Influencers with the ability to create a quality sponsored videos are in high demand. Brands are increasingly requesting video content in influencer programs, which is unsurprising considering mobile video consumption rises 100% every year and 80% of users recall a video ad they viewed in the past 30 days. Recipes and how-to tutorials are popular across all verticals, particularly for food, beauty, or DIY brands and products.
Linqia influencers, who are compensated based on how well their content performs, are especially keen to video as 92% of mobile video consumers share videos with others and 64% of users are more likely to buy a product online after watching a video. A well-performing video can help maximize your earnings and increase your click milestone for the next program.
Just ask Sarah Olson, owner of The Magical Slow Cooker, how effective video has been for her Linqia programs. Sarah’s mouthwatering comfort food recipes are especially popular – her “Slow Cooker Baked Spaghetti” recipe video for Ragu has over 196,000 views and 2,200+ shares on Facebook and nearly 25,000 views on YouTube. “I find that there is more engagement [with videos],” Sarah says. “Especially on Facebook – not only does the post do well, I also gain more followers on Facebook from the videos.”
Here are Sarah’s top tips for creating your first sponsored video:
Tip #1: Invest in Equipment
You don’t have to have professional videography equipment, but if you want to create a quality video, it’s best to have a little help so the video isn’t choppy, blurry, or inconsistent.
“I use my Canon 70D (DSLR) and a standard tripod,” Sarah says. “I am using natural lighting right now, but I have been looking into adding artificial light.”
Artificial lighting can help you set the tone and mood when creating videos, which could be particularly effective when shooting to convey a particular theme (spooky Halloween recipes, cozy holiday treats, etc.).
Tip #2: Do a Dry Run
Make sure you’re well prepared by setting up all the ingredients and gathering all the utensils ahead of time.
“Go through the whole video in your head before starting to film,” Sarah advises. “There are so many times where I would have forgotten ingredients and/or cooking tools such as a spatula to stir the dish if I hadn’t gone over it in my head first.”
Doing a dry run saves time because you don’t have to cut filming short and start over for minor things. Dry runs also help build your confidence to create more videos in the future. Your first video won’t be perfect, but practice makes perfect!
Tip #3: Test It Out
If you’re in between Linqia programs, now’s a good time to start testing out video so that you can get a feel for what’s ahead.
“Start your first video with an older recipe (or DIY craft) on your blog so you can get the hang of videotaping,” Sarah says. “Then you’ll be ready to give a quality product to a brand when the opportunity comes your way.”
Select a oldie but goodie from previous posts to use as a guinea pig. By the time your next program rolls around, you should be ready to create a great video!
If there’s one thing Sarah knows about sponsored videos, it’s that it’s never too late to start. When asked what made her start creating videos, she replied, “I saw the engagement other bloggers were getting and I already had everything I needed. I just had to get started.”
Now it’s time for you to get started with video! If you have any questions about working with video in your next sponsored program, feel free to reach out to your Influencer Success Manager.
