We all know how important video is. We hear it at every keynote, read it in every white paper. But the problem is: what does the concrete implementation look like? How do we achieve the best video routine for our daily lives?

Even though with cofenster we try to make video creation as easy and fast as possible, it is still up to the users themselves to establish an effective and sustainable video strategy and routine to achieve the greatest effect.

However, establishing a new routine often turns out to be more difficult than expected.

"I made a bet with our Head of Product to see who could produce more videos in two weeks. I found it shocking how hard it is to integrate videos into your everyday life."

Olli Wegner, CPO cofenster

Start with short 20-30 second videos to begin with. The content doesn't always have to be planned in detail. For example, record a video at the beginning of the day in which you tell what you have on your to-do list today or celebrate small successes in everyday work!

💡cofenster Tip: Even if you don't like to stand in front of the camera, you can become a video professional! For example, film your workplace or your lunch.

Block certain times in your calendar, add video recording to your to-do list or let your smartphone remind you if you haven't recorded a video yet. Depending on how you prefer to be reminded, use it! You'll see that you'll find it easier to remember day by day. Maybe after a few weeks you won't need a reminder at all.

Rewards help build a sustainable routine. For some, just putting a check mark next to the to-do helps. Some others reward themselves with a favorite meal at lunch. Use whatever you need to stay motivated.

💡cofenster Tip: Share your videos with your colleagues and challenge them to a video challenge! This can not only strengthen your own motivation, but also the feeling of togetherness in your team!

It doesn't matter if you're at home or in the office. It's important that you find a suitable place where you can record your video. This will help you establish a video routine and save you a lot of time. This way you don't have to worry about finding the ideal place to film every time, and you can focus on the video itself. A good preparation creates space for the focus during the video recording and is already half the battle for a successful video project.

There are three simple steps you can take to create the perfect video setting:

Look for large windows! Natural light is the best and cheapest light source for your video. Read more about lighting conditions here.

Close all windows and doors! Make sure that you can record your video in peace and quiet and that the background noise doesn't interfere with your video. For more information on how to get the best sound quality for your videos, check out this article.

Make sure that the place where you record your video doesn't convey clutter. We have summarized more tips for the perfect background for you here.

Whether we produce videos for external purposes, e.g. social media or our website, or for internal purposes, e.g. employee presentations on the intranet. Our main KPI that we want to be measured by is engagement. In plain language, this means: How many people respond to our video?

How we make our video really "engaging", i.e. clickable and viewable, we show you now.

We all know the scenario: we are sitting on the train, scrolling through our social media feed and are flooded with content. This already shows us how our comprehension has become shorter and shorter over the last years and decades.
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In the corporate context, it's a little different: videos often have more informative content and are viewed with more attention and focus.
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Nevertheless: get to the point quickly!

💡cofenster Tip: If you want to increase the engagement of your videos, ideally keep them under a minute!

Not every video can handle a one minute length and in some cases it is necessary to split the video into different chapters.
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Take your time to watch your video and think about "What different segments do I have?" The viewers of your videos will be able to follow you better and will also be able to find information better afterwards.

💡cofenster Tip: Use colored backgrounds or images with text elements between video sequences to divide your videos into different chapters.

To keep viewers hooked it also helps to integrate several people, e.g. experts for a certain topic or team members, into a video project.

Think about who you want to reach with your content. For example, if you want attention on social media, avoid a long intro and get straight to the point. However, in the case of an employee introduction, it would actually help to put a longer intro at the beginning of the video.

Many may know the problem, when you are prompted to record a video or when the camera suddenly goes on: stage fright 🤯

There is no guide that works for everyone. Generally, you have to find out for yourself where and when you feel safest to record your video shot.
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We asked the cofenster team and summarized the most common answers for the following tips.

A breathing exercise can help tremendously with focus! Take a few moments to catch your breath before recording, collect yourself and think about what you want to say in your video.

💡cofenster Tip: Keep in mind that you can always retake the video recordings or edit them afterwards. So take your time while speaking and make use of appropriate pauses. Because small slips of the tongue or long pauses in speech can easily be cut out afterwards.

While some prefer to record alone in the home office, there are others who prefer to film in a group and get direct feedback from colleagues.
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Try out different scenarios and find the place where you feel most comfortable in front of the camera!

Good gestures make the person speaking in the video more likeable. You can follow him or her better and the video looks more dynamic.
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Nevertheless, it is important to find a healthy balance. Too little looks bored and too much gesture is distracting.
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Here are a few tricks you can use to improve your gestures:

Often excessive gestures are used when you are nervous. You're in a situation you're not familiar with and you don't know what to do with your hands.
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Read also here how to best deal with stage fright.

💡cofenster Tip: Before your video, practice your story in a mirror or look at your video footage after shooting. Pay attention to your movements in detail and think about how you can improve them in the next video.

Are your arms just hanging limply down your body? Try to get a little movement into it.
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Do your hands look huge and the video seems hectic? Lower your gestures a bit for the next recording.

In some video shots, your hands can be extremely useful. For example, use them when you're making a bulleted list. This will automatically categorize your video and help your viewers follow along and retain information better.
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Also, you don't have to worry about what to do with your hands while recording the video.
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So use your hands and fingers to categorize your video!

Rhythm also plays a decisive role in gestures. Adapt your movements to your speaking speed.
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If you speak quickly, you can also move your hands correspondingly faster.
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If, on the other hand, you are speaking slowly and perhaps discussing a topic that requires a little more explanation, you should also adjust your movements accordingly so as not to distract from the topic and content.

💡cofenster Tip: Use an object, such as a pen or notepad, and hold it in your hand while shooting video. This not only helps you with your hand movements, but also gives you more confidence for your recordings!