Videos are everywhere.
They’re on your Facebook feed, your Instagram wall, and they also come up in search engine results.
As a former TV journalist, I know that video is a powerful way to reach people — and being on camera regularly solidifies your connection with your audience.
I had the pleasure (sarcasm intended) of sharing three pregnancies while on TV over the course of six years. To this day, people come up to me to tell me they, too, remember the journey.
While I don’t like to think about how much weight I gained, I’m still amazed by the impression those pregnancies made. My youngest child is nine years old!
Are you ready to up your content game with videos? This guide will share five steps to help you get started and become confident on camera.
Step #1: Make the commitment
I won’t sugarcoat it. Creating videos can be frustrating. There is a learning curve and you may not be pleased with your results at first.
You will record something, look at it, and then make the mistake of comparing your video to what other people are creating on YouTube.
What you have to remember is those same people — the ones with millions of followers today — had to start at zero, too.
So, get started!
In March, I ran a Video Bootcamp for entrepreneurs and creatives. They all understood the power of using video to spread their messages. But they didn’t know what to say, what to wear, and what type of equipment to use.
By simply signing up for the Video Bootcamp, they made learning a priority.
The students who continued making videos after the session tell me their videos are growing their email lists, creating connections, and producing sales.
They made the commitment to start, and it’s paying off.
Step #2: Use what you have
Having the right type of equipment used to be a big problem.
In my first TV job many years ago, I remember carrying a 50-pound camera on shoots and then having to go back to get a 25-pound tripod.
Those days are long gone.
Start with what you have. Much like creating a minimum viable product, your video process begins by creating videos as simply as possible. Work your way up as you get more comfortable and you see the response your videos get.
Here’s a brief outline of The Big Three: equipment, lighting, and sound.
Equipment
Video equipment doesn’t have to be intimidating.
Use the camera sitting right next to you — the smartphone, the laptop, or the point and shoot camera that has a video feature.
There are entire industries devoted to cameras, lights, and microphones, and you can definitely invest in more expensive equipment.
But, the purpose of this guide is to help you get started using video.. It really doesn’t have to cost a lot.
Lighting
Good lighting makes you look like a million bucks. But you don’t have to spend anywhere close to that.
I am a big fan of using natural light….
