If you’ve decided to get involved with online video marketing, you may be considering using a professional video production company. This can be a great idea, as you’ll get a top quality video. However, if you are like many small businesses your budget is small and your need great. This may inhibit your ability to hire a professional video company. This shouldn’t stop you – you may not be aware that making your own online marketing video is not nearly as difficult as you might think.

Start by taking advantage of the many free video editing software programs. You might already have the equipment you need – a microphone and a webcam, and you need a plan. Let’s have a look at what you need start producing your own video on a budget.

A Quality Microphone
If there is one thing you need to buy that’s of the highest quality, it is your microphone. Viewers will put up with grainy or choppy video, and they’ll live with pictures and without animation, but if the sound is poor they’ll hit the back button so fast you won’t even be able to say ‘bye.’ There are a number of good quality mikes available for a reasonable price. The Samson G Track USB microphone is one of them. Another is the Yeti, which is made by Blue Microphones. Take a little time to review the pros and cons of the many microphones on the market that fits your budget.

A Quality Camera or Webcam
Depending on the type of video you will be doing, you’ll need either a quality video camera or a webcam. While a lot of online marketing videos can be shot using a webcam, if you are planning to do live action you’ll need the right camera. Look for something that does live streaming video like the Sony Bloggie HD for around $129. While you shouldn’t expect professional quality from this gem, it is reasonable for doing blogs, video tutorials and video marketing. 

You might also want to capture screen shots right from your computer. This is especially useful when doing tutorials. There are plenty of free programs that can do this for Snipping Tool and Screencasts are two such programs. They are easy to use and give you the opportunity to create professional looking videos.

If money is no object and you have the budget to hire a professional, then do so, but if you are like most entrepreneurs with small businesses, money is an object. In which case you can take the project on yourself with only a small investment in equipment.