We often hear commentators remark that people have the attention spans of goldfish – and whilst that may not be technically accurate, we all understand that we do tend to flit from image to image, idea to idea when scrolling social media. So how do you grab your fair share of the eyeballs you need to grow your brand and business. The answer is often to create more (or some!) short form videos. With the arrival of TikTok into the mainstream social media landscape, short form videos as a form of social media content have definitely cemented themselves as a type of content you need to be utilising. These videos can be a powerful tool for capturing your audience’s attention and conveying your message quickly and effectively. In this article, we’ll explore some tips on how to create more short form videos to share your message.
The first things to focus on however are some technical basics for filming that will set you up for success before you even start filming.
- Lighting: Make sure you have good lighting. Natural light is best, but if you’re filming indoors, make sure the room is well-lit. Avoid filming with your back to a window or in a dimly lit area.
- Audio: Good audio is just as important as good visuals. Use a microphone if possible, or film in a quiet location to reduce background noise.
- Framing: Consider the framing of your shots. Avoid shaky camera work and make sure your subject is in focus.
- Props: If you’re demonstrating a product or showcasing your work, consider using props to help tell your story.
Once you have these basics in place, then you can get into the planning and filming of your videos.
- Keep it short and sweet
The first rule of short form videos is to keep it short and sweet. These videos are typically less than 60 seconds, so it’s essential to keep your message concise and focused. Before you start shooting, decide on the key message you want to convey and think about how you can do this in a short amount of time.
- Plan your content
One of the keys to creating successful short form videos is planning your content in advance. This means deciding on the topic, message, and format of your video before you start shooting. This will help you stay on track and make the most of your time. Start by brainstorming ideas for your video and creating a script or outline to guide your filming.
- Use attention-grabbing visuals
In today’s visually-driven world, attention-grabbing visuals are essential for short form videos. Use bright colours, interesting camera angles, and engaging graphics to capture your audience’s attention. You can also use text overlays or captions to convey your message if it’s difficult to do so with visuals alone.
- Be authentic
Short form videos are all about showing your personality and authenticity. Don’t be afraid to let your true self shine through in your videos. This will help you connect with your audience and build trust with them. You may notice that we haven’t mentioned dancing, so relax you do not have to dance or lip sync for your short form video to land with your ideal audience. Be yourself and don’t try to be someone you’re not.
- Edit carefully
Editing is a critical step in creating successful short form videos. Use editing software to trim your video down to its most impactful moments, and add music or sound effects to enhance the viewer’s experience. Keep in mind that every second counts in a short form video, so make sure you’re only including the most important content.
When it comes to editing your videos, there are a range of tools available to you. Here are some popular options:
iMovie: If you have a Mac, iMovie is a free video editing software that’s easy to use.
Adobe Premiere Pro: This is a professional-grade video editing software, but it does come with a steep learning curve.
Canva: This is a design tool that also has a video editing feature. It’s great for creating short promotional videos with text overlays and graphics.
InShot: This is a mobile app that’s great for editing videos on-the-go. It’s user-friendly and has a range of editing features, including filters, text overlays, and music.
CapCut: This is a mobile app that works well with TikTok in particular and allows you to then repurpose the videos across multiple social media platforms.
In App Features: Utilise the tools within your platform of choice, Instagram Reels has some great templates that you can use with your static images and TikTok is that same. Just make sure that you remove watermarks if sharing across platforms.
- Share across multiple platforms
As mentioned in the points above we encourage sharing across platforms. This will maximise your message’s impact and help you reach a wider audience and increase your chances of increased visibility. We are not aiming to go viral ( this is highly unlikely!) but you are wanting to reach as many of your ideal clients as possible. Make sure to optimise your videos for each platform you’re sharing them on, as different platforms have different video size and length requirements. It is important to ensure that you remove any watermarks before sharing across platforms (i.e. be careful of the TikTok watermark when sharing videos to reels – SnapTik is a good tool for this).
- Experiment with different styles
Finally, don’t be afraid to experiment with different styles of short form videos. Try out different formats, such as stop-motion animation, time-lapse, or slideshows, to keep your content fresh and engaging. This will help you stand out from the crowd and capture your audience’s attention. Using the in app features of your social channel of choice will help with this experimentation so that you can become more familiar with tools and styles.
Remember, the key to creating awesome short form videos is to keep it simple, authentic, and engaging. So, grab your camera, experiment with different styles, and have fun with it! Look out for one of our online training sessions on social media platforms or video tips via Business Connect – you too can get more comfortable in front of the camera.