Guidebook to Video Intros

Guidebook to Video Intros

2 | Guidebook to Video Intros

They’ve been telling us this day is coming for years, and it’s finally here: video content is the most popular and shared content on the web. A recent study found that video content constitutes 50 percent of all mobile traffic, and roughly 65 percent of viewers watch at least 75 percent of a video.

You may think that all these views are due to videos featuring corgis, Beyonce, news bloopers, or the latest viral teen sensation, but many people are watching videos for business reasons. The same study found that 75 percent of business executives watch work-related videos at least once a week, and 81 percent of brands feature videos on their websites to help customers connect with their product or offering.



This means many things. For one, if you’re a small business owner or entrepreneur, you’re going to want to utilize online videos in your digital marketing plan. These could be evergreen videos on your website that talk about your business and what you have to offer, or they could be regularly scheduled clips that show off a new aspect of your business or industry on a weekly basis.

The rise of video content also means that people who make video content for a living have many more opportunities to make money by doing what they love. Whether you’re a videographer looking to freelance with a large agency, or an editor looking to cut videos from the comfort of your living room, the rise of online videos offers a slew of opportunities for making a little extra money.



One crucial piece of video content is the video intro. A video intro is basically a video that sets up a situation. It could be an intro to a website, or an intro to an instructional video that is maybe made by a different production group. Whatever the case may be, video intros are a special art form and should be considered separately than any other form of video content.

For instance, intro videos need to set up a concept and help people understand it. They also need to be engaging, welcoming, and set up the tone for the brand or business they are representing.

This eBook will lay out the things you must know if you’re in the business of creating video intros, or are looking to hire someone to create videointros for your website.



As with any film, an intro video needs to be carefully conceived so it can be executed in a way that provides the result you’re looking for. For example, let’s say you’ve started an online business making handmade baby products out of your home, things like onesies, blankets, and nursery wall decorations. Crafting videos for each products would be a good idea because it would allow you to show off the unique features and qualities of your products. The trick is figuring out the best way to do this.

When concepting, you’ll want to think about things like where the video takes place. Will you be in a blank, white space where

Concept and Scripting


the products can shine without the viewer being distracted? Or maybe you want to be sitting in your workshop or sewing room so people can get a better feel for the care and craft that goes into making your product? Remember that any approach will come with its own subliminal message to your audience, so consider how you want them to feel during and after watching one of your videos.

Once you’ve come up with a concept that will drive your video, it’s time to write a script. Now, you may be thinking that a script is only required if your video features lots of talking. Not the case. Even if your script consists of shots of your product or offering without any sort


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of voice-over, you’ll still want to lay out a visual script - basically storyboards - that help you envision your final video before you’ve even shot the first frame. As we’ll see in an upcoming section, you won’t have any time to waste the day you make your video, so having a clear script is crucial.

Once you’ve created your script, don’t be afraid to ask friends, colleagues, and family members for their feedback. Explain what you’re trying to accomplish and ask them if they think your script is doing what you’re intending. Be open to feedback and make changes where you think they are necessary.



If you have a cell phone, chances are you have access to a video camera in your pocket or purse. But even though the cameras on many cell phones are extremely high quality, think twice about using one to make your intro videos.

The best way to make effective, engaging intro videos is to work with a team of professionals. One way to find video professionals is by looking at the video content of people in your industry (and hopefully your area) and reaching out to see who helped them. And of course, you can also look around online for a team of people who specialize in things like lighting, sound, pacing, and shooting.

Work with Professionals


You may think that you don’t need these people to help you, but we promise that using qualified professionals will help your videos better connect with your audience and convey a sense of authority and professionalism.

Once you’ve assembled your video production team, go over the script and explain your vision. Now, these videos are obviously meant to promote you and your business, but during this time you should be open to feedback from your production crew. Hopefully these are professionals who have experience making these sorts of videos, meaning they’ll have insights and ideas from past experiences that can benefit you. Be open to their ideas and suggestions and chances are your video will be better because of it.

Work with Professionals


Once you’ve got your videos, it’s time to be smart about where to put them. Ideally, these videos should appear somewhere prominent on your website so they can orient new visitors and help established customers see what new products and services you have to offer.

You may find it’s a good idea to have a video that immediately greets people when they visit your site. This automatically immerses people in the world of your brand. Then, you may want to have videos on separate pages of your site so they can introduce visitors to new sections and products.

One thing you should definitely avoid is putting too many videos on a single page. One, two, or maybe even three is fine, but anything else will be overwhelming and may result

Strategically Place Your Videos


in your visitor not viewing any of your videos because they don’t know where to start! Because of this, make sure it’s clear which video or videos are the most important to your customers. Ideally, you shouldn’t have more than one or two videos on a single page.

You’ll also want to make sure your videos are hosted on YouTube. YouTube is the world’s second largest search engine, meaning millions of people go there every day to find helpful information. If you host your videos on YouTube and embed them on your website, you’ll not only connect with people who visit your site, but you’ll also connect with people who are coming to YouTube and are looking for things related to you and what you do.In addition, YouTube has the added benefit



of helping your SEO ranking. This is because YouTube is owned by Google, the search giant. That means if you upload a video and SEO optimize it with tags and titles that are relevant to your industry and business, it’s more likely that your videos and website will show up when people search for it on YouTube or even Google.

Part of building your brand in this day and age involves a presence on social media, and these short videos can serve as great social media content. Share them to Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to show your followers what your business is up to.



While much of this eBook has covered advice for people who are looking to create intro videos that will help build their brand, there are some things that creators of intro videos - producers, audio technicians, and cameramen - should keep in mind when making them for other people.

The most important thing is making sure you have the right equipment and team to help deliver professional videos. If someone is going to hire you to represent their business, you’ll want to make sure the product you give them is as polished as possible.

Also know that much of the story doesn’t come about until you hit the editing room, so be sure you’re working with an editor who is skilled at making intro videos and can help craft a story out of a short clip, one that will help the person you’re making the videos for connect better with their audience.

If You’re Making Videos


Intro videos can be a great tool for introducing your business and helping convey your brand value. Follow the tips in this eBook and you’re sure to see high engagement with your website and maybe even a boost in business.

On a closing note, remember to keep things fresh, and don’t be afraid to try new things. For instance, you may want to rearrange your videos every once in a while to see if certain arrangements lead to higher engagement. You may also want to add new videos, or reshoot videos, so repeat visitors are greeted with new and timely content when they come back to your site. It’s a small thing, but one that will help your business stand out from the rest.

Conclusion

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Guidebook to Video Intros