Why and how to build a video content plan

 

Content planning is the key to getting the video content you need at the right time.

A video content plan can help you achieve

  • Time sensitive content

  • Consistent volume of content

  • Successful videos with purpose

  • Transparency and accountability on what needs to be done when and by whom

  • Efficiency through serialised and batched content

How to build a video content plan

There are 4 simple steps to putting together a video content plan:

  1. Set your goals

  2. Brainstorm

  3. Build your content calendar

  4. Reflect

Before you start, you'll need to:

1. Set your goals

Write out your key goals and KPIs. Set your goals at the beginning of the content planning process to make sure that you’re investing your time and energy purposefully.

If you already have existing business, department, or content goals, use these as the foundation of your video goals.

If you don’t already have clear goals, take a moment to consider what you would like to achieve with video and how will you measure success? Are you looking to boost team engagement? Launch a new product? Upskill your team or customers on a particular skill set? Learn more about setting a goal and KPIs for your videos.

Plan your content monthly. Planning too far in advance makes it difficult to be flexible and responsive.

2. Brainstorm

Schedule a meeting to brainstorm with your team. You don’t necessarily need every member of every team in the meeting, but at least invite the key planners and other stakeholders who can make decisions about the videos you’ll make.

Use the business/team goals that you’ve already set out to focus the conversation. Stay open to new ideas, and be clear on how each idea could help to achieve these goals. Check out our article on how to set goals and KPIs for your video for some examples of how you might translate a business goal into a video goal.

Plan for efficiency. Video series and batching content can be clever investments of time, especially if you have a small team or a particularly large video allowance.

  • Batching content is the process of filming multiple videos at the same time. For example, let’s say you have four videos that you need to film in the same location or with the same talent. Even if you want to release the videos at different times, it is more efficient to film them at the same time, rather than setting up in the same location four times.

  • A video series is a collection of episodes on a common theme or topic. Each episode of a series will generally follow a similar structure, which means that they don’t take as long to plan and script. A video series can also feature a consistent location and/or talent, which means that you can shoot them in a batch, saving you even more time!

Prioritise the ideas at the end of your brainstorm and make decision about which videos you’ll make this quarter. Hold onto all your ideas for future inspiration, but choose the ones that will best achieve your goals.

3. Build your content calendar

After your brainstorm, the next step is to organise the videos you’ve chosen using a calendar.

Start with your tentpole content and any projects that are particularly time-sensitive, for example, videos supporting events and conferences, significant product launches, or holiday videos (e.g. Christmas).

First, add the date when you want to release your final video, then work backwards through the video journey, scheduling/allowing time for:

  • Live date

  • Reviewing and amendments

  • Editing (24 or 48 hours depending on your subscription turnaround time)

  • Uploading footage the Shootsta Hub and briefing for edit

  • Shooting

  • Completing your video plan.

Next, schedule your less time-sensitive content. By now, you’ll be able to see which parts of each month are busy with other video projects, and on which dates you’ll have a little breathing room. Again, add these videos to your calendar, allowing time for each step of the video journey.

4. Reflect

At the end of each month, before you begin to set your goals and and to brainstorm for the next month, set up another meeting with the stakeholders from your brainstorm session to reflect on how the plan went. Did you achieve what you set out to do? What went well? What would you like to improve next month?

In your reflection session, consider how else Shootsta can help you to achieve your goals. Remember, you’re not alone in your video journey! For example, we have a dedicated Creative Support team that can help.

Need help or have questions? Contact us. We'd love to help!