In this article, I’ll be taking you through the various video types that you can create easily, quickly and simply
No surprises, the ‘video ninja’ is talking about videos again. Why? Because I’m mad about them and the serious impact they can have on your businesses! So when I mention the videos that ‘you’ can create, I mean YOU! They are simple, not time-consuming, and best of all, effective! This isn’t about the content (that needs to come from a place of genuineness and authenticity) but rather, the ways you can show the world that content.
I don’t want to spend all of this Top Tip explaining why YouTube is such a valuable asset to a professional or their business. YouTube is the world’s second largest search engine, and you can learn literally anything you want, consume the kind of content that you want, and there aren’t enough professionals in my view on YouTube providing some kind of value. Is that where you can come in?
If you are wondering how you can really leverage YouTube, think of it this way…. If someone is looking to buy a car, people are moving away from going to traditional review sites. Instead, they want to hear from people who have experience with that car, and I can guarantee you that there will be a video on YouTube offering advice about that car. So why not start offering insight into the things that you deal with as a professional? They don’t have to encroach on any kind of legislation or compliance requirements, they can be simple tips on where to save money, or how to set up an ABN for a business, or…. you get the picture.
So the last time I wrote to you, I gave you some ideas into how you might approach creating videos by looking at collaborating with others, specifically on YouTube. I myself have begun to do this (shameless plug for my YouTube channel), inviting others to come and watch a film… or three with me. It got me thinking. I know of YouTube channels that are all about vlogs, gaming walkthroughs, film reviews, original drama, sketch comedy, animations, how-to’s but thought that a summary could be really helpful to those who are new to making videos.
So here are the types of videos that you can make, with a very basic knowledge of video production. You may find one category that you feel suits your message or your persona, or you might like to experiment with a few (like I am) to find the ones that you like to use the most. But whatever you do, just try something! Get onto this impressive social media community and don’t make me write about YouTube again (shake fist)…
Video Types:
Vlogging (Video Log) – This is something I’ve written about previously, as an alternative or companion to blogging. A vlog is very much a ‘dear diary’, but meant for public eyes. At its most basic, it involves you talking to a camera. That’s it! Many people vlog about their lives, their hobbies or even the last round of golf they played. If you wanted to keep it away from the personal, then that’s ok, you can vlog about something you’ve experienced recently at work (just make sure that you are your authentic & genuine self!). You may think it is trivial, but people truly like to learn about other people, and there are YouTube vloggers who make a living talking about themselves. Seriously.
For some vlogging inspiration, check out Natalie Tran AKA CommunityChannel. Natalie started vlogging in 2006 and has found success with over 1.5 million subscribers. She’s really funny and adds a bit of sketch comedy into her vlogs, but that’s just her style, you don’t have to do that.
Presentation Vid – This could cover a few things, but again at its most basic is you providing a viewer with some good ol’ education and learning. Many people shy away from presenting via video unless they can reach a ‘professional’ standard, but honestly, don’t let that stop you! In this type of video can use things like pictures, screenshots or other types of visual aids to help build on the information you are giving.
VSauce, a YouTube channel that answers Science’s crazy questions by video presentation (for example, what would happen to the Earth if everyone jumped at the same time?). With a camera (often a smartphone) and rarely an external microphone, Vsauce has amassed nearly 8 million subscribers)
The ‘Show’ – This is an approach that focuses on the entertainment factor that you might gain from the types of current affairs/entertainment/news shows found on TV. They can be smart, funny, ‘tongue-in-cheek’, or they can raise discussion and conversation which a viewer may learn from.
These can range in production value, and there are even YouTube channels who deliver daily news segments with big constructed sets. But it doesn’t have to be hard, it just takes a little bit of thinking to create a set or location that is consistent to give your show a ‘look’.
Rhett McLaughlin & Link Neal (collectively known as Rhett & Link) host a daily show called Good Mythical Morning. It consists of the pair of them talking to the camera in what could easily be your Grandfather’s garage. They embody the set as part of the culture of the show, and every single time the camera and microphone is in exactly the same place.
Imagine hosting a panel with your peers to have a chat about…. well, anything you want really!
The Interview – This is providing the viewer insight into a particular topic via a conversation. Whether you wanted to traditional ‘talking head interview’, with the subject placed across from you and the camera trained on them, or you wanted a ‘two shot’ (yep, that’s two of you on camera), this type of video is popular because the viewer gets to observe the interview, rather than be ‘talked to’ which happens with the other approaches.
All that you’d need is a nice quiet location, your camera and an extra microphone (but only if you wanted your audio captured as well).
If you want a great example of this setup, have a look over ‘Film Courage’. This is a channel focused solely on insight from filmmakers, producers and screenwriters about movies in America. You might not be interested in filmmaking, but the team simply take a camera, microphone, and head to the subject’s home or office. Easy!
The How-To/Tutorial – This is the most popular form of content on YouTube. In it, the presenter takes the audience through a specific process. It is often skills based so that at the end of the video you know just how to tie your shoelaces, or whatever it is that you want to learn about!
Keeping it at its most basic, it is like a presentation video with close-up shots of the specifics involved in the process being discussed. So if it were a how-to about applying for a loan, you’ll need shots of forms, shots of checklists, anything related to that process. This way you can keep it as engaging as filling out a form can be (which if done right can be a hugely entertaining video).
Household Hacker is one of the most popular YouTube channels in the ‘how-to’ category. They make videos about just about anything really that will provide a simple solution to a problem. Note how they show everything that they are talking about. This might sound simple, but many people just talk about what you need to do and don’t show it.
So what video will you make?
As you can see, there are a range of video types, and each one may have a different use for you or may be of no use at all. But before you dive headfirst into making videos, it’s definitely important to know what you can do with the gear you have.
I’ve said it before, and I will say it again, you don’t have to have the best camera, there are ways to get great content with what you have whether you are an amateur photographer with a DSLR that also records video, have an old handycam lying around from your last holiday, or you only have your smartphone.
My final thought is that creating videos is actually less about the content and more about YOU. Whatever genre of video you create, the viewer is getting a sense of who you are. This isn’t another platform to tell the viewer how many years experience you have or the qualifications you have earned; this is a chance to communicate with people that you may otherwise never have met. If you think ‘well what’s the use, they’d probably not engage my services anyway’, then I’d say that the point is to show the audience that you like to help, that you are as passionate as ever about what you do, and that you want to affect change in people’s lives. And isn’t that what you want to do?
Thanks for reading, I’m now off to YouTube to search for some info about claiming equipment expenses back on my tax return this year. Am I going to find your video explaining this?…