How to Create Your First Video for Your Business

By Brad Stewart, AuD

As attention spans shorten and the web is fragmenting into a series of dozens of apps, the demand for video content for small business is becoming undeniable.

A survey from Wyzowl found that 63% of businesses have started using video content marketing, and out of those 82% feel video is an important part of their strategy. 83% of businesses using video content marketing reported a positive ROI.

Video builds trust, improves your SEO (your chance of being discovered organically online), answers questions and concerns, explains complicated products and services, and develops your authority as a thought leader.

So, if video is such a home run, why aren’t more of us doing it?

My informal polling has found that the three most common concerns are:

1. Don’t understand the equipment/technology
2. Don’t have time
3. Don’t feel comfortable in front of a camera

Here’s the good news.

With the rise of social media platforms like TikTok, and copycats like Instagram/Facebook Reels, and YouTube shorts, there is an increasing demand for LOW PRODUCTION VALUE, short-form videos.

In fact some studies are reporting that informally filmed videos are MORE likely to gain viral traction than high-quality, professional looking videos.

Why is that good news?

It means that, whether you’re an auto mechanic shop, a barber, a doctor, or a lawyer…it’s totally acceptable to pull out your iPhone, shoot a video in one take, and post it online.

In fact, if you do that you’ll probably get better organic results than if you hired a professional film crew to film for you!

So, that knocks out concerns #1 and #2…you have a phone (that’s your equipment), and you have the time to record a 1-2 minute self-recorded video.

So…how do you get comfortable in front of the camera?

I’ve historically been uncomfortable and felt self-conscious in front of cameras.

I’m also a perfectionist, so I would delay creating a video until I felt like I could do it perfectly (AKA never).

Then I had a mindset shift.

I was sitting in front of my patients in exam rooms every day, answering the same questions over and over again.

“How much does it cost?”

”What’s the process?”

”What’s the difference between you and X?”

”How do I know it will work?”

I could answer my patients’ most frequently asked questions in my sleep.

You’re probably the same. There are questions that you answer EVERY DAY in your business.

This is where you start.

Write a list of all of the FAQs that you get in your business.

Now find a well-lit room with a window, set up your phone on a tripod or just hold it in your hand, and answer the question as if you were talking to your customer.

That simple. Look into the camera lens like you’re looking into the eyes of your customer, and give your answer. You don’t need to write down a script (it’s already in your head). Just record it. Try to only do one take.

Now, post it.

Put it on your website on a relevant page.

Put it on your Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, whatever platform you want a presence on.

Ignore the results.

Keep doing that once a week.

In one year, you will have over 50 videos that you can use across all of your marketing efforts.

You’ll probably get better as you go, and might eventually want to re-record some of your early videos…that’s ok!

Get started, earn some confidence, disregard the results, and create the content that your perfect future customer needs so they can feel good about choosing to work with you.

Brad Stewart, AuD is a brand strategist, coach, and content creator. To learn how Brad can help you identify your brand's Secret Sauce and create a content plan to unlock your brand's potential without stress or overwhelm, schedule a free strategy call!