Seven Out of the Box Video Ideas (You Can Do From Home)
Some businesses operate out of large buildings, many in coworking spaces, and others in home offices. Whether your current work environment is by choice or by circumstance (ahem, COVID-19), there are a multitude of effective and easy video ideas to help you stay engaged with your customers. Here are seven creative concepts for your advertising arsenal.
Demonstrate Your Product
For many customers, nothing entices them to shop at a business more than a thorough or appetizing demonstration. For instance, if you own a local coffee shop, display your method for making the perfect cup of coffee, while simultaneously showing off the quality of your product.
Or, if you invented a unique exercise tool, show how the average consumer can utilize the equipment in a variety of environments.. This type of video is not an outright advertisement but will keep your business top of mind when the consumer craves an afternoon pick-me-up or an add-on to their exercise regime.
2. Meet Your Team
Whether you’re a team of one or twenty-one, a customer is more likely to choose the business they know. Find a quiet filming location, opt for a well-lit room or natural light when possible, and formulate some interesting questions to ask yourself and/or team.
Talk about your background, favorite part of the job, or an interesting fact about the business. This video concept makes you stand out from your competition by utilizing your greatest asset: your story.
3. Explain Your Process
Have you ever told people what you do, and they ask, “What does that mean, exactly?” Some businesses are easy to understand, like restaurants and clothing boutiques, others fall into a more abstract category.
If you’re the latter, you may benefit from showing, rather than telling what your company does. This demo can be as in-depth as a production studio taking you step-by-step through the process of making a film, or as simple as a coworking space highlighting a member’s personal experience using the facility.
Both concepts allow a person to better understand what you do and may even make them realize the service you provide is exactly what they’re looking for!
4. Go Live
With the advent of social media came a company's ability to connect with customers on a more personal level. If you have an active presence on social media (and it's strongly recommended that you do), it might be worthwhile to go live every once in a while to engage with your customers in real-time.
The format for these live broadcasts can be as easy as an AMA or “Ask Me Anything,” where people can inquire both FAQs and even inquiries you hadn’t thought to address. With a click of the record button on your phone or webcam, you can instantly create live videos that can either be deleted as soon as the broadcast is over or archived for individuals to reference later.
5. Film A Tutorial
One of the best ways to show off a product or demonstrate your skills is by filming a simple tutorial video that customers can engage with. For instance, let’s say you have a wedding cake business that operates out of your house.
Invite viewers into your kitchen with a how-to of simple decorating techniques or the best way to evenly ice a three-layer cake. A freelance photographer could show how to create a product photography set up or demonstrate simple photo editing tricks that anybody can utilize. Customers will not only learn something new but also see you as an expert in your field and be more inclined to choose your services over a competitor.
6. Vlogging- (It’s Not Just For Influencers)
As mentioned earlier, social media has allowed companies to connect with the public on a more widespread and personal level. Crafting videos of your daily life, also known as vlogging, is a great way to show off your personality to potential clients.
Filming informal snapshots of your day, whether it’s the behind scenes of a typical workday or how you spend your time outside of the office, can be a great way for the public to form a connection with your business. This human connection will, in turn, build trust with your client base, as customers will not only get to know you but have the chance to see the gears that turn your business. Additionally, the act of curating these vlogs will keep you creative, as the very act of creating something consistently keeps you conscious of your unique voice and style.
7. Online Seminar
With the world more connected than ever, business owners are finding alternative ways to engage with clients without the need for direct human contact. Even professions that seem to require daily interaction with customers are finding ways to shift their services online through the use of online seminars.
For instance, a personal trainer may have clients who are insecure about exercising around others. One way to bring those clients together might be through online classes designed specifically for them.
Whether it’s morning yoga sessions or evening cardio classes, customers can still get the structure and expertise of working with a professional without ever having to leave their house.
Communicating Through Video
Working from home can have just as many obstacles as operating out of an office, but what both methods have in common is the need for creative video marketing. Never feel limited by your surroundings. Your customers want to see and hear what you have to say, and taking advantage of one or all of the video ideas on this list will enhance the professionalism of your business and improve your community outreach.