If you’re working in marketing for a Housing Association, you know that social media videos are a powerful tool to engage with both current and potential tenants. However, creating high-quality videos can be a challenging task.

You might face common issues such as poor video quality, budget limitations, inefficient production, lack of audience engagement, insufficient content variety, platform tailoring, and more

Fortunately, as video production experts, Super Motion is here to guide you through each of these challenges with practical solutions that don’t require you to be a technical expert.

Video and Audio Quality

To ensure a high video quality, you need to follow some basic principles:

First, use consistent lighting, either natural or artificial. Make sure to avoid harsh shadows or bright highlights that can distract the viewer.

Second, keep your camera steady and use a tripod or similar tool if possible. Shaky camera work makes the video look cheap and unprofessional.

Finally, record clear audio using external microphones that can eliminate background noise. This will dramatically improve the overall sound quality of your video.

Budget Limitations

If you face budget limitations, don’t worry. In today’s world, you can create professional-looking videos using your smartphone camera and free editing software such as iMovie or Adobe Premiere Rush.

Of course, you need to learn some basic editing techniques and use cheap or DIY props to improve the video’s visual appeal. For instance, use natural light instead of expensive lighting equipment or create your own backdrop using curtains or bed sheets.

Efficient Production

Efficient production is essential to create a steady stream of social media videos. To achieve this, plan ahead by creating a content calendar that aligns with your marketing objectives.

This will help you to avoid last-minute rushes and ensure that your videos are consistent in terms of style, tone, and messaging.

Also, batch record your videos to save time and streamline editing. Finally, leverage online collaboration tools like Google Drive or Dropbox to share files, comments, and feedback among your team members.

Engage Your Audience

Audience engagement is the key to success in social media videos. To boost engagement, focus on community stories and relevant housing topics that resonate with your target audience.

Use storytelling techniques to create an emotional connection with the viewer and include a call-to-action that encourages them to like, share, or comment on your videos.

Also, be responsive to your audience’s feedback and incorporate their suggestions and opinions in your video content.

Engagement Metrics

To track your social media video’s performance, use engagement metrics such as views, shares, comments, and likes. This will help you to understand what works and what doesn’t, and adjust your strategy accordingly.

Additionally, use analytics tools such as Google Analytics or YouTube Analytics to get more insights into your video’s audience demographics, retention rates, and other KPIs that matter to your business goals.

Don’t forget to measure the return on investment (ROI) of each video campaign to justify your spend and optimise your marketing budget.

Use Varied Content

To keep your social media videos fresh and engaging, experiment with different formats such as interviews, virtual tours, how-to guides, testimonials, and more.

Use visual storytelling techniques such as animation, graphics, and text overlays to make your videos more dynamic and visually appealing. Also, think creatively about the content you can generate from your Housing Association’s activities, events, programs, partnerships, and initiatives.

Tailor Your Content to the Platforms You Use

Each social media platform has its own audience and format requirements. To maximise the impact of your social media videos, customise your content for each platform.

For instance, use TikTok for fun and short videos that appeal to younger audiences, Facebook and LinkedIn for longer and informative videos that target business professionals and seniors, and Snapchat for behind-the-scenes and exclusive content that creates FOMO among your followers.

Also, leverage the power of hashtags and other social media tools to boost your video’s reach and visibility.

Use Interactive Elements

To make your social media videos more interactive and engaging, incorporate elements such as calls-to-action, live Q&As, polls, quizzes, and feedback forms. This will encourage your viewers to participate in your video campaign, share their opinions, and feel part of your Housing Association’s community.

Also, consider partnering with thought leaders who can promote your video content and attract new followers or tenants to your properties.

Conclusion

Creating social media videos for your Housing Association can be daunting, but with the right mindset, tools, and techniques, you can achieve great results and engage with your audience in a meaningful way.

Remember to focus on quality, creativity, efficiency, and engagement, and leverage the power of online collaboration, analytics, and customisation to make your videos stand out from the crowd.

Keep experimenting, learning, and adapting to improve your social media video content.

To start your video journey, book a strategy call or get in touch on 01225 970242.

As a marketing and communications manager, you’ll know that case study videos are one of the most effective marketing tools for a Housing Association.

A well-crafted case study video can provide prospective residents with an in-depth understanding of the services and homes you provide, whilst also demonstrating how they can address real-life problems.

In order to create an engaging and informative Housing Association case study video, you need to ask the right questions during your interview with residents.

In this blog post, we will explore the best questions that you can ask a resident during a case study video interview.

Get a Sense of Their Journey

Understanding the interviewee’s background is critical in creating an effective case study video, and this question will provide useful context for your video content. You could ask: “Can you tell us a little about your journey before living in your Housing Association home?” This will enable the resident to outline any challenges they faced, and demonstrate your company’s ability to provide the right solutions.

