Introduction

At HGL, we know a thing or two about creating high-quality corporate videos that captivate audiences and drive results. And today, we’re going to share five of our best tips for improving the quality of your corporate videos:

Tip #1: Know Your Audience

Tip #2: Plan Your Shots

Tip #3: Use Storytelling

Tip #4: Hire the Right Talent

Tip #5: Measure Your Results

Tip #1: Know Your Audience

Before you start filming, take the time to understand your target audience. Who are you trying to reach with your video? What are their pain points? What are their interests and behaviours? By knowing your audience, you can create content that resonates with them and addresses their specific needs.

Here are some steps you can take to do this:

1. Define your target audience: Start by identifying the demographics of the people you’re trying to reach. This might include things like age, gender, income, education, and location.

2. Research their pain points: Look into the specific problems and challenges that your target audience is facing. What are their pain points and what are they looking for solutions to? This will give you insight into the type of content that will be most relevant and valuable to them.

3. Understand their interests and behaviours: Research the types of content and activities that your target audience is interested in. This will help you to create content that aligns with their interests and behaviours, making it more likely that they will engage with it.

4. Create Personas: Create a persona or fictional character that represents your target audience. Give your persona a name, age, occupation, family status, interests, and pain points. This will help you to visualize your target audience and create content that speaks directly to them.

5. Use Surveys and Interviews: Reach out to your target audience directly by conducting surveys and interviews. Ask them about their needs, pain points, and interests. This will give you invaluable insights into your target audience that you can use to create content that resonates with them.

By following these steps, you will be able to create a deep understanding of your target audience and what they are looking for. This information will help you to create content that speaks directly to their needs and interests, making it more likely that they will engage with your corporate video.

Tip #2: Plan Your Shots
The old adage “fail to plan, plan to fail” applies to corporate video production as well. Before you start filming, take the time to plan out your shots and visual storyboard. This will help ensure that you capture all the footage you need and that it flows together seamlessly.

To execute on tip #2, you need to take the time to plan out the visual elements of your video before you start filming. Here are some steps you can take to do this:

1. Create a shot list: Write down a list of all the shots that you need to capture for your video. This might include things like establishing shots, close-ups, interviews, product shots, and b-roll footage. This will help you to make sure that you capture all the footage you need.

2. Sketch out a storyboard: Create a visual representation of your video by sketching out a storyboard. This will help you to see how all the shots will flow together and how the visual elements of your video will support your story.

3. Consider lighting and composition: Think about how you’re going to light your shots and how you’ll compose them. Will you be using natural light or artificial light? What type of camera angles will you use? How will you use the rule of thirds or other compositional techniques?

4. Consider post-production: Plan out how you will edit the footage you capture. Think about the type of transitions you will use, the pacing of the video and the audio.

5. Rehearsals: Rehearse the shots before filming. This will help you to iron out any problems and to make sure that your actors or presenters are comfortable with the shots.

By following these steps, you’ll be able to plan out the visual elements of your video before you start filming. This will help you to make sure that you capture all the footage you need and that it flows together seamlessly. It will also save you time and money in the long run, as you’ll be able to capture the footage you need in fewer takes, and you’ll have a clear plan for post-production.

Tip #3: Hire the Right Talent
Whether you’re hiring actors, voiceover talent, or a narrator, it’s important to choose people who are right for the job and can bring your script to life. When it comes to corporate videos, authenticity is key, so make sure to choose talent that can convey the message in a way that feels genuine and relatable.

Here are some steps you can take to do this:

1. Define the tone and style: Identify the tone and style of your corporate video. Is it formal or casual? Is it serious or light-hearted? Knowing this will help you to select talent that can match the tone and style of your video.

2. Look for experience: When hiring actors, voiceover talent, or narrators, look for people who have experience in the type of video you’re creating. If you’re creating a serious video, look for actors who have experience in dramatic roles. If you’re creating a light-hearted video, look for actors who have experience in comedy.

3. Audition: Schedule auditions for the actors, voiceover talent, or narrators you’re considering. This will give you a chance to see them perform and to get a sense of how they’ll be able to bring your script to life.

4. Check the chemistry: When hiring actors, voiceover talent, or narrators, make sure to check their chemistry with the rest of the cast or the host. This will ensure that the video will look and feel authentic.

5. Choose for authenticity: When it comes to corporate videos, authenticity is key. So make sure to choose talent that can convey the message in a way that feels genuine and relatable.

By doing this you’ll be able to select the right talent that will bring your script to life and make your corporate video more engaging and relatable.

Tip #4: Use Storytelling
One of the biggest common mistakes in corporate videos is that often there are just a bunch of talking heads or product shots strung together. But people don’t tune in to watch videos to be talked at or to see products, they tune in to be entertained and informed. Instead of just listing off facts and figures, try to tell a story. Use characters, conflict, and resolution to make your video more engaging.

Here are some steps you can take to create a powerful story:

1. Define the story: Identify the key message or theme that you want to convey in your video. What is the story you want to tell? What is the problem or conflict that your video will address? And what is the resolution or solution that you will offer?

2. Identify the characters: Decide on the characters that will be involved in your story. These might include employees, customers, or even the product itself. Think about how you will introduce them and how they will be involved in the story.

3. Use a clear structure: Use a clear story structure to organize your video. Start with an introduction that sets the scene, then build up to a climax, and finish with a resolution.

4. Show, don’t tell: Use visuals to show the story, rather than just telling it. Use b-roll footage and product shots to illustrate the points you’re making, and use interviews to provide personal perspectives.

5. Add emotions: Use music, sound effects and storytelling techniques to add emotions to your video. This will help to make your video more engaging and will make your audience more likely to remember it.

By using these different steps in your process, you’ll be able to create a corporate video that tells a story, rather than just listing off facts and figures. Using characters, conflict, and resolution, you’ll be able to make your video more engaging and memorable. You’ll also be able to make the video more relatable to your audience, by showing them how your product or service can solve a problem they have.

Tip #5: Measure Your Results
After your video is complete, take the time to measure its performance. This will help you understand what worked and what didn’t, and allow you to make any necessary adjustments for your next video. By measuring your results, you’ll be able to continually improve the quality of your corporate videos over time.

Here are some steps to ensure your making the most out of your video content:

1. Set clear goals: Before you release the video, set clear goals for what you want to achieve. This might include things like increasing website traffic, boosting brand awareness, or generating leads.

2. Use analytics: Use analytics tools to track the performance of your video. These tools will provide data on things like views, engagement, and conversion rates.

3. Gather feedback: Collect feedback from viewers, customers, and employees. Ask them what they liked and didn’t like about the video, and what they think could be improved.

4. Compare to benchmarks: Compare the results of your video to industry benchmarks for similar videos. This will give you a sense of how your video performed in relation to others in your industry.

5. Use the data: Use the data you gather to make adjustments to your next video. If you see that a particular aspect of the video performed well, consider incorporating it into your next video. If you see that something didn’t work, consider avoiding it in the future.

By doing this you’ll be able to measure the performance of your corporate video and gain insights into what worked and what didn’t. By using this data to make adjustments to your next video, you’ll be able to continually improve the quality of your corporate videos over time.

Conclusion
In conclusion, creating a high-quality corporate video is no easy feat. But by following these five tips from HGL, you’ll be well on your way to creating videos that captivate your audience and drive results. And if you need a little extra help, don’t hesitate to reach out to the experts at HGL. We’re here to help you create corporate videos that capture your audience’s attention. You can contact us here.

HGL Team