There’s no type of content better than video. On your Social Media channels, a well-made video will get more views, engagement, and click-throughs than pictures, links, and text posts. However, video is more difficult and time consuming than any other type of social media content. The time and effort are worth it, but how can you create video for your invention’s social media channels without spending hours upon hours on the project?

Create a Strategy

Start at the beginning and create a document that will guide you through the video-making process. This document will help you to plan out the entirety of your video. Your strategy should consider the following:

Goal – Why am I making this video in the first place?

Audience – Who do I want to watch this video? Who is it intended for?

Topic – What will you be discussing in the video? Be specific.

Key Takeaways – What do you want viewers to learn when they watch this video?

Call to Action – What do you want viewers to do after they have watched the video?

Write a Script

Now it’s time to take the first stab at writing a Script. Your first draft doesn’t have to be perfect. Your script and video don’t have to be fancy – they just have to fulfill your goals in a concise, meaningful, and professional way. A good script will help make this possible. It can help you get your message across while sounding and acting naturally.

Include Details – If your video includes scene changes, multiple voices, or different shots, be sure to include these details while writing the script. Specifically take note of them; don’t assume you’ll remember your ideas when it’s time to shoot the video.

Write for the Audience – Think of your audience. Write conversationally – for them. How does your audience speak? Your script should imitate that. As a rule, keep your sentences short and crisp. Many short sentences are better than one long, compound sentence. Additionally, think of where you’ll post your video. Different platforms have different time limits and tend to use different tone and inflection. For example, Instagram videos are much shorter than Facebook videos and tend to be for a younger, more humorous audience.

Differentiate Features – You may make use of shots where someone is speaking into the camera and where something is happening on screen that is being narrated off screen. Having different shots like this is a great idea. However, you’ll want to call these things out in your script so you can tell what is supposed to be on screen, and when. If you want words on the screen at a certain point, put those words in bold. To indicate audio, USE CAPS LOCK. To highlight additional details or directions, use italics.

Script Every Word – You may think you can jot down some key words and phrases and wing it when the red light starts blinking, but we promise that scripting every word will save you many “takes,” no matter how much on-screen experience you have. By writing everything out, your video will be more clear and concise and will probably result in fewer re-dos.

Keep it Brief – Your audience’s attention span probably isn’t that long. Short videos are more compelling than long videos. To create a short video, write a short script. This may be difficult in your first draft, so continually edit your script, timing it to see how long the video will be. Record yourself using the audio record function on your smart phone and take note of where you can trim off unnecessary words.

Retain Script for Captions – Many social media sites report that videos tend to perform better if there are captions playing with the video. Most people who watch video on their phones only turn on the audio if they have their headphones in, but you can show your audience what you’re saying by including captions. Simply retain your script to upload when your video is complete, correcting any last-minute edits you have made.

Do a Run Through

Once you have a final draft of your script you can move onto a table read, where you practice bringing your script to life. Don’t skimp on the practice! It will help you to get more comfortable with the words you have written and it can also help you catch any last-minute changes you may have. Pay attention to any wording that sounds too stuffy and proper. It may have looked okay on paper but will sound strange to your audience’s ears.

Record

Don’t have fancy audio and video equipment? That’s okay! Many social media videos nowadays are shot on smart phones. You don’t need fancy equipment to get your point across. Record in a well-lit room away from any excess noise. Be sure to turn off fans and air conditioners and be aware of traffic noises or other background noise. Keep your lines handy as you’re shooting by utilizing a laptop or tablet as a teleprompter. If you mess up, no worries! Take a breath and start again. If you become too frustrated, take a break for a while; you want to be happy and understandable in your video. Don’t sweat it too much! Video should be fun and lighthearted. There’s no need to be too serious.

Video content can help elevate your invention’s social media strategy to the next level. Whether you’re trying to get more followers on your social media page, tell your story to your followers, get more attention for your idea, or sell your invention online, video is a great resource to show and tell what you have to say.

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