Hello again, authors!
It’s that time. Time to get on camera to market that book. Luckily, you aren’t the first, won’t be the last, and you’re definitely not alone. We’re here to help you make the best video possible.

Here are our 6 best tips for creating and sharing videos, and a few other technical details designed to help you produce engaging content.

Film high quality footage. “Found footage” video quality might be great for horror films, but it isn’t ideal for advertising books. To make your video pop, you have to consider lighting, audio, camera stability and angles, and camera quality (even if you use a smartphone).
Helpful tip! Have you cleaned your phone’s camera lens lately?

Consider your purpose. Social media guru Marie Ennis-O’Connor says it best: “Being clear about your purpose will help you create video content that resonates with your audience. If you read any of my writing on social media strategy, you know I always start with the why before the how. Do you want to showcase your product? Educate your customers? Help your audience to get to know you better? If you can’t find a compelling reason to create a video then you will be wasting your time.”

Start with a strong hook. Just like an academic paper, the first few seconds of a video are the most important part. “A strong hook teases what your video is about. You can start off with an enticing question or share a major takeaway.” (Natasha Samuel, 5 Social Media Video Tips to Get More Engagement)
Helpful tip! Are you showing your face? Do it right away. Don’t worry, everyone feels awkward on video at first.

Tell a story. Create a clear flow. Even your grandparents’ slideshow told the story of their vacation to Norway, and if their slides could do it, you can too. Unlike your grandparents, however, you can storyline your video first. Think first about the problem(s) your book helps to solve, then explain how and why your work presents the solution.
Helpful tip! Use a storyboard or online script writing tool. Having a planned story helps with flow.

Create an Emotional Response. The most effective advertisements are often those that appeal to emotion, and some research does suggest that emotional content is more likely to get shared.

Keep It Simple. “Bombarding your audience with too much information at one time never ends well — they’ll go elsewhere to find the answers.” — Wistia.

Bonus technical content. Consider your technical needs. Here’s a quick list of suggestions from Solution Tree’s video experts:

• Add text or subtitles and make sure your videos work without sound (people on Facebook often watch videos without sound.)
• Keep your phone stable as you record.
• Position the lens at eye level.
• Hold the phone horizontally when you record. Most phones are already set to record at the best settings.
• Film in a well-lit area with lighting in front of you.
• Speak loudly, clearly, and smile! Ideally, your personality should come through.
• Don’t forget to press record! It happens more often than you think.

It might take some practice, but we’re sure these tips will help you find the confidence to take that jump into video content.