Ten Ways to
Increase Your Video
Engagement
How to maximize your videos on social media.
Video Facts
Why Video? Because People Don’t Read — They Watch.
85% of consumers say video helps them decide what to buy
Websites with video convert up to 80% more
Social posts with video get 12x more shares
And your competitor knows it. Time to level up.
Ten Tips When Making Video for Marketing that don’t suck.
Think in “Micro Moments,” Not Just Longform
Don’t just focus on your main 60–90 second video. Plan ahead for shorter “micro” videos that live inside the larger shoot. Think: testimonials, product teases, customer questions, or one bold statement about your value. These shorter pieces work better in Stories, Reels, and ads.
Before the shoot, map out 4–6 moments that can stand alone. A good videographer can flag and isolate them during filming — which turns one shoot into a month of content.
That buzzing espresso machine, the sound of your scissors, the soft chatter in your showroom — these sounds make your video feel authentic. Even just a few seconds of natural audio can layer richness into your visuals. Think of it as “texture” for your brand story.
Record 30–60 seconds of ambient sound at each location. Even if unused in the final cut, it gives your editor options to make the piece feel alive and grounded. They call this “room tone” in the business.
Use Real Audio from Your Workspace
Yes, know what you need to say, but don’t over-polish it. Practice your points, then talk to the camera like you’re explaining it to a real customer. That’s when authenticity shines through.
Highlight 3 core points you must say, and rehearse the rest in your own tone. Use bullet points instead of full paragraphs. This will keep you natural and on-brand.
Write a Script, Then Toss Half of It
Keep the Thumbnail in Mind
Your thumbnail or first frame determines whether someone even watches. Design it: a striking visual, an emotional facial expression, or an odd moment that sparks curiosity. Think of it like a billboard for your video. You can certainly pull it from a frame, but be aware as you shoot.
Shoot Vertically and Horizontally
You’re not just making one video anymore, you’re feeding a at least three formats. Filming both 16:9 and 9:16 gives you options for YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram, all from the same content.
Use a tripod mount that allows easy rotation or dual capture. Frame each shot with the subject centered to make cropping easier later. Alternatively, you can shoot landscape, 4k, with enough space to allow for cropping.
Plan for the Hook, Visually
Forget intros. Your hook is the first 3 seconds, and it should demand attention. Motion, conflict, or curiosity wins. Show the “after” before the “before,” tease the transformation, or start mid-action. Think about your own scrolling habits. What do you stop at? Think about that as you plan for the initial hook.
Use Motion to Guide the Eye
Intentional camera movement (like pans or push-ins), keep viewers engaged. Some of these camera movements can be achieved by sliding your phone across a table or using a stabilizer to move around your subject or product. Sliders (professionals use them) can be used to achieve smooth camera movements but require a bit more expertise.
Batch Film Like You're Building a Content Library, Not Just a One Off
One of the biggest mistakes businesses make is treating every video like a standalone project. The pros don’t do that, they shoot in batches. That means planning one dedicated filming session to capture enough content for a week, a month, or even a full quarter.
Instead of thinking “What video do I need today?”, ask: What videos will I need over the next 30–60 days? Then outline them in advance, product demos, FAQs, testimonials, behind-the-scenes clips, even seasonal greetings, and film them all at once.
This will save you money and give you more content.
Pair Voice Over with Captions for a More Impact
Most businesses choose either voice-over or captions, but the real power comes from using both strategically. A strong voice-over draws your audience in emotionally and gives your brand a human sound. Captions, on the other hand, make your message accessible, skimmable, and effective without sound.
When you combine the two, your video becomes more persuasive.
Nothing builds trust like a real customer sharing their experience. A short, sincere testimonial, even filmed casually, can outperform highly produced videos in terms of conversion. It humanizes your brand and proves your value in a way you can’t say yourself. Have them film themselves and send you the file. It’s easier for them and less threatening.
Testimonials remove friction and close the credibility gap.
Let Your Customer Do the Talking
Bonus Tip
If your budget is tight and you already have some assets related to your product or service, you can create video content using your resources, supplemented with stock footage, AI voice-over, and stock graphics. You can’t skip the planning stages, but these types of videos can be produced fairly quickly and, when done right, can be effective.
What I Do for Businesses:
30–60 second promo or explainer videos
Story-driven, sales-focused editing
Custom script (or help refining your message)
Your brand, your voice — elevated
Optional: on-location shooting, voice-over, or stock options
Make it
stand out.
Maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
SAMPLES
Product Promo
Who doesn’t love a good yogurt topped with these delicious toppings?
Sample for Restaurant
Hutch is a fantastic place in Chicago that needed a video for its website's home page. The video lifted its image and helped customers see what the restaurant's vibe is like.
Custom Home Builder
This luxury home builder wanted to showcase satisfied customers as well as feature their beautiful work.
The Finest and Priciest Steak in the World
This video was created to promote the brand across both social media and the web. Note how the voiceover is of utmost importance here.
FAQ
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I have created work for major brands, including Coke, Dole, Fresh Express, Blue Bunny, Kings Hawaiian and many smaller brands you may not have heard of. The point of that list is not to imply that I only work with big brands, but to demonstrate that I have been trusted to work on projects for large companies.
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The list is long but includes building trust, showing you are real, connecting better with your target customers just to name a few.
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In some cases, yes. If it’s a larger production, I hire the freelance crew members I need. However, this approach keeps the costs down for you because I don’t have them on my payroll. Moreover, many productions can be executed with far fewer people than in previous years. Technology has made cameras smaller, lighter, and easier to operate. The same applies to lighting and support equipment.
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Good question! Of course, the answer is that it depends. We can create social posts using still images and stock footage if you’re on a tight budget. AI tools have enabled the production of more content at a lower cost. If you have a bit more to invest in your media, we can shoot original footage. Some businesses perform better with captured video, while others can effectively utilize stock footage.
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Filming on location vs mostly stock footage
Number of locations
Number of interviews
Type of video, ie, short form, branding film, commercial, etc.
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When you work with me, you are hiring myself and any crew I need for support. On smaller projects, it’s just me which keeps the cost down.
Wait, you’re thinking, this may work for me and I MAY want you to do work for me, but I don’t know you.
Well… to be fair, I don’t know you either. But you can definitely check out my LinkedIn profile to see that I’m real. Yes, I also started another company called Voice Dragons. Type A personality.
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