Most small businesses know they should be using video. The hard part is knowing what to film. The good news is that the best ideas are usually sitting right in front of you: your team, your customers and the questions people ask you every week.
I plan and film video for small businesses across Liverpool, and these are the ideas that work again and again. Steal any of them.
The short version
- Meet the team. People buy from people.
- Behind the scenes. Show how the magic happens.
- Answer the FAQs. Every common question is a video.
- Customer stories. Let happy customers do the selling.
- Before and after. Show the change you make.
1. Meet the team
Short intros with the people behind the business build trust fast. A minute each, relaxed, talking about what they love about the job. They work brilliantly on your About page and on LinkedIn.
2. Behind the scenes
The kitchen during service, the workshop at full speed, the salon before opening. People love seeing how things are made. It shows the care that goes into your work in a way words never can.
3. Answer the questions customers ask
Write down the ten questions you get asked most. Each one is a short video. They help customers decide, save you time on the phone, and do really well on social media and in search.
4. Customer stories
A happy customer explaining what you did for them is the most persuasive video you can have. Keep it natural: a short chat, some footage of the work, and their own words.
5. Product and service demos
Show your product in use or your service from start to finish. Close ups, real hands, real results. These work on product pages, in ads and as vertical clips.
6. Events, launches and offers
Openings, new menus, seasonal offers and events all give you a reason to post. Film the build up, the day itself and a short recap for next year.
7. A brand film
Once you have a few smaller pieces, a one to two minute brand film ties it all together for your homepage: who you are, what you do and why it matters.
Make it easy: film a month in a day
You do not need a camera crew every week. A planned content day can produce six to eight finished vertical videos in half a day, or twelve to twenty in a full day. I write the content plan first, covering the topics, the hook for each video and the order to post in, so you are never stuck for what to share next.
Your video ideas list
Easy wins
- Meet the team intros
- Behind the scenes clips
- Your top ten customer questions
- A product or service demo
Bigger pieces
- Customer story films
- Event and launch recaps
- A brand film for your homepage
- Recruitment and careers videos
Questions businesses ask
Which platforms should I post on?
Wherever your customers already spend time. For most small businesses that is Instagram and TikTok for reach, LinkedIn for business to business, and your website and YouTube for search. Every video can be delivered in both vertical and landscape.
Do I need to come up with the ideas myself?
No. I plan the content from the questions your customers already ask. If you have ideas already, even rough ones, we build from those.
How often should I post video?
Consistency matters more than volume. A steady rhythm you can keep up, like two or three videos a week from one monthly content day, beats a burst followed by silence.
More guides for businesses: How much does a business video cost? and How to plan a promo video for your business.
Got a video in mind?
Tell me the idea and let’s shape it together
Send me what the video is for, where it will live and when you need it, and I will come back with a plan and a clear quote.