Thread by @Machiz, If your goal for 2021 is to get more into content creation, [...]

If your goal for 2021 is to get more into content creation, you’ve come to the right place

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Over the last 7 months, I created an original video series called Mission Driven for Nasdaq

Here’s some of what I learned about video content creation this year

There are

five key pillars

of the show’s success and I’ll dive into each of them:

Set and Production

Equipment

Attention Hacking

Community Building

Cross-Platform Distribution

Your set needs to look professional. For example, I redecorated my kitchen to look more like a fancy coffee shop, @ratemyskyperoom where you at?

Production Quality is paramount, people expect a Netflix-level graphics package even on Facebook, Instagram, and YT so this is the place to invest - there are a ton of amazing Motion Graphics peeps on @Upwork that can kill it

Remember to check out their portfolio and schedule a consultation before you hire to make sure you guys are on the same page

Equipment matters, especially when you are conducting interviews over zoom, in order of importance:

Streaming Tech

Lighting

Video

Audio

Streaming Tech:

If you are recording an interview remotely, a webcam won’t cut it. I highly recommend any of the Magewell Streaming cards. They are by far the most reliable.

These are MADE for HQ streaming. The 4K one isn’t necessary, get this one:

Lighting:

A poorly lit set ruins the whole taping, this isn’t a Christopher Nolan film

Aastra Litepanels has been my go-to for years. However, if you are looking to do this on the cheap, an influencer ring light from Amazon will work too.

Lighting:A poorly lit set ruins the whole taping, this isn’t a Christopher Nolan film Aastra Litepanels has been my go-to for years. However, if you are looking to do this on the cheap, an influencer ring light from Amazon will work too.

Video:

My goto for cameras is Sony. I use a Sony A7SIII, but if you want to start at a lower price point grab the Sony ZV1 just don’t forget to purchase a Micro HDMI to HDMI cable so that you can attach it to your streaming card

Audio - Recording:

Professional audio is a must, even if it’s not being used for a podcast there is nothing worse than echoey audio

I recommend getting either the Zoom H8 recorder or the Tasman DR 40. Both are great and easy to use

Audio - Microphone:

Attach your audio recorder to a lavalier Microphone taped inside your shirt. This isn’t Love Island, nobody wants to see your mic pack. Avoid noise disruption by using a mic cover. Typically these are included with the mics

Attention Hacking

Now that we’ve covered equipment we need to talk about good internet videos in 2020. To build traffic with younger audiences, quick jump cuts, music, sound effects, and captions within the videos are all necessary

As we digitize everything, people's attention spans are growing shorter and shorter. This is inevitable and can be a good thing! The first 5

seconds of any video are pivotal, you need a hook that will captivate them enough to stick around

A few examples of people who've done this successfully
- Emma Chaimberlain
- David Dobrik
- Liza Koshy
- Kennedy Walsh

I made the mistake of not doing this for the first few episodes. In later episodes, we switched to creating custom intros that let viewers know what you are getting into and why it’s worth their time

Facebook Analytics can help you learn too. Realizing when people tune out can teach you a lot about what keeps people tuned in

Community Building:

A good video is important, but without viewers that come back, it’s a little empty. Building a community with interactivity can help.

Don’t be a host, You have to make your personality accessible to the community. They shouldn't feel like they're watching a "content creator," they should feel like they're learning from a friend

Content Distribution:

For FB Watch and YouTube, make your cover art is captivating and title your video something intriguing.

For example, David Dobrik's iconic first vlog video back in 2015 was titled "I MICROWAVED MY DOG?!?!?!" Be creative but not hacky"

Thumbnails can be a big make or break, make sure to put time and effort into your thumbnail. Much like a corporate logo, a viewer should be able to look at your thumbnail and immediately know what the vibe of the video is going to be.

Huge hack for video cutdowns if you don’t have a production team, use @kamuadotcom to create short-form content for:

IGTV

Instagram Stories

TikTok

That’s my two cents! If others have started a video series this year, what did you learn? Share it with me!

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