Video marketing is one of the most powerful tools available to small businesses. It builds trust, boosts visibility, and helps you connect with your ideal audience. But the common barrier I hear is this:
“We’d love to use video, but we just don’t have the budget.”
Here’s the good news — you don’t need a massive production budget to make video work for your business. With a bit of planning and the right approach, you can create high-quality, professional-looking video content that fits your goals and your budget.
Here are a few ways I’m helping small businesses do just that.
1. Share a Video Session with Other Businesses
One of the most popular approaches recently has been a shared filming session. We bring together a few like-minded businesses (usually from similar sectors or networks), and film everyone’s content on the same day, in the same location, using the same setup.
Each business walks away with a selection of tailored content — whether that’s video podcast clips, short form social content, testimonials, or intro videos — for a fraction of the cost of booking an individual shoot.
It’s efficient, cost-effective, and even a bit more relaxed when everyone’s in it together.
2. Focus on Evergreen FAQ Videos
If you’re unsure where to start, start with questions your customers already ask you.
Simple FAQ videos can be filmed in a short session (even in your office or shop) and give you valuable content to use on your website, social channels, or in email replies. You don’t need fancy scripts or sets — just clear answers, a decent setup, and good sound.
These kinds of videos work for years and help build trust fast.
3. Batch Your Filming for Efficiency
Instead of filming content ad hoc, plan a shoot every couple of months and create a bank of content in one go. In just half a day, you could walk away with:
-
6–8 short videos for social
-
A longer video for your website
-
Testimonials or case studies
-
Reels or TikToks cut from your main footage
Batching saves on setup time, keeps your content consistent, and stretches your budget further.
4. Repurpose What You Already Have
If you’ve already written blogs, answered FAQs on your site, or received great reviews — that’s content ready to be turned into video.
You don’t always need to start from scratch. A quick script pulled from your website and filmed to camera (with some supporting footage or images) gives you content with real purpose.
5. Combine Video and Photography
If your budget is limited, consider booking a session that includes both video and stills. In a two-hour shoot, we can capture:
-
A banner video for your website
-
A bank of short-form clips
-
New headshots or behind-the-scenes photos
That one session could power your marketing for the next three months — or more.
6. DIY with a Bit of Help
You don’t always need someone behind the camera. Some clients are comfortable filming themselves — using a phone, ring light, and tripod — and then send me the footage for editing.
I help plan what to film, coach them through the process, and turn it into something polished and on-brand. It’s a hybrid approach that keeps costs down but quality up.
Video Doesn’t Have to Be Expensive — Just Strategic
Video isn’t just for big brands or glossy agencies. It’s for local businesses, solo founders, and growing brands who want to connect with their audience in a more human way.
If you’ve been putting off video because of cost, now’s the time to look at it differently.
There’s almost always a way to make it work — and I’d be happy to talk it through.
Interested in a shared video session or a simple way to get started? Let’s chat!
Need help with your business video content?
At Red Book Productions, I specialise in:
-
Video podcasts and interviews
-
Testimonial and case study videos
-
Content for franchise marketing and local businesses
-
Affordable, strategic video that works hard for your brand