Your Simple B-Roll Can Become Easy Reels That Actually Convert

I have some EPIC reels to share with you today as we send off 2024 and head into 2025. I hope you did your homework from last week’s episode, because we are taking content creation seriously in the new year, and it’s going to be the easiest year of content creation yet. Now that we're making content part of our daily routine, let's talk about what you’re going to do with all the B-roll you’ve been capturing over the last week and how to turn it into simple and engaging reels.

In this episode we’ll be covering:

• Skipping the fancy edits to embrace a minimal set up to document daily activities.
• Three different types of text for B-roll: Lists, Random Thoughts, the “Book Reel”
• Repurposing your reels and carousels without hitting copy and paste.
• Creating habits and routines that make it easy for you to capture relatable content throughout the day.
• Examples of successful reels that are currently going viral with simple B-roll videos of mundane activities.

Links to reels in this episode:

• Reel #1: Toddler Snack
• Reel #2: Productivity Coach Habit Stacking
• Reel #3: Podcaster with Headphones
• Reel #4: Workout, Being Uncomfortable
• Reel #5: Hotel Content
• Reel #6: Logo's I redesigned
• Reel #7: How Your Dinner Should Feel

Other episodes you might have missed:

• Episode 017: Turn a Simple Idea into a Reel People Will Love
• Episode 037: Personalization is the Key to Your 2025 Content Strategy
• Episode 039: Transform Your Business in 2025: Top Tips and Trends for Good Content
• Episode 040: Build More Connections with Everyday Moments
• Episode 041: Let’s Make Content Creation the Easiest Thing on Your To Do List

Sign up for Reels Lab

Join the Social Squad Society

Love this conversation? Tap the follow button so you never miss an episode.

Connect with me over on Instagram!

