How to Do Video Marketing for Introverted Artists

Think you miiiight be ready to make your first video, or is hell more likely to freeze over first? Either way, I think I can help. This guide will show you how I went from "no way Jose" to "I can't live without video" in a matter of months. This is the step-by-step guide to video marketing for introverted artists. Enjoy!

How many times have you heard that you need to do Facebook lives, or Instagram stories, or be on YouTube? I'm betting your answer is about 100 times too many. 

So I won't say that. But I WILL say, video isn't so bad. In fact, it's kinda great. (This coming from a girl who used to be freakin' terrified of video.)

I've come to find that using video as a tool in your arsenal can actually improve your quality of life, once you learn how. It can make your art business feel more real, more genuine, more connected, even in a world as abstract as the internet. 

For this week's tip I made you a video (cuz, duh). You'll learn:

Have you ever tried towing something behind your car? It’s a little intimidating the first time.

My parents have a tiny red camper that they never use and have offered to my family multiple times. For several years, we didn’t take them up on it because we were nervous we would mess something up on it while driving. But this beautiful red camper just kept calling my name, and we finally took it to the lake a few weeks ago. 

(Lemme tell ya... I think I’m ruined for tent camping now. It was luxurious.)

If we hadn’t ever stepped out our comfort zone and tried pulling that camper, I would’ve never have learned how amazing it is to stay at a campground overnight and wake up fully rested for days two and three. 

Same with video. You’ll never find out how much simpler creating an excellent customer experience can be unless you put yourself out there that first time. 

Don’t worry, I won’t ask you to jump right off the diving board. I’ll let you dip your toes in first. 

Step #1 to get comfortable with video marketing for introverted artists: Start with one on one videos.

Sending a video to one person is a lot less scary than putting it out on social media where anyone can see it. It can also help you create special connections with people you’ve never met. You’ve heard that you need to "help people know, like, and trust you"? This can check some or all of those boxes, quickly.

Another benefit of recording one on one videos is that you have a chance to redo them. Until you get comfortable with videos in real-time (using FaceTime or Zoom or Facebook lives), pre-record your video and then send it off. This can help eliminate a lot of the jitters and stumbling over your words.

To create one on one videos, I recommend either using your phone to record or use a desktop service like Loom. I use Loom multiple times a day for creating videos while sitting at my computer because it makes sending them so easy and doesn’t eat up your storage space. If you need to get up and walk while filming, you’ll probably want to choose your phone.

Here’s a few ideas for one on one videos:

What do you think? Doesn't sound so bad, right?

Over the next week or two, I’ll be picking enough apricots off my trees to process around 80 pints of jam and several gallon bags of dried fruit. The madness started today when I went to check my trees, and the first fruits were starting to blush.

It’s no small feat and takes a lot of calculated, but rewarding, work. 

The fear of ruining entire batches with each step is pretty much gone at this point. I’ve turned our abundance of apricots into delicious treats enough times that I feel confident in my abilities. 

If you wanna gain loads of confidence at anything, there’s only one way that I know of: practice. 

The more you do that thing you’re afraid of, the more it becomes second nature. You'll be able to get more creative with your ideas, without fear paralyzing you from carrying out your inspiration. (Maybe I’ll can some apricot halves this year too?!)

I find practicing with baby steps instead of jumping in with two feet gets me comfortable faster… mostly because I don’t freeze and procrastinate.

If you want to start using videos to contribute to your marketing, and I highly recommend you do, try using the same steps I did to get over your fears. 

Step #2 to get comfortable with video marketing for introverted artists: Share pre-recorded videos with small audiences.

Instead of posting public videos where anyone can see them, take away that fear of judgment by sharing videos with people you trust.

Small, intimate audiences can include:

When you've gotten over your initial fear of pressing the record button with Practice Step #1, ​posting videos you've had the option to re-do a few times to small groups will turn you into a believer. You'll start thinking "Hey, I can really do this!", and for the real icing on top of that apricot turnover, you might even start to think it's fun. 

But don't tell. Then everyone'll start doing it. 😉

"Your brain has gotten so analytical," my mom told me as we sat around her patio dining table, pitting cardboard boxes full of ripe apricots. (yep... still doing that.)

We were talking about good children's books, and since I read so many, I've developed some theories.

For example, many of the new series I see that are successful have two angles. Fancy Nancy teaches big words and imagination. The "How Do Dinosaurs..." collection helps you learn dino names and how to have good manners.

Of course, there are many exceptions, but that is just one formula authors have embraced lately - knowingly or not.

I like to spot or create formulas, then tell you how to use them for marketing your art. Maybe that's not the way most people would define creativity, but I feel like it's my personal contribution to the artist community, as well as my happy place. This week's tip is no exception!

In the past three weeks, I've told you how to get over your fear of being on camera.

Now that you've done some low-key practicing and gotten more comfortable, it's time to make some videos for your social audience.

Step #3 to get comfortable with video marketing for introverted artists: Have a plan.

I thought it would be helpful for you to have a formula format to ease a little anxiety. That way you won't forget what to say after you hit record, or talk in circles, or sound like you're reading from a script.

It doesn't have to be hard. You just need to remember three things to keep your video on track.

Know your beginning, middle, and endpoints, then hit start. You don't need to have the entire thing planned out. If you just know these three things, you'll create a connection, get your message across, and have a much bigger chance they'll do what you want them to do.

Do the work & create your luck,