There are so many different directions you can go with video content…where to start? Here are some quick tips for generating solid ideas.

Define Your Audience
It’s crucial to figure out who you are trying to reach. What are their demographics and how do they think? What platforms do they use? What style of video are they most accustomed to? What is their attention span? Will you reach them with detailed technical information or a simpler more emotional appeal?

Determine Your Goals
Before you even start brainstorming ideas for video content….begin with the end in mind. What are you hoping to accomplish? How will you measure success? Subscribers? Audience engagement? Email sign-ups? Money raised? It’s important to figure out the metrics to determine if your campaign was successful. Based on your goals, consider any calls to action that need to be incorporated into the finished video.

Consider the Format & Length
Video is sometimes referred to as the “king of all media” because it can serve as a container for many types of audio, visual, and written content. Will your video incorporate live action, music, words, motion graphics, animation, etc? Outline the types of content you envision including in your video. As far as length, videos less than 20 minutes long perform the best online, with the average audience retention for longer videos being about 10 minutes regardless of the total length.

Develop a T-Sheet
Equally important to creating great video content is getting people to click on your video and start watching. This largely depends on a compelling title, thumbnail image, and the first 10 seconds of the video. A handy tool for developing this content is called a T-Sheet. On the top, you write a title for the video. On the left, a quick overview of the video and even a few lines of your intro. On the right, sketch out some ideas for an irresistibly clickable thumbnail.