Things TV News Taught Me About Video Marketing

In 2013, I landed my first TV news job, making $10 and some change an hour while doing the work of four people…reporting, filming, editing, and running the station’s website. And because my paycheck barely covered the essentials, I picked back up my college job at Sonic. So, there I was, running from news deadlines to drive-in orders, barely catching my breath in between.

Wild times. But those years taught me how to move fast, think on my feet, and most importantly how to make people care about a story in seconds. What I didn’t realize at the time was that my same skill is exactly what business owners struggle with in video marketing today. By the way, Wyzowl, a company specializing in animated explainer videos, reports that 89% of businesses use video as a marketing tool.

You Have Seconds to Make People Care

When I was a TV news reporter, I didn’t have time to overthink my videos. Every day, I had to:

• Find a story that people would actually care about
• Shoot & edit fast without losing impact
• Hook people in seconds so they wouldn’t change the channel

It’s basically the same problem business owners face today. Except now, instead of changing the channel, people are swiping past your videos. Most business owners make the mistake of overcomplicating their videos. They worry about having the perfect setup, fancy edits, or the right camera. But none of that matters if your audience scrolls past before you even get to the point. Now, check out these 3 things that can instantly fix your videos:

1. Stop Wasting the First Few Seconds

In TV news, if you didn’t grab people’s attention immediately, they changed the channel. Your business videos work the same way.

Bad Video Openers:

• “Hey guys, I just wanted to come on here and talk about…”
• “So, I’m really excited to share this with you today…”

Better Video Openers:

• Start with a hook: “Most business videos fail because of this one mistake.”
• Lead with a question: “Want to know why no one watches your videos until the end?”
• Jump right into the point: “If your videos aren’t converting, here’s what you need to fix.”

Your audience isn’t waiting for you to warm up. They need a reason to keep watching…fast. By the way, if you’re struggling with coming up with hooks for your videos, I’ve got you! That’s one of the biggest things we focus on in my 90-minute Video Storytelling Strategy Session. I’ll help you:

• Turn your best stories into high-converting video hooks
• Make sure your audience stays engaged until the end
• Map out your first 3 videos so you walk away with a plan

So, you’re never staring at the camera, wondering what to say. Book your session here.

2. You Don’t Need Fancy Editing

I used to film and edit my own stories with almost no time to tweak things for fun. And yet, my videos still connected with people. Now don’t get me wrong, I love some cool editing. I’ve been editing videos for years, so it comes naturally for me to write, film, and edit, content fast.

However, I don’t want you to get bogged down too much by it. You’ve got to get into the groove of nailing a great message first. At the end of the day, people won’t necessarily remember your cool transitions. Yes, they’ll probably give you compliments, but what matters more is storytelling.

Instead of focusing on edits, ask yourself:

• “What’s the one takeaway I want someone to remember from this video?”
• “Am I keeping this simple, or am I rambling?”

3. If You’re Overthinking, You’re Losing

TV news taught me how to create content fast without second-guessing everything. Most business owners get stuck because they:

• Overthink their setup
• Re-record videos 10 times
• Try to make everything “perfect”

The best videos are the ones that feel natural. Your audience wants authenticity more than polished perfection, so start with what you have.

What I Do Now (And How I Can Help You Do the Same)

Everything I learned in TV news applies directly to how I help business owners create video content today.

• Storytelling that sells: The way I structured news stories is the same way you should structure your videos.
  
• Working fast & delivering faster: News doesn’t wait, and neither does social media. You need content that converts, not content that sits in drafts.
  
• Thinking outside the box: In both journalism and business, standing out is the only way to get noticed.

Want a clear plan for your video content? Work with me inside a 90-Minute Video Storytelling Strategy Session where we’ll:

• Find your best 5 money-making stories and turn them into video content
• Create your “Video That Sells” framework so every video has a purpose
• Master simple editing tricks that make your videos look polished
• Map out your first 3 videos so you leave with clarity and confidence

Before we meet, you’ll get my Story Mining Prep Work, so we hit the ground running. You’ll walk away with a customized strategy that makes video easy and gets results. Spots are limited! Click here to book your session now.