Producing video content with your smartphone
How to create authentic content
The benefits of visual content
Images just work. And videos work even better. We can’t say it often enough: Visual content is a winner – and it’s here to stay. There are plenty of reasons for it, and punkt & komma CEO Ines Eschbacher lists some of them in the new edition of her Content Marketing Workbook:
- The brain processes visual content faster than it processes text. Like, a lot faster. 60,000 times faster, to be precise!
- What’s more, image information is stored in our brains for longer than text information. That’s why visual content perfectly complements your copy.
- You can give users a better idea of how certain products work.
- Visual content is highly emotive.
- Last but not least, visual content offers huge storytelling potential.
You’re hooked and can’t wait to get started but don’t know how? We have compiled a useful checklist for you.
The right format
Mobile first – or, more precisely, “mobile users first”. To make sure that users can see a full-screen version of your video on their smartphone, you have to choose the right format. That’s why you should opt for an aspect ratio of 9:16. If you use 16:9 instead, your video will only be displayed half-screen. Of course, you could rotate your smartphone to avoid this. But who really wants to do that before watching a video?
Every second counts
As we said, users don’t want to have to rotate their smartphones. Plus, they expect videos to be engaging right within the first seconds. Especially on social media, people are happily swiping through their feeds. And if you fail to catch their attention, you lose them. For your video to get the attention it deserves, it needs to engage viewers within the first five seconds.
Add a CTA
You managed to catch your users’ attention? Congratulations – now it’s all about keeping them engaged! Ideally, you do that by building a bridge that leads to further content. For instance, encourage your users to read your blog post or to visit your website for more information! Add a clear and direct Call to Action (CTA) at the end of your video or immediately afterwards. Alternatively, you can also add a CTA in your copy.
Text in images
Catchy and legible – that’s the secret formula for successful captions. Many videos are played without sound, and captions make it easier to attract attention. However, make sure you don’t add too much text or use a font that’s too small. What’s more, your text needs to be visible long enough for your users to actually read it.
Planning makes perfect
No video production without a concept – no matter how small it is! Think about the following questions before shooting and discuss them with all involved parties:
- What do you want to shoot?
- Who do you want to reach with your video?
- What is the objective of your video?
We also recommend drawing up a shot list or a shooting schedule. Both help you to get an overview of what needs to be done, defining the basic parameters of your production.
Tricks for shooting videos
- Switch on the grid lines of your camera: You can activate this feature in the settings of your mobile phone. It helps you to better align the central elements of your video. To ensure an appealing composition, follow the golden ratio, placing people or products close to the centre.
- Set your camera to manual exposure: Depending on the light situation, you can lock the exposure and focus with the help of the AE/AF lock feature. Choose the focus area by tapping the screen and activate the AE/AF lock by holding it. Simply swipe up or down on the screen to make the image brighter or darker.
- Don’t use the zoom feature: If you want to magnify a subject, go closer rather than using zoom. Why? Many smartphone cameras only have digital zoom. It enlarges certain parts of the screen, but it actually only crops the images to fewer pixels, thus reducing image quality. What’s more, you can also enlarge certain image parts afterwards if needed.
- Create suspense with time lapse or slow motion: Both features are easy to use and make your videos more captivating.
Helpful apps for post-production
You have finished shooting? Then it’s time to put the finishing touches to your video – or, more precisely, to start editing your video during post-production. There are numerous apps that make your life easier. Just try some of them to find your personal favourite. You’ll see: There’s virtually no limit to what you can do!