You want to create a video that makes an impact. What tools can help you make it engaging and shareable?

1 Define your purpose

Before you start filming, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve with your video. What is the problem you are addressing, the solution you are offering, or the change you are advocating for? Who is your target audience, and what do you want them to do after watching your video? How will you measure the impact of your video? Having a clear purpose will help you craft a compelling story, a strong call to action, and a relevant distribution strategy.

2 Choose your format

Depending on your purpose, audience, and budget, you can choose from different formats for your video. For example, you can use animation, documentary, interview, testimonial, or explainer video formats. Each format has its own advantages and disadvantages, so you need to consider what works best for your message, tone, and style. You can also mix and match different formats, or use hybrid formats like motion graphics or interactive video, to create more engaging and dynamic videos.

3 Use a storyboard

A storyboard is a visual representation of your video script, showing the key scenes, shots, and transitions. It helps you plan and organize your video content, and communicate your vision to your team or collaborators. A storyboard also helps you avoid wasting time and resources on unnecessary or irrelevant footage, and ensure that your video has a clear structure, flow, and narrative. You can use online tools like Storyboarder, Canva, or Boords to create and edit your storyboard.

5 Optimize your video

Optimizing your video means making sure that it is ready for online distribution and consumption. You need to consider the technical aspects, such as the file size, format, resolution, and aspect ratio of your video, as well as the platforms, channels, and devices that you will use to share your video. You can use tools like HandBrake, VLC, or CloudConvert to compress, convert, and resize your video files. You also need to consider the SEO aspects, such as the title, description, tags, keywords, and thumbnails of your video, to make it more discoverable and clickable. You can use tools like TubeBuddy, VidIQ, or Keyword Tool to optimize your video for SEO.

6 Share your video

Sharing your video means getting it in front of your audience, and encouraging them to watch, like, comment, and share. You need to have a distribution strategy, that includes the platforms, channels, and networks that you will use to share your video, as well as the timing, frequency, and duration of your sharing. You can use tools like Buffer, Hootsuite, or Loomly to schedule and manage your social media posts, and tools like Wistia, Vimeo, or YouTube to host and embed your video on your website or blog. You also need to have a promotion strategy, that includes the ways that you will attract, engage, and retain your audience, such as email marketing, influencer marketing, or paid advertising. You can use tools like Mailchimp, BuzzSumo, or Facebook Ads to promote your video.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?