They say a picture is worth more than a thousand words, and when this picture is in motion, the effect is even more profound. Video has been around for a long time, but the advent of digital marketing has given it a new meaning. Video productions have emerged as the future of business marketing and communication. Internet users would rather watch a video than reading long texts, and this makes video content ever more powerful. It’s now the right time to talk about DIY corporate videos.
A recent report by Cisco says by 2022, 82% of all consumer internet traffic will be video. A similar tale says 78% of internet users watch online videos every week. It gets even better. 92% of viewers on mobile will share with others. Hence, these numbers highlight the effectiveness of video content in a fast-evolving digital marketing landscape.
Traditionally, the use of video has focused primarily on advertising products and services. But this is not the case nowadays. There’s been a shift in video production, with corporate videos getting more prominence.
Corporate videos are useful for both internal and external corporate messaging for businesses, companies, corporations, or organizations. Furthermore, it’s intended for a specific audience and not the general public.
For small businesses and startups, using this type of non-advertisement based video content offers a plethora of benefits. However, the cost of professional corporate video productions can be prohibitive. Luckily, there are innovative tools and resources that such businesses can use for successful DIY corporate video production.
This post explores the basics of DIY corporate video, advantages, and tips to make your project successful.
But if you prefer to watch a video instead, click here:
Leveraging Versatility of DIY Corporate Video
Before you start setting up your in-house production, it’s crucial to appreciate the potential of a corporate video. This is a versatile messaging tool that you can employ to achieve a wide range of objectives.
Here are some of the video formats you can create to reach your target audience:
1. Demos
To showcase your products or services
2. Branding Videos
To showcase your brand’s vision, mission, products, or services.
3. Conference/Exhibition/Event Video
You can create content for display during these events. Alternatively, you can use content from your interactions when attending such events.
4. Explainer Videos
It is a corporate video that seeks to demystify your brand, products, or services.
5. Company Profile Video
A type of video production that offers a broad overview of your company, services, or products. Furthermore, it introduces your company to consumers and potential stakeholders.
6. Social Media Videos
Short, emotive videos that highlight your brand more than the products or services. They are very focused in terms of the target audience. Additionally, they are meant to boost search engine optimization (SEO) efforts and boost brand visibility/mentions through sharing.
7. Testimonial Video
Testimonials are among the most effective forms of user-generated content (UGC). You can leverage the popularity of video to create video testimonials that help build brand trust, credibility, and loyalty. In short, it is a powerful lead generation tool.
8. Internal Communication Video
If you want to share information within the company with employees or stakeholders, this is the format to use. You can explain new policies, news items, announce new products, employee training, and much more.
9. Social Responsibility Videos
Consumers love brands that give back and participate in their communities. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) videos can build strong relationships with your customers and boost brand awareness.
Moreover, you can tailor these video formats to suit your business needs. For instance, interviews, animations, behind-the-scenes takes, user-generated content (UGC), how-to videos are just a few production ideas you can incorporate in your DIY corporate video production.
Basics of DIY Corporate Video Production
If you don’t have the resources to engage a professional video production company, this is not reason enough to miss out on the benefits of corporate videos. You can create a compelling video with your team and still achieve the business objectives.
Therefore, your DIY video project calls for creativity and flexibility. With proper design and planning, it’s possible to pull off a remarkable production and harness the power of corporate video.
In professional video production, these are the stages involved:
1. Pre-production
Pre-production is where you do everything to prepare for successful video production. It covers scriptwriting, storyboarding, production schedule, finding talent in your team, getting any permits you need, finding a location, preparing the cast, renting any equipment you need.
2. Production
Production is where you start the camera work with your team. Whether you are shooting with a smartphone or a GoPro camera, the raw footage you get here will determine how your production turns out in the end.
3. Post-production
Post-production is a technical phrase that entails editing the video, adding music, audio effects, voiceover, adjusting sound and color, adding titles and credits, special effects, and more.
Luckily, you don’t have to own a studio to complete this process. There’s open-source editing software you can use for your DIY corporate video project.
Hence, breaking down your production into these three stages helps you plan your resources. Moreover, you will have a better understanding of the budget needs and other resources.
