Are you looking to pick up a new skill this year? Trust us when we say you should learn how to create videos! Video production know-how benefits everyone and anyone, and we’ll share why below.

(gif credits: Pokémon Detective Pikachu)

Videos are here to stay

We bet you watch Netflix or surf Youtube at least once a week, don’t you? Or spend your time watching Instagram stories or lives, perhaps? Don’t worry—so do we!

Video content receives a lot of attention, and the statistics don’t lie: according to a report by creative agency We Are Social, the average engagement rate for Facebook page video posts is the highest amongst all formats.

(credits: We Are Social Digital 2020 Singapore Report)

The popularity of video content will continue increasing too. The average global online video consumption per person reportedly rose at the average rate of 32% a year between 2013 and 2018[i]. That’s not all:  Zenith’s Online Video Forecasts 2019 report has also predicted that the average person will watch 100 minutes of online video in 2021, up from 84 minutes in 2019[ii]. This means that an average person with 7 hours of sleep will spend around 10% of their waking life watching videos alone! This makes video a format you shouldn’t ignore.

Just why exactly are videos so well-received, though? Videos encompass both visuals and audio, for one thing, which engages our senses more. Our brains are also hard wired for motion, due to survival insincts, causing us to pause to assess whether a movement is a threat or something we should pay attention to[iii]. This could be why we linger on a page with a video for longer as compared to a page with just text!

Where can you apply video skills to?

1) Personal branding

Create simple profile videos to stand out from the crowd on networking sites such as LinkedIn, or content sites like YouTube and blogs! When done well, you’ll be better able to showcase your personality and create a stronger first impression. A profile video should be brief and engaging: be clear about its purpose and who your target audience is, craft a script with well-defined talking points, practice, and get filming!

If you need time to get used to being in front of a camera, don’t worry. You can still create a profile video using images and graphics first. If it needs a little jazz, embellish with text and a voice-over! You can choose to build your video with the help of video software or PowerPoint, which has an “export as video” option.

That’s not all, however! Videos are also one way to share your knowledge; sharing content that adds value will help you to grow your following, establish credibility, and position you as an authority in your respective field(s). This will increase the likelihood of people in your community turning to you when they require the services you can offer.

2) Personal life

You’ll be able to create simple videos for family celebrations, your social media accounts, travelogues reminisce on your adventures, or whenever you feel like it! Doesn’t that sound wonderful?

3) At the workplace

You might not have ambitions to become a professional video editor or videographer, but basic knowledge in video-related skills will definitely be useful. According to LinkedIn, video production came in tenth on a list of in-demand hard skills for 2020[iv]. If you’re looking to go into the marketing or media fields, in particular, live video and short films are two trends to watch.

How do I get started?

1. Familiarise yourself with your equipment

If you’re not sure whether you’ll take a shine to video, don’t worry! You don’t have to invest in fancy equipment like DSLRs or full-sized tripods just yet. You already have a good camera to experiment with!

The smartphone cameras of today have excellent image quality and can shoot in RAW (uncompressed) format, which is great for beginners. Knowing your phone’s camera app well will help you maximise its functions—and there are many tutorials on the internet will help you with this.

You can also download free camera apps, or invest in a paid one that will give you more control over your phone camera’s focus, exposure, frame rates, and many other features. When you decide that you want to pursue things further, consider upgrading to a DSLR or mirrorless camera.

The thing is that the techniques and know-how matter more than the tools and equipment you use. Once you learn the tricks of the trade from an expert, no one can tell that your video is made from a smartphone with a free app.

2. Take a course

You can read articles or watch videos here and there but nothing beats taking a class with a structured curriculum to fast track your learning. Guided courses are also great for individuals who find themselves lost at where to begin, and would like some assistance. Once you’ve mastered the basics of how to shoot video, and have picked up some video editing techniques, go ahead and film videos to amaze yourself!

__

We hope we’ve helped you better understand the relevance of video production skills and how it’s a skill that’ll benefit everyone. If you’ve some free time to spare, why not pull out any cameras you have and start learning now? Digital Senior has planned a series of videography modules, for example, which will teach you how to craft great content that will persuade and increase conversions with just your smartphone and a few awesome apps!

#excites

We’ll be launching it soon, so watch this space!

[i] https://www.zenithmedia.com/online-video-viewing-to-reach-100-minutes-a-day-in-2021/

[ii]ibid

[iii] https://www.convergent.com/resources/the-human-brain-hardwired-for-motion/

[iv] https://learning.linkedin.com/blog/learning-thought-leadership/most-in-demand-skills-2020