How to make a demo video?

You are looking for ideas on how to take one step further. You want to be able to demonstrate your knowledge and skills with videos as an alternative or complementary way of sharing them.  How is it possible to create a short demonstration that will capture attention and convey information clearly?

If you have ever read our articles about "how to write a script" and "how to shoot a video", then this article should not come as a surprise. The two main challenges when making a video are time and quality. If you don't like what you see on TV, you may feel discouraged from creating something yourself. On the other hand, if you only have a few minutes, you may also wonder whether you really need professional equipment. In both cases, we encourage you to start small, either using free tools (e.g., Google Hangouts) or inexpensive ones (for example, a webcam). It's always better to go DIY than spend thousands of dollars buying expensive hardware that later becomes obsolete.

But before diving into these waters, let us first look at how others successfully created their own demo videos...

How to make a simple video?

The easiest solution would be to use YouTube to record some footage and add music tracks. However, there is still no guarantee that the result won't appear amateurish. There are many ways to improve your online presence through social media. But even if you try hard enough, most people simply cannot bring themselves up to par! That being said, there are several things you can do to make sure that you get the best out of your content. Here are some tips on how to make a simple video.

1. Choose a topic carefully - choose a subject matter that interests you, but which has practical applications. For instance, if you're interested in 3D printing, why bother getting excited over someone else's weekend project? A more interesting angle would be to explain how 3D printers work, so that viewers could understand its importance for future generations. Similarly, think long-term and avoid choosing topics that seem trendy at the moment, such as cryptocurrencies. Instead, focus on subjects that might become popular in five years' time. This ensures longevity and sustainability in case your channel gets abandoned.

2. Create high-quality recordings - while filming, ensure that you hold steady and speak slowly rather than rushing through everything. Also, keep in mind that camera movements tend to distort facial expressions. Don't rely too much on background score – instead, concentrate on speaking clearly and concisely. Finally, never rush editing because sloppy mistakes often slip past editors unnoticed until they've been published.

3. Edit well - once you've recorded all relevant material, take your time to edit it properly. Make sure that the sound track matches the spoken words. Try to eliminate any unnecessary pauses and emphasize important points by repeating phrases. Use captions to clarify unclear moments. Remember to remove distracting elements during post production. Afterward, run the final version through text enhancement tool Grammarly to check for grammar errors. Lastly, consider adding subtitles.

4. Take advantage of existing channels - if you already know how to film, don't hesitate to leverage your experience. Look around on social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, TikTok etc. to find inspiration. Find videos that appeal to you, copy the idea and adapt it to suit your needs. Before publishing anything publicly, ask permission from those involved. And remember to credit creators appropriately whenever necessary.

5. Be consistent - whatever platform you decide to publish on, stick to the same format. Otherwise, consistency goes missing and eventually turns users off. Keep your audience informed throughout the process by tweeting updates, posting pictures and sending messages directly to followers.

6. Consider advertising products - although marketing your channel isn't mandatory per se, it does help boost visibility. However, just bear in mind that you shouldn't push anything onto audiences who aren't ready yet. As mentioned earlier, avoid trying to impress your viewers with flashy effects unless you absolutely have to. Focus on building trustworthiness and credibility among potential customers.

7. Publish regularly - if possible, release new content weekly or monthly. This helps maintain interest and keeps audiences hooked. If you're unsure where to begin, here are three great places to discover fresh digital content:

a. Check trending hashtags related to your niche on Twitter.

b. Browse platforms such as Pinterest, Tumblr, Instagram, Snapchat, Flickr, Vimeo, WordPress, LinkedIn, Blogger, Medium, Quora…the list goes on!

c. Subscribe to newsletters and RSS feeds dedicated to your field of expertise.

8. Optimize images & videos - optimize images and videos to reach maximum viewing frequency and engagement rate. To learn more about SEO techniques, visit our website below.

9. Promote effectively – promote your video across multiple social networks including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Reddit, TikTok, and Vimeo. Encourage comments and shares. Your goal is to build awareness and grow your following. When done right, promotion campaigns will expose your channel to millions of eyes worldwide.

