How to make videos using a smartphone

Video is an important marketing tool for businesses, with consumers increasingly demanding information in an easy to digest format that they can view at any time. However, many small brands have held back from adding video to their marketing plans because of a common misconception that it is expensive and difficult to make. The good news is that it isn’t.

It’s possible to create professional-looking marketing and social media videos using a smartphone, a few additional pieces of low-cost tech, and some simple rules.

Here’s what you need to know about making smartphone videos for your business:

What tech do you need to make a smartphone video?

In addition to your smartphone, the essentials you will need are a tripod and a microphone. These can both be bought for as little £30 from Amazon.

The tripod doesn’t need to have telescopic steadies; it can have shorter legs that you can use to position it on a raised surface. The aim is to make sure your camera does not move around during filming, as even a steady hand will create a wobble in the footage.

If someone is speaking in your video, a simple lapel microphone will ensure you capture more of what they are saying than background noise.

If you want your videos to have a professional feel you can buy a monthly subscription to an audio library, like Epidemic Sound. This gives you access to background music and sound effects suitable for all kinds of video footage.

Tips for shooting video with a smartphone

Once you have your equipment ready, there are some simple things you can do to make your videos look professional:

• Put together a plan of what you are going to film before you start. List what needs to be said or shot in the video.
• Think about lighting. Video filmed outside will be sharpest. However, if the sun is in someone’s face they will squint and look uncomfortable.
• Check there’s nothing distracting in the background before you start filming.
• Orientate your camera horizontally. Vertical footage only works for Instagram TV and Instagram Stories.
• Don’t use the zoom on your camera – this reduces the quality of your footage. Move towards your subject when you want a close-up.
• Get B-roll footage. This is additional shots that relate to your video’s subject. You can use this in cutaways from your main subject.

Smartphone video production tips

Once you have your video clips, you’re not far away from having that professional-looking video for your business. Here’s what to do next:

• There are various smartphone apps available that allow you to edit video on the go. If you have more time then check out desktop video editing software like Adobe Premiere Pro and iMovie, which can offer more features.
• Edit your video so it is short and snappy. 30 seconds is great for social media as viewers’ attention spans are short. 1-5 minutes is ideal for YouTube.
• If someone is speaking in your video add subtitles to make it accessible to all.

Once you have created your smartphone video don’t forget to maximise the return on your efforts by sharing it on your website, social media and YouTube channel. We also have tips on how to optimise YouTube videos so they can be easily found by people interested in businesses like yours.

If you’d like more advice on making videos using a smartphone or other digital marketing content that will help you win new business then get in touch with us. Amplify PR is a Southampton PR and content marketing agency that also offers video marketing services if you’d prefer to hand over to a professional videographer.