It can be daunting to get in the game when it comes to video marketing. Instagram has made it quite clear that their algorithm favors accounts that use Reels. Listen to today’s episode as we chat about our favorite video editing apps that might it easier to create reels, plus we share some of our top tips on managing the process.
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It can be daunting to get in the game when it comes to video marketing. Instagram has made it quite clear that their algorithm favors accounts that use Reels. Listen to today’s episode as we chat about our favorite video editing apps that might it easier to create reels, plus we share some of our top tips on managing the process.
Links you want:
Hey everybody. Welcome back to Subscription Box Basics. Renee and I are here today, and if you're watching the video, you're probably wondering what's going on. She is sitting by candlelight for whatever reason this week when we're trying to batch record our podcast episodes, we just had to record really early, and so if you're watching the video, Renee's video is very dark. She's sitting literally in the dark by candlelight, and so we're laughing about how I love when things are imperfect, and Renee, you and I have talked about this a lot before, where I've solved this problem for myself a lot by just lowering my bar
Renae:Totally. Well, and if, for those of you that don't know, me and Julie are in different time zones. She's east coast. I'm west coast, so the sun has not come up yet. We're still, when we're recording this, daylight savings is happening this weekend. So I was looking for my ring light and I was like, you know what? As the video progresses, if you happen to be watching it on the video, you will see my face a little better as time goes on. So
Julie:funny. And what I was talking about when I say I lowered my bar is like in so many areas of my life. I feel like we're expected to be perfect, and I'm not naturally a perfectionist, and my husband is. And so when I started lowering my bar on things, I started being happier and I love it. And this is just a perfect example too. Most of you are probably listening on audio, but if you are watching the video like I have on just like a football hoodie and a braid in my hair, you can barely even see Renee. And literally
Renae:we just woke up like this
Julie:Yes. Woke up like this. And I feel much more empowered since we started recording these on video to just show up as is. It kind of removes any hesitation, like, Oh, I have to do makeup, or, Oh, I have to do hair. another thing I was thinking about is, you know, the typical successful entrepreneur has like this crazy early morning routine and I don't I like to sleep in. I don't have a morning routine other than I drink a bunch of water, I read a devotion and I start sipping on my coffee. Like that's not one of those hour long miracle mornings and more power to you if you've got a great morning routine. But my point in saying in all of. Is nobody has to be perfect. You're not expected to be. We're all human and just show up. You know, show up as
Renae:this record by candlelight That's right. It's technically a book light. I couldn't even find my ring light
Julie:That's too funny. Okay, so let's get down to the topic today, shall we? Today we're talking about easy video apps that Renee and I use to create specifically reels. And it can be a little bit overwhelming, and I know I used to feel overwhelmed, but we wanna share with you some apps that we use to make it really easy.
Renae:So if you are not familiar with using video, it could feel very overwhelming and unnatural. And we can do a whole nother episode on that. Today we're gonna specifically talk about software. Just like we were saying about just showing up and just doing it, and it doesn't have to be perfect. I feel like that is the perfect segue before we start really diving into these softwares, because whether you're recording the video and you're in front of the camera yourself or you're recording something else, your product, your box, because you don't wanna be in front of the camera really when you're doing this, think of what feels natural for you and what will make you continue to do it. Because as important as video is right now, and as much as in the algorithm, videos are getting seen more, and if you are only do it once and then you're done, it won't get seen. So whatever software you decide on, whatever videos you put out in the world, you really want them to be something and a system to be something that is comfortable for you so you continue doing it.
Julie:Great advice. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. That's really great advice. I love that. And we're in in the subscription box industry, we're in such a perfect position because we have a product. We can open and do an unboxing video. We can show, you know, product features. There's so much more. You don't have to do a little dance and you don't have to point to words or captions. There are other ways. So what's your first app that you like?
Renae:So the first app I'm going to talk about is called In Stories i n and then Stories. it started with just story features, but now they have real features on there too. They have templates, they have music that you create your video right within there using one of their templates or piecing together and creating your own template, and then you can upload. It'll open your Instagram app right for you when you're done, and you can add music. So it is very user friendly. It's a good place to start with their created templates if you're overwhelmed and you don't even know where to start. So in stories.
