Shooting your video

Quicks tips for creating compelling social media video You don’t need a film degree to make an excellent social media video these days. Communicators with untrained eyes are creating great social video content with little more than a smartphone. And people are watching.

Keep the camera steady Use a tripod if possible. If you are stuck shooting handheld, here are some tips to help you stabilize your shot: Keep the phone close to your body. Rest your elbows on a nearby object. Use your body to absorb bounces and shakes.

If audio is key to the story, consider an external mic The built-in microphones on most smartphones leave something to be desired. Or, use a separate iPhone to capture audio.

Don’t use digital zoom Though it sounds like a good idea in theory, when you use digital zoom, it can make for a very blurry video. Until technologies evolve, avoid the zoom and just move closer to the person or object you’re trying to capture.

Lighting is key Smartphone cameras have small image sensors so if you try to shoot in a dark environment, it will give you grainy, low-quality video. Choose a brightly lit setting for your video. Also keep in mind that the auto exposure on mobile phones is often slow to adjust when changing from one scene to the next, so be mindful when moving from dark areas to bright ones. Avoid backlighting and direct overhead spotlighting.

Use the Exposure lock

Angles When you shoot the video, consider using interesting angles so that when you go to edit it later, you will have a variety of shots to choose from.

Shoot for your intended platform Remember, social media video is unique. You have to take in to account the various limits of each medium. For example, Facebook is a particularly great platform for teaser videos because you can include links to the content on your site from within the post.

Use an editing app to trim unnecessary stuff out I cannot think of an instance where you will not need to edit your materials. If your editing needs aren’t too complex—maybe you just want to compile a few clips together and then add some titles—iMovie, Windows Movie Maker, or the YouTube video editor will do the trick. But if you’re hoping to edit something together that is more dynamic, try a program like Adobe Premiere Elements, Final Cut Pro X I advise you to edit on a computer. It’s just easier if you have something more complex. Simple, phone is fine.

Consider using subtitles or on-screen text Although we’d like to think that the bulk of video watching goes on during leisure hours, the reality is most people watch videos at work. More than three quarters of all social media videos are watched without sound. If the message of your video is not easily communicated through the action alone, you might consider adding subtitles or on-screen text. That way, whether or not the sound is on, the viewer can appreciate the story you’re trying to tell Then, closely link the images to the wording so that the progression of your video is easy to follow. Premiere Pro and iMovie support subtitles. Rush has a titles function.

Aim to catch attention quickly The first seconds of a social video is what matters most, according to data from Wista. If you can hook your audience, they are more likely to stick around and engage. So make it exciting, make it interesting, razzle-dazzle them.

Keep it short It’s not a TedTalk. Keep in mind the caps of particular social media.