Video Editing and Creation: 9 Tips for Getting Started
In 2022, over 3 billion internet users watched streaming or downloaded video at least once a month. If you’re looking to produce video content to engage your audience and boost brand awareness, you’re definitely on the right track.
So, you have an idea for an epic video but don’t know where to start. The below best practices should set you up for success.
1. Choose the Right Format
Once you choose the right format for your video, everything else should fall into place. Before making a decision, you want to consider your goal, audience, and the platform where you’ll share your video.
The different video formats to consider are:
- Stories: Short, interactive videos that help create a personal connection with your audience.
- Horizontal: Require users to rotate their phones or watch in a smaller window.
- Vertical: Great for full-screen viewing and immersive experiences.
- Square: More versatile, can fit in different feeds or layouts.
2. Start With a Script and Storyboard
Before pulling out your phone, create a blueprint for your video. This will outline what you aim to achieve for your video, how you plan to do it, and what your video should include. Create a script for your video. If you plan to have someone talking, your script will help you define what you want them to say.
Outline other crucial aspects of your shoot, such as location(s), shot list, characters, scenes, and more. Then, create a storyboard to visualize your story. This involves planning the look of your scene before it goes into production.
With AI script writers, mobile directing apps, and storyboarding apps, you can make the entire planning process easier and faster.
3. Choose the Right Location for Optimal Video and Audio Quality
As you plan your video, you may have already chosen a location for your video. It should have good lighting.This is key because phones aren’t the best at shooting footage in low light. If you feel like you need extra lighting, consider using ring lights to ensure your subject is well-illuminated and easily visible.
Another important aspect of choosing the right location is audio quality. Is the location you chose quiet and free of noise distractions? If so, then you’ll be able to capture clear audio and keep your viewers engaged.
4. Shoot Your Video to Perfection
Now that you have everything planned out, it’s time to start recording.
Follow these best practices to achieve a smooth, professional-quality result.
- Prepare for the shoot. Gather everything you need, including your props, gear, and script. Make sure your actors and shooting locations are ready to go. Also, ensure your phone has enough available memory to store your footage.
- Keep your phone steady while recording. Use both hands when shooting to prevent your video from becoming distorted or blurred. Try to hold your phone as close as possible to your body. You can use a stabilizer and tripod to keep your phone still while recording to prevent your hands and arms from getting tired.
- Make sure your audio is high-quality. A video without quality audio is pretty much useless. The built-in microphone in some smartphones is often of low quality.
For this reason, it may be best to record indoors to avoid catching wind and unnecessary environmental noise. Or, you can use a separate microphone to reduce unwanted sounds. - Get close to your subject. Stay physically closer to your subject to ensure better video quality and less visual noise.
- Check the focus of your camera. Use the autofocus feature on your smartphone to ensure your subject is sharp and clear.
- Shoot at the highest resolution available on your smartphone. This will ensure the highest quality possible. Remember that you’ll use more storage space to record at higher resolutions, like 4K.
- Use a teleprompter to help with script reading. A free online teleprompter can help your subject relax and confidently deliver their lines from the script without worrying about forgetting words.
- Don’t go too long. According to HubSpot, your video should be no longer than 2 minutes. Of course, your footage may be longer than this, but when you begin editing, you can cut unnecessary footage to keep your video as short as possible.
5. Use a Video Editing Tool To Make Your Shots Pop
There are many third-party online video editors that provide advanced features beyond what the camera app on your smartphone can offer.
From adding special effects to implementing automatic captioning and transcription, the possibilities are endless.
Play around with different video editing apps to see what you like best. The many features you’ll find include:
- Add custom text, titles, graphics, and overlays
- Changing playback speed for different clips
- Adding music, voiceover, or sound effects
- Color correction and grading
- Adjusting audio levels
- Cutting or trimming
- Adding transitions
Transitions play a big part in video editing. They allow you to create more seamless shots and avoid choppy results.
Take, for instance, StudioSuits, which is known for its wide range of men’s tweed suits and pants. Its social media Reels and Stories are the results of effective video editing.
The brand creates compelling videos by prioritizing a clean, uncluttered visual narrative and seamlessly transitioning focus across different elements of their suits.
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These videos are easy to create on mobile devices but need creative thinking to balance simplicity and showcasing product details.
6. Take Advantage of the Latest Technologies
Yes, there’s more to improving videos than using video editing software.
AI text-to-speech features that can really improve your video content are a perfect example.
This technology allows you to generate clear, natural-sounding voiceovers directly from your script, saving time and resources on recording.
It’s ideal for creators who may not have access to professional voice actors or recording equipment.
Simply input your written content into an AI text-to-speech tool, choose a voice style that fits your video, and integrate the audio seamlessly.
And voila. You’ve added a professional touch to your videos while guaranteeing voice quality consistency across your different projects.
7. Use Trending Instagram and TikTok Templates
To make your videos more engaging, consider using Instagram and TikTok formats.
This strategy can work pretty well for businesses in industries with complicated products or services.
For example, keeping your target audience interested and engaged might be challenging if your content is on a technical topic.
Tailor Brands solved this problem by using the trending Instagram and TikTok video templates and posting fun content on its social media channels.
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So, prioritizing vertical video formats, using music and sound effects, and incorporating text and captions will make your videos look great on mobile devices and social media platforms and delight your target audience, because they look like videos posted by Instagram influencers.
Sometimes, the secret behind success is simple mobile video creation that doesn’t require specific skills. And remember, videos you create with your mobile device don’t need to be extremely high-quality and super sophisticated to reach a wide audience.
8. Think Outside the Box
Doing something different in your videos that your audience hasn’t seen with other brands is a great way to grab attention.
When we say think outside the box, we mean:
- Keeping viewers on the edge of their seats by incorporating unexpected twists or surprise endings.
- Encourage your audience to contribute to your video content by submitting their own video clips.
- Telling your story in an unconventional way.
- Experimenting with unique camera angles.
Thinking outside the box is crucial for brands that sell products that are difficult to explain or illustrate just using text.
For example, wellness company Hims & Hers makes videos about hair loss and Finasteride interesting by illustrating key points.
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9. Measure Your Video’s Results
There’s really no point in putting out any type of content if you don’t measure your results.
Mobile analytics data can help you determine how your audience engages with your videos. For example, you’ll see how many people clicked on your link, whether they finished the entire video or more.
Analyzing these metrics can help you better understand what resonates with audiences.
That way, you can make data-driven adjustments in your video strategies to:
- Elevate the success of your mobile video campaigns
- Enhance the user experience
- Optimize performance
Step Up Your Content Game with Mobile Video Editing
Creating high-quality mobile videos is all about planning.
No, you don't need Adobe Premiere Pro or crazy video effects and advanced tools to produce a video that goes viral. However, you might need the right location, lighting, camera resolution, and audio quality (read: aspect ratio) to produce a great video.
But it’s the script that ensures everything goes smoothly. For your next mobile video project, use an AI script writer from BIGVU to create a well-written video script in minutes.
About the author:
Shane Barker is a digital marketing consultant, Amazon expert, and E-commerce strategist. He is the founder of Tracefuse and the CEO of Shane Barker Consulting Agency. He has consulted with Fortune 500 companies, influencers with digital products, and a number of A-list celebrities.