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DIY Ways to Engage with Video with Little or No Budget

 

To engage with an audience, it is necessary to possess digital media and video storytelling skills. It is essential to share your story and engage with your target audience. Successful companies are good at reaching their potential customers through video. If you want to have a significant impact, you need to understand why video marketing matters to your organization. You must know how to create and record good videos and how customers will engage with them on various platforms. Videos share your brand and tell the public what you do.  You will educate and connect with your community through your story, increasing customer loyalty.

It may seem difficult for you to start creating videos without expensive camera setups, software packages, and a digital marketing company. But you can do it. Here are some fantastic do-it-yourself ways to engage with your audience through video and digital media with little or no budget.

Items You Need to Get Started

You need a few items to start, all of which can be purchased online.

SmartphoneThis will be your biggest expense if you don’t already own one. If you don’t have a smartphone, you can use the camera installed on your computer or a mountable video camera, typically selling for under $100.

Ring LightThere are several options online for good lighting if you do not have natural light available during all your video shoots. A circular ring light can be purchased for less than $15.

Bluetooth Shutter ControlThis device lets you remotely control your smartphone’s photo and video functions. Shutter controls are available online for less than $20.

TripodYou need a tripod to keep the camera steady during filming. You can purchase a tripod at prices under $30.

Free Tools Available to Everyone

Adobe Creative Cloud Express (formerly Adobe Spark)

This innovative software is free, and it differs from some video platform software because it has free searchable stock photos and music that can be integrated into shareable videos.  Use stock photos to your financial advantage when creating videos for your website, email campaigns, Etsy shops, and other digital marketing.

Expert Tip:

Use the free content pictures and music.  It is separated by genre and effect. The templates within the video software are made to help you reach your goals. For instance, your goal is to raise funds and awareness for your non-profit; there is a section for that.  You can download it to your desktop or phone and upload your finished project to any social media platform, email, or website.  It’s that easy!

Canva

This application has a wealth of freebies for the DIY’er in all of us, from social media creation to website templates and video overlays.  It’s simple to use, free, and downloadable to smartphones or computers. With Canva, you can create thumbnails for your YouTube video content, add text and images to your videos, allowing you to create incredible amounts of digital marketing materials.

Expert Tip:

The free version has a wealth of content. However, an additional free add-on app is available to create Instagram Stories and videos.

TikTok

One of the biggest streaming and video platforms I highly suggest using is TikTok.  The popularity of TikTok’s video platform is why Instagram and Facebook added Reels and Facebook Live to their platforms. It has free music integration, effects and is shareable to almost all social media platforms worldwide.

Expert Tip:

Upload or start your video and watch it process, and when it reaches the final screen, click on the hashtag area. Tiktok will automatically show you the best hashtags for increasing engagement that day. 

Instagram

Instagram Reels:  Instagram is upping its game with Reels to compete with TikTok. Recently, a new option has been developed for partnering brands with creators.

Expert Tip: 

You can access more video functions and expand your toolbox by signing up for a creator account instead of a basic business account.  Both are free, but the creator account allows for longer videos and integration with shopping through Facebook, as well as live options.

YouTube

Of course, I must mention YouTube.  It’s the most prominent DIY freebie out there. One of the greatest gifts of this free platform is the ability to create video courses, curriculum, and webinars (both live and recorded).  You can record directly from your phone or laptop after setting up a free account and channel. YouTube will automatically scan for errors, prepare your video for you, and provide a shareable link and embedding code. 

Expert Tip:

Use a free program called Lightworks if you really want to get into the nuts and bolts of YouTube editing.  This can be used as an add-on to YouTube or separately, depending on your DIY video editing skills.

How to Shoot a Video

Setting up videos can be as easy as just going live on your smartphone.  However, most companies will set up a schedule for going live with their social media videos.  Depending on how often you want to share, a new idea can be created for distribution weekly or daily.

Suggestions for video content are…

  • being the expert in your field.
  • educating the customer.
  • a day in life of an employee.
  • a tour of the office.
  • your employees out and about.
  • anything that creates a sense of community.

Extra Freebies for Student Entrepreneurs

GitHub offers a free one-year membership which includes the full version of Canva and various other tools.  It’s worth checking out their website and seeing what is available to you with your student ID. Most of these links can be found on your university or college website.

Getting started with shooting videos is easy and inexpensive. Grab your smartphone, tripod,  Bluetooth shutter control, use natural light or a ring light and start shooting!  Remember, you are the expert on your business.  You can create information and useful webinars that will capture the attention of others and build meaningful connections with your customers. 

Meredith Kiljan on Instagram
Meredith Kiljan
Meredith Kiljan is a writer and creative consultant for small businesses and focuses on quality management, streamlining businesses and social media integration. After years of teaching at the collegiate level, she uses her expertise and passion to take theory into practice. She currently lives in Arizona and has a passion for interior design, creative content design & helping others reach their goals in life.

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Meredith Kiljan is a writer and creative consultant for small businesses and focuses on quality management, streamlining businesses and social media integration. After years of teaching at the collegiate level, she uses her expertise and passion to take theory into practice. She currently lives in Arizona and has a passion for interior design, creative content design & helping others reach their goals in life.

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