Share Challenges and Solutions

Ask a question that ensures that the challenges experienced by the resident before moving into their Housing Association home are included in your case study video and how the home and services you offer helped to overcome these challenges.

One such question could be: “What were some of the main issues that you faced in your previous home, and how has your new home and the support from the Housing Association helped you?”

Understand Why Residents Choose to Live in Their Community

Include a question which shows why they chose to live in this community and why they choose to stay.

You could ask: “What made you choose to live in this community/area?”

This will highlight any specific aspects of the area they chose to live in that stood out to the resident.

Real-life Impact

It is important to ask questions that reveal the real-life impact on the resident after using your company’s services.

You may want to ask: “What have been the tangible benefits of moving into your Housing Association home and how have they impacted your life?”

This will allow the resident to talk about the benefits they have experienced since using your company, making your case study video more compelling.

Focus on Community Aspects

A question about community can highlight the Association’s role helping to foster a supportive and inclusive community.

For example: “How do you see the impact of your Housing Association in creating a supportive and inclusive community?”

Measuring Client Satisfaction

Client satisfaction is paramount to any potential client, and asking a question that reveals the satisfaction levels will be useful in your case study video.

An example of this could be: “On a scale of 1-10, how satisfied are you with our services and can you give us some examples of where you were particularly pleased?”

Power of Personal Recommendations

Personal recommendations are a powerful tool in the marketing arsenal and including them in case study videos is key.

Ask a question like “Would you recommend this community to others as a place to live to others?” to ensure a personal recommendation is included.

Conclusion

Creating a compelling Housing Association case study video is a process that requires asking the right questions during an interview with residents.

By asking the questions we have outlined in this blog post, you will be able to create a case study video that captures the challenges experienced by residents, highlights the solutions provided by your company, and showcases the real-life impact of your services on the resident.

Furthermore, focusing on resident satisfaction, community impact, and personal recommendations will further encourage prospective residents to choose to live in the homes you manage and to take advantage of the additional services you offer.

By taking the time to ask the right questions and create a well-crafted case study video, you will undoubtedly see an increase in engagement.

If you’re struggling to interview your residents, sometimes it can help to work with an experienced interviewer.

To discuss how an experienced interviewer could help you produce a better case study video, book a strategy call or get in touch on 01225 970242.

In today’s digital age, video content has become a crucial tool for marketing and communications. Housing Associations can benefit greatly from creating engaging educational videos to increase tenant engagement and satisfaction.

However, creating videos that successfully convey educational information while also being engaging can be challenging. In this blog post, we discuss the best practices for creating engaging educational videos, specifically for Housing Associations.

Define Your Objectives

Before creating an educational video, you need to define your objectives and decide what you want your audience to learn from the video.

• What are the main messages you want to convey?
• What key points are most important to communicate?

Understanding your objectives and goals will help guide the rest of the production process from scripting through final editing.

Know your Audience

In addition to being clear on your objectives, it is also crucial to know the target audience. Housing associations have residents from different age groups, backgrounds and cultures. Therefore, understanding their preferences and needs is paramount. Understanding your audience will help you tailor your content and approach accordingly.

For example, if you were creating an educational video for an elderly audience, you might want to create video content that avoids confusing technical language. At the same time, a housing association catering to young adults might want to create a casual-style video that appeals to their interests.

Clear and Concise

In the modern digital landscape with devices, apps and content demanding attention, it’s important to keep your educational videos simple, straightforward and concise.

Avoid using jargon and technical terms that may not be clear to your audience. Try to keep the content in the video short but informative so that your audience can follow along easily.

Long videos that drag on and on will lose viewers’ attention, so it’s best to keep your video between 2-5 minutes long. However, the ideal length of your video will vary depending on the platform, the audience and the complexity of the topic.

Use a Conversational Tone

Using a conversational tone in your video can help keep your audience engaged.

Try to speak in a way that is friendly and personable, rather than being too formal or academic.

Using natural language can also help make the information in your video feel more accessible and relatable, leading to improved engagement with your audience.

Use Visuals and Animations

Adding visuals and animations to your educational videos is a powerful way to engage your audience. Videos that consist solely of talking heads might bore your audience.

On the other hand, video animation, illustrations, and other types of visual content can grab viewers’ attention and help them retain information better.

A great and affordable way to add visuals to your video is to make use of B-roll footage.

B-roll footage is a term used to describe additional footage used to show contextual information alongside the main footage in your video (e.g. an interview).

As an example, Housing Associations may interview Community Engagement Officers to highlight ongoing projects in their local communities, while B-roll footage is used to show the delivery of those projects to create a more engaging video.

B-roll footage is something you can record as part of your filming project, or you can purchase licences for library footage during the editing (post-production) process.

Use Real-life Examples

Using real-life examples is an effective way to make educational videos engaging. For example, an association could use testimonials from residents to provide useful information and make the video content feel relatable.

