Creating video content isn’t just about hitting record—it’s about telling a story that aligns with your brand’s goals and resonates with your audience. From planning topics and choosing formats to nailing your filming and editing techniques, every detail counts.
And if you’re ready to take it up a notch, video AI tools can help you streamline the process. Whether it’s a quick social media clip or an in-depth tutorial, this guide covers everything you need to make your videos stand out, feel authentic, and deliver results.
Don’t miss our first blog, Video Content Mastery for Social Media Success: A Comprehensive Guide where we outlined how to harness the power of video for your business.
How to Create Video Content: From Planning to Uploading
Creating video content involves more than just hitting record. It’s about storytelling, planning, and paying attention to every little detail to ensure your videos are polished and professional.
1. Planning Your Video Topics and Formats
Plan ahead with a content calendar. Outline when and where your videos will be posted to maintain consistency and align with broader marketing initiatives.
When planning your video content, think about your goals and define them for each video—whether it’s to build brand awareness or drive traffic. Your objectives will guide every decision you make about your video content.
Consider the format when planning. Tutorials are ideal for educational content, while behind-the-scenes footage can build trust and rapport. You are the brand, so let your personality shine through in whichever format you choose.
2. Scripting and Storyboarding
You need to consider your audience, and message for each video. What story do you want to tell? Are you informing, entertaining, or inspiring your viewers? Knowing what you’re going to say is affected by who you’re speaking to.
To truly drive views, it’s essential to understand what your audience is looking for.
Educational content typically appeals to professional audiences, while entertainment-driven videos engage casual viewers. Tailor your approach to fit your target demographic’s preferences, and always keep their needs in mind.
While short-form content might not need a script, longer videos can benefit from a structured approach. Similar to preparing a speech, scripting ensures your message is clear and cohesive, while a storyboard helps map out visual elements. This step is crucial to maintaining a smooth flow and engaging narrative.
Tip: Keep it short and sweet. We recommend filming a video roughly 1-1.5 minutes to optimize its efficiency across your platforms. The best video content is content that is not over-scripted and instead sounds like you’re talking to a friend over coffee.
3. Filming and Editing Techniques
Lights, camera, action! Good video quality relies on more than just equipment; authenticity is key. Your videos don’t need to be professionally filmed and edited in order to resonate with your audience. In fact, it comes across more authentically if they aren’t. You don’t need to worry about having a studio setup and a mic, but keep the following in mind:
- Maintain good posture. Something a “normal” stance can look distorted on camera. We find people look best when they are leaning forward slighting, especially when looking directly into the camera.
- Move! You don’t want to look stiff or uncomfortable, so move your head, hands, and body when applicable.
- Wear solid colors (and certain colors): Patterns that look great in person can be distorted on camera, so try to stick with solid colors. Bright or neon colors can look jarring, and on the flip side pastels can make you look washed out.
- Flip on a few lights. You do not need a ring light setup. However, ensure your light source is in front of you and you can see your face clearly. Position yourself in front of a window—natural light works well for video lighting.
- Make sure you are getting good audio. Do a test run and make sure your voice is clear and there aren’t distracting background noises.
- Position your camera just below eye level for the most conversational-looking frame. It’s preferable to use the back-facing camera rather than the front-facing camera.Yet, if you use the front camera, look at the camera itself—not at yourself on the screen.
For editing, platforms like Adobe Premiere Pro or even mobile apps like iMovie can help you create a polished final product. If you’re not comfortable with these, no problem! You can use tools such as Canva or the editing tools within the social platforms that are more beginner friendly.
4. Incorporating Branding Elements
Consistency is essential to building a recognizable brand. Use your brand colors, logo, and fonts to reinforce your identity. Think about incorporating branded intros, outros, or watermarks to give your videos that professional edge. Aligning these visual elements with your brand ensures your videos are both cohesive and memorable.
Practical Tips for Filming Your Video
- Switch your phone to airplane mode to avoid disruptions.
- Keep it stable. Use both hands, a selfie stick, portable tripod or lean it against something solid without the possibility of falling.
