5 tips to make your own video pitch

A video is the means to show who you are, and more importantly: what you have to offer. And you also made it (without expensive equipment) like this! In this article, you will find 5 tips for a good video pitch.

As a television presenter, you are used to cameras. Large, expensive cameras that sometimes drive back and forth on their own and even hand you your text on a silver platter. Then it is not very obvious that you say that you can also easily make fantastic videos with your smartphone and a selfie stick (yes, such a stupid thing). But still, I do. I encourage everyone to show themselves on video.

Grab attention with a video

It immediately draws attention on social media: a video. And when you come to a site of an entrepreneur, who has a video there, you quickly think 'have a look. Because a video is made quickly and is the means to show who you are, and more importantly: what you have to offer.

The stretch is far from over. Edelman, one of the largest PR agencies in the world, released a report on digital marketing trends in early 2016. It states that the role of video is only becoming more important, in the battle for the customer. The consumer has so much information overload that a short film is a welcome change. It's palatable, informative, or amusing and sticks better.

But now it's your turn. How do you record a successful video pitch? How do you ensure that you come across as natural? And can you do that without expensive equipment? I give 5 tips for your successful video pitch.

Tip 1. Don't just spoon up your resume

Don't just fill out your resume ("I'm Laura and I've been working as a chef for 20 years"), but tell them what you can do for the viewer. Share the result of your craftsmanship ("I'm Laura, and with my passion for vegetables I cook an unforgettable vegetarian menu for you").

Make sure to address your viewer right away. Ask questions and identify a problem your viewer might be having. Make sure it's not just about you. But of course, you want to show who you are. And then we come to the next tip.

Tip 2. Be personal

Be personal! Why did you roll into this business? What did you ever run into, but did you fight for each other anyway? Nowadays you can no longer click open a marketing blog without running into the concept of storytelling. How important are we about it! Is it so hard to tell a story? There is nothing more natural. Whether at the coffee machine, in the pub, or at a birthday, with or without butterball.

The art is to convey that same feeling. Suppose I were to ask you: who was your first kiss with? Then you start digging, and all kinds of images come up. Music from that time. How do you feel?. That's what a real story feels like. You see it in front of you and you live with it. Share some of your personal experiences with vivid details. It doesn't have to belong, because:

Tip 3. Keep it short and simple

Keep it short and simple. Three minutes is an eternity. You probably want to share and tell a lot, but dare to choose. Too often I see that the speaker assumes too much of the viewer's foreknowledge. But if I happen to see your story on LinkedIn, I don't know exactly what you're doing and what your specialism is. So keep it simple and avoid jargon. It's about showing what kind of fun type you are, and what you have to offer.

Then attach a concrete action to it. The call to action, yes! Invite to look further on your site, like your Facebook page, or sign up for your newsletter. Don't let it end in thin air.

Tip 4. Use simple tools

Use simple tools. You can film fine with your smartphone. Keep it wide (if I could give a tip, this is it. That's so often forgotten!)

Feel free to grab a selfie stick. This gives you just that little bit more distance from your face. Otherwise, your nose will be slightly magnified (yes, it is). Make sure the light is good, daylight is the best. And that you are there with your face in it. If you want to spend something on your films, I would invest in a microphone, a tie clip (aff.), because the sound must be good.

Feel free to grab a selfie stick. This gives you just that little bit more distance from your face. Otherwise your nose will be slightly enlarged. Yes, that's really true.

Tip 5. Go do it!

Go do it! I understand that's very easy to say. It is mainly the doubts that arise. "Don't I look stupid?" “Is my story interesting?” “Don't they think I'm a show-off?” Check with yourself what is holding you back. And then take that criticism seriously. Do you look stupid? I'm sure that's okay. Put on some make-up, or put on a jacket that you feel comfortable in. Maybe you don't feel like Doutzen, but hey, the chances that your viewer is Doutzen-like is very small. Isn't it interesting what you have to say? You can certainly make someone happy with your story or product. That's what you do it for. Not everyone has to like it.

Showing yourself in a video for the first time is terrifying. But once you've conquered yourself, it gets easier. Real. The advantage of filming with your phone is that you can practice a lot and watch it back. So you can do it again and again until you are satisfied. But be careful, don't do that endlessly. Keep your spontaneity and surrender to the camera with enthusiasm. People are curious about who you are. Show it!