Performing competitor research
The best place to get started when it comes to YouTube videos is to research your competition. Look at how they are using video content in their marketing strategy, then use that as inspiration as you get started with creating content. You can also find content gaps then looking for ways of filling them using your own content. If you have a look at your competitor’s content and you notice that they don’t have a video FAQ, then you can stand out from the rest and add value to your audience by having it.
Start by creating a list of your competitors, then go through their YouTube channel and content. Look at videos that are getting the most views and comments because you will know the content that your target audience is engaging with the most. See if there are any themes that you can learn from – look for patterns uniting the most popular topics and videos getting a lot of traction. This is going to help you know what resonates with the audience before investing resources in your content creation.
Performing keyword research
This is important because it will help you find the best search terms to use in your video content. You can improve the performance of your videos by adding intentional, researched search terms to the meta description and title.
Begin by making assumptions about what the audience is most likely to search for. If you are a decking company, then you can expect them to search for “how to restain a deck” or “DIY deck repair”. Go to YouTube then search for these terms. If the results are videos from your competitors, then you are on the right track. When reviewing them, see whether they have a lot of views and answer the questions well. You will start to notice areas that you can improve and rank higher than the current videos. There are online keyword tools you can use in researching and performing more sophisticated research.
When incorporating search terms, including a written copy of your video transcript on the video description because it is going to increase your chances of appearing at the top of the search results. Video SEO is an important part of the process, take advantage of it.
Creating a cohesive tone
Movies are usually categorized into genres, and there is a reason for that. Imagine you are watching a horror movie and you are looking forward to the next blood-curdling moment, but then the movie takes a comedic turn. You are not going to be impressed and thrilled by this because that is not what you were expecting. This kills the mood. This is the same thing that happens with market videos.
When you are in the process of planning for the video, you should make sure you think about the overall mood of the video you are creating, and how the different video elements – lighting, music, color composition, and voice over – are going to come together and create a mood that reflects your brand. Outsource YouTube video editing for the best quality videos. You should ensure the tone of the video is consistent throughout and should always be reflective of the overall goal. A good place to get started is by making a list of words that are going to guide you through the process; maybe you are looking to create a video that is inspiring and motivational, or one that is high-octane and fast-paced, or even one that is serious and tear-jerking. Whatever direction you decide to go to, make sure you have established it before collecting footage because that is going to dictate the mood of the video.
Scouting a location
If you are filming on location, this could be your home or office, location becomes an easy task. You just have to set up the camera in different places. You need to find the best spots for the shoot; when previewing the options, make sure you look at the background of the shots and the lighting because it is going to have a big impact on the quality of shots you get.
If you are shooting it off-site, then make sure you give yourself enough time to find the best location. You should consider if you are going to need an electricity setup, but this usually depends on your equipment setup. You have to consider how natural light is going to affect the shot at that time of day, and if the location is crowded. When scouting, do it on the day of the week and the time of the day you want to shoot so you can learn as much as possible about the location. If you want to shoot at a local park, it might be best to do it during school hours so you don’t have to deal with a lot of people inside the park. There are some locations that will require a permit to shoot in, make sure you research then ask for permission before using the location.
Writing a script and creating a storyboard
You most likely don’t want to get to the location and have no idea how the end of the video is going to look like. You can avoid this simple problem by creating a script and a storyboard before you start capturing your footage. Write a script first. The script is going to include any dialogue, or voiceover layered on top during post-production. The script needs to be simple and sentences should be short. When a person reads a long and complex sentence, they can go back and re-read it. It is hard for people to rewind the video to listen again. Make sure your message is clear, simple, and concise because you only have one shot to make a lasting impression also know about Which Legendary Actress has Lost the Best Actress Oscar a Whopping 18 times ?.
After you are done with the script, create a storyboard. This is an overview of your video and looks like a comic book. This is going to outline how the different shots are going to come together to tell a story. You can use software like Storyboarder to do this. Some prefer sketching out their ideas. This process should not take a lot of time and resources, the goal is to make sure you have an overview of the content and the flow of the video so it can tell the story well.
You have to write the script and a storyboard before you start shooting so that your team has a shared vision.
