Using Video for Social Media

By Bonnie Capell, ETC Business Advisor

Video posts are dominating social media, with Facebook emerging as YouTube’s largest contender for video uploads. If you haven’t started marketing with video on Facebook, now’s the time to begin.

There is a huge reach in industries across the board. You don’t need to be a professional videographer to capitalise on this either – all you need to get started is a smart phone and some good lighting

Why should businesses should be producing video? It’s simple. Video is one of the most persuasive ways of reaching your customer base. Research indicates that customers who view product video are 85% more likely to buy than people who don’t view videos.” That’s a huge boost that some small businesses are already capitalising on and it’s time for you to learn how you can do it too.

The equipment you’ll need is minimal. 

Most smart phones can shoot 1080p and pick up surprisingly good audio. Plus, it can upload your video and share it anywhere on the internet.

You will need something very sturdy to hold your phone while you’re shooting. Even though your phone does have an auto-stabilizer built into it, having something that is not going to wobble improves the overall quality of your video immensely. This can be especially important when shooting close-up shots for a product video.

The Basics

1. Always use your phone in its horizontal mode. Vertical video is fine if you only want people to watch it from their phone on places like Vine – however shooting horizontally ensures that people on computers and TVs can still watch your videos too.
2. Set up your phone at approximately eye level and about arm’s length away from you. This will ensure your audio is picked up really well.
3. Never zoom in on your phone to shoot, as it will reduce the quality of your video.
4. If you’re using an iPhone, use the lock on feature by holding your finger down on the screen. This will make sure that it won’t readjust focus if you move slightly.

If you would like to learn more about using social media effectively in your business talk to the Business team at ETC on 1800 007 400