end? You might want to try…. video.
No matter your end goal, whether it’s to grow your creative business with TikTok or just to have some fun with your content creation, let’s dig into Video Content 101.
Choose your format
Think about the story you want to tell — and the one your audience wants to hear. Do they need tons of details, or would they be happier with something short and sweet?
You may love a video of dogs wearing birthday hats but would you still care about it after more than a few seconds? And would you remember the brand that created it?
Because we all love scrolling social, short-form video is performing better. I know that so many people think they can’t share worthwhile stories or content in under 30 seconds — but that’s just not true!
You can make any video go viral or totally flop based on how well you combine its format and content. YouTube, TikTok, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram are all great places to post videos — but watch out for differences in formatting and length, because your content will appear differently on each platform.
You’ll also want to consider your audience and how they interact with content before deciding on short-form or long-form content. Do they like and share super short content, a la TikTok videos like this?
@lishcreativeMy first time trying this fake frosting and I’m v impressed! 💕🎂 #learnontiktok #foodtiktok #foodstylist #behindthescenes #photohack♬ Taste It – Ikson
Or do they engage with longer videos, a la YouTube or IGTV?
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Poke around your followers’ TikTok or Instagram accounts. See what they’re sharing or liking — that will tell you a lot about the format they enjoy watching videos in!
Add some style
How do you want to make people feel? How do you want them to feel about you?
Your audience sees live videos in real time, so whatever you do in the first take is what they get! This is a great way to show the raw, human side of your brand.
Got stage fright? Have products you want to feature (instead of a person)? Try a stop-motion video. This places a larger focus on the visual and material aspects in the frame for a fun, whimsical look.
Want to let people know that they’d love to work with you, or that you have so much to teach them? Show off your teaching style with a tutorial-type video. You can even use slides or screen shares to drive the content home. You can even make a stop-motion type tutorial video — especially if you have a product.
Mix it up!
If you like elements of both styles (live video and/or stop motion), try making an Instagram Reels or TikTok video. The short and sweet format forces creativity while still giving you enough time to tell a story — a central part of any video, no matter the length.
I know that TikTok can feel intimidating to most of us “elder Millennials” out there, but I’m going to really encourage you to step out there and have some fun. You don’t have to dance on TikTok (unless you want to!) or point at pop-ups on your screen on Reels (unless you want to!).
Just make sure that you’re mixing up where you show up, instead of only creating video for one platform. You won’t be able to tell how far your reach is if you do that.
Ready to go pro with your videos?
Ready to create videos that people love, but aren’t sure where to start? Lucky for you, I’ve spent lots of time decoding what makes a great video so you don’t have to!
I’m offering an exclusive virtual invite into my viral video making process with my course, Supercharge Your Social. Learn what a short-form video is, the essential elements of a successful video, and the exact skills and strategies I used to gain 15million views, 6 million likes and 400k TikTok followers in 6 months.
You’ll also get a step-by-step, detailed process for creating videos on each platform and learn how to batch produce videos so you can save time — all in just about an hour. You’ll get a ton of content and resources to help you decode videos for your own brand or work. You only need a smartphone — no fancy cameras needed.
Want help learning how to create stop-motion videos? My other course, Slay the Flatlay, can help!
