From happy hours and birthday parties to business meetings and interviews – video conferencing is the new normal when it comes to finding ways to stay social.
With millions of people forced to stay home to help stop the spread of COVID-19, videoconferencing apps are seeing an unprecedented surge – soaring the top of app downloads and usage.
And of all the videoconferencing apps out there, Zoom has risen to the top.
While many companies were already using Zoom for a variety of reasons, individuals who are facing long stretches without contact with friends and family are moving to Zoom for face-to-face and group get-togethers.
Create new, engaging content with Zoom video recording.
We all know that video-based content is a great way to engage your audience and uncover the real stories from people. But how can you create it from scratch? Zoom just may be the way to start capturing some great content for your organization.
Zoom has helped us create content for a few of our clients already, and we’re excited to share what we’ve learned so you can start creating your own zoom video stories.
Recording a Zoom meeting.
If you already have Zoom, then recording a meeting is a simple two-step process:
- Start the meeting as the host
- Click the Record button
When you start recording, a message is displayed on-screen to you and the other participants. You can stop or pause the recording at any time, but do note that stopping the recording will split the video.
What should you record?
At Imagebox, we’re always talking about how the best stories you have to tell are the ones you already know. Take some time to think about
Here are some of our favorites!
Let people tell their own stories.
No one knows you better than the people who benefit from what you do. So why not let them tell the stories for you and let their voices be heard!
Videos allow your supporters to share their stories of how your organization has made a difference in their daily lives, and they can help people understand exactly what you’re all about.
Shine the spotlight on the people doing everyday good inside your organization.
Engage your employees and your audience at the same time by showing your team some love and letting them take the spotlight for a change.
Inviting the people behind the smoke and mirrors of all the great things you do to share their favorite stories with the world gives your organization an accessible face, and shows potential supporters exactly who they’ll be working with!
Interview some of your thought leaders.
Everyone in your organization was hired for a reason. Give them a chance to share what they know with an interview where they can dive deep into their area of expertise. And if your group tends to be a bit camera shy, give them strength in numbers and assemble a think tank that can help you educate your audience from multiple fronts.
Capturing good video.
Now, you probably want to make sure you look and sound your best before putting yourself out to public view. Over the past few weeks, we’ve all learned a thing or two about looking good for our meetings. Here are some of our tips and tricks to becoming camera-ready in imperfect spaces.
Test your microphone and speakers.
Don’t get caught on mute in the middle of your recording. Take some time before you record to test your equipment in the app to ensure you’re all set for the spotlight. And if you want to take things one step further, there are many cheap microphones available if your computer isn’t cutting it.
Use a virtual background
Worried about people getting a glimpse of your cluttered desk or unmade bed in the background? Hide your mess or add some branding with a virtual background! Any user can upload an image and preview the background before joining the meeting!
Let the sunshine in.
Go ahead. Open up your shades and let the natural light pour in, but don’t let all of that light hit your back. Don’t forget that your screen can be a large source of light, so adjust your brightness accordingly!
Raise your camera.
There’s only one acceptable angle; eye level. Use some books, a stool, or anything else you can find around your home to make sure people get a better look at you and avoid that unflattering, beneath the chin point of view.
Editing your footage.
So you’ve finished your recording, now what?
Your zoom recording may not need to be edited, but sometimes it’s nice to cut out a few awkward pauses at the beginning and end of your call. Or if you’ve recorded a particularly long conversation, you may want to cut your footage into a few parts to make a series of videos.
Zoom recordings are easy to edit in almost any editing software, and there are even some free solutions out there that make editing a breeze.
YouTube Studio Editor
Edit your video and upload your content at the same time with the YouTube Studio Editor. YouTube’s Editor allows you to easily trim the beginning or end of your video, trim clips out of the middle, and add end screens before posting.
iMovie
iMovie is another great place for beginner editors to get started editing their video footage. With its intuitive and easy-to-use design, even amateur editors can create jaw-dropping projects in iMovie – all it takes is a little practice.
Final Cut Pro or Adobe Premiere
If you’re looking for some professional-level post-production on your video, you can’t go much better than Final Cut Pro or Adobe Premiere. Both Final Cut Pro and Adobe Premiere offer a complete studio experience that will take your videos a step further.
You don’t need to be a professional editor to put content in the world. Nowadays, everyone from Jimmy Kimmel to Fallon is publishing Zoom videos as content. We’re used to seeing it in our lives – including its mishaps. Even the celebrities aren’t immune to the occasional frozen screens and audio echoes. So you have nothing to fear if your video has some flaws in the footage.
How to use your videos.
Now that you’ve captured a recording, how will you use it?
Having a strategy around how you are going to use your footage is the last step in getting your content out in the world.
So how can you use your zoom videos in your marketing? Here are just a few of the ways we found work for us:
On your Blog
Put a human voice back into your marketing and give your readers some variety by taking your full-length, edited video and sharing it on your website’s blog. Adding a short video alongside a written article is a great way to engage
On Social Media
Engage your audience and leave them wanting more by creating short, social teasers that capture some of your best moments. Sharing these clips to social media is a great way to capture your audience’s attention, draw them in, and lead them back to the full article to learn more.
As a podcast
Is the visual side of your video looking less than ideal? Instead of heading back to the drawing board, use the audio from your video recording to create a short podcast that you can share with your audience.
Conclusion
Recording live sessions is an easy way to create engaging and informative content for your organization. And tools like Zoom make it easier than ever to record these videos for re-sharing.
Take some time to identify a meeting that is already happening that could be repurposed by simply hitting record. We’re excited to see just what you can do!