How to optimise intro videos

Did you know that 82% of all Internet traffic by 2021 is predicted to be video? This is according to a 2017 report by Cisco Visual Networking Index. So, do you have some skin in the game, at least in terms of a compelling intro video for your website and/or your online profiles?

While shooting the video content for my online courses recently, I took advantage of one of our in-studio setups to quickly create a new intro video. Just over a minute long, this welcomes visitors to my website, YouTube channel, LinkedIn profile and Facebook page. Take a look:

 
My first tip for optimising your intro video is to keep it short (max 90 seconds) and to-the-point. I recommend scripting it beforehand, to ensure that you cover all the key points in a concise, engaging way. This is really valuable, whether you plan to use a teleprompter or not. In either case, imagine adding about 10% extra personality and sparkle when you’re presenting your message to the camera, avoiding reading or speaking in a parrot fashion.

We filmed my intro video using two camera angles (tighter and wider shots), so that we could cut between these angles when editing the footage afterwards. This makes your video more interesting to watch and allows you to seamlessly remove mistakes, if you happen to make any. If you only shoot from one angle, then editing out mistakes requires a jump cut (where two similar frames blend into each other), which can be distracting and off-putting to viewers.

Another tip is to open with a question, as our minds are naturally wired to answer questions. This helps to engage your ideal viewers immediately and position your video as being relevant for them, with the potential to help resolve their problems or to fulfil their needs or desires. Also consider including a slide/s that feature important information, such as I’ve done in my video to share my website details. This makes your key points more memorable for your viewers, and it’s easy for them to pause the video and take a screen grab if they want to.

Finally, don’t forget to include a call to action to guide your viewers to the next step that they can take on their journey with you, to help them learn something valuable. For example, I encourage my viewers to subscribe on my website for updates, and to grab their free gift, which is my Free Rock That Lens Intro online course, to help you shine on camera and make it count!

And that’s it for now 🙂 Please let me know below what you think of my new video, and share any ideas or questions that you may have about yours. I look forward to connecting with you!