If you’re in the business of business, have a website, or are on social media - you know the power of video. Pretty much everyone who is anyone uses it. Big companies, little companies, influencers, and just people trying to share something from their lives – all use video. Why? Because it simply is the closest thing to “being there,” allowing someone to hear your voice, or see what you’re trying to convey. Text is good, photos are better, but simply put video is best.

Do a quick search on Google as to why your company should be using video to market itself. You’ll be inundated with ever-increasing numbers of search results and studies stating how if you’re not using video – you’re being left behind. It says something that marketing companies have paid so much money to research the effectiveness of video on those who consume it, and why they do so.

Go ahead. Take a few minutes and go look.

(Elevator / On Hold Music)

If you’re not using video, why? Are you fearful you can’t answer the questions from the previous paragraph? Are you not sure where to start? Do you not have the time? Are you worried about the budget? All these questions are valid – but they have answers that are easy to overcome.

First, if you have the budget, and have no time – find a company that you can trust to help you create the video you have in mind (Shameless Plug: If you don’t know of one – might I suggest me? I’m easy to reach – you can start here: www.cinematicvisions.com). Sometimes it’s simply better to stick to what you’re good at, focus on those things, and let someone else handle the other stuff. But let’s say you’re a DIY’er, you like to learn new things, or perhaps you have no budget – and you really want to jump in the wave of videos that people are using more and more each day to reach potential customers. That’s what this book is for. Having been in the video business since 2003, I’ve learned what it takes to make a video that will not only look good but also be effective in reaching your audience. Instead of learning the way I did (sometimes by fire), let me walk you through the process I’ve crafted over the years in order to make my clients happy with what I’ve done, bring them customers, and make video production a little easier to digest. It’s a 7 Step Process that is tried and true and will work for you whether you’re making a marketing / promotional video, a training and safety video, or just something creative. This will help you cut down on the amount of work you’ll have to go through while creating the video, keep everyone involved on the same page, lead you to a finished video that matches your vision, and then I’ll throw in a bonus 8^th step to show you how to make sure your video is seen (because what good is a beautiful car without an engine?).

So, without further ado, here are my “7 Steps to Creating a Professional Video,” with the Bonus 8^th Step:

1.      Pre-Production

2.      Scripting

3.      Shot Listing / Story Boarding

4.      Production

5.      Post-Production

6.      Delivery

7.      Distribution

8.      BONUS STEP: Ad Campaigns

If you’ve been in the business of video creation – most, if not all these steps and the terminology will sound familiar. Even if you’re not familiar with video production – these steps shouldn’t be too hard to understand. Each step has several components to it that will make creating a video much easier. As I break down each step on the following pages, I’ll go into detail as to what you should be doing in each step, suggested equipment to utilize, and tips that I’ve learned that can help you cut a few corners on a budget. Are you ready? If so, let’s get into Pre-Production, what that means, and how to get it done.