As a business owner, you likely hear (very often) that one of the best tools in your toolbox for marketing is–VIDEO.
And for good reason. Video connects with emotions in a way that is difficult to replicate. For marketing, video provides more sensory input that any other medium. Just think of the fact that the US film industry is projected to bring in 50 billion dollars in 2020.
But making videos is hard.
Right?
Well when you consider that just 15 years ago, if you wanted to create a video, you had to buy a bulky, awkward camcorder from Circuit City (amiright), and buy tiny little cassette tapes to record.
Fast forward to today…think of how relatively effortless it is to make a short video on the phone in your pocket.
But it never seems to happen.
Or happen at random.
This has been the case for nearly all my clients and students, and even myself, which begs the question–if making videos is fairly easy and it can be extremely effective, then why does making video feel so darn hard?
For this answer, we have to look back in history. Waaaay back!
Although our lives have evolved immensely from our hunter-gatherer days, much of our brain is still the same. Yes, we are still wired for what would keep us alive on the savanna.
This is the reason eating sugar and fat always seems like a good idea. At that time, it was a great strategy to eat as much of them as possible, because you didn’t know when your next meal was coming!
But it is also the reason we don’t want to do anything to risk getting kicked out of the tribe. Tribes were our lifeline–very literally. You had to work in community with others and find a way to stay part of the group.
This is why it hurts so much to be embarrassed–our brains are wired to avoid actions that would get us kicked out of the group.
When you are thinking about video, your work is more public and open to criticism. So a lot of little fears come up…what if what I am saying isn’t really that smart, I say ums a lot, I don’t even know if this is a good topic, the lighting definitely needs and upgrade, I wish I had worn a different outfit, and worst of all…what if they find me out…
Cue fight-or-flight response!
These are all the little ways your brain is desperately trying to protect you. Wow–what a blessing! Your brain is acting on your behalf, and wants you to be happy, and to remain part of the tribe.
But at the expense of growth and future happiness. Just like you can’t sit around all day eating sugar and fat because it feels good, we also can’t stay inside our comfort zone with marketing because it feels better than putting ourselves out there.
So how do you solve it?
Start small.
Start with small videos on Instastories or Facebook, and commit to doing it once or twice a week. You can start small with social, then move up to YouTube a bit when you have a few reps under your belt.
Show your brain, and yourself, that you have something to share with the world through your business. Getting in front of the camera, or your iPhone, allows you to connect with your audience in a meaningful, quick way.
And in the meantime, share your videos with me, I would love to cheer you on!
Warmly,
Amy
Leave a Reply