5 Powerful Video Content Ideas That Won’t Break the Bank

Sadly, many businesses shy away from creating video content before they even give it a chance due to the notion that “video is expensive.” But the truth is that it’s easier than ever before to create high quality video content on a shoestring budget. Below are five powerful video content ideas that will enable you to create great videos without breaking the bank:

1. Can’t afford a professional studio? Pull out your smartphone.

Video production as a whole is nowhere near as expensive as it used to be; in fact, most people have immediate access to a high-quality, high-definition 1080p video recording device right in their pocket! Most of today’s smartphones come equipped with excellent video cameras, and based on which app you use, you can add all kinds of cool post-production effects to your recorded videos as well.

Take author and business strategist Jay Baer, for example; his “Jay Today” YouTube segments (like this one) were filmed using nothing but his iPhone and a natural light source, yet the footage exhibits professional-level quality. Whether you use a smartphone, GoPro, tablet or webcam, you can create videos that have a high production value without emptying your pockets to do it.

2. Try short videos that offer “quick tips” or other educational content.

Create a series of short videos that offer quick tips, industry/niche-specific insights, wisdom nuggets or other informative content that can educate your audience on a helpful topic. If the old film-making axiom is true that “time is money,” then a short format such as a 2-or 3-minute video will work to your financial advantage as well.

3. Cover industry-related live events.

This type of content lends itself to a smaller budget because it is basically understood that on-location coverage of a live event won’t have the same production style as a video shot in a professional studio. At any industry-related conference, seminar or event there are plenty of opportunities to show footage of speeches/talks, interviews with speakers or attendees, related commentary, etc. Just be sure to mix it up and distill a variety of content types into your video to make it engaging and fun to watch. It’s much better to assemble a compilation of various snippets versus showing a long segment of footage from only one aspect of the event.

4. Create a customer testimonials video.

No paid actors, no time spent writing an extended script or storyboard and no complicated preparations. Just ask customers how your product or service has helped them and then record their responses.

More than likely you have a backlog of customers who’ve either published good reviews of your business, or communicated about your company in a positive way through social media; reach out to them and ask them if you can either meet with them (if local) or record their testimonial via Skype (if distant). Some customers might even be willing to go a step further and record their own testimonial video for you to use. You can compile these testimonials into a brief video and promote it through all of your brand’s communication channels (e.g., YouTube, Facebook, your company’s website, etc.).

5. Create repeatable content segments.

The late night talk shows have been doing this for years, with indisputably amazing results. Johnny Carson had his “Carnac the Magnificent” segment. Jay Leno had his “Headlines” and “Jaywalking” segments. Jimmy Fallon has his “Thank You Notes” and “Classroom Instruments” segments. The common denominator for all of these examples is the appeal of a recognizable content format.

Get creative and come up with some concepts that favor a repeatable format, such as “Conversations on the Couch” or “Lessons Over Lunch.”  This allows you to establish a certain “template” that eliminates the struggle of coming up with a new format or set for each video. If your format is constant and repeatable, all you’ll need to do is focus on the topics that will be discussed or the guests that will be featured. You can use the same location every time, and you’ll have the main elements of the format and script already worked out, which means less time (and money) spent on production-related issues.

As you can see, there are plenty of ways to produce high quality video content without draining your bank account in the process. Use the ideas and suggestions listed above to help your business leverage the power of video marketing to increase your reach and boost brand engagement.