10. Build relationships - once visitors watch your content, offer them additional resources. Share links to your blog posts, product descriptions, white papers, infographics, presentations, podcasts, interviews, speeches, eBooks, press releases, and similar documents. Doing so allows you to establish lasting connections with passionate individuals who share common ground.

11. Get feedback - after uploading your latest episode, send a link to friends and family members. Ask them to give you feedback based on their experiences, especially regarding technical aspects (such as audio/video quality), usability, layout, voiceover, transitions, pace, length, flow, clarity, structure, visuals, font size, color contrast, image resolution, file sizes, overall aesthetic, and navigation.

12. Post constructive criticism - after watching your clip, leave positive or negative remarks. Listen closely to critiques offered by strangers. Then adjust accordingly to make improvements upon next episodes.

13. Update frequently - update your feed regularly with fresh content. Regularly updating increases chances of your video going viral. People love variety and enjoy seeing new faces every now and then.

14. Maintain your momentum - continue producing regular content. Once your channel gains traction, stay committed to delivering value consistently.

15. Learn from mistakes - if you fail to meet expectations, examine causes and solutions immediately. Analyze what went wrong and fix it permanently.

16. Collaborate with experts - collaborate with professionals within your industry if you plan to produce professional level videos. They'll provide valuable guidance and insights into improving your craft.

17. Avoid distractions - avoid distractions such as working late nights, spending hours tweaking settings, procrastinating, waiting for perfect conditions, feeling overwhelmed, struggling with self-doubt, perfectionism, fear of failure, lack of confidence, anxiety, and procrastination. These habits can seriously hamper productivity.

18. Have fun - having fun makes life easier. Enjoy shooting each scene, meeting deadlines, collaborating with colleagues, learning from mentors, growing personally, discovering new opportunities, and exploring uncharted territory.

19. Leverage social proof - incorporate testimonials into clips to increase authenticity and authority. Do this wisely though. Testimonial quotes mustn't overwhelm audiences since they risk losing interest. Rather, balance facts with personal opinions.

20. Evaluate metrics objectively - evaluate results objectively. Think critically. Does your video resonate with viewers? Is it easy to navigate? Are the graphics appealing? Did you upload it at the optimal time? Was it optimized correctly? What worked and didn't? Were adverts helpful? Why did certain views spike, whereas others remained stagnant? Where was the traffic coming from? Who watched the content? Which countries were targeted? What were their demographics? Why did certain regions respond differently?

21. Revisit old projects periodically - revisit old projects periodically. Revisiting older materials provides ample opportunity to assess progress and refine your methods accordingly. At the very least, rewatch your previous works and compare notes with fellow producers.

22. Set goals - set measurable objectives. Track performance against established benchmarks. Without doing so, success is difficult to achieve.

23. Celebrate milestones achieved - celebrate milestones achieved. Recognizing accomplishments boosts morale and motivates people to strive harder.

24. Stay flexible - remain open to change. Adaptability is key when facing unexpected circumstances. Change happens constantly nowadays. Therefore, staying agile means remaining resilient.

25. Never stop learning - never stop learning. Staying updated enables you to anticipate problems and prepare responses accordingly. Learning comes naturally for anyone who wants to succeed. Successful entrepreneurs seek continuous improvement.

26. Remain humble - remain humble. Never believe that you possess all answers. Always seek advice from experts.

27. Accept compliments graciously - accept compliments graciously. Praise efforts made, regardless of outcome. Compliments show appreciation for contributions received.

A business is only as good as its products. And if it does not show what they are about, how will people know that their needs have been satisfied? That's why we need videos to explain our projects. But how do you create them? Are there any tricks or techniques you use when filming? What tools should be used? In this article, we'll tell you everything you want to know on how to make a demo video.

First things first... How do you choose which camera to buy? There are many brands out there, but here are some recommendations. We recommend using something with an optical zoom because a high-end digital camera has no practical value if you don't see what you're shooting! It doesn't matter whether you decide on Canon, Sony, Panasonic or anything else - just get one that offers a decent viewfinder so you won't miss shots while recording. If you plan on doing more than recording yourself talking (which is often easier on a webcam), then consider getting a camcorder instead. They offer better audio quality, too.

