The importance of video – and top tips for getting started 

By James Benstead, MIH Solutions Senior Communications & Engagement Specialist 

 

 

It might not come as a surprise that more and more of the businesses and organisations we work with tell us they want to use video in their communications. 

 

Whether it be internally to engage staff or externally to share key messages with customers or service users, the demand for film shows no sign of slowing. Some research suggests that the average person now watches around 17 hours of online video per week, and is 52% more likely to share video content than material like social posts, product pages and blogs. 

 

It’s a great way for leaders to convey messages to the workforce quickly, easily and honestly. If you can’t afford a top-quality production, then creating effective video is not as difficult as you might think. Modern smartphones and digital cameras can do a lot of the legwork for you, while the rise of online platforms such as Teams and Zoom mean good-quality, face-to-screen footage can even be captured virtually when time, money and logistics are issues.  

 

Before you do get going, though, it is important to have a target audience in mind. From there, it will be much easier to shape a solid concept, a script and some simple key messages. With these nailed down, it’s unlikely you’ll go too far wrong. 

 

Vlogs are an incredibly powerful tool for engaging any cohort across multiple platforms, and have certainly worked well for many of our clients. If you do fancy giving these short-form videos a try, MIH’s production team has put together the following top tips to make sure you look your best on camera.  

 

Camera set-up 

  • For the most flattering shot, try to position the camera as close to eye level as possible, avoiding the dreaded ‘up the nose’ shot! 

  • Give yourself a few seconds after you start recording and before you stop, to make sure your answers are not cut off and can be edited more easily if necessary 

 

Lighting 

  • Avoid having your back to a window, as you may appear in silhouette 

  • Instead, use soft natural light from a window to illuminate your face and use a desk lamp or similar to fill in any harsh shadows if required 

 

Sound 

  • To ensure the best audio quality, try to get as close to your camera, laptop or smartphone microphone as possible. If you can invest in a microphone, this would be ideal 

  • Try to film in a smaller room, as larger ones have more of an echo. Rooms with soft furnishings can help too 

  • Try to minimise background noise 

 

Choice of location 

  • Make sure you’re somewhere quiet 

  • Try to be positioned in front of a blank, neutral, non-distracting background where possible

 

If you would like support expanding your video capabilities, take a look at our service offering or get in touch with our team.