Video Tips for Building Relationships
Entrepreneurship is all about building relationships. If you need startup capital, you need relationships with money lenders, both private and public. If you want more clients, you need relationships with your social media followers and local community. Want more sales, build relationships with the public. You get the picture.
In addition to getting out in the public and networking with other small businesses, producing videos for your social media followers is the next best way to build relationships. The public still sees your face and hears your voice even though you’re not physically in front of them. They will know after listening to one video if they like your style and what you have to say. After multiple videos they will start to like and know you as well, which eventually leads up to people spending their money with you.
But don’t just “wing it” by turning on the video camera or cellphone without preparation. Here are some tips to always keep in mind when recording a video:
1. Keep eye contact. No, you don’t want to look like a zombie who doesn’t blink but instead of your eyes wandering all over, make a concerted effort to look directly into the camera lens. Keeping eye contact with your viewers builds trust and they will feel as if you’re speaking directly to them, making them focus more on your message.
2. Talk to just one person. It’s a bit of a mental mind trick but pretend the person on the other side of the camera is your best friend (or mom, mentor, college buddy, etc.). Don’t pay attention to the view counter when you’re doing a Facebook Live; don’t worry about how many thousands of people may see it on YouTube. Instead, focus your attention to just one person so your message is clear and comes across naturally.
3. Keep videos short. In this electronic age, people have ridiculously short attention spans so not too many will sit and listen to a 30-60 minute video. There are exceptions to every rule but if you’re doing a series of videos to introduce yourself to your audience, keep them short. You can cover a lot of information in 5 minutes. If you’re reviewing a product on video, then it will likely be longer, provided you’re showing all the features of the product.
4. Avoid rambling. Viewers will relate better to videos that have a clear message. If you start your message, then diverge into a story about your kids, then mention something political before getting back to your main message, chances are you’ll lose viewers who give up on watching. Know your topic, prepare bullet points to stay on track, and practice before hand if necessary. People do relate to storytelling but that’s very different from rambling about disconnected thoughts.
5. Be consistent. Again, people’s attention span is short so if you don’t post at least once per week, you will be forgotten among those in your target market. You’re fighting for space in the name recognition category so plan out a video calendar complete with exact topics and calls-to-action (always tell your viewers what to do next after watching your video). The more you can post the better but as you can see, planning out topics for videos will take some time.
If you’re cringing at the idea of being on video, take some deep breaths and just give it a try. Someone out there in the vast world wants and needs to hear your message so don’t be afraid. Practice makes perfect and will calm your nerves!
Update Your Branding Photos to Match the Quality of Your Videos
If you’re fighting to get some brand recognition, enlist the power of the experts when it comes to your branding photos and professional videos. Quick Facebook Live videos are powerful but you’ll need some professional branding photos to update your website and printed marketing materials. Let a professional photographer figure out the perfect lighting and location while you focus on preparing your message. Our “Branding Photo Shoot Planner” walks you through the steps of planning a professional photo shoot, from finding the location to hiring the right photographer. Follow the simple sequence, take lots of notes, and get excited to see your brand come to life. [LINK HERE]