Promotional videos have become an essential tool for businesses (big and small) to attract new customers, showcase the products or services they offer, and increase their brand awareness. However, many smaller businesses are reluctant to delve into creating videos as they believe it requires a hefty budget. Of course, a bigger budget will help dramatically in pre and post-production, but that doesn’t mean that a smaller budget can’t be just as good. With a little creativity and resourcefulness, you can produce a high-quality promotional video that captivates your audience without breaking the bank.
The Power of Video Marketing
Before we share our tips on creating a promotional video on a small budget, let's quickly point out why video marketing is so effective (and why you should give it a go!):
Engagement. Videos have the power to grab an audience's attention and keep them there far more effectively than text or images alone. They allow you to convey your message in a visually appealing way while also supplying them with all the information they need.
Brand Personality. Videos allow you to express your brand’s personality and values. This helps to cement the connection you have with your audience and allows them to build trust in your brand as they feel like they know who you are and what you’re about.
Increased Conversions. People are visual. Look at Instagram for example - it’s full of creative and visual people sharing amazing images and videos. Being able to create your own eye-catching videos will be a real booster to your conversions.
Our Top Tips for Creating a Budget-Friendly Promotional Video
Creating a promotional video on a small budget (and without professional help) can be difficult. That’s why we’ve put together the following tips to help you get started.
1. Plan Your Video
You should always start by outlining the key message you want to convey and the goals you hope to achieve with your video. Creating a clear plan will help streamline the production process and ensure that you stay within the budget you have set. Plus, it makes for a smoother and easier filming day if you already know the shots you want to get!
2. Utilise Free Editing Tools
Once you’ve filmed your video and you’re happy with the shots you’ve got, it’s time to edit. This process can be daunting - especially if you’re not an editing expert. That’s why we would suggest using free editing tools to help you get started. Software such as Adobe Premier Rush or CapCut are great free tools that have everything you’ll need for a beginner.
3. DIY Filming
These days it’s hard to come by someone who doesn’t have a smartphone with a high-quality camera. If you’ve not got the budget to splurge on buying a camera or hiring a videographer, try utilising the equipment you already have - your phone. You’ll need to pay attention to lighting and audio quality to ensure your video looks and sounds professional, but if you want to create footage for social media, your phone could get the job done!
4. Tap into User-Generated Content
User-generated content is anything from footage of customers using your products in real-life situations to reviews and testimonials. This type of information can be super easy to get your hands on, and quick to put together. Plus, if you want videos specifically for social media, user-generated content is a current go-to trick.
5. Keep it Short
Attention spans are short, especially on social media platforms. Aim to keep your promotional video short and ideally under two minutes in length. Focus on conveying your message and grabbing the audience's attention within the first few seconds of the footage. Otherwise, they might just keep scrolling.
6. Use What You’ve Got
When working with a small, or zero budget, you might not have the funds to hire actors and amazing locations for the video. Unfortunately, your big plans to film a train heist will have to wait until your next video. What you can do, however, is plan around the things you have at your disposal. Need your video to feature “customers”? Use your most outgoing and friendly staff members - with their permission of course! We’re sure an extended lunch break and the promise of being the star of the show could convince them! The same goes for the location(s). There are loads of free, interesting places you can go and film - just try not to get unsuspecting people clearly in the background.
7. Optimise for Mobile
Creating a promotional video is not just about getting the right shots. It’s about making sure your video can be watched on multiple devices and screen sizes once you put it out there. Mobile is one of, if not the main device people will watch your promo vid on. So, make sure it’s optimised for those screen sizes - there’s nothing worse than watching a squished, pixelated video, no matter how gripping the concept is.
Create a promotional video on a small budget
Creating a promotional video on a small budget is entirely doable if you’re dedicated, organised, and creative enough. But we know that not everyone will have the time (and maybe patience) to plan out, film, and edit a full video. This is where we come in.
Here at S2 Pictures we understand that it can be hard to invest big bucks into footage, even if it’s for marketing purposes. That’s why we strive to help out as many small businesses, and people with smaller budgets as possible. We will be honest from the get-go and explain exactly what we can do within your budget and if we are the right fit for you or not. After that, you can sit back, relax, and watch us do all the heavy lifting that is video production. Not only will you get two professional videographers for the price of one (each with a 4K quality camera) but you’ll also get full creative control alongside our experience and guidance, a completed project edited to your specifications, and 2 free amendments in case there’s anything you aren’t quite sure of! If all this sounds great, and you think we could be what you’re looking for, reach out and ask us any questions you may have, we will be happy to assist!