12 ways to avoid the pitfalls of making a video for you or your business…

I used to run a Video production company and I learnt many things. Now my coaching clients ask me for advice on how they can make and use a talking-to-camera video on LinkedIn and other platforms. They can be extremely powerful and they can be very poor and not engaging.

If you haven't tried it yet or you have made some and want to get more views and interest, here's some easy ways to make your videos even more successful through tried and tested methods. My 12 recommendations in no particular order, they’re all important.

1. Be authentic. Talk to people, think of the camera as a person. Do not read a script.

2. Smile, relax and remember to breathe throughout.

3. Make sure the camera is at your eye level, never talk down to the camera, the audience will notice and not like it.

4. Humour is good if, in keeping with the message, it will get lots more views.

5. Tell a story, not a ream of facts. Make it interesting and relevant. Remember, 90% of people like stories and will remember them far more than stats (see what I did there?)

6. Start with something punchy! Get their attention otherwise they’re off, pretty damn quick.

7. Remember who you are talking to, your audience, stick to the point.

8. Keep it short and punchy, under a minute is good. People have short attention spans and are short of time.

9. Homemade videos on your phone are is fine, in fact they can be great and authentic, but make sure you can be heard and seen clearly. I recommend a standard lapel microphone; around £15 will get you a good one.

10. Around 70% watch business videos with low or no sound. Use subtitles, there is lots of software out there to help you do this. Check the subtitles are correct before you post the video.

11. Ensure your background isn’t more interesting than you

12. Wear suitable clothes that reflect you and the subject matter, and do not clash with your background.

Get going now and other motivational phrases

Be serious about it, and do it before and better than your competition.