Using real-life examples also helps to create an emotional connection with viewers, making it easier for them to remember what they’ve learned.

Include a Call-to-Action

Lastly, it is essential to include a call to action in your educational video.

The call to action can be whatever action you desire viewers to take after watching the video — from filling a survey, to attending a community event, or simply subscribing to your social media page.

A call to action provides a clear goal for your viewers and keeps them engaged with an objective.

Conclusion

Creating engaging educational videos for Housing Associations can be a powerful way to communicate with tenants and improve engagement and satisfaction. 

By keeping videos simple and accessible, using a conversational tone, and including relevant visuals, you can create videos that your audience will enjoy watching and find informative. Always define your objectives before the production process and tailor the video to meet those objectives.

By following these best practices, Housing Associations can create educational videos that will keep tenants engaged and informed.

For Housing Associations, the importance of clear and professional video content cannot be overstated. Whether it’s for communicating important messages to residents or promoting properties to prospective tenants, high-quality videos can make all the difference.

In this article, we will discuss the essential equipment needed for creating great videos. From cameras to lighting, we will go through each piece of equipment and explain how it contributes to creating visually appealing video content that will engage your target audience.

Camera

A high-quality camera is the backbone of any filming project. It captures the video content and determines its image quality.

A good camera produces clear and sharp videos that look professional. Housing Associations should look to invest in a camera that produces high-resolution videos that can be viewed on HD screens, such as laptops, TVs, and smartphones.

Tripod

A tripod provides stability for the camera and ensures the videos are smooth, clear, and shake-free.

It is a great tool for capturing still and stationary shots without any movement. With a tripod, Housing Associations can ensure that their videos look professional and well-produced.

Lighting Kit

Nobody likes a poorly lit video, and Housing Associations need to ensure that their videos are visually appealing.

Lighting kits are essential pieces of equipment for creating well-lit videos, regardless of the shooting location. Whether it’s in a dimly lit apartment, a boardroom, or an outdoor space, appropriate lighting can make all the difference to the quality of the video.

Backdrop

A consistent and controlled visual setting is essential for creating a professional-looking video.

A backdrop can help to achieve this as it creates an environment that is free from distractions, clutter, and any other elements that could divert attention from the subject.

Backdrops can be customised to suit your branding style, making your videos stand out and remain consistent.

External Recorder and Microphones

A good external recorder is essential for significantly enhancing audio quality significantly. It enables crisp and clear sounds that immerse the viewers and, more importantly, provide your target audience with a better understanding of what you’re communicating. It is especially useful when filming interviews, voiceovers, or any other audio-dependent content.

Lapel Microphone

Clear voice recording is essential in making sure your communication is well received.

Lapel microphones have proven to be very effective in capturing sound as they are clipped onto the subject’s clothing, ensuring that voice is picked up and no external sounds are recorded.

Shotgun Microphone

A directional microphone is needed when recording in noisy environments.

A shotgun microphone is perfect for this purpose as it records the audio from a specific direction. This type of microphone is ideal for filming in areas with ambient sound, such as during construction projects or busy traffic.

Conclusion

Creating high-quality video content is essential for Housing Associations. With the equipment mentioned above, Housing Associations can produce visually appealing videos that convey critical messages and promote their properties in the best possible light.

A great camera, tripod, lighting kit, and backdrops will ensure that the videos have a professional touch. Still, it’s the lapel and shotgun microphones and external recorders that ensure your message is well understood despite the noisy background.

Investing in reliable equipment can provide your Housing Association with the right tools to create impeccable video content that will captivate your audience.

If you don’t have the budget to purchase the equipment you need, an affordable alternative is to work with a video production company.

To start your video journey, book a strategy call or get in touch on 01225 970242.

Housing Associations often need to communicate complex information on a variety of topics.

But how do you explain complex topics like housing policies, developments, and repairs to your stakeholders in a way that is simple, engaging, and memorable?

That’s where explainer videos come in.

Explainer videos are short animated or live action videos that explain complex concepts in an easily understandable way.

This blog post will explore what explainer videos are, their importance in the Housing Association industry, and how they can support your organisational and digital transformations.

Making the Complex Simple

Explainer videos are a fantastic tool for simplifying complex information. For example, Housing Associations can use explainer videos to break down complex housing policies, making them easier for tenants to understand.

These videos can also showcase new housing developments, giving viewers a glimpse into what kind of living spaces they can expect from your organisation.

Guiding Tenants

Explainer videos can guide tenants on simple repairs, reducing the number of calls to your contact centre. For instance, you could create videos that show tenants how to fix a leaky tap or safely replace a lightbulb.

These videos not only help tenants solve small problems without your assistance, but they also demonstrate your commitment to helping them maintain their homes.

