Social media video statistics are staggering! More than 720,000 hours are posted to YouTube every day and four billion are viewed every day on Facebook, according to PC World. But videos aren’t just for entertainment. LinkedIn posts with a video are viewed 20 times more than posts without, according to Omnicore Marketing.
Social media is also used as a main communication channel for companies and executives. It’s an effective way to get a message out to audiences including the media, general public, investors and employees.
But, it can also be uncomfortable for leaders who prefer the safety of messages that have been reviewed by marketing and legal. Others are worried they’ll come across unprofessional and unpolished.
Avoiding social media videos isn’t an option for modern business leaders in today’s social media saturated world. So, I’ve listed four ways to either improve your videos or to get you started on generating content.
Get a Wireless Microphone
A mic ensures your voice comes through loud and clear. It also reduces background and wind noise. It’s easier than you think as the days of the big battery packs are long gone! Look for one that plugs directly into your cell phone and connects to its camera without downloading software. You can find them online for $30-40. I use the K40 from HMKCH.
Close Caption Your Videos
According to Tublar Insights, closed captioning a YouTube video generates 40% more views than the same video without. It makes sense. Lots of social media users access videos in places where the sound could be distracting to others or hard to hear. Also, closed captions will generate better distribution as the words are indexable by search engines. I just started using Rev.com’s automatic captioning service. The accuracy is great and it only costs $1 per minute of video time.
Get to the Point
Keep it short and focused. The most viewed videos are those that get to the point quickly and end succinctly. Viewers have a short attention span, so if you have a 30 second message, make a 30 second video. If you have a two minute message, make a two minute video.
Practice, But Don’t Read a Script
Authenticity is critical. Reading a script can make you seem flat, but winging it can make the message unfocused and rambling. Knowing your key points and doing a few practice takes will help you sound natural, but also stay on message. It’s a recording, so don’t worry about filming multiple takes to get it right.
Recording a video for social media can be intimidating the first few times you do it. I’ve learned the tips above from experience and I hope they encourage you to get filming!
