I sell promo videos for a food Instagram page and it’s a wonderful gig.
Now the page I work for is established with an audience. The guy I work with understands how to choose video content and the nuances of the algorithm. There’s a lot that goes into creating a successful social media enterprise.
However there is a huge demand for people that need content created for them.
When I say huge, I mean there are so many untapped industries I wouldn’t even recommend jumping on the food bandwagon at this point. Unless you get hired by a page like me.
That being said you can get your hustle on selling content to businesses.
Every single industry needs people to film videos for them
Someone had to pull up in a studio and film this ad for this sidewalk snow plow.
If you walk up the street of any commercial block and count the number of businesses, you could find over a hundred within 10 minutes of walking. Every single one of them needs to advertise. I am almost willing to bet most of them aren’t able to handle it in house.
While it’s not logistically hard to make a video, it does take time that most business owners would otherwise be investing in other things.
This is a wonderful opening that agencies have been jumping on for years, and thankfully for you young grasshopper, overcharging them.
You can create a video and edit it for free on your phone
Go to your app store and download Capcut.
Invest in a good phone with a proper camera. Despite all the broke talk about holding on to a phone from 2018, if you want to compete with video quality, get something from 2022 or later. If you can’t afford it, and you want to be a video person, lock yourself into a phone contract (not real financial advice, go talk to an advisor if needed).
I’m about to get the iPhone 16 Pro Max just for the enhancement on video quality.
Once you can film, you can take the time to learn how to edit. YouTube has a ton of tutorials. So does TikTok.
Get good.
Do a little market research into how other people make videos
A video is a bunch of shots put together in a sequence that looks cool.
Once you spend some time in a video editor seeing how videos get made, you won’t look at content the same. You’ll start noticing how each creator shoots and what edits they chose to make. Slowly but surely you’ll see the pieces that make up the video as you consume the whole.
As you come across things you like, you can start to incorporate them into the video you make.
What’s important is that you understand what people are doing in that industry.
Jewellers make different videos than restaurants, which are also different videos than financial advisors.
Once you figure out what looks interesting to you it’s time to start hunting.
Pound the pavement and get your money up
Let's say you end up somewhere with a lot of vendors like when Imagine Monkland held it’s street fair, this is an opportunity for you.
You can walk through the festival and literally film content for every single vendor you see. Talk with them, let them know you are making a recap video of the event. Let them know you are available to make something for them.
Don’t try too hard to sell, aim to get some good footage. Get them interested. After the fact send them the video and let them know if they are interested you can talk money.
Be willing to offer it at low prices. You already made the thing. Any money beats no money.
In the beginning you need a portfolio and people willing to say you are wonderful to work with.
Make yourself look as professional as possible
Once you understand your product and have a few clients to validate your ego, it’s time to get professional with it.
You need somewhere people can view your work. You can start with a social media page but since you have money coming in now, you can invest in a basic website. I recommend watching some Chris Do content. He can help you upscale your brand. Go from thirsty newcomer pricing to high value clients.
The truth is you can really flip a cell phone and Capcut into an enterprise if you grind it out.
While being a social media influencer is a whole thing, being a video gun for hire is an interesting gig. You just need to be willing to go out there and find that work. However glamorous it may, or may not be.
Literally anyone can do it, even though a lot of it is probably boring at first when you don’t understand it.
You can learn and find beauty in the pain of the process.
Live long and Prosper Everyone
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