How to make a professional and engaging video in 1-2 minutes

Jamie Perez • September 1, 2023

In the ever-evolving landscape of digital content world, the phrase "less is more" has never held more truth. In a world where attention spans becoming shorter and shorter, capturing your audience's attention has become an art form. This is where the importance of keeping videos under 2 minutes comes into play. So how do you make a professional and interesting video in one to two minutes? Let’s dive in!

Short Attention Spans, Big Impact

Our attention spans continue to grow smaller and smaller. Studies show that our attention span is only about 8 seconds. With our age of scrolling combined with a constant stream of notifications, social media updates, and endless content choices, the ability to engage viewers within seconds is crucial. Videos that exceed the 2-minute mark risk losing their grip on the audience. By adhering to this time limit, you're more likely to hold their attention and convey your message effectively. I would even go so far to say, keep it under 60 seconds for videos you’re posting to social media. The two-minute rule is good to follow for videos posted to your website, YouTube or videos you play at events.

Concise Messaging

In today's fast-paced world, brevity is key. A two-minute video forces you to laser focus your message down to its core, cutting out any other unnecessary details. Rather than overwhelming viewers with an information overload, focus on highlighting the most compelling aspects of your business or product. Emphasize the points that answer the question, “Why should I care?” Remember, the goal is not to explain every facet of your biz, but to spark curiosity and encourage further exploration.

The Teaser Effect

Think of your short video as a teaser trailer for your business. Just like how a movie trailer leaves you eager to watch the entire film, a well-crafted video under two minutes can ignite curiosity and leave viewers craving more. It's the first step in a tactful plan that leads your audience to learn more about you, spend more time on your page, share, or take action.

Encouraging Further Exploration

The beauty of a brief video lies in its ability to serve as a gateway to deeper engagement. By keeping your content succinct, you pique viewers' interest and prompt them to delve deeper into your website, social media profiles, or other platforms where they can access more comprehensive information. This not only allows you to maintain control over the narrative but also enables you to tailor the user experience to match their level of interest.

Final Thoughts

In a world where digital content competes for our attention at every turn, the value of brevity cannot be overstated. By adhering to the 2-minute rule, you're not only adapting to the realities of modern attention spans but also crafting a strategic tool that entices viewers to learn more. Use these tips to create a video in one to two minutes! And remember: keep it short, keep it focused, and keep them coming back for more.

A person is sitting at a table using a laptop computer.
By Jamie Perez April 1, 2025
Storytelling is so important for any organization to engage in, but for nonprofits in particular, sharing stories is what will open up hearts, minds and wallets so they can continue providing their much needed services. Fundraising takes time. So while nonprofits are on that timeline, there's a certain order in which stories can be shared that will help optimize fundraising dollars: WHILE YOU'RE FUNDRAISING : Tell the incomplete story. This is featuring someone who is currently seeking services from your organization and still needs help. When you tell the story of someone who has already completed their journey or isn't in as great or immediate of a need, donors might think, "Well this person's been taken care of so they don't need my help." If you tell the story of someone currently in need and highlight some of the challenges they face, this creates more of a sense of urgency. AFTER YOU'VE REACHED YOUR FUNDRAISING GOAL : Now, you can tell that complete story. Do a follow up with the person whose incomplete story you told and provide an update. Send it out in a newsletter. Keep your donors informed on how their donation dollars helped change this person's life, the problems they helped solve, the impact they made, and how consistent donations will help more people in the future. You can also just tell different stories entirely in this phase and talk about how fundraising efforts like the one you just held, help hundreds of people like the ones you're highlighting in the stories you've shared. BONUS: GETTING MORE DONORS OR GETTING YOUR CURRENT DONORS MORE INVOLVED: Why should people donate to your organization out of the thousands of others who also need financial support? When you can share your DONOR'S stories, other people may hear their stories and be able to relate to their "why". There are three different styles of videos you can refer to to get ideas on how you incorporate donor storytelling: 1) This video was sent out to donors for a nonprofit based in Madison, WI called Little John's Kitchens. This nonprofit works with food insecurity, providing meals at a pay-what-you-can option and utilizes other low cost models for people to have access to chef-quality meals who may not know where their next meal is coming from. The video was created AFTER receiving donations during a campaign to show donors what their donations helped the organization achieve: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xV8tQCKTL-E 2) This video featured loyal donors of the same organization about WHY they continue to give to Little John's Kitchens. When you make your donors part of the journey, instead of just asking them for funds when you need help, you build loyalty and they feel like they belong to something bigger than themselves: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DVfbtzBIwM 3) And finally, this video thanks the donors specifically. Don't just converse with your donors when you need money from them. Tell them how much and why you appreciate them: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NPd_MM-MOk
By Jamie Perez March 31, 2025
Drones have revolutionized the world of videography, opening up breathtaking possibilities for capturing stunning aerial footage. But, not just anyone can fly a drone and profit off its picturesque images. As a videographer, you have to have your drone license.
By Jamie Perez February 28, 2025
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