Prepare for your Recording
Want to record your video in just one take? A few minutes of preparation will make recording a breeze.
First, define your goal. Some common video goals include:
- Starting a conversation with your prospect
- Educating a potential customer on the value your product can offer them
- Building a relationship
Next, choose if you are going to record yourself, your screen, or some combination.
- Record yourself to leverage the human relationship side of video selling.
- Record your screen to convey value through showing your product, your prospect’s website, a slideshow, or something else on screen.
Finally, write your script.
- Your video should be less than 90 seconds. (The number of people who sit through a video greater than 90 seconds drops to just 37%).
- If this is your first video, you may want to follow our script for a good sales video:
- Hook (~10 seconds)
- Tell your viewer why you are reaching out to them. Make it very clear your message is personalized to them.
- Show your face.
- Show Value (~35 Seconds)
- Show exactly how what you are are selling can help your viewer.
- Show your screen or product .
- Call to Action (~15 seconds)
- Conclude by telling your viewer what to do next to move the process along.
- Show your face.
- (Note: You don’t actually want to read from your script - you want to sound natural. However, it does help to write down everything you want to communicate in advance to ensure you don’t miss anything).
Setup Your “Video Recording Studio”
Not every modern office comes set up with a recording studio. That’s okay. You can build your own! Just find a quiet space near a window in a clean part of your office, and you’re good to go.
Make sure to test your sound. You might need to use a pair of headphones with a built-in-mic to improve the audio quality of your video.
Check your video quality, too. Here are some tips to make sure your video looks clean:
- For a Webcam Recording:
- If you have an external camera (recommended: Logitech C920 or Razer Kiyo) use it. If you don’t, use your default computer webcam or phone camera.
- (Note, if you are using a phone, make sure to hold it horizontally. 89% of business related video views still take place on a desktop computer, where vertical videos look awkward).
- Always have light in front of you if possible (natural light is the best). Set your computer in front of a window. If you have a dark office, check out this selfie ring light.
- Set your camera looking slightly down at you to get the most flattering angle of your face.
- Center yourself in the camera, keep good posture so your body looks proportionate.
- Make sure the space behind you is clean and no one will be walking behind you.
- Wear jeweled tones - not white or black. A dark grey can be the best because it won’t wash you out AND will hide your mic.
- Proactively smile - practice smiling before you even hit record.
- For a Screen Recording:
- Declutter your screen to reduce distractions.
- Hide bookmark bar.
- Hide Chrome Extensions.
- Don’t show desktop icons.
- Turn off Slack/notifications.
- Make sure all of the content you want to show any is loaded and ready to go.
- Make sure there is no sensitive info on your screen (although if this is inevitable, you can always blur in post-production).
Record the Video
Recording a video shouldn’t be much different than pitching a prospect face to face. But don’t fret if it takes you a couple takes to loosen up on camera.
- Look directly into the camera and act like you are speaking to a real person. Don’t hesitate to let your personality shine through.
- Speak slowly, pause between sentences, and lower your voice if you naturally have a high pitch voice.
- Vary your face, hands, and tone of voice naturally as you speak.
- Use hotkeys to start and stop the recorder instead of fumbling with the mouse.
- Don’t worry about a few ‘ums’ or ‘ahs.’ They tend to make the videos seem more real.
- Smile!
Edit to Perfection
You maybe have recorded using just your webcam in a makeshift studio, but you can still make your video look professional with simple editing.
- Trim the beginning and end of the video so the viewer doesn’t see you start or stop the recording (if you use your countdown and hotkeys effectively, you won’t have to do this).
- Blur out any sensitive material you may have captured that you don’t want to share.
- Add closed captioning for hearing impaired viewers or anyone who prefers to watch without sound.
- Throw in background music to set the mood. (We love to use this for micro-demos!).
Add Video Engagements
You have said your part. Now, how do you open the door to a conversation with your viewer?
- Add questions to engage and qualify viewers, for example:
- Interested? [Yes / No]
- Please Tell Us About Yourself [Fields for Name, Job Title, Company, Email, etc.)
- Add video call-to-actions, such as:
- See the Website
- Get Pricing
- Start a Free Trial
- Invite the viewer to schedule an introductory call on your calendar
- Invite the viewer to record a response back to you.
GridTip: The In-Video Meeting Scheduler is the best way to book sales meetings
Share Videos with your Viewers
Video does not replace traditional communication channels; it just makes them more effective. Share videos in your current sales cadences across email, LinkedIn Inmail, Twitter, etc.
- You don’t need to include a video at every step of your sales cadence. Scatter videos throughout at the beginning, middle, and end.
- Let your recipients know there is a video in the email by including the word “video” in your subject line.
- Include a moving GIF preview of your video (with a big play button) in your messages to tempt readers into clicking. You can copy and paste this GIF from VidGrid videos by selecting “Copy GIF.”
(To learn more about emailing out videos, see our next post Email + Video Dream Team).
Track Success
Measure the success of your video selling and improve future videos with video data and analytics. With VidGrid, you can see:
- What percentage of viewers watch to completion?
- Where viewers drop off in the video. Are they all dropping off at the same point? What can you change there?
- How do viewers respond to questions?
- What percentage of viewers are completing the call-to-actions, scheduling meetings on your calendar or replying to your message?
GridTip: When you see someone watches your video follow up asap!
Practice, Practice, Practice
The best way to get good at making videos to to just get out there and start recording. What are you waiting for? Get started now with VidGrid’s 14-day free trial.
More from the Video Selling Playbook
Continue on to the next article: Email + Video = Dream Team →
Or jump to the most relevant section for you:
Introduction to Video Selling
Video to Jumpstart and Accelerate Sales
Expert Video for Selling Tips