Introducing New Services

When you launch a new service, like a customer portal for bill payments or reporting property maintenance issues, an explainer video is a great way to inform and educate your tenants.

In this example, you could use the explainer video to introduce the service to your tenants, what they can use it for, how to use it, and why it benefits them.

Using an explainer video in this way can help you to successfully launch your new service, by improving adoption.

Engaging Different Stakeholders

Explainer videos are an engaging way to reach different stakeholders, from tenants and community groups, to colleagues and contractors.

You can use these videos to demonstrate the value of your organisation to potential recruits, showcase the accomplishments of your colleagues through animated presentations, and communicate with tenants in a way that captures and holds their attention.

Supporting Digital and Organisational Transformations

Explainer videos can play a pivotal role in supporting your organisational and digital transformations.

These videos can help communicate changes efficiently to various audiences, aiding in the smooth rollout of new digital platforms and policies.

With explainer videos, your organisation can transform the way it communicates with stakeholders, becoming more efficient and accessible simultaneously.

Conclusion

Explainer videos are a powerful tool for Housing Associations looking to simplify complex information, communicate new services and policies, and engage different stakeholders.

By creating memorable content with visual aids, storytelling, and humour, Housing Associations can improve communication with tenants and increase the efficiency of their contact centres.

With the use of explainer videos, Housing Associations can support digital and organisational transformations and foster a more accessible and informed relationship with their stakeholders.

To start your video journey, book a strategy call or get in touch on 01225 970242.

Case study videos can be an incredibly effective way to showcase the positive impact of your housing association’s services on the lives of your residents.

As video content continues to gain momentum, investing resources in a great case study can be the best way to promote your social housing services and tell the world about your work.

If you’re thinking about creating a case study video, but don’t know where to start, this blog post is here to help. We’ve compiled a list of key steps to follow to create an impactful video that engages your target audience.

1. Define Your Case Study Objectives

Before you start working on your video, you should define what you want to achieve with it.

What are your main goals and how will you measure success?

Be specific and make sure your objectives are realistic and achievable.

2. Research Your Audience

Your video should be tailored to your target audience’s preferences, motivations, and information needs. Do some research to get to know your audience better.

What kind of video content are they attracted to?

Are they interested in seeing human interest stories, statistics, or a combination of both?

3. Identify the Subject of Your Case Study

Once you know the objectives of your video and have researched your target audience, it’s time to identify who you’ll feature in the video.

Look for real-life residents or stakeholders whose stories align with your objectives and resonate with your target audience.

Don’t forget to ask for their permission to be in your video and get them to sign media release forms.

4. Develop a Flexible Case Study Script

Create a script that guides the narrative while allowing the authentic resident or stakeholder stories to shine.

Make sure the script can be adapted if necessary so that it remains in alignment with your objectives.

5. Use Data and Statistics

Use statistics and data to support and underscore the impact and benefits of your housing association services.

This will help your audience to have a better understanding of the value of your services. Make sure your data and statistics are accurate and verifiable.

6. Choose an Appropriate Location

Choose a location that complements the video’s tone and is accessible for all participants.

Consider the lighting, noise, and other factors that could impact the quality of the video.

7. Storyboard Your Case Study

Plan your case study using a storyboard to visualise the key shots and visuals for your case study video.

This will help you to ensure alignment with your objectives and make it easier to plan the shots required to produce your video.

A storyboard can ensure that your production team understands your vision for the project. Furthermore, it can help you to avoid costly mistakes during the production stage.

8. Plan Your Case Study Interview Questions

Plan interview questions that elicit meaningful and relevant responses that support the narrative of your script and objectives.

Try to ask open questions — as this will encourage the interviewee to and avoid leading questions that could potentially influence the interviewee’s response.

9. Consider Your Case Study Budget

After preparing your script and interview questions, assess your budget for the project.

Your budget varies based on whether you’re producing the video in-house or outsourcing to a production company. In-house production requires professional lighting, sound, and camera equipment, along with other associated expenses.

Outsourcing can reduce costs if you lack professional equipment. Regardless of your choice, monitor your expenses closely to stay within budget.

10. Plan Your Case Study Shoot

The production stage of your case study video will require careful planning — ensuring that crew, locations and your interviewees are available.

Careful planning is essential to ensure the success of your project.

Conclusion

Creating a case study video for your housing association may seem like a daunting task, but following these key steps can help ensure a successful outcome.

First, define clear objectives, research your target audience, and identify a subject whose story aligns with your goals. Then, develop a flexible script, use data and statistics to underscore your services’ value, choose an appropriate location, and create storyboards. Plan interview questions and determine equipment, personnel, and budget while coordinating shooting schedules.

Using these steps, your Housing Association can create an impactful video that showcases your positive impact on residents and raises awareness of your association’s services.

To start your video journey, book a strategy call or get in touch on 01225 970242.