I get it, as a business owner you did not set out to also become an influencer or creator, and even though there is a ton of content out there that is faceless and B-roll with text on screen, creating talking head content is an incredible way to build trust with your audience. Specifically, if you are going to work with clients 1:1 or you’re going to be interacting with your audience/community via a course or a masterclass.

So today I wanted to share some practical tips to help you create engaging talking head content. There are two parts to this process: the filming and the editing!

The Filming

Script Your Content

If you haven’t done a ton of public speaking or content creation, it can feel hard to create a compelling through-line in the style of a 90-second reel without prior experience.

So in the beginning, I suggest writing out a script or outline. It can be as simple as listing out: this is my hook, this is point one, this is point two, this is point three, and then this is how I’m going to close it out. Having something to reference between takes can be an easy way to set yourself up for success.

Don’t be afraid to script out your content! For some reason, many of us assume we should just put our phone up and talk to the camera and it’ll result in an incredibly engaging, strategic, insightful video. That’s not always the case. I’m going to be honest, having worked behind the scenes at some of your favorite online businesses, there’s a lot of scripting going on.

Allow Yourself Multiple Takes

Instead of focusing and worrying so much about “getting it right on the first take,” allow yourself the opportunity to mess up and try again. It lowers the stakes and makes it so you can get your words out once, sort of like a little run-through dress rehearsal, and then you can do it again now that you have a better idea of what you actually want to say.

Keep in mind that because of editing (quick jump cuts, zooming in, zooming out), we’re allowed multiple takes because it’s not one continuous shot. So don’t worry about what everything’s gonna look like in post-production because, if anything, that’s gonna help you out.

Think About Your Speed and Energy

Now, you don’t need to be overly animated and like a completely different person than who you are in real life, but you do want to think about keeping your pace and energy up.

It feels like our attention span on social media is decreasing every single day, so when you have a lower energy, slower cadence to your speech, you’re gonna lose your audience.

A great little trick I learned from theater school is after you do that first take, tell yourself, “Okay, one more time a little bit faster with a little bit more energy.” In my experience, it makes that second take much snappier and so much better.

The Editing

Okay, now for the editing. I’ve gotta give you a little tough love here… it doesn’t matter how advanced your editing is if the video content itself isn’t engaging. That said, here are some key editing tips to enhance your videos:

Cut out any of that dead space in the beginning

One of the biggest engagement killers is what’s been coined as the “millennial pause” – that awkward 1-3 second gap between when you start recording and when you actually begin speaking. This pause can cause viewers to swipe away in those crucial first seconds.

Instead you want to start your video with immediate energy and cut straight to your hook. Trim away any moments where you’re settling in, adjusting your position, or taking a breath before speaking. You can easily do so right in your phone’s native editing tools or in apps like CapCut, InShot, or Final Cut Pro. This single change alone can make your videos feel more professional and intentional.

Add In Jump Cuts

Jump cuts remove natural pauses, “umms,” and transitions, creating a faster-paced, more engaging viewing experience. Rather than showing one continuous take (which often includes moments where you might slow down, repeat yourself, or lose your train of thought), jump cuts let you piece together the best parts of multiple takes. The result is a video that feels energetic and intentional.

To use jump cuts effectively, don’t be afraid to cut mid-sentence if it creates better flow. Keep the cuts tight, aim to remove even small pauses between thoughts. This technique not only makes your content more engaging but also forgives any mistakes during filming since you can simply cut them out.

The biggest thing to keep in mind is that like anything in life, it takes time and practice. Just like you show up and put in reps at the gym, you’ve got to put in the reps and exercise the muscle when it comes to filming and creating content as well.