Next step... How do you shoot a video for your product?

You've got all your material ready, now let's talk about how to actually record the footage. The best way to start off would be to go out into the field where you intend to produce your project and practice until you feel comfortable enough to capture a clear image straight away. You could even bring along someone who knows what they're doing to help you out. A professional videographer might also prove useful.

Once you think you've found a suitable location, try to find somewhere that's free from distractions like traffic noise and background music. Also, make sure you set up your tripod correctly before beginning. You really shouldn't need much equipment other than a tripod, microphone and lighting kit. For example, you may wish to add a separate boom mic onto your existing setup if needed. Next, you'll probably want to take a few test clips to ensure that everything works properly. Once these tests are complete, move on to capturing actual footage.

As mentioned earlier, you can either opt for a standard HD camera such as a DSLR or mirrorless model or a cinecam. Either choice will work fine provided you remember that your lens isn't quite wide enough to accommodate movement. So keep this in mind when deciding between the two types of cameras. Another thing worth remembering is how long each clip takes to render once captured, depending on the complexity of the scene. As a general rule of thumb, longer scenes tend to run smoother and require less time to process.

Finally, you mustn't forget to turn off your flash during recordings. This will prevent your subject(s) from being blinded by bright light.

Now that you understand how to shoot a video, let's look at how to make a demo video.

How to make a demo video?

The easiest method is to simply edit together several clips recorded separately. However, this comes with several drawbacks. Namely, you risk losing continuity due to abrupt cuts and transitions. Additionally, editing requires specialized knowledge that most users lack. Finally, although multiple clips provide greater versatility, they can be difficult to synchronize. To solve these problems, we suggest creating a storyboard beforehand. Basically, it consists of several key frames displaying different stages of the action. These images serve as reference points within the final video and allow for easy synchronization.

To illustrate, imagine you're making a tutorial for building furniture. Your first frame shows how to measure wood pieces. Then, perhaps, next is a shot showing how to cut them down. Third would possibly be a picture of assembling the legs, followed by another showing how to glue them to the base. Lastly, maybe you'd include a closeup of the finished piece. Now, say you wanted to share your creation with others online. Instead of relying solely on YouTube, you could upload several short clips to your own website. When combined, viewers can enjoy a seamless viewing experience since they never encounter gaps in content.

If you prefer to skip the storyboarding phase altogether, you can always resort to Adobe Premiere Pro CC 2018. Its powerful motion tracking feature allows you to seamlessly integrate footage from various sources. For instance, suppose you filmed a video interview, your company logo graphic, and photos of the product itself. All three elements can easily be brought into alignment thanks to this tool. Just mark the desired areas on the timeline, select Tracking Settings " Motion Path Data, and hit OK. Afterward, follow Steps 1 through 3 above to sync up the individual clips.

In addition to providing a smooth transition throughout, motion tracking makes it possible to incorporate graphics and text into your production. Simply place the correct element over the corresponding part of the source files. If necessary, adjust its size or position via the Scale and Drag options.

Another helpful program to utilize when producing a demonstration video is Blender. Although primarily intended as a 3D editor, it provides a variety of features conducive to visual effects. One of those includes support for stereoscopic rendering. With this function enabled, you can output footage that appears realistic yet lacks depth perception associated with traditional 2D displays. To enable this setting, open Preferences " Video " Renderer tab and check Enable Stereo mode.

Lastly, you should also pay attention to the color profile of your footage. Make sure your monitor matches the settings used during acquisition. Otherwise, colors may end up appearing oversaturated or washed out. Fortunately, modern LCD monitors typically display accurate colors regardless of the device used to acquire said data.

How can I do product video at home?

These days, anyone with access to technology can become a filmmaker. While professionals rely heavily upon expensive gear, amateurs generally employ simpler systems. Of course, you can still spend hundreds on top-of-the-line hardware if you want. On the flip side, you can save money by opting for DIY solutions. For one, you can purchase a smartphone app or web service to aid in the creation process. Or you can purchase a budget version of popular programs to begin with. For example, ScreenFlow is $99 per year but costs approximately $20 annually after a 30-day trial period.

