Video-First Marketing
Why DIY Video Underperforms
14 min
why most diy business videos underperform (and how to fix that) why diy business videos often fail many businesses attempt to create their own videos, only to realize that the results fall short in engagement, conversions, and professionalism while diy video creation may seem cost effective, it often leads to missed opportunities, weak brand positioning, and lower roi the harsh reality of diy video production 68% of marketers say video content performs better when produced professionally (source hubspot) 80% of consumers say low quality video affects their perception of a brand (source wyzowl) only 25% of diy videos meet professional storytelling and production standards (source forbes) if your diy videos aren’t delivering measurable results, it’s likely because of common production pitfalls let’s break them down and explore how to fix them common pitfalls of diy video production 1\ poor lighting & low video quality problem shadows, poor exposure, and grainy footage make videos look unprofessional fix use three point lighting (key light, fill light, backlight) or shoot in natural light why professional video is worth it high end cameras and studio lighting produce cinematic visuals that build brand credibility 2\ weak audio & background noise problem viewers will tolerate low quality visuals , but they won’t forgive bad audio fix invest in an external microphone and record in quiet environments why professional video is worth it high end microphones and audio post processing eliminate background noise, making content sound crisp and clear 3\ unclear messaging & lack of structure problem many diy videos lack storytelling structure and fail to guide viewers fix follow a proven script format (hook → problem → solution → cta) why professional video is worth it experienced video producers storyboard, script, and structure content for maximum engagement and conversions 4\ poor editing & visual inconsistency problem jump cuts, bad transitions, and uneven pacing make videos hard to watch fix use professional editing software like adobe premiere pro or davinci resolve why professional video is worth it professional editors create polished, high impact visuals that increase watch time by 52% (source wistia) 5\ lack of branding & visual identity problem inconsistent fonts, colors, and graphics make the video feel disconnected from the brand fix use a brand style guide for all video assets why professional video is worth it professional design and motion graphics reinforce brand recognition, increasing conversion rates by 23% (source animoto) 6\ poor engagement & retention problem diy videos often fail to hold attention past the first 10 seconds fix optimize for short form engagement (hooks, captions, dynamic visuals) why professional video is worth it professionally produced videos retain 62% more viewers beyond the first 30 seconds (source vidyard) the roi of professional video production investing in professional video pays off significantly in engagement, lead generation, and sales here’s why 1\ higher conversion rates 86% of marketers say video content drives higher conversions than any other content format (source hubspot) landing pages with professional video see a 80% increase in conversions (source unbounce) 2\ more social shares & brand exposure videos with high production quality get 12x more shares than low quality videos (source brightcove) social media algorithms prioritize professionally produced videos , leading to higher organic reach (source facebook business) 3\ better seo & discoverability professional videos keep visitors on site longer, improving seo rankings by 53% (source forrester) youtube ranks high quality videos more favorably, leading to better search visibility (source google search central) 4\ stronger brand trust & authority 64% of consumers are more likely to trust brands with high quality video content (source wyzowl) testimonials and case study videos boost trust and credibility more than static testimonials (source nielsen) final takeaways should you diy or invest in professional video? diy video works if you’re experimenting with content or creating informal behind the scenes videos you have some production skills and access to decent equipment you’re making short form social content where high production value isn’t critical professional video is essential if you want high impact brand storytelling that converts leads into customers you’re producing video ads, website content, or educational series for long term brand growth you need motion graphics, professional editing, and a polished visual identity want expert help building a video first marketing strategy? book a consultation with look studios sources & further reading hubspot why professional video outperforms diy marketing content retrieved from hubspot com https //www hubspot com/ wyzowl 2024 state of video marketing report retrieved from wyzowl com https //www wyzowl com/ think with google how video quality impacts brand perception retrieved from thinkwithgoogle com https //www thinkwithgoogle com/ animoto how branding affects video engagement & conversions retrieved from animoto com https //www animoto com/ wistia video retention & engagement benchmarks retrieved from wistia com https //www wistia com/ brightcove why high quality videos get more shares retrieved from brightcove com https //www brightcove com/ facebook business how the algorithm ranks video content retrieved from facebook com/business https //www facebook com/business