Video can be a powerful tool for businesses. Companies of all sizes can benefit from video as part of their content marketing strategy. But is it possible to create amazing video with next to no budget?
The good news is that you don’t need a swanky camera kit to get started with creating high-quality video – your smartphone has everything you need in the palm of your hand!
Ready to create some amazing video for your business? Take a look at these ten steps to creating fantastic videos from your phone.
1. Invest in some budget-friendly equipment
While you can shoot some great videos using just your phone, it doesn’t hurt to invest in a few budget-friendly items to help you out. From buying a lens kit to an external microphone, it pays to purchase some additional items to help you get the most out of your phone. Better storage, better sound, and better lighting will all help you produce professional-quality video. If you shop around on places like eBay and Amazon then you won’t have to break the bank creating your kit.
2. Always shoot in landscape
It’s natural to hold your phone in portrait mode, but it’s not necessarily the best way to shoot video. Landscape shooting is recommended to make it easier to edit and to help you capture as wide a shot as possible. Shooting in portrait/vertically will leave black bars on your video, which won’t give the polished look you’re trying to achieve. Some camera apps won’t let you shoot video in portrait, so it might be worth looking into this sort of app if you’re prone to forgetting!
3. Learn how to frame effectively
Framing is everything for creating high-quality video. Not everything has to be in the center of your screen, especially if you’re interviewing someone. Try placing your subject in different positions to see which looks the most aesthetically pleasing. The closer you place the subject, the better the depth of field you’ll have to create that blurred background that can be difficult to achieve on a smartphone.
4. Experiment with different shooting apps
While your phone will be equipped with a pretty capable camera, there are plenty of other incredible apps that are ideal for shooting video. Some of the best video recording apps for iPhone and Android include Filmic Pro, iPhocus and MAVIS. It’s worth taking advantage of some free trials and versions with adverts or limited features to help you work out if you could get some better results compared to your usual camera.
5. Boost your sound quality
Nailing the sound will be a key part of filming video successfully on your phone. Sound can suffer if you’re dealing with a lot of background noise or your subject is further away than needed. There are some great tutorials on recording better audio with your smartphone to help you enjoy better results.
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From using better equipment to improving the positioning of your phone, there are various things you can try to experience better results from your video.
6. Get the lighting right
Lighting can be another tricky element of successful smartphone video, and can be where the difference between a DSLR and a phone can become obvious. Some useful lighting tips include using natural light where possible, adjusting the white balance and brightness on your phone as well as using additional lighting. With the right lighting, your videos will look much better and avoid that grain that can make your videos look dark and dull.
7. Get to grips with editing
Editing video on your phone can be easier than using expensive, desktop-based software. Different editing apps have different capabilities to for cutting, adding transitions as well as other effects to give your video a polished look. During the editing stage, you can also add audio tracks, titles and more to give you a professional-looking video that will show off what your business can do.
8. Add graphics, logos, titles, etc.
In the same way that you can create a professional edit using your phone, you can also enjoy creating high-quality graphics from your phone. Apps like Canva and Photoshop can allow you to create some fantastic graphics while using your own colors, branding, and logos to produce video that fits in with the rest of your business’ output. Play around with different types of graphics to see what’s possible.
9. Don’t forget captions and subtitles
As a responsible business, you should make creating accessible video a priority. Thanks to easy-to-use subtitling apps, it’s possible to add subtitles without having to use a laptop or a desktop. Using a professional transcription service, you can make sure you create useful captions for your video that will allow them to be enjoyed by a wider audience. Take Note provide various transcription services to help you deliver the most accessible content to your followers. Accessibility is something that shouldn’t be ignored, and it’s in your best interests to factor that into your video making.
10. Create the right promotion plan
After creating the perfect polished video, you’ll want as many people to see it as possible. Small business marketing requires clever tactics over big budgets, and video can be a significant part of that. Your video deserves to be seen, so make sure you create the right promotional strategy around your video to increase your reach and help people take notice of your business.
Video can be a great asset for your business, helping you to show off what you can do as well as expose your business to a wider range of potential customers or clients. Using your smartphone, it’s possible to create professional-looking, engaging content that will spice up your social media and help you win over your audience. What are you waiting for? Start creating amazing video for your business now.
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