Online Hair Businesses Excel with Video Marketing
Video marketing has become the most effective way to share information, demonstrate product use, and show viewers how knowledgeable you are on a topic. Tons of small businesses use video to market their hair companies and see growth in revenue, views, and
engagement on social media. Many of you may feel a little out of place when it comes to creating a video. I can understand because it can be hard to look at yourself and not judge every little thing you see on the screen. The other obstacle many of you face is not knowing where to get started. That’s okay because your girl has you covered. I’m going to share with you how to get over the fear of being in front of the camera and how to set up your home studio to get started. Go ahead and press play on your Drake playlist and let's get into it! I suggest you get a pen and paper so you can take notes that you will refer back to later.
Get Over The Obstacles of Creating Videos
Businesses create videos to share relevant information about their products. Before we get into the details of building your video here are a few reasons you may be hesitant about making them and how you can get over these obstacles. The following are some of the most significant stumbling blocks for business owners in creating videos: The fear of being on camera is a big issue for most business owners. If you are camera shy get someone in your family, a friend, or
a brand ambassador to be in the videos for you. You may not have a clue what to say on camera. If you answer the who, what, when, where, and why of your business you’ll be fine. If you don’t have the right equipment, this can hinder you as well. I love Shameless Maya! She has a tech time playlist on youtube that you may want to check out.
Basic at Home Studio Setup
Most people think they have to break the bank to create a video setup and that’s not true. When you are researching equipment that your peers use you may get overwhelmed at the cost of it all. You may feel as if you'll have to take out a loan just to get started but this isn’t true. I set up my own at home studio, and it’s always changing. I like to switch out backdrops and try out different aesthetics to add variety to my videos. Below are some suggestions to get you started.
Backdrops
Backdrops are a cost-effective and versatile way to change the look of your videos. They come in 4 feet, 6 feet, and 9 feet rolls. The best thing about them is they give you a head to toe look without breaking the color up.
Backdrop Option #1
You can also use fabric from fabric stores to use as a background. The type of material you buy will depend on the look you want To achieve in your video. Purchase about three yards of fabric to make sure you have enough to create a full background. Do you have any blankets around the house? They can be used as well for your backdrop. I love to pull out my white furry one to give my videos a soft yet clean appearance. I have a few tips about the look of your background because I think they are essential for you to give particular attention. Always keep your backgrounds in a color theme to help you
maintain brand continuity.
Tip #1
For example, my colors are teal, yellow, and black. I can use those colors as well as neutral colors like white, brown, and even a shimmery fabric. Purple, however, is not my brand color, so I will not use it. Trust me. It helps to keep your videos on a constant theme and visibly appealing on your YouTube channel.
Tip #2
Think about what videos you will create before you purchase your background material. If you don’t, you will spend a lot of money on something you don’t like or fell out of love with.
Tip #3
You can always choose black and white colors to get started. They never fail you!
Backdrop Option #2
Tape your backdrop up or use thumbtacks yup keep them in place. I prefer thumbtacks because tape can peel paint off your wall. Plus thumbtacks are more comfortable to use, and the holes are minimal.
Backdrop Option #3
Another option is a clothes rack. Making a clothing rack cost me about $25 but it also makes a great portable backdrop stand for videos as well. You can use tape or clamps to attach your background paper to the rack. Having a rack is good because you can make videos without having to move furniture around or struggle as much with getting the right lighting.
Lights
Lighting is going to be a crucial, if not the most critical, part of your video setup. I purchased my first light kit from Amazon for around $70. The kit I bought came with three lights stands, three bulbs, a carrying case, and umbrellas. It works well, but I need more light when I am filming, and there’s not enough natural light in the room to give my videos the clarity I need. My go-to light is the
ring light I purchased. The reason I love it is because I can adjust the light to the intensity/brightness I want and place it directly where I want my view to be. Depending on how it looks on video, sometimes I will use lights from my light kit as fill lights. Shadow boxes are perfect too because they help balance the light in your videos and get rid of pesky shadows. Your primary light placement will be with a light on each side of you and one in front of you. Adjust the height of the lights to get your video just how you want it to look.
Natural Light
For natural light, you will need to place your chair in front of a window. Place your camera between you and the window. You will be facing the window, so you are using the natural light to your advantage. The area you are filming should be clean and branded. Have your wig setup on a foam head or have a business flyer in a frame with flowers next to it. People need to know who you are and what you do without you saying a word. You will need to understand how to use your camera to set your settings appropriately to get the best look at your videos.
Cameras
I have a Canon Rebel, and I am still learning how to use it. You can purchase the Canon EOS 70D which everyone says is a great camera. I like it because it has a flip-out screen and silent autofocus. The zoom lens is excellent for full face shots or close-ups. Always get a tripod for your camera. Don’t guess on the type of tripod you need because you don’t want to take a chance on your camera falling! If your camera does not have auto Focus, then you can purchase a remote that will help you to focus your camera when you're taking video or photos. So research a little bit and find out what type of camera your favorite YouTuber or vlogger is using. If there’s a company on Instagram with bomb photos, then you can use a hey what kind of camera do you use?
Smartphone
Your smartphone is an excellent option for videos as well. You can edit your videos (with an app) and upload them quickly. You can attach your phone to a tripod or a cool adjustable mount to attach anywhere so you can record hands-free. The key to your phone is to make sure your exposure and lighting are on point. Open your video on your phone. To manage the exposure press the screen until “AE Lock” shows up and you can adjust the lighting. Press the screen wherever you want the light to be and lock it so it won’t change. Use your back camera on your phone to get a better visual. You can set up your lights just like I mentioned above or you can use natural light.
Audio
You can use the audio on your camera or smartphone. You can also use voiceover after you have filmed your video. It’s entirely up to you but makes sure your quality is good, and viewers will be able to understand what you are saying.
Get to Making Those Videos
Okay! The information above provided you with a crash course on how to get started making your videos! It is not as hard as you think it is. Get over your fear by creating live audios on Facebook. I like doing this because it gets me use to my voice and I can focus on the content I am sharing. However, as an online hair company, you will want to use more video versus audio to share information and educate your audience. Next, I will share some great editing options and how to create a filming schedule to keep brand continuity and take the guesswork out of shooting videos. Vidoe is going anywhere, and people want to know if you know what you are talking about when you
promote your hair extensions. You have to get comfortable in front of the camera or choose someone to represent your company in videos. I hope this helps you get started! Comment below with any questions you may have. We love helping you grow your business!
