Read Time: 3 Minutes

In the fast-paced world of social media, businesses are constantly competing for the attention of their target audience.

But, with over 90% of businesses having it on their to-do list for this year, the real question you should be asking is “How do I stand out from the crowd and ensure I’m unique in my video approach”.

In this week’s newsletter, I’ll give you the “Swiss Army Knife” (a really generic marketing term) containing everything you’ll need along your video journey to be able to create some seriously engaging videos.

So, let’s dive in.

At the start of every great voyage, you’re going to need to equip yourself with some of the basic tools to get you on your way.

I’ve personally used all of these recommendations professionally, and for fun, in videos that my team and I here at V21 have created for clients such as:

• Numi Recruitment

• Paragon Customer Communications

• Claro 

• Huel

…and many, many more.

Here are a few that I’d personally recommend after testing these out over the last few years (Some more than others):

• Video Editing Software: To begin your creative journey, you need a solid foundation. Adobe Premiere Pro is the gold standard, but if you're looking for user-friendly alternatives, check out Kapwing.

• AI Video Tools: Artificial Intelligence is your secret weapon. Lumen5 and Wibbitz can turn your written content into engaging videos.

• Stock Footage and Images: Enhance your stories with high-quality visuals from ArtGrid, or Shutterstock.

• Lighting and Audio Equipment: Professional lighting and audio equipment, like ring lights, lavalier microphones, and shotgun mics, will elevate your production quality. I’d strongly recommend brands like Aputure, Rode, Neewer, and Nanlite.

As you dive into video production, you're bound to encounter challenges. After all, it's not just about having the right tools; it's about using them effectively.

These challenges arise as you strive for perfection and face the complexities of content creation, so here are a few personal favourites to save you when video production gets tough:

• Music and Sound Effects: Don't underestimate the power of audio. Epidemic Sound offer a big library of royalty-free music and sound effects to add that extra dimension to your videos and make them stand out online.

• Audio Editing: Great-sounding audio is essential, especially speech. But you’re going to get this wrong from time to time, and when you do, Adobe Enhance Speech will literally save your entire project.

• Scriptwriting Tools: Crafting compelling scripts is the heart of your video. Use tools like Jasper, Scrivener, and Celtx to streamline the copywriting and scripting process.

• Scheduling Tools: After you’ve created your videos, the next step is sharing them strategically. Buffer and Hootsuite are your trusted allies in planning and posting your content.

With this Swiss Army Knife of video essentials, you're now armed to create powerful social media videos. So, experiment, explore, and let your creativity shine.

…and remember, it's not just about having the tools but how you utilise them to tell your brand story.

TLDR 💁🏼‍♀️

• Use Adobe Premiere Pro for editing and AI tools.

• Enhance visuals with ArtGrid or Shutterstock, and invest in equipment from reputable brands like Aputure, Rode, Neewer, or Nanlite.

• Use Epidemic Sound and Adobe Enhance Speech for everything music and audio editing.

• For content writing and next-level content planning, use software such as Jasper, Scrivener, and Celtx to streamline the process.

• Schedule videos at the perfect time with Buffer and Hootsuite.

 Whenever you’re ready, here’s how I can help you:

1. Book a Content Power Hour with me, and let’s chat about how to make your social media videos stand out online.

2. Don’t have time to create great videos yourself? Focus on your business, whilst we focus on creating the videos that you’ve always dreamed of. Get in touch to find out more.

Until then, I’ll see you in next week’s newsletter!