There is often a perception that a corporate video will be boring or dull. Because corporate videos often have to convey more serious business content, video producers forget that they can still find ways to engage with their audience and make something that people want to watch.
But, there are lots of ways to make a corporate video great and fun to watch. Use these tips to build better corporate videos.
Act It Out
One of the biggest places that corporate videos fall flat is with the on-screen presenters. It’s common to use the CEO or the person in charge of the information as a presenter in the video, but it doesn’t need to be the case.
If the person giving the information isn’t natural or feels stiff on screen, consider finding someone else to present. If the office is large enough, audition other employees and see what kind of on-screen talent is available. This also helps to engage employees as they feel like they are getting to take part in the process.
Also, consider hiring an actor if your workplace talent pool isn’t quite up to the task. The most important thing is that you present the information in a manner that the viewers will find engaging, and that starts with the presenter.
Tell A Story
Think about the things you like to watch on television and in movies. Or even the viral videos you watch on YouTube. They generally hinge around the story. Viewers feel most engaged when they connect with characters and want to find out what’s going to happen next.
Try wrapping your information into a story format with a beginning, middle, and end. Add in elements of comedy or action if you can to keep the pace moving and have a little fun.
This is another opportunity to bring in talent from the workforce to act as characters in the video and get involved in the process of making the video.
A Picture Is Worth 1000…
Again, when you think about the things you like to watch on television and in movies, the quality of the video and photography plays a huge role.
There are times where it is appropriate to have a poor-quality video for effect, but in general, do your best to record high-quality video content and use high-quality images.
This may mean that you’ll need to hire a production crew to shoot a video for you. Look at their previous work and make sure they have experience creating videos similar to what you are looking for. Make sure they have all of the proper equipment needed for your video and ask them to explain how they intend to produce what you are looking for.
If you can’t bring in a professional production crew, you can help to elevate your video quality with a few choice pieces of equipment.
Start with a high-quality video camera capable of shooting full HD 1920×1080 video or higher. A DSLR might be a good choice, as this will allow you to get great photography as well. The Canon 7D is a very popular example in the DSLR category and features interchangeable lenses for getting different types of shots. Lenses are usually sold separately.
Also, spend a little bit of money on a good tripod. No matter how steady you think your hand is, it’s not as steady as a tripod. If your video content is shaky, the viewers will be distracted and not able to focus on the information being presented.
Invest in at least a small light kit that will allow you to create more dynamic shots with highlights and shadows. A flat-looking video just looks, well…..flat. Adding some depth to your shots with lighting will help the viewer feel like they are a part of what they are seeing.
And don’t forget about audio. Generally speaking, the microphones that are built into cameras are not going to capture audio to a quality that you want. Consider an inexpensive portable recorder like the Zoom H6, which will capture higher quality audio. Pair that with a clip-on lavalier microphone for your talent to minimize room and noise pick up their voices clearly.
Get Graphic
Live-action video doesn’t have to be the only thing you present in your corporate videos. You can add a lot of value with animated graphics. In fact, you can create an entirely animated video if that will tell your story better. Just be sure to aim for the same high-quality standards with your graphics and animations.
One way to add spice to your video is with infographics. By default, infographics may sound entirely boring. But adding animation to your infographics will make them both more engaging and easier for the viewer to comprehend.
Another way to make your corporate video more engaging and consistent is with a graphic package or template. Motion Array has a variety of
After Effects templates designed for corporate videos as well as many others that could serve a number of purposes.
These templates include package elements like lower-thirds, framing devices for video and photography, transitional elements, and text areas to highlight key information. Animated templates can go a long way to adding dynamics to your content and creating an overall look throughout that will tie your video together.
They are easy to use and update, but remember you’ll need a copy of Adobe After Effects to work with these templates.
The Beat Goes On
Music can really help to make your video more engaging as well. The right music will set the mood and tone as well as help keep the video moving at a good pace.
There are lots of good stock music options that don’t have to sound like elevator music. Spend a little time listening to stock music options that help convey your message and elicit the emotional response you are looking for. Even if you want something subtle for the background, it should still be high quality and pleasant to listen to.
Make sure to purchase stock music with a license that allows you to use it for your intended purposes. It’s not legal to use popular songs in your videos even if you are presenting it to a smaller group.
Use these tips as a guideline for creating your next corporate video and you might just find that your employees look forward to watching what you produce in the future.