- If shooting multiple videos at a time, change up your surroundings/attire for each video.
- Do not zoom on your camera, this reduces the quality of the video. Instead, move your phone closer to you.
The Rise of AI-Generated Video Content: Efficiency Meets Innovation
AI is changing the game in video content creation, adding speed, scalability, and even a hint of creative magic. With AI, it’s now possible to generate videos in record time, simplifying processes that used to take hours—or even days—of manual effort. Whether you’re creating videos for marketing, education, or internal training, AI tools can help streamline the process. This gives you more time to focus on strategy and creativity.
What is AI-Generated Video Content?
AI-generated video content involves the use of artificial intelligence to automate different aspects of video production, from editing to voiceovers and even scripting. Think of it as having a virtual assistant that handles repetitive tasks, enabling you to focus on the bigger picture.
Several top tools are paving the way in AI video creation:
Synthesia: With Synthesia, you can create videos featuring digital avatars that speak over 120 languages. Imagine creating a training video in English and instantly converting it into multiple languages with no need for on-camera talent.
Lumen5: This platform is ideal for turning written content into videos, making it a favorite for content marketers. Lumen5 can take a blog post, article, or even a press release and transform it into a visually appealing video. The tool automatically selects images, video clips, and animations to match the text, allowing you to easily repurpose existing content.
Pictory: Pictory excels at helping you repurpose long-form videos into short, shareable clips. It’s great for summarizing webinars, turning YouTube videos into social media content, or simply creating highlight reels. With captions and voiceovers generated by AI, Pictory can make sure your content is engaging and accessible.
Benefits and Limitations of AI-Generated Content
AI video tools offer some exciting benefits, but they come with trade-offs. Here’s what to consider:
- Speed and Efficiency: AI can significantly cut down on production time, allowing you to produce video content on a scale that wouldn’t be possible manually. It can handle time-consuming tasks like voiceovers, translations, and basic edits, which means you can create more videos in less time.
- Cost-Effectiveness: With AI, there’s less need for expensive equipment or large production teams, which opens up video marketing to businesses of all sizes. It’s especially valuable for brands that want to experiment with video without a hefty investment.
- Consistency and Customization: AI tools like Synthesia allow you to create digital avatars that represent your brand, keeping a consistent feel across all your videos. You can tweak these avatars to align with your brand, creating a polished, cohesive presence that reflects your identity.
However, AI-generated video isn’t without its limitations:
- Lack of Human Touch: AI can’t quite replicate the nuances of human emotion or creativity. While it’s great for producing functional, informative videos, it might fall short if you’re aiming for something truly personal or emotive.
- Creative Constraints: Many AI video tools rely on pre-set templates and styles, which can limit the flexibility you have in crafting unique content. If you’re looking to push the creative envelope, AI might feel restrictive.
Ethical Considerations
Transparency is essential with AI-generated content. Disclosing AI’s involvement helps maintain trust and ensures that viewers understand what they’re watching. This is especially crucial when digital avatars or synthesized voices are involved, as they can sometimes appear deceptively real.
Be mindful of using AI ethically. Avoid infringing on intellectual property rights and ensure that generated visuals or voices don’t impersonate real individuals without their permission.
AI-generated video content offers incredible potential for scalability and efficiency. Tools like Synthesia, Lumen5, and Pictory can support and speed up your video marketing efforts. But it’s important to remember that AI should complement—not replace—the personal touch that only a human creator can bring. Use AI to amplify your creativity and reach, while staying true to the authentic, human elements that make your brand unique.
Conclusion: Bringing Your Brand to Life with Video
Video content is your secret weapon for grabbing attention, boosting engagement, and building trust. When you combine a well-thought-out plan with your brand’s unique personality, and sprinkle in the efficiency of AI tools, you’ve got a winning formula.
AI can help you scale, but don’t forget—it’s your creativity, authenticity, and personal touch that will make your videos truly shine. Embrace both innovation and the human side of storytelling, and you’ll elevate your video game to a whole new level. Ready to elevate your personal brand presence? Connect with our team for a complimentary consultation today.