Julie:That's great. You don't have to start with a blank slate then, right? Correct. Yep.
Renae:And at the time of this recording in stories has a free three day trial and then they have low options as well. I do pay for the app. I pay for it one year at a time. So just to give you an idea at the time of this recording, it is 58 99 for the whole year and I am considered a pro user. So there are different levels as well too, but that is how much it is for the whole year.
Julie:Awesome. I know you do so many fun things with that app, and I'm always just like, How did you do that? And then I realized, you know, it's a template. There's all kinds of things that you can create from scratch, but those templates are so awesome. And so that's a great segue into the app that I use for videos. I use Video Leap, it's v i d e. L e a P video leap. And I know at the time of this recording, they did a seven day free trial and I'm not sure if they have a free version completely after that trial, but I pay like 35 99 a year, so that's three bucks a month. I pay for it all at once though, so skip Starbucks one day and treat yourself to an app that's gonna make your life so much easier with video. Some of the things that I love the most about it is yes, they do have some templates too. And this really cool thing about the templates is you can filter it by how many clips you wanna put in there. So say you have three pictures or three videos that you wanna put in there, you can filter templates by, only show me templates that need three pieces of media and you don't have to put video in there. You can literally put photos from your box photo shoots and it'll merge them together. But what's cool about these templates is it automatically applies any of those fancy editing features which is great because I don't know how to do that stuff and it makes me look like I do So I really love video leap. Another thing that I love about, Video leave so much is, say you're doing a talking video and you messed up and you need to edit out something, you can just tap to add that specific clip. And then there's a cut and trim feature. You don't just have the option to trim from the front end and the back end. You can actually cut your video at any moment and then trim that part out, which is so nice because a lot of times if I'm doing a video and say I'm talking and I mess up, I don't want to start the whole video over. I'll just let it run. I'll stop, take a breath and start the sentence over. Just like when we're recording the podcast. If we mess up, we can edit it out. And then the same thing with these videos. I have found so much success with that one because it's like, and if you can see me in the video, I'm like dragging and dropping like you're using your fingers, if you're editing an image, it's like that you're, you know, making the video clip larger if you need to really intricately cut it or you can add multiple videos, you could add multiple pictures. There's just so many great things. So I feel like in Stories and Video leap might be pretty similar and it's just a matter of getting on there, doing your free trial and seeing which interface you like more. Which one's more intuitive to you? Cuz like you said, Renee, it's gotta be something that you're gonna stick. Totally,
Renae:and that leads us to our next one. If you're like, a software is not my thing. My favorite way of creating reels currently and what I've been using the most recently is just right within the Instagram app. So you can make reels right within Instagram, and that is my next piece of software. If you are putting them on Instagram already, it is right there for you. You're already in the app. I really enjoy creating reels, right within the app, because if you're looking for inspiration or you're watching someone and you're scrolling and you really like the video that they're using, this audio that they're using, you can write within Instagram, save that audio. Or right while watching it, you can then use the audio and then start to create your next real too. So Instagram is my next software for creating reels. And it's free, and you're already gonna publish it on that platform. So you're already in it. It's no extra software to use. They're getting really good at suggesting reels and the editing features, right? But then there, I really love. Video editing and video creation, and the more Instagram jumps onto this real trend, the easier it gets just to create it right within there. You can save your reels as drafts as well, which is really nice that cause they're all right in there. If you're feeling creative and or you have a song or audio that you like, you can use that audio and save it as a draft till it's more timely. Uhhuh, So definitely some perks if you're just creating right within Instagram Stories. And anything Julie and myself suggest today, try them all. Try whatever ones and see what works for you and don't feel like you have to stick to one because like I said, I've been using Instagram. Just within Instagram, creating reels a lot lately, but every once in a while I'll do my own video editor or I'll go to some of the apps. So feel free to use everything or just use one.
