Creating Impactful Videos
If you’ve spent more than 10 seconds on social media, you know the power of a well-made visual to grab people’s attention. With access to such a large audience, videos in this medium have massive potential to engage and influence a broader audience — if they are done well.
The following are insights from our video expert Luke Thomas to help your video be as effective and engaging as it can be.
Length
Sometimes, less is more. With video, that is almost always the case. First, determine what the end-game of your video is. Are you selling a service or product and looking to pique interest? Is your video more of an informational piece? Below are Luke’s recommendations for length based on the goal of your video.
- Advertisement: 15-45 seconds
- Informational: 2 to 4 minutes
- In-depth/deep-dive: not exceeding 10 minutes
Regardless of your video’s length, be sure to start things off with an engaging hook. Let’s face it, attention spans are short. If your video doesn’t lure them in during the first five seconds, there’s a good chance you’ll lose them.
Interviews
Interviews are a great way to provide information while adding dimension to your video. Here are some things to keep in mind to ensure yours look polished and professional.
- Make sure your lens is clean.
- Shoot horizontally.
- Use a tripod
- Use the “Rule of Thirds.” Your subject should take up two-thirds of the frame with the remaining third left open in the direction the person is facing. If your subject is moving, keep them in the frame as much as possible.
- Have your subject maintain eye contact with you rather than looking directly at the camera
- When answering questions, request that your subject use complete sentences so that their answers can stand on their own.
Location, Location, Location
With the portability of cell phones, your interview could take place almost anywhere. Here are a few things to remember when selecting the right time and location.
- Make sure lighting on their face is adequate (avoid backlighting!)
- If shooting outside, adequate shade is needed to balance out the brightness
- Avoid shooting outside in the middle of the day when shadows are harsh unless you have a nice shaded area. If time and scheduling permits, the “golden hour,” the hour after sunrise or before sunset, offers the best and most flattering lighting.
- Choose a time where background noise won’t be heightened. If you have to film in a loud environment, consider filming the interview portion elsewhere and use it to voiceover footage from the louder location.
B-Roll Footage Leads to A-List Videos
Even the most engaging interview can grow mundane without other images breaking things up. B-Roll footage or, or a mix of wide and close-up video and/or still shots, can really heighten the production value of your video and keep the interest of your audience.
Finally, of all the tips we could provide, this may be the most important:
Run your filming process through once before shooting the final product. This allows you to check your framing and sound quality with enough time to make changes before bringing in your interview subject.
Still not sure you can produce a video that will capture your audience’s attention? Contact us! Our experts would love to help you create a high-quality product that helps you reach your goals.
