How to Make Professional Videos with a Smartphone

Advisor Perspectives welcomes guest contributions. The views presented here do not necessarily represent those of Advisor Perspectives

Watch a video of Samantha discussing this topic.

With the coronavirus sweeping the globe, we are all practicing social distancing. Yet, as human beings, we are social by nature and crave community and social interaction.

I’ve been bullish on using videos as a key component of your marketing strategy for years, but there is no better time to get started or double down on using video than right now. With everyone quarantined at home, we are flocking online to stay connected.

Video is powerful because it allows you to see someone’s face, hear their voice, and pick up on all the non-verbal communication cues you otherwise miss.

It was reported that one-third of all online activity was spent watching video (and that was before the COVID-19 outbreak – I’m sure those numbers are way higher over the last few weeks).

There is a general perception that expensive equipment and expertise are required to create successful video content, but that is simply not true. Here are three simple steps to create professional-looking videos. This is the exact process I use to create videos for my firm, Twenty Over Ten.

Step 1: Record the video on your phone

Start by recording the video on your mobile device. That’s all you need – no fancy, expensive DSLR camera; just your phone. The quality of videos recorded on smartphones has improved drastically and they are getting better.

If you plan to upload the video onto your YouTube channel (which I highly recommend), then you should be holding the phone horizontally when you record. Conversely, if you plan on uploading your video directly to your social media platforms, hold your phone vertically while recording.

Before you press record, place your phone in a tripod or propped against books or other objects where it is stable. Purchase some great affordable tripods with LED ring lights like this one from Amazon. This is the only additional piece of equipment I’ve purchased to record the videos I shoot for Twenty Over Ten. [Pro tip: Set the camera on your phone facing you, so that you can shoot and watch yourself on the screen at the same time.]

Once your video is recorded, quickly edit out the beginning and the end where you are getting ready. This can be done directly on your phone; no need for complicated editing software. Once you have made those simple edits, save the video on your phone.