Transcript

Shannon McKinstrie [00:00:00]:
I am your host, Shannon McKinstrie. Welcome to Good Content, the podcast where I remove the never ending content creation, guesswork and overwhelm so that you can actually enjoy being on social media again and growing your business with what has always worked. Good Content. Hi friends. As you can see, we got a little bit of a different setup today. That is because it's just chaos over here. It's my daughter's birthday, we just had Christmas with family visiting.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:00:33]:
Then my husband got sick and it's just been crazy. So I was like, you know what? I'm doing today's podcast from the couch because I have so much to do. My to do list is forever long and we're only two days away from a new year, which is insane. So don't worry. While I look very tired, you can tell it's been a hectic few days of birthday parties, sicknesses, et cetera. Don't worry, my brain is on fire and I'm excited cause I have got some epic reels to share with you today based on what homework I gave you last week. Now if you didn't listen last week, go back and listen. Because again, I want you guys to start taking this seriously.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:01:07]:
Content creation. Because here's the thing, it doesn't have to be hard. And 2025, I'm telling you right now, is going to be the easiest year for content creation. I know there's some people out there that make you think you've got to have these fancy edits and all this stuff. Yeah, that can help, sure. But the reels I'm sharing today go viral, go insane, convert, bring in new followers, make people money. And it is simple B roll that they just press record while they're doing something. For instance, I could press record on this.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:01:32]:
Actually, you know what, I'm gonna right now and actually I'll do a reel eventually with that video saying you do not need fancy things to start a podcast to create content, to grow. Da da da. Like I could do something like that, right? And it's just me here. I'm gonna set up my camera right now and just record it. And again, not perfect lighting, not perfect anything. And that would be my message on this reel, that you can do whatever. So while some reels out there, and I'll give you those examples in a moment, the video might require it to be a little more specific. So let's say you're doing a reel like maybe you're a dentist and you're doing a reel about like a new treatment.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:02:06]:
You guys have for people who want to whiten their teeth, whatever, then the video should reflect that. Right? You're like, POV: You're tired of using Crest White strips or maybe whatever. Why are they tired? Right. Remember, get specific. You're tired of throwing your money away just for Crest White strips to tear apart your enamel or maybe make your teeth extra sensitive. And you discover you can get this blah, blah, blah treatment for maybe put the cost there, at our blah blah blah in Raleigh, at our blah blah blah in Boise, at our dental practice in Boise, however you want to do it.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:02:36]:
That's kind of lengthy. But with that video, it wouldn't be of someone brushing their teeth. It would be showing the actual treatment. But then there's this beautiful thing about a lot of reels out there that go viral, that I do, that others do, that the video has literally nothing to do with what's on the text. And it still goes crazy because in a reel like that, the copy, the text is the star and the main character. Here's an example of what I mean. And this is a reel that went viral. So there's B roll that you need to start capturing and bank it into your phone.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:03:07]:
That, like, right now, that was B roll that I just recorded. Right. Again, B roll is secondary footage. And I actually have the news on right now in the background. Like, let's say they're covering an upcoming art festival. So the news is showing an art festival, and they're like, come for food and this and that. And the voiceover is talking about it. The video is people walking in, handing a ticket, maybe grabbing a funnel cake, giving vendors money.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:03:31]:
That is B roll. It's like a creek could be B roll. A beach could be B roll of just the waves going. I have so many reels on B roll. Just go to my page and if you go to my reels tab and go to the pinned one, there's one on how to create B roll, even DIY style from home. But really, essentially, B roll is like not talking directly to the camera. It's secondary footage. It's not the main footage, that of someone doing an interview.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:03:55]:
It's like the cutaways, if you will. Okay, so that's what that is. Don't overthink it. B roll has been around since the beginning and no it's not going anywhere. And yes, it's a huge time saver for content creators and business owners who don't have more than five minutes to put a reel together. So there's. Let me show you what I mean when I Say there's two types of B roll type reels.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:04:15]:
This one in particular is genius. And it says, and these will all be in the show notes. Don't worry, I've already sent them to Steph. This one says pov, you used two ingredients to create a wake up toddler snack. Specificity right there. Love it. And now tomorrow morning will be a whole lot easier. And guess what? If the video just showed, I don't even know, a mom at the store or a mom doing laundry, that would make no sense because the text says you.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:04:44]:
You use two ingredients to create a wake up snack. It shows the two ingredients. It's demoing how to do that snack again. It's in the show notes. A reel like that. Yes. Requires that the video aligns with the text. But this is what I mean.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:04:55]:
And this is what we're gonna do based on the assignment I gave you all last week. Again, there's so many ways to do reels. There's no right, correct way. But just make sure when you're posting, like, what text you're putting on top, if it doesn't necessarily need video that aligns with it, then those are my favorite reels, because those are the ones that when people go, I'm really struggling. I'm like, lean on these types. Again, you want a variety? Ideally, but. So these are the ones I'm gonna go through that have gone viral for these creators and show you how simple it is. So all that content that you guys have been recreating in the past week of just shooting video of yourself, making your coffee, walking into Orange Theory, walking your dog, being on a coaching call, this is what you're gonna do with it.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:05:31]:
And I'm gonna give you some ideas today to take and run with. Number one, we have a coach. She is a productivity coach. Her B roll is her standing in the mirror, just getting ready to go out the door. That's it. That's literally it. And then what she did with it. I'm going to share three different types of text options for you to do with this type of B roll today so you can take it and run with it.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:05:52]:
She did a list. I love lists. Her hook is very specific. And the reason this did so well for her is because it signaled simplicity. And once again, guys, we're not on here looking for a masterclass. Looking for, you know, we just want a simple tip. It says habits you can stack together. Absolutely brilliant.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:06:08]:
Because right when I look at it, I go, oh, I two for one special. Sign me up. And under it so that's her hook. And under it it says, read while eating breakfast. Stretch while brushing your teeth. Listen to educational podcasts while commuting. Ding, ding. Mine, hopefully, is part of yours.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:06:22]:
