WHY USE and create VIDEOS for your Ecommerce store

WHY USE VIDEOS Ecommerce?

A quick few facts:

1. 232 million people in the U.S. watch online videos every day.
2. Merely mentioning the word 'video' in an email subject line, the click-through rate increased by 13%.
3. Your engagement will increase by 33% on Facebook.
4. Nearly 50% of all video is watched on a mobile device.
5. Internet video traffic will account for 95% of all consumer Internet traffic
6. Videos up to 2 minutes long get the most engagement.

The attention span of people on Social media is less than that of a goldfish and it is getting worse.

You can immediately get a visual, personal connection with your audience when posting a video.

Tip #1:

What type of videos is the best?

Recording a 'Live' video is still the best because you are creating an interactive personal experience with your audience. Your audience gets to know YOU!

You don’t have to go 'LIVE' to create videos. You can pre-record your videos, edit them OR not.

You can use video software to collate your photos into a video.

5 TYPES OF PRODUCT VIDEOS

• The 'how-to' video
• The 'product in use' video
• The 'close up' video
• The 'installation' video
• The 'unboxing' video
• The 'story' video
• The 'thank you' video

Tip #2:

CAMERA or PHONE?

Invest in QUALITY equipment!

Your phone is the best option these days, especially if you have a recent edition.

Make sure your options in your camera setting are set to original, otherwise your camera will change the photos to smaller versions and resolution.

If you have the cash, I recommend paying a bit more to get:

• A decent phone or camera.
• A tripod to keep your videos stable.
• A good microphone and lights (more on that below).

A few hundred dollars extra can mean the difference between a totally amateur-looking video and something that looks professional, crisp, and clean.

Focus on AUDIO and Lighting.

If nothing else, invest in a good microphone and (if you’re shooting indoors) some good lights.While the visual quality of smartphone cameras is pretty damn good these days, the audio still sucks. Also, lighting is the big difference maker between poor quality and great quality.

A simple Lavalier mic for less than $25 goes a long way to improve the audio of your smartphone (https://amzn.to/2OLfjgf) or iPhone (https://amzn.to/39vkGZ2)

For lighting, here’s my first set up that cost no more than $60:

• Two photography light stands (or three if you want to kill the shadow behind you).
• Two (or three) clamp lights from your local hardware store.
• Two (or three) daylight bulbs.
• And you might need some extension cords to plug them in. Set everything up with a solid color wall behind you and start filming! The lights should look like this:

 I have upgraded my set up since then and the cost is still not prohibitive.

1. 2 Neewer photography lights with dimmers with stands (https://amzn.to/38iT3lI)
2. 1080 Logitech computer camera (https://amzn.to/2HejKMq)
3. RODE microphone (https://amzn.to/2OHvgDZ)
4. Mobile Tripod Stand (https://amzn.to/3bsIQox)
5. Tripod Holder for iPads/tablets (https://amzn.to/39tGfJw)
6. Tripod Holder for iPhone/mobile phone (https://amzn.to/2vkMujU)
7. Flexible Mini Tripod (THE BEST) (https://amzn.to/31LfFcb)

Tip #3:

Do you need to EDIT your videos?

65% or more of videos are consumed on Mobile.

So record your videos on your phone either have a vertical video or better, make the video square.

If you record your videos on any other equipment, create the size and format suited to your audience and media.

To edit your video is easy on your iPhone and iMovie. I will actually create a step for step video in my group tomorrow. You can join and it is for free - Ecommerce Success Group

If you want to use your desktop - you have WAVE or Animoto to edit your videos as well. So you have to download your video and then edit it on your desktop.

Or with WAVE you can create those photo videos with text in any shape or size!

Use KAPWING for Android - it is for free unless you want to remove the logo!

Tip #4:

Script your videos

If you skip this step, you'll find yourself editing more than you need to, releasing a video longer than it should be, and probably losing your audience along the way.

You need a script even if you are recording any of the product-related videos I mentioned before. Remember, your video is going to be a story!

Start writing your script the way you would begin a blog post — with an outline. List out your key points and order them logically.

Do not write it all out because you have to sound natural and not scripted. But this will keep your video logical and on task.

Once you have a script, create the blog post to add more value for your video and this is AMAZING SEO for you as well.

Tip #5:

Where is your head? Look up!

