If content is king, then video is its beloved princess. You know, the one that everyone adores and always wants to see. Videos pack a punch, give you the ability to communicate a lot in a short time span and are rich in context and practical examples. No wonder the Peakz platform focuses heavily on video content. But, what if you have no clue on how to get started? What about editing, which programs should you use, and what kind of shots always work? Say no more, we’ve got you! You don’t need expensive equipment

Let’s get this out of the way. The cameras on mobile phones have improved so much. Even a four-year old iPhone can create great shots with the right accessoires. Invest in a simple tripod (or gimbal for action shots) so your phone is always stable when you’re showing your audience how to do burpees the right way. A wired clip-on mic or quality headset will sort out your audio needs, and you’re basically good to go. Sure, you can always do more and go further, and maybe you even have friends or family that can help you with kick-ass videos. At the end of the day, it’s not the equipment that matters, but the quality of the shot. Everybody has seen and made a clip on their phone – and that makes it raw, which makes it relatable, so don’t worry about going super professional at the start. When you’re ready, whip out your phone and stick to these tips: 

• Avoid backlighting. Make sure the sun or lights aren’t shining from behind. 

• Get the right frame of shot so people can see what they need to see. 

• If you’re not just talking, make sure your camera is stable 

• Your phone’s mic only works when you’re talking into it really closely, and it sucks when you’re recording outside in the wind. A simple 50-euro clip-on mic with cat’s hair – the fluffy thing that sits on top of the mic’s head – will get rid of any audio issues. 

Angles are your friend

This one is especially important for all you water-sports fanatics: GoPro’s are great, relatively inexpensive and work wherever you go. Are you a skater? Clip them onto your head! Surfer? Same, or even mount them on your board or ankle! Heavy lifter? Get a friend to record you using a gimbal! Mix and match shots from your GoPro with your phone and you’ll easily create dynamic content without the hassle. You don’t even need to switch audio tracks between camera’s – just use your main source and slice in the video from your second source. 

Time for your close-up

Even the oldest of phones will have camera software that allows you to freeze-frame, go into slow-mo, create a timelapse or add some funky effects. If you’re showing specific techniques, slow-motion can be especially useful. Want to insert some humor? Act sad and overlay a rainy lens on your cam, or do random close-ups a la Davie504. As long as it’s raw and authentic. The main point is this: Don’t just stand in front of your camera and talk. With a few effects and some editing, you can easily create something more dynamic, thus more engaging. 

Beginning, middle, end 

Whether you’re editing, scripting or just shooting, you’re creating a story. And every story has a beginning, a middle and an end. So how does that translate into a video? Well, it could be: 

• An introduction to what this video is about (Beginning)

• The thing the video is actually about, e.g. “The right way to do deadlifts” (Middle) 

• A recap of what they’ve been taught and a call to action to be a part of your success (End) 

Of course, one video doesn’t have to just be one video. Content takes time to create, so the more you can repurpose it, the better. For example, let’s say you created a 25-minute video on “How I surprise my opponents in a tennis match” – that’s a pretty cool topic. But it doesn’t have to end there. That could be the long-form version of your video; you could also take the 5 key takeaways or highlights, cut those up, merge them into a 5-minute video and post that on your Peakz channel. You didn’t have to shoot anything new: all you did was some extra editing. 

There are a lot of ways to approach your video content. The best thing is to try out and see what works. The videos with the most reactions will show you the format your audience prefers. 

Use these free programs to edit

Ok, we’re not software reviewers so we’ll keep this brief and just stick to what we’ve tried, but here goes: 1. Lightworks. It’s free, it’s powerful, but it has a slightly steeper learning curve than other programs. 

2. Hitfilm Express. Brilliant program, a bit easier to use, but very heavy on your system. If you use this, make sure you save often and you have a computer or Mac with a powerful processor and enough RAM. 

3. iMovie. Ok, so this is for Mac users only, but it’s a great piece of kit that will get you started until you’re ready to upgrade to something else. It’s powerful, easy to use and costs exactly zero dineros. 

Or don’t edit at all 

There’s one thing a simple selfie-video or iPhone 10 and a tripod have that an expensive camera set up can never have, and that’s authenticity. Why? Because everyone creates them, so they’re easier to relate to. Raw content can be incredibly powerful, especially when you’re not creating a tutorial video but you’re focusing on the emotions before a match, the thrill of winning something or just want to have a real, down-to-earth talk with your fans and scouts. 

Take one, ready! Well, that’s it. You’re ready to create your videos. Remember, before you shoot: 

• Script or at least roughly sketch the beginning, middle and end of your video 

• Make sure you have different angles – get a friend for this! 

• Play around with your editing software before you commit to posting something on a specific date 

• Know your (inexpensive) equipment

• AND HAVE FUN! 

Once you get the hang of it, you can create and bust out a video in no time.