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Apr 25, 2019

Today on Just the Tips, Dean and I welcome a friend of mine who knows a thing or two about the one thing that every online business wants to use more of, but remains elusive: video. You hear constantly that you need to have more video on your website, on your Instagram, on a YouTube channel. But how do you cut through all the noise to make your videos stand out and connect with your audience? Dallin talks about how he created a story framework that helps business owners tell their stories to their audience in an authentic way. He’s traveled the globe working with entrepreneurs to make amazing videos, and we’re lucky to have him with us today.

Why video is so important to businesses

As Dallin says, the Internet today is lousy with video. Anyone with a smartphone and a Facebook account can go live at any moment. But there’s a big difference between throwaway or immediate video and what Dallin calls intent-based video. And being able to tell a story that compels an audience is a difficult but worthwhile venture for businesses. Using video to connect with an audience happens when there is the emotional connection between you and your audience. You want to create videos where your audience can see themselves in your video. And that, Dallin says, is where connection happens.

What’s the number-one stumbling block for people with video?

A lot of times people make excuses for why they’re not putting out more video. They may not have the right equipment, the right space or the time to put into it. But really, Dallin says, what holds people back most of the time is fear of judgment. Being willing to have open, honest conversations is a very difficult thing. But if you’re able to pinpoint what your story is, and you get comfortable telling your story, then taking that to video will be that much easier. As Dallin says, start small. Turn on your phone and go live, and you’ll soon get used to being on video.

How to start making videos

As Dallin says, making a video does not have to be a major production when you’re starting out. If you’re having trouble figuring out what to talk about, he says that every good video is some variation of hook, story, offer. So a lot of times all you have to do is talk about what you’re up to. And as he says, get away from the high points. People want you to be authentic, and if all you’re doing is getting on video and talking about how awesome everything is, you’re going to fail that test. So get on, talk about what you’re doing, what’s happening with your family, or if you’re like Dean, the fact that you haven’t seen Star Wars and you’re a heathen.

Your video has to have a purpose

When Dallin says to start recording in order to shake the jitters out, he’s not talking about doing it just to do it. As he says, you need to have a hook. You need to have a sense of what you’re going to talk about. So it might be as simple as declaring what the video is going to be about. Or it could be where you are geographically, and how that ties into your entrepreneurial journey. It doesn’t have to be scripted, but you should know where you want to go by the end of the video. Dallin is full of great advice for anyone who is interested in dipping their toes into video, and this is a can’t-miss episode of Just the Tips.

Outline of This Episode

  • [3:24] James comes on a little strong
  • [5:17] How Dallin got into video and storytelling
  • [9:34] Fear of judgment holds people back
  • [13:25] How to break the ice
  • [16:40] Starting out with video
  • [20:19] The hero’s journey
  • [22:24] Identify the purpose of your video
  • [25:20] Story therapy
  • [30:30] Be okay to be at the beginning

Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

Resources Mentioned

Connect With James and Dean

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