A Beginner's Guide to Planning Brilliant Videos

Video has been proven to demand higher consumer attention than any other medium; in fact it is currently the fastest growing marketing tool on the planet!

So, if your company has begun to utilize video in your marketing strategy, this Beginner's Guide is just what you need to get started.

1. What is the purpose of your video?

This should be the first question you ask yourself when planning a brilliant video. What are you trying to achieve and how will you know when you have achieved it? Through views, engagement or social sharing?

It's important that you establish what success looks like for your video, before you start filming. Without a clear intention both you and your viewer can be left in the dark.

2. Who's going to be on the camera?

As we all bring different personalities to video, we want to make sure that we maximize those effectively whilst filming. So planning out who will be in your video is also an important step. Will you take turns speaking? Will you simply insert an overlay image of another person? Plan it out.

3. Where are you going to film your video?

Surroundings and background must be planned. If you're thinking of setting up your tripod just about anywhere and not taking into consideration background noise or a lighting source, think again! (Check out this video to see why your filming background is important.)

Let's be real, your video will not capture anyone's attention if the viewer can't hear you, can't see you or is distracted by the really interesting scene unfolding behind you.

THE TOP 3 'MUST HAVE' ELEMENTS:

1. The hook

• Capturing your audience's attention with a 'hook' in the first 5-10 seconds is a must
• A hook ensures your viewer will watch the entire video
• Have fun, make a joke, make it interesting
• Just grab the viewer’s attention!
• (Click here to see what we're on about.)

2. What's in for me? (WIIFM)

• Have you provided the WIIFM element?
• Inside your 'hook', what people really want to know is WIIFM?
• Provide a teaser about what's in it for the viewer

3. Call to action (CTA)

• Always finish with a CTA
• Once you've captured the attention of those watching, give them a link for more info
• Make sure you emphasise your CTA (click, share, phone etc.) in your video
• You want viewers to act on your video somehow, so make sure you give them an easy way to do so 

All that’s left to do now is begin the filming process, edit and start sharing your videos!

Ready to put the Beginner's Guide into action? Why not create a video bio to showcase your personal brand on LinkedIn.