Tips for your DIY Video Project
Below are some of the steps to follow in your DIY corporate video project.
1. Understand Your Audience
The right audience is the essential component of a DIY company video. If you can figure out your audience, you’re already on the path to success. Already, there are multiple analytics tools that you can use to get insight, identify your audience.
Start by building buyer personas (demographics/their fears/hobbies/goals and motivation/pain points/career/income, etc.). Create your video message to your buyer persona for the best impact.
2. What’s the Goal/Purpose?
What do you want to achieve with your corporate video? The advantage of this powerful tool is that you can use it for a diverse range of applications. If you wish to increase brand awareness, boost SEO efforts or increase engagement, make sure you clearly state this in your production plan.
3. Brainstorm about the Message
Now that you understand your target audience, you have to research the best content idea. You have multiple video content ideas to choose from. Furthermore, you should clearly define your message. The idea is to tell a story in an engaging manner rather than overtly selling your brand, products, or services. Thus, the best material should be not only informational but also refreshing and entertaining.
Internet users hate promotional content: they can quickly click away if there’s no value in your content. Make sure you have a strong value proposition in your content and be concise.
4. Script Your Video
Most of the video content you come across on YouTube and other platforms usually follow no script. However, for your business, you’ll need to create a script to allow the smooth flow of ideas. This is the only way to achieve your objectives. A script ensures coherence in your story. Furthermore, you will also find it easier to plan and budget for the project.
Scriptwriting also saves a lot of time during editing; you already have a storyline to follow. Your script should start with an outline. Then, include audio scripts and visuals to aid in the flow with the story. Moreover, the language should be relaxed, clear, and conversational without jargon.
5. Create a Realistic Budget
One of the primary reasons businesses opt for DIY corporate video production is the lack of resources. If you are on a budget, you’ll need to maximize available funds to make the best corporate video.
Do your research early and find out any costs associated with renting out any equipment, locations, and any other expenses for the project. Remember to Set realistic parameters and stick to these to stay within the budget.
6. Leverage Available Resources/Technology
Video production is now a typical project across all industries. The high demand for video has therefore seen a proliferation of affordable technology and equipment which small businesses can use for DIY video productions.
For a grand production, you can rent the equipment online. Some of the stuff you can easily rent includes:
- Video camera
- Lighting kit
- Wireless microphones
- Tripods
- Shotgun microphone
- Boom pole
- Headphones
- XLR cables
You can also leverage available tools such as smartphones or web cameras to save on costs. For a business, you can opt to use employees or customers as the cast. This saves you the cost of hiring professionals.
7. Practice Before The Final Shoot
After writing your script, find a location, and identify your cast. Also, you should take the time to acclimatize with the equipment and technology.
Play around with the cameras and microphones until you understand how they work best. This will reduce the actual time you use in shooting and editing.
8. Promote and Market your Video
Video production companies promote videos for their clients. However, in the case of a DIY project, this is a task you have to do. Start by giving your video a great title, then use the best description and tags and finally add hashtags in your title, if possible.
For more visibility, export your video to more than one platform, including YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and others.
The Value of Corporate Video
When planning a large project in a small business or startup, it’s crucial to assess the value. After all, the cost of doing business is high, and cost-cutting is a contemporary approach today. What’s more, DIY production will tax personnel in your company.
Below are some of the underpinnings of this project:
- Video promises higher ROI compared to print/electronic advertisements.
- Search engines love video, and this guarantees better ranking.
- Video content is sharable and can boost your brand’s visibility.
- Video content is open to a diverse range of applications from SEO, boosting conversion rates, lead generation, increasing email marketing CTR and open through rates, more customer engagement, and much more.
- A powerful call to action (CTA)
- Building trust and credibility through user-generated content (UGC)
- An opportunity to tell your story creatively
Final Thoughts on DIY Corporate Video
Creating a corporate DIY video is a smart marketing tool for small businesses and startups. It offers multiple benefits, including boosting your SEO efforts, promoting the brand, boosting conversion rates, organic traffic, and it has the best ROI compared to outbound marketing tools.
By producing the video in-house, you save on costs and tell your story more authentically. Go ahead and use these tips for the best DIY video production results.