With Apple Photos, you can stitch together screenshots to form a full-fledged animation. Meanwhile, Google Drive lets you import prerecorded media into documents and spreadsheets. Both apps work great for simple edits, especially given how intuitive they both are.

However, if you intend to work with higher-quality assets, you may want to invest in industry-grade software. Specifically, Synfig Studio ($299+) and Cinema 4D ($1,000+). Thanks to their advanced capabilities, experienced animators can accomplish seemingly impossible feats using nothing more than pen pressure alone.

But why stop there? Since these programs are already capable of exporting animations, you can leverage them to generate custom demos. For example, you can combine live footage with static backgrounds, leading to interesting results. Alternatively, you can convert objects rendered in one program into another format. Say you converted your character models into.OBJ files using Blender. Afterwards, you can export the resulting file directly to a streaming platform like Twitch.

Additionally, if you happen to possess a Mac, you can download Handbrake. From there, you can transfer virtually any type of media file to compatible formats. Furthermore, you can use this versatile utility to perform basic tasks related to encoding and decoding. For example, converting HD video into a lower resolution.

You want to bring your new idea for an invention or a business project in front of potential investors. You don't have much money but you are ready to invest some hours into making the best possible presentation. How can you show what you know about your product in order to convince people that it is worth investing time and money in its development? Is there any way to create a short demonstration video yourself within limited means?

There are several ways to tackle this question on a budget. We will focus here on one method which uses free tools available online, such as ScreenFlow (screenflow.com) from Apple Inc., Camtasia Studio (camtasia.com), Jing (jingplay.com/demos) and iMovie (apple.co.uk). The process we describe below also works with other free video editors, including Windows Movie Maker (windowsmoviemaker.org/) and VirtualDub (virtualdub.sourceforge.net). These options allow users who wish to use their own videos instead of using stock footage to provide a professional-looking result at no cost. They also have the advantage of being easy to learn and accessible via web browser.

The open source programs we used are based around similar principles and work similarly. However, they all differ because each program has different strengths and weaknesses. For example, ScreenFlow provides advanced features for capturing the current display while Camtasia Studio offers more help for editing and producing the final video. In addition, each tool's interface differs. Users may find themselves better suited to certain tasks depending upon how familiar they are with these applications. Therefore, our guide was written so that beginners would not feel lost when trying out the steps described. Our aim was to give them enough information to get started.

We recommend reading through the following sections before getting started. It might take a little longer than usual, but the results certainly pay off!

How do you shoot a product in AD?

In the first place, decide whether to record yourself talking about your product or if you prefer someone else to talk about it. If you choose to speak about it yourself, then go ahead and start recording. Otherwise, consider having someone talk about it for you. Remember that you can always edit both recordings together later.

If you plan to film yourself speaking, keep in mind that you need good lighting and clear audio. Avoid having light sources behind where your face appears. Also avoid placing too many objects between your camera lens and yourself. This could cause blurring or even worse - ghosts appearing in your video capture.

To ensure clarity, try setting up your phone’s microphone close to you. Then move away slightly until your voice becomes just audible. Record in landscape mode. This will prevent your hands from blocking parts of your body. Make sure to position your device directly above you. To achieve this, set your iPhone 4S vertically or iPad horizontally. On top of that, hold your smartphone with two fingers on either side of the case. Use only one hand on the tablet. With both devices held firmly, turn over in whichever direction you like.

After doing this, press play on your video editor. Check the quality of the sound captured. Then adjust the settings until you hear your recorded speech clearly. Don‘t forget to check the volume levels of your mic and speakers. Adjusting the volume is easier done manually rather than automatically.

Once you're satisfied with the video clip, save it onto your computer. Afterward, add music to enhance the mood. Now you are ready to upload it to YouTube. Here is a handy link showing you how to share files across platforms: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kWm7K1JYxE&feature=plcp.

Note that there are many great websites offering royalty-free background music for sale. Simply search "royalty free" or something similar inside Google Music. There are many sites giving songs for download. Once you've found a song you'd like, click the button marked “add file”. Then select the option saying “download now". Downloaded MP3 files usually come in ZIP format. Extract them using WinZip or another extractor. Find the track you downloaded and drag it into Video Editor’s timeline at the point where you want it added. Change the drop marker accordingly. Repeat this procedure for every additional soundtrack you intend to include.