Julie:If you're listening to this in November, 2022, if you go back a few reels where it has like a video montage of our trip to Miami and it has a whole bunch of different songs, there's no way that I'd have been able to put that together if I didn't use one of those templates. Instagram allows you to use those templates too. I used someone else's music compilation and it just told me how many clips to add. It was so funny because when I make my videos I share them with McKenna, who's 11 cuz I just wanna get her feedback on them. And, you know, she gets really excited about some, She rolls her eyes at some naturally, she's 11. But when she saw that video, and we'll link to it in the show notes so that you can go check it out. She's, You made that Cause she knows I'm a little bit tech challenged when it comes to my iPhone and stuff like that. And I said, Yeah. She said Did you put all that music together? And I said, No. That was like my cheat code. Because it was already put together. I just used the template and it told me how many videos to put in there. So it works out really well. I think this is really good advice and if you aren't kind of savvy on your phone using these, you can always use a desktop software. I know Renee, you use Filmora. I use Canva all the time. Canva it's got a lot of great templates. It's got a great video editor too, that's pretty intuitive. So if you're thinking like, Oh, I don't wanna do this on the fly, or I don't wanna spend so much time on my phone, you can always try those desktop video editing softwares as well... so before we wrap this episode up we wanted to share just a couple content tips, because a lot of times people are just like what do I post? Or just with a blank slate, you feel overwhelmed. So, Renee what are some tips that you have to stay on track? To stay on the reels train?
Renae:If you are listening to this, you are probably in the subscription box realm or thinking of being in the subscription box realm, which means you have a product and you have a box. I think the easiest place to start is posting you're unboxing, posting your product sourcing, posting behind the scenes. There is content in everything that you're doing already. It doesn't have to be perfect, like we've said already. It doesn't even have to be video like Julie had mentioned. In one of or her tips earlier, you can post photos and it have it be like a one second clip or a compilation of multiple photos. Always go back to what's comfortable for you. and when you're feeling creative, that is the time to take advantage of that and batch. If you can do two or three videos in a setting and save those ad as your draft or even get ideas down on pen and paper to be able to revisit. Take advantage of times when you're feeling creative and really lean into that for your video and for your reels. And those times when you're not feeling creative. If you're prepared and able to have things batched out ahead of time, that's okay. You can show up like you've just woke up in your pajamas and then still post the content cuz you created it earlier.
Julie:And some of our most viewed reels were behind the scenes things. They weren't pretty, they were, you know, crinkle cut on the floor and me in the warehouse, or one of my favorites is a product hall. So we. Would product source a lot of office supplies because Sparkle Hustle grow was personal development and office supplies and all that good stuff. And so I would go to Staples and just buy some sample products and if I would show that stuff on Instagram, that was some of the most engaged things cuz people would be like, Oh, I want that pen or I would ask them, what in this, what in today's Staples Hall excites you the most? So don't overthink it, just use your product.
Renae:And on that same note, I still do the social media for Sparkle Hustle Grow. One of our most recent reels that I created is literally pictures of the box created into a reel. It's facing forward on its side, on its head, like moving the box around, took less than five minutes to take a couple pictures in front of my doorstep with the box, and then I put them back to back going with the music. So easy to do, it's take, took again, less than five seconds and it is it got a good amount of view. So really just get creative, see what works for you. Sometimes you're gonna spend a lot of time creating a video. And it's not gonna have a lot of views. This is another content tip. Don't feel like you can never use it again. Try to post it again or wait a few months and then repost it. We talk about people hearing your message and hearing about your box. It takes a few times for them to even dive into the idea and view your. Reels and video content and anything you put out on social media is the same way. Everyone doesn't see everything every time, and it's not because they don't wanna see it, it's because sometimes it doesn't even show up in their feed. So whether it's video or any sort of social media content, don't be afraid to reuse it or repost it too.
Julie:Yeah, if you're thinking about reels right now and like whether or not you wanna do. It. It feels like social media marketing, like the algorithm changes constantly and you gotta play the game. Now, that doesn't mean you have to do things you don't want to do. You have a choice in your business, and if this is something that is not in your wheelhouse, maybe that's something you can barter with a subscriber. We've done that before in the past. I was starting out, I asked a couple people, Would you be an ambassador? And in exchange for a free box that month, they gave me a certain amount of content. And some of that stuff included those videos. And so if you are tight on budget right now, which is totally normal especially in the early stages, think about that. Like do you have some super fans, some people who are really loyal, Or someone that might want to get 50% off or a free box each month in exchange for creating that for you. I know a lot of other subscription box business owners do that.
