How to Create a Video for Your Tech Business

As internet speeds increase and more people get on mobile devices, videos appear nearly everywhere. In addition to YouTube, you’ll find them on social media sites such as Facebook. Businesses sometimes livestream events, create videos to educate the public or plug into a trend of some sort.

Around 85 percent of U.S. internet users watch video online. If you aren’t marketing this way, you’re missing out on a big opportunity. However, you might feel a bit uncertain about how to get going with your first video and ensure it makes your tech business look professional and not amateurish.

Making a video for your tech business is easier than you might think. Follow these nine steps, and you’ll have your first one up quickly.

Step No. 1: Determine a Message

Think about the message you want to convey to viewers. There are many different types of videos. You could create an informational video about an item, tell your brand story or educate users on how to use your product. Figure out the goal of your video and the message you plan to get across as your first step in the planning process.

Step No. 2: Decide on a Tone

Your video needs to have a consistent tone that matches your brand personality. Is your company young and fun? Then, your video should be lighthearted. Do you run a financial firm? People might respond better to a serious, steadfast tone in your video. You can even use humor if it matches your brand goals and personality.

Step No. 3: Write a Script

Once you’ve decided on your message and the tone, it’s time to write a script for your video. Having one on hand will save you time and effort when you start recording. If you’re hiring a professional videographer, it will also save you money because you won’t waste time figuring out what the storyline should be. Set up a production schedule at this point, so you know what to do next.

Step No. 4: Choose Actors or Narrators

Does your script require actors or narrators? You might even use text instead of a voiceover, as many people watch videos with the sound off. Office workers often hit the mute button, as well as people commuting to and from work on trains or buses. Choose your actors or narrators carefully. Make sure their style matches that of the video and they are familiar with getting good takes in the least amount of time.

Step No. 5: Practice the Script

Rehearse one or two times so the players are familiar with the script before you start filming. Get everyone together and do a dress rehearsal. Run through the script at least three or four times, so it is familiar. On the day of filming, everyone will be ready to go, and the process should run more smoothly.

Step No. 6: Choose a Location

Where will you shoot the video? Location is one of the most important factors affecting the tone and professional quality of your finished product. Ideally, you could shoot at your place of business, but even if you choose to film at your company, you need to know where. Watch out for loud areas that might overshadow the sound of the video. Stay away from high-traffic locations where people walk in and out of the camera frame and distract from the shot.

Step No. 7: Rent Equipment

If you don’t already own equipment, now is the time to rent it. You’ll want professional-quality video if at all possible. However, if you’re on an extremely tight budget, you can use your smartphone and get decent results. Today’s smartphone cameras are much more advanced than those of the past.

Keep in mind you may also need to rent lights and background screens to improve the quality of your finished product.

Step No. 8: Film and Edit the Video

You’re finally ready to film and edit your video. Be sure to use several different angles and shots. During the editing process, you can always piece things together if one take alone isn’t quite right. You can also use video editing software to brighten up a dark scene, get rid of background noise, or add titles and script overlays.

Don’t forget your B-roll footage. Those little transitions where you shoot to another scene make a video look more interesting and professional. You may need to enlist additional help if you need any aerial shots.

Step No. 9: Market the Video

Once you’ve edited your video, it’s time to put it out into the world and market it. Marketing a promotional video requires a bit of planning as well. If you add it to Facebook, you may want to do something as simple as creating an ad campaign to promote it to a target audience. Facebook allows you to narrow down who sees the video and choose locations, hobbies, gender and interests.

Set a budget for your marketing plan and stick to it. Let those who already follow you know about the video, as many will share it with their friends and followers.

Creating a Promotional Video

The first video for your tech business doesn’t have to be perfect, but it should be well thought out. Take the time to work through the steps, and you’ll wind up with a successful video that serves as a valuable asset to your brand-building strategy.