Video production · 6 min read
12 business videos you can film without pretending to be an influencer
Real questions, visible proof and a batch-filming plan — with one worked example you can adapt this week.
The short answer
The videos that work for a local business are short, specific and answer a real question: a finished job, a price explained, a common mistake, a member of staff introducing what they do. You don't need a studio — you need a plan for one filming day and a list of the questions customers keep asking you.
By Raja Wahab, Co-founder, Fixby Studios · Published · Updated · 6 min read
Ideas 1–3: show the work, not the slogan
- Before and after of a finished job, filmed from the same spot.
- A 30-second walkthrough of completed work with you explaining one decision.
- A quick tour of your premises, van or workshop.
Ideas 4–7: answer what stops the booking
- How your pricing works, in plain terms.
- How long a typical job takes, start to finish.
- The mistake customers make most often before they call you.
- What happens after someone enquires.
Ideas 8–10: put a real person on screen
- A member of staff explaining their part of the job.
- Why you started the business, in under a minute.
- A day in the life, cut down to the interesting bits.
Ideas 11–12: make your coverage concrete
- The areas you cover and how far you travel.
- A job filmed in a recognisable part of Huddersfield or Kirklees, with the customer's permission.
One idea, turned into a filmable brief
Illustrative example for a cafe: answer ‘What is in the lunch special?’ Show the finished plate, name the ingredients and explain how to order. Capture the plate and the preparation separately so the editor has useful cutaways. Confirm the current offer before posting, and avoid filming customers without permission.
Twelve ideas. One organised filming day.
- List the twelve topics the week before and write one sentence per clip.
- Pick two locations and film everything in each before moving.
- Change your shirt between groups so clips don't look identical.
- Record each clip twice, then keep the better take.
- Send everything for editing in one batch with captions and vertical crops.
Give each clip a second job on your website
Post them to social, but also place the answer clips on the matching page of your website. A pricing clip belongs on your pricing page, a process clip on your service page. That is where a hesitant visitor is deciding whether to enquire.
Sources
Your questions
- How long should a business video be?
- Under 60 seconds for social clips, and 90 seconds at most for a website explainer. Say one thing well.
- Do I need a professional camera?
- No. A recent phone with good light and a clip-on microphone is enough for most local business content.
- How often should I post video?
- Once or twice a week is sustainable. Filming in batches is what makes that realistic while you run the business.
- What should every clip end with?
- One instruction: call, message or visit a specific page. Without it, views don't become enquiries.
Raja Wahab is co-founder of Fixby Studios, a Huddersfield studio building websites, SEO, social media and business software for small, owner-managed businesses across West Yorkshire.
Next step
Let's get your business seen.
A free video plan: what to film, where to post it, what it costs.
Fixby Studios builds websites, runs SEO and manages social media for small businesses across Huddersfield and West Yorkshire. Talk to us about video and content
Prefer to talk it through? Contact Fixby Studios, email info@fixbystudios.co.uk or call 07737 067552.