Renae:and if you have a Facebook group where your community hangs out with or hangs out within that is a perfect place to post. Ask for those videos. If you have a product that can be easily used or passed within video, you can ask your subscribers. Everyone send me a video with your book light. Taking a picture. or using your book light. And that could be something where you put into a compilation of videos too. So do not be afraid to get your subscribers in the videos. You then are able to tag those subscribers and it gets more eyes on your videos... you're able to kind of hack the algorithm right now. Yeah. And get some people who trust and support you to help share your content as well.
Julie:I know in the past, in the Sparkle Hustle Grow community, Renee, you have asked specifically drop your links to your stories below or drop links to your unboxing videos. We want to share them and they would be so excited to get their box videos shared or their reels re-shared. Don't be afraid to ask your subscriber for those links and to be able to repurpose it. And
Renae:don't think because they're not sharing it or not tagging you that they don't want to. Sometimes people just need that reminder. They might really enjoy your box and really be enjoying the products, but they don't even think to post about it too. So sometimes just a simple reminder or a simple ask is all they need.
Julie:So my last tip that I wanna share is something that I do with my phone. So have you guys ever woken up in the middle of the night with an idea, or maybe you're on an airplane and you have an hour to. Open up your notes app or your reminders app, whichever type of app that you like. Wherever you put your notes, create yourself a note that says reals ideas, and just start. Do you do that too, Renee? I have that too. You do? Yeah. Just start writing down reals ideas of different videos you've seen that you like the concept of, different audios. As Renee mentioned, you can save those audios right on your Instagram account, but if you don't have internet access, but you could still use your notes, write those down. Another way that we do it is when we find a real specifically that someone else created that we wanna use as inspiration, I'll save the link for it so that I can refer back to it, because when I'm in the moment and I'm about to record that real, sometimes I wanna see again, what their facial expressions look like. How they, if they were lip syncing it, how they positioned it. I don't obviously wanna copy it exactly. But I use it as inspiration. So, I mean, I have so many different notes in my phone for different lead magnet ideas, real ideas, photo shoot ideas. So I recommend that you start a little notes listing of ideas right on your phone.
Renae:I did the same exact thing and you can, even though you can save the audio right within Instagram, sometimes it gets overwhelming to scroll back. So like Julie mentioned, if you save the actual link to the video or to the audio right within your notes, it's then easier to find it cuz it pulls it back up on Instagram. It's then easier to find it too when you're actually ready to record too, cuz otherwise. I don't know if Julie, you have as many audio saved as me, but you have to scroll for a bit sometimes. So if you save the actual link to the audio right within your notes, when you're ready to feel creative and jump in and do the videos, it's easy to pull up and find right again too.
Julie:Yeah, I just don't overthink it guys. Just give it a go. Worst case scenario, put a couple photos to some music. Call it a real, you know, we just try to play the game so that we keep up with the algorithm so that we get rewarded with more views, more traffic, more followers. So hopefully this was helpful. Real quick recap on the apps that we use, Renee uses Instagram like built in editing tools as well as in stories. I personally use Video Leap, and then on desktop I use Canva. I hope this helps you because these tools are gonna make it so easy.
Renae:And if at any time you have questions about this episode, tried those softwares, and they're not for you. We have other suggestions too. definitely dms on Instagram at subscription box Basics. Is a challenge for you. If you are listening to this within this next week, try to create a real post. Tag us, share it with us through Instagram dms. We wanna see it, we will reshare it for you. So definitely take time after listening to this to get inspired and put some work into action. And we wanna see what you do.
Julie:Cannot wait to see the reels that you come up. Again, tag us at subscription box basics. Thanks guys, for listening to this episode. Let us know which app is your favorite of the ones we mentioned, or if you use an app that we don't use, would love to check it out. Right?
Renae:Totally. And if you're watching the video I am now, you can kind of see me the sun has come up.
Julie:It's so funny. Oh, thanks for joining us today with our imperfect video and hopefully this was helpful and we'll see you in the next episode. Bye bye.