How I Quickly and Effortlessly Create Video Content

Are you a perfectionist? Have you agonized for months about creating video content for your business? I get it! I was once there as well. I’m a marketing expert and I know how important video is today. Yet, once upon a time, my team was pushing me to create videos and I dragged my feet forever!

Not only was I battling the fear that comes from video marketing, but my systematic brain needed a simple, quick, and effective way to produce video content. If I was going to be consistent with my efforts, I knew that the process I used had to take very little time on my part.

I know it sounds crazy but when I first started recording videos, I would come up with brand new video content every time I recorded. I would wrack my brain, searching for the next creative idea to share. Then I would run through the outline in my head about what I was going to say, and then I had 15 retakes as I attempted to record the perfect video. And even then, the final product was what I consider “sub-par.” And the worst part…it took FOREVER!!!

So it was no surprise when I abandoned these efforts and stopped recording video for a while. Who in their right mind wants to do something that feels like a chore? And that is exactly how it felt until I discovered a process that worked wonders for me.  

You and I both know that your audience will watch a short 2-3 minute video before reading a 5-minute blog or listening to a 30-minute podcast. And those static posts on social media, unless they are scroll-stopping, will be ignored. So are you ready to learn a step-by-step process for quickly and effortlessly creating consistent video content?

Let’s begin…

Step 1: Grab A Piece Of Already Produced Content.

Unless you are creating zero content in your business (please tell me that’s not you), then you have content you have already produced. Maybe you have a weekly podcast, a couple of blogs every month, a book, a course, an e-newsletter, or regular social media posts. All of this is great content and can be used to create video content.

Step 2: Repurpose Old Content For Your Video Content.

Take your already produced content and work to repurpose it. You can take bits and pieces of this content, summarize the content or expand on one idea from the content. For my videos, I use our weekly blog and summarize the high-level points. Just because I have shared the content in blog format doesn’t mean a month later I can’t reshare the content in video format.

Step 3: Write The Script For Your Video Content.

This might seem like it takes a long time but it really doesn’t. Remember you already have the original content to pull from. Every month, I ask my content writer to write scripts for a weekly video. She summarizes the previous month’s blogs and it takes her one hour to write four scripts. So if you don’t have a content writer, then you can expect to spend maybe 15-20 minutes to write your script. Remember, you only need a 2-minute video, which equates to approximately 250 words.

Step 4: Use A Video Teleprompter App To Upload Your Script.

The reason I use a script now is because it makes it so much easier to record the video. Even if you mess up a couple of times, it sure beats trying to speak off the top of your head and remember what you want to say. Currently, I use an app called BigVU.tv and they make it super simple to upload your script from a Google document and transfer it to the app on your phone. The verdict is still out on whether this is the best teleprompter app, but for now it is working relatively well. It’s easy to navigate for beginners.

Step 5: Invest In The Right Equipment And Environment To Record Your Video Content.

Believe it or not, I use an iPhone X to record all my videos. The only other piece of equipment I use is an adjustable tripod that holds my phone. This tripod can be set up on a desk or on the floor, depending on where you choose to record. If you do not have good lighting, then you will want to invest in lighting that will brighten up your space. Sometimes natural sunshine coming through the window can be the best lighting. The more light, the better. Watch for shadows on your face.

Step 6: Record Your Video.

If at all possible, choose the same day and time to record your video. Mark it down in your calendar for Monday morning at 9 AM, or Friday afternoon at 1 PM, whatever schedule works best for you. The more you can make this event habitual, the better. That way you know when you need to dress up, put on makeup, make sure your hair is fabulous, etc. Set up your equipment, make sure your video script is uploaded, and start recording. Simply read the script that is on your screen. If you mess up, BigVU lets you stop and immediately do a retake. If the script is going too slow or too fast, you can adjust the speed. Press stop when you are done.

Step 7: Add Captions To Your Video.

Captions are important. Many people are scrolling through their social media feed on silent. If you have captions on your video, then they can stop and watch the video while they read the captions. It’s not necessary for them to turn on sound, especially if they are in an environment where sound would be distracting to others. Always make sure to proofread your captions when watching your video to correct any errors.

Step 8: Style Your Video.

If you want to get super fancy, BigVU allows you to add other elements like an intro, outro, music, logo, etc. For purposes of saving time, I normally skip these elements. Once your video looks exactly like you want, simply process your video and you will have a professional video that you can download for social media, your website, your newsletter, or YouTube.

So let’s review…

Grab a piece of old content to repurpose (1-2 minutes)

Write the script for your video content (15-20 minutes)

Use a video teleprompter app to upload your script (2 minutes)

Invest in the right equipment and environment (30 minutes one time)

Record your video (10 minutes with retakes)

Style your video with captions and other elements (5 minutes)

Process and download your video for use (5 minutes)

Total Project Time to record a weekly video: 42 minutes max

Do you have that much time weekly to invest in the best type of content for sharing your personality and expertise with the world?

Want to shave off even more time from this estimate? Hire us to repurpose your content and write your scripts. Then you only have to spend 15-20 minutes to record. Want to talk about how we can take those pesky but important marketing tasks off your place?  Schedule a 30-minute free consultation to chat.