5 tools that put you ahead when making shareable videos

If you’re considering a future in online content creation – and let’s be honest, we all have to know our way around it to survive – any extra skill you can pick up pays off.

Keep in mind that we live in an age where we’re competing with billions of people who know their way around technology. But what if you want to play in this space but don’t have the time to learn any complicated coding?

Well, you can start with the phone in your hands. And making videos is a low-hanging fruit. So here are some tools you can use to make your work easier.

1. Audacity

While the camera on most phones is good enough to shoot a shareable video, the microphones don’t always pass muster.

While you can invest in a microphone, you could also put the headphones near your mouth or use Audacity, which has a noise-reduction feature.

It’s best to start recording in a quiet space and get rid of any background sounds that filter through by using the free software.

2. Snipping tool

If you’re coming up with a how-to video to accompany a product launch or presenting a tutorial, you may need to incorporate some photos.

This is where Windows’ in-built Snipping tool comes in. The MacOS system also offers a combination of shift-command combinations that you can use to take screen grabs.

3.  Video editor

Once you’ve recorded your video and have your sound right, you’ll need to put together your final piece. On a Windows computer, you can use the in-built video editor, which is found under the Photos app.

A similar functionality is found under iMovies in a MacOS system. You can train yourself using these free options before upgrading to paid options like Adobe Premier Elements, Camtasia or Magix Movie Edit Pro.

4. Pixabay

What if you want to add https://cdn.standardmedia.co.ke/images and music to your video and not get sued for copyright infringement?

You’ll need to find content listed under creative commons or that’s categorised as available for commercial use. Pixabay offers a decent selection of visuals that are free.

You can also use the YouTube Audio Library for free sound effects if you upload your video on the platform.

5. YouTube

Making videos may not be as easy as opening some free software and crafting a shareable visual that can be shared with your hundreds of friends in just minutes.

It can get complicated, but you can figure your way around this using free online tutorials. YouTube is a great place to get started.

Further, most video editing apps come with free tutorials that show you how to make the most of them.