Online video is booming and having a video available on your website that explains who you are and the benefits of using your products and services is a great marketing tactic.

But, when it comes to getting the video created, where do you draw the line between creating the video yourself and working with a professional?

Upsides of making an online video yourself:

We have the technology.

Videos can easily be created via your mobile phone or laptop and then uploaded to YouTube for sharing with the world.  And you can edit movies yourself using a program like iMovie that comes with a Mac.

Cost savings.

By doing it yourself, you avoid the need to spend precious marketing budget.

Tips for making your videos:

1. Decide what the objectives of the video are and ensure that you include a Call to Action
2. Shoot plenty of footage so that you can edit the best bits together
3. If you’re not using a web cam, always put the camera on a tripod (to avoid the shaky hand effect)
4. Use a dark background
5. Maximise the natural light and turn on all lights in the room
6. Don’t video a person standing next to a window
7. Have a look at what you’re wearing in case you’re accidentally promoting a brand other than your own.

Downsides of making the video yourself:

Lack of Professionalism. 

An amateurish video can do your brand more harm than good.  If the video looks cheap then your brand can look cheap.

• Do you have the skills to edit the video to include the key parts and cut out any parts that don’t add value?
  
• Can you add your logo, website address and Call to Action to the video to maximise the marketing impact?  How about adding background music?

The project can become a big time suck!

Depending upon how often you make videos and how familiar you are with the technology needed to edit and upload them, getting your video to the point where it reflects the image that you’re after can take way longer than you expect.  Especially, if you don’t want to compromise on the quality.

If you make your own videos frequently and you’re pretty tech savvy, these two issues probably won’t be a problem.  Otherwise, consider working with a video production professional.

And if you’re nervous or uncomfortable about appearing in the video, read an article on Top 5 Mistakes When Presenting in an Online Video and How to Avoid Them

What is your experience of creating online videos yourself, versus working with a professional?

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