How to Create More Video Content

You may have noticed that your entire news feed has become predominantly videos, and that is no accident. Last year, Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri announced that the Instagram algorithm would begin favoring video content, specifically Reels. And we have seen that unfold right before our eyes, or should we say under our thumbs! 

But you aren’t a videographer, and there is absolutely no way you are dancing the way the kids are nowadays. Not to worry, we have outlined how you can get started creating more video content, with little to no dancing involved! Here’s how:

Whether you create a Google doc or open the notes app on your phone, start jotting down content ideas when they come to you, starting today! This can seem like a mountainous task, but we recommend looking at this document like a brain dump. The ideas don’t have to be perfect or even be full ideas yet. The important thing is that you now have a readily accessible place to jot your burst of ideas before you forget them.

*Pro-Tip: Keep note of the questions that people keep asking about your product or service. If more than one person asks the same question, add that to your ideas document and create helpful content out of it.

The first thing you will want to do is schedule a block of time for bulk video creating. You can decide how long you want to spend, we recommend at least one hour a week. If you don’t schedule it into your day, something more pressing comes up and there goes another month where you aren’t creating videos (we are all guilty of this!). So schedule in at least one hour per week to execute the steps we have outlined and you will be surprised how quickly your video content will start coming together.

The first thing you are going to want to do during your scheduled video creative time is to start looking within your industry, at your competitors, and beyond, to see what type of video content they are creating. What type of videos are trending right now? Is there a trendy song or sound that is circulating throughout multiple videos? Figuring out what is going on will help when you are figuring out how your brand can join in on the trends. Save videos and links that inspire you to use as a reference in the next step.

The next step is to pick 3-4 ideas off your document and create a new document where you can actually storyboard and write outlines for your ideas. The more you can plan out, the better, especially at the beginning if you are nervous to get started. Will you need props, do you need to visit another location to film, are you going to be talking in the video, or is someone else? These are all questions you should be answering in this planning phase. The more you can plan out the faster the filming process will go because you won’t have to stop to think about the logistics of each video before filming.

It is now time for your big moment! But you are prepared because you outlined! We recommend choosing 3-4 ideas to film because batching together your video content creation will be much easier than stopping your entire day to film one video. You can even plan out quick outfit and background changes so the videos don’t look like they were all made in one sitting. We recommend filming on your phone (make sure to keep the phone vertical while filming), rather than within the app, that way you have more flexibility with different takes and editing the video later.

*Pro-Tip: Invest in a few gadgets to make filming easier like a ring light tripod to hold your phone or a microphone.

Once you have successfully recorded your content, it is time to edit your video. This can also seem like a daunting task, however, you can do most of it on your phone. Play around with the Reels feature on Instagram, but if you prefer something a little more intuitive we recommend a video editing app like Splice, where you can cut videos, add captions, and even add music!

Then voila, you have ample video content to post throughout the month! Continue this process each month to stay on-trend and stay relevant in Instagram’s algorithm. 

And remember there really is no right or wrong place to start, just start! The hope here is that if you approach creating video content in bite-size pieces, it will become easier for you, and you won’t completely ignore the fact that you should be creating video content. And if this all sounds like too daunting of a task, feel free to reach out and we can help you create some stunning videos!