An alabama-raised video strategist, content creator, educator, podcaster, and introvert who plays an extrovert on camera. And I’m doing it all from my laundry room!
Transitions, not just a difficult task dreaded by all writers.
(See? Barely a transition in between sentences; truly, transitions are treacherous) Transitions can make or break a video you make, as can incorporating any of the various trends whirling around TikTok or Reels. But first…
In case this is your first time tuning in, let me introduce myself. Reporting from my laundry office in small-town Illinois, this is Virginia Kerr. And I’m here to help you stand out and make money by leveraging and up-leveling your social media videos. I’ve been in the TV and video industry for more than 20 years. Four TV newsrooms, hundreds of videos, blogs, and podcasts later, I’m here to share what I’ve learned with women ready to get the most out of their hard work.
Does video intimidate you? Make you want to hide? I’m excited to help you push through your limiting beliefs and show you that you can shine on video! I’m closing the gap by teaching you easy systems and sharing templates that help your videos get in front of your ideal clients.
Welcome to This is Virginia Kerr, The Podcast! Let’s get started!
What exactly are transitions? Well, they break up a video sequence and can be attention-grabbing (for all the right OR wrong reasons, but more on that later). We want them to be interesting but also highlight your professionalism.
An example of a “traditional” transition would be starting a video in a store, and then suddenly you’re recording from your house. There’s also a “natural” transition, which you don’t hide or edit- it happens on camera.
Either of these is fine, heck, even both, as long as you’re not using too many. Excessive transitions can be annoying and distracting (also if your video is 95% camera tricks where’s your actual content?)
In order to make the most effective videos, you need to identify your main audience and tailor your content accordingly.
This might mean catering to a smaller audience than you’d like to, but in the end, your core followers will appreciate your content more than pandering to everyone/creating content good for no one. I know you want to have the mass appeal of a stylist or interior decorator, but unless you are one, you need to adjust your expectations.
Everyone has a space to decorate, but not everyone is a math teacher making content for other math teachers. Just be consistent even if your topics are less “popular” or just not popular yet. You’ll get there.
If you find yourself producing dance content, or other challenges or trends…stop. Please. You don’t have to be a slave to the ever-evolving TikTok or reels while sacrificing integrity in your videos. If you feel comfortable giving trends a shot, go for it, but there are also other ways to stay relevant without wigs or dance-offs or whatever else the kids are doing these days.
You can use a song that’s featured in a trend, but just as background music. The shift that’s happening now is actually working in your favor because we’re seeing that what people want most of all from those they follow, is authenticity. There are a lot more trending videos of people just talking to the camera, telling stories, or sharing experiences in a real, raw way.
Also if you’re wasting time creating trend videos you don’t even enjoy creating, that sucks enough as it. But you’re also not creating content that sets you apart. Now, this is not to say you shouldn’t pay attention to trending content created by your fellow creators. Watch the comments to see how and what the audience responds with, then do a response video, or a twist somehow. Do NOT do the same thing, we’re not trying to pull a “Bring it On” here.
At the end of the day, your audience follows you for a reason, and they have expectations to go along with that. So if you’re not super “trendy” they’re not going to expect trending content from you; if you’re not comfortable with it, don’t do it. If you are comfortable or want to branch out and give it a try, start simple and still make sure it integrates in a natural way.
Example: You’re a therapist, so if you’re feeling adventurous you could always act out a skit from a therapist/patient perspective while using trending music as the background. This wouldn’t require costumes or anything that might make you uncomfortable and would be a fun way to test out if you want to do something like that again.
You don’t have to fake anything (in fact you shouldn’t), and you don’t have to be anyone but you. Remember YOU’RE the reason your audience shows up. If it feels overwhelming, I like to pick a room and only use what I have on hand in that room. It makes me more creative but also limits the options. You could even just be washing your face; I do this one a lot. Never back to back, but sometimes it’s the only time I have in the day. That makes it honest and real, and it’s an intimate moment where my audience can connect with me on a deeper, more relatable level.
Just mix it up as much as you’re comfortable, to shake your audience up every once in a while, and maybe, just maybe, catch some new views.
If you liked what you learned here, head on over to Instagram and share it on your IG stories and tag me, @thisisvirginiakerr
For more information about the podcast, or to learn more about This is Video School, visit my website. I would love to connect with you more on social media! You can find me on Instagram or join my free Facebook community, This is Video and Content Strategy, to help you level up your branding, messaging and video so you can grow your audience and convert followers into customers.
I look forward to seeing you there!
Virginia Kerr is an Alabama-raised video strategist, content creator, educator, and podcaster who teaches entrepreneurs how to grow their business with video marketing
I started creating videos for fun on Instagram and TikTok and ended up building a half-million-dollar business from my laundry room.
Today I’m dedicated to helping business owners share their messages and make money with video just like I do.