Most people look at their faces. Look at the camera eye and you will be looking right at your audience.

Try to get your face in the center of the view while recording. Notice the space above your head! VALUABLE real estate for your face.

When shooting a product or any other video, make sure your product is centered and not cut off. It is easier to have more space on the sides. You can create other sizes and formats for your videos.

For ladies, make sure the camera is set a wee bit higher than your face so you stretch your neck.

Tip #6:

Location, Location, Location!

Make sure that your surroundings have a lot of light.

Light from the front and sides is the best.

1. Product presentation - make your product the focus, so light from the top and sides. Make sure your lens is focused on the product.
2. Presentation - when you are standing, make sure you don’t have too much space above your head.
3. Do test videos and give particular attention to the surroundings.
4. Don’t blend into your background. Make sure your product or you stand out!

Equipment Recommendations

• Video Camera Recommendation 
  • Desktop: 1080 Logitech computer camera - https://amzn.to/2HejKMq
  • Mobile /Smartphone!
• What microphone should you buy?
  • Desktop mic: https://amzn.to/2OHvgDZ

• • Smartphone lav mic: https://amzn.to/2OLfjgf

• Video lighting equipment list
  • 2 Neewer photography lights with dimmers with stands - https://amzn.to/38iT3lI
• More equipment recommendations here: 
• Mobile Tripod Stand (https://amzn.to/3bsIQox)
• Tripod Holder for iPads/tablets (https://amzn.to/39tGfJw)
• Tripod Holder for iPhone/mobile phone (https://amzn.to/2vkMujU)
• Flexible Mini Tripod (THE BEST) (https://amzn.to/31LfFcb)

Video Creation Resources

• Royalty-free stock music
  • Wave has great music for their videos.
• Free stock videos
  • Wave provides some great templates and stock videos.
  • Check out CANVA.com

Facebook Live Streaming Tools

• Ecamm Live - Good for solo shows: https://www.ecamm.com/mac/ecammlive/
• Belive.tv - Good for interviews: https://belive.tv/

Chrome Screen Recording Extensions

• Loom (Chrome Extension & Desktop App): https://www.loom.com/

• Screencastify (Chrome Extension): https://www.screencastify.com

Video Creation Tools & Resources:

VIDEO EDITING SOFTWARE:

ONLINE VIDEO EDITING SOFTWARE:

MOBILE & WEB VIDEO EDITING APPS:

• Biteable: https://biteable.com Make an awesome, pro-quality video in the time it takes to drink a coffee!
• Quik: https://quik.gopro.com/en/
  Create beautiful videos with just a few taps. Editing has never been this fast—or this fun.
• Magisto: https://www.magisto.com/
  Magisto turns your everyday videos and photos into exciting, memorable movies you'll want to watch again and again. They even have an entire section for business videos.
• Videoshop: http://www.videoshop.net/
  Videoshop is a fast and easy app to personalize your videos and share them with all your friends.
• Animoto: https://animoto.com/
  Turn your photos and video clips into video slideshows, quickly and easily.
• Videolicious: https://videolicious.com/
  Millions of employees at leading media companies and brands use Videolicious to quickly and easily create their own business-quality videos.
• Adobe Spark Video: https://spark.adobe.com/about/video
  Create compelling animated videos - in minutes.
• RenderForest: http://bit.ly/2bC3nMM
  Free Tools that help you to create professional intros, animations, slideshows and music visualizations in minutes.
• RotateNFlip (iOS Only): https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/video-rotate-and-flip/id658564085?mt=8
  Did you accidentally shoot a video sideways? Want to flip your video upside down or left to right? Use this app to rotate and flip your video while you watch it. Then export straight to your iPhone's Photos app. Plus, with the included app extension, you can edit your videos right within the Photos app!

SCREEN RECORDING CHROME EXTENSIONS

• Loom (Chrome Extension): https://www.useloom.com/?ref=243122
  With one-click to record, one-click to finish and a publicly shareable URL automatically copied to your clipboard, Loom is changing desktop communication as we know it by making video easy and fun to use.
• Screencastify (Chrome Extension): https://www.screencastify.com/
  Screencastify is a lightweight Chrome extension that lives in your browser. As long as you use Chrome on a Mac, PC or Chromebook, you’re a click away from high-quality screencasts. Log in automatically with your Google account. Save all your videos to Google Drive and access them anywhere.