Journal four Bet. Right? So she's. She writes all that out. It's signal simplicity. 44,000 likes, 8,000 shares. Incredible. All right, next up, we have a podcaster, and she's got headphones on. She's in her kitchen.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:06:36]:
So it's kind of fun. It kind of signals what she does. It's a little subliminal, which I personally love. And she's making a drink. Text on screen has nothing to do with making a drink. Just like the text on screen for the coach before had nothing to do with her outfit. So simple, guys. Cause a lot of people are like, oh, but my B roll is of me folding laundry.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:06:53]:
I'm like, yeah, and the text on top doesn't have to be about it, but make sure the text isn't talking about, like, the text on top of laundry wouldn't be like, pov. You found this new dress from Amazon. It's perfect for your New Year's Eve party. Do you know what I mean? So, but she could put something like, I had a thought today about motherhood and da, da, da, da, da. That would be perfect. That would work perfectly with just someone folding laundry. So that's an example of this, girls. It says me becoming distant because I finally accepted the people I cared about didn't care about me the same way I did.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:07:22]:
If you felt that, I'm glad you found my account. What I like to call that. So this is version two, right? First we had the list. Now we're doing version two, which is B roll, with another type of text overlay, which I like to call random thoughts. It's heard content. Remember my four H's, heard happenings, humor, helpful. This follows under the heard category. It makes people feel seen and heard.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:07:41]:
It makes them go, oh, my gosh, I feel the same way, Yaz, I want to follow you. I want to be a part of your community. I'm so glad I found your account. You're right. Other things can be like, I love that one. I. I've shared on it before here in the podcast about, like, how, you know, for home decorators, like, your home doesn't have to be 5,000 square feet to be beautiful and blah, blah, blah, that sort of thing. Right? You can always find a way to make your people feel heard no matter what you do or sell.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:08:02]:
So that's what I like to call the random thought, a heard type thing. It's something you would tweet, write in your diary, tell a client, a pep talk, a general reminder, et cetera. Okay, so another example of this. Different reel, same format, B roll. This person's just doing a workout, but she's not talking about the specific workout. She's using the words, the copy as the star. It says, Let 2025 be the year. You realize being uncomfortable for 30 minutes a day is better than being uncomfortable every other minute of the day.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:08:31]:
Absolutely brilliant. Because, again, it's a pep talk. It's a gentle reminder, and it shares her core values, right? She's like, look, you just need 30 minutes a day. Okay, so that's B roll of her working out. She recorded what she was already doing, this creator recording what she was already doing, making a drink in her kitchen. This creator recording what she was already doing, walking out the door in a cute outfit and put text on top that aligns with their business and their core values and a tip, et cetera. That's what I mean, guys. You turn that generic, boring, quote, unquote, B roll into powerful copy.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:09:03]:
Let's see another version. I'm obsessed with this one. This is a travel creator. It's her opening a drink on a plane. So again, the B roll has some sort of action in it to make it a little more interesting. And it says, I take a hundred photos of a hotel bed, and suddenly they owe me $9,000. The cheat code is hotel content, and yes, it's in my bio. Can we talk about the brilliance of this? She is converting.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:09:24]:
She's telling them exactly how they can learn how to do it too. So there you go, another example. A hundred ready for this? He is a graphic designer. 178,000 likes. First. And this is what I call. This is the third version. So remember, first was the list.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:09:38]:
Second was a random thought. Just a little message they wanted to say over some B roll. They're all about five seconds. Easy peasy. This one takes a little more editing and tells a story. This is what I call the book reel, meaning the first clip is the cover, second, third, fourth, fifth, et cetera, clips are pages. So the hook says it's brilliant. Are you guys ready? I'm obsessed with this reel.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:10:00]:
So much ugly logos I redesigned in 2024. Brilliant hook. The word ugly, right? That's going to grab us because we're like, dang. What I redesign. So that shows that there's going to be a transformation, and we love to see it. So interior designers you could say ugly rooms. I transformed in 2024. Web designers, ugly websites.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:10:20]:
I modernized in 2024. Stylists, you know, three, ten dollars, whatever. I spruced up with a simple accessories. What? That is the first hook. And again, it's in the show notes is just B roll of him in the back of a car. He does make a funny face, which I love. You don't have to do it. But again, as long as you're recording video of yourself in a car walking you guys, that's it.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:10:43]:
And guess what the rest is Screenshots and other videos of just like, nothing crazy. Not the best lighting, nothing crazy. Editing, ugly logos. I redesigned 2024. That's clip one. It's about one and a half seconds. Next. Shows the logo.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:10:57]:
Shows his version of it. Shows the ugly logo. Shows his version of it. Shows the ugly logo. Shows his version of it. You guys, so good. And it tells a story. So there you go.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:11:07]:
And I'll give you guys one more. For restaurants, this says, this is how your dinner should feel. And all it is is B roll of food. I'm telling you. And in the start, you tell the story with your text on the video. Okay? And what's brilliant about the restaurant video is they can use those clips again and again and again. This one shows, you know, they could say, here's what to order on your next date night. Pepperoni pizza, bottle of wines.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:11:32]:
Like, they can use those clips over and over. Yes, you can repurpose. Yes, you can say the same thing again. And by the way, when I say repurpose, I don't mean copy paste. I mean, like, take that reel that you, maybe you made a reel, turn it into a carousel.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:11:46]:
Maybe it was a carousel. Throw it in a chat GPT and say, shorten this into a short and sweet tweet like, graphic, right? Take what you're creating, repurpose it, freshen it up. 2025 is gonna be the year that you do not hesitate to hit post. 2025 is gonna be the year that you capture everything as long as it's convenient to you. And you make it a habit and you make it a routine, friend, I will never lead you astray. I am constantly studying content. I am constantly reading up on marketing, even though I've studied it and been in marketing for over 20 years.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:12:16]:
I love helping you guys so much. Every DM I get saying that you went viral or you got new followers because of a tip from this podcast, I literally have a reaction of just like, full body excitement and chills I love you so much. Thank you for making this podcast what it is. Never thought I'd start a podcast. 2024 has been one of the most fully, like, crazy, transformative years of my life and I you to thank. Thank you for listening, thank you for downloading, thank you for sharing. Let's make it an incredible 2025. We've got this.