Finally, export the modified version of your video clip. Save it somewhere safe. Upload it on YouTube and continue with the rest of the article.

How to present a product in video?

Now that you have finished filming your product, it‘s time to put everything together. Your goal now is to create a polished piece of art that effectively shows viewers what your product does and why they should care.

First step is to replace the default title slide with actual shots of your product. Go to Edit>Slides>Replace Slideshow Background Images… Enter a name for your slides and hit OK. Replace the text on the right side with whatever description you think fits best. When adding images, pick ones featuring high resolution and minimal distractions.

Next, import photos from Flickr.com. Alternatively, grab pictures from Facebook and Twitter. Click File > Import Photos and Videos... Select the type of media you wish to import, browse to the folder containing the desired image(s). Hit Next " Finish.

Go back to your main timeline. Add a picture that represents the essence of what your product is supposed to do. Drag it down to the bottom of the frame. Then, resize it to fill most of the width. Right-click and select Resize Preset. Choose Width from the pulldown menu. Type in values for Height and Width. Set the former to 320 pixels. Leave the latter blank. Press OK. Repeat this procedure for all images you wish to insert.

Select the last photo in the sequence and duplicate it along the horizontal axis. Move it near the center of the frame. Duplicate again and move it next to the previous copy. Do this three times more until you reach the end of the sequence. Delete the original shot. Rename the duplicates sequentially. Name the copies 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Add a fade effect between frames. This helps smooth transitions. Go to View " Fade Mode... From the pulldown menu, select Crossfade. Input values for Start Frame and End Frame. Finally, reduce Opacity to 30%.

For extra effects, change Transparent Color to black. Then, apply Filter > Blur Gallery... Locate the appropriate filter and increase Size to 400% and Feather Radius to 10 pixel. Apply the same adjustments to all blurred areas except the very last one. Its size must remain low to preserve continuity.

Next, go to Tools & Effects " Enhance Edges... Increase Edge Smoothness to 100%, Reduce Noise Threshold to 0%, and Sharpen Corners to 20%.

Make sure to zoom in closely on the resulting edges. This makes it easier to see imperfections caused by shooting angles and shadows. Now that you got rid of noise, lower Contrast and Brightness to 70% and 80% respectively.

Press Ctrl + S to save the changes made to your document. Close the preview window. Create a New Document. Navigate to Timeline " Media Library... Double-click the relevant item. Scroll down until you spot the thumbnail representing the latest modification to your slideshow. Underneath, choose Properties. Copy the value under Resolution. Paste elsewhere.

Repeat this procedure for every single slide. First, delete the existing thumbnails. Next, double-click the remaining ones. Lastly, rename the slides according to the names assigned earlier.

Create a new layer for each slide. Group them together. By pressing Ctrl+A, select all layers. Go to Layer " Lock All Layers... Confirm.

Right-click the uppermost group of selected layers. Choose Convert to Smart Filters.... A dialog box will appear asking if you really mean to convert those layers. Say yes. Wait till the conversion completes.

Go to Image " Adjustments " Levels... Lower Black Point 256 units and White Point 128 units simultaneously. Keep the Midtones slider centered on 255. Do likewise for Red, Green, and Blue points.

Change Output X/Y Coordinates to 16 bits per channel. Click OK.

Under Filters, look for Motion Blur. Enable Preview Effect. Play with the sliders until you achieve the desired outcome.

If necessary, repeat Steps 12 and 13 for individual layers.

Lastly, go to Window " Audio Mixer. Turn Automatic Gain Control to Yes. Ensure Volume Automatically adjusts itself when playing sounds.

Save the changes made to your master document. Close the preview window. Create a PDF. Print the page containing your finalized creation. Cut out the cover image. Attach it to a letterhead sheet. Send it to whoever needs to review your product proposal.

Alternatively, send the hardcopy to yourself to study.

How do you introduce a product in a video?

Introductions often serve as teaser trailers. But instead of merely showcasing your product, they should communicate the benefits associated with owning said product. Think of them as miniature infomercials.