My personal journey through fear and perfectionism, to get visible online.
Why I Believe Video Is My Best Employee
When I started my business, it never occurred to me that I needed to use videos to promote it in order for clients to find me.
I know what you’re thinking.
Edie, you’re a video editor!
You create videos for your clients!
How could you NOT know this?!
It took years before I realized that using video was the difference between sharing my expertise and not having a business.
The truth is, video content has become my most reliable, hardest-working “employee”—always marketing for me, sharing my expertise, and connecting with the right audience, no matter the time of day.
Platforms like YouTube have built-in search engines, ensuring that my videos get discovered long after they’re posted. But YouTube isn’t the only platform that matters—now, just about every social network gives priority to video content. No matter your background—seasoned entrepreneur, service provider, even employees—using video can amplify your visibility and showcase your expertise to a much wider audience.
Facing (and Overcoming) My Fears Around Video
I’ll be honest: being on camera filled me with dread. Despite my background in video production, I was a self-proclaimed “video phobe” and perfectionist. I worried I didn’t look right, didn’t sound right, and—maybe worst of all—that people would criticize my expertise or knowledge.
Here are some of the roadblocks I personally had to face:
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Videophobia: I was scared of appearing on camera and being seen online.
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Perfectionism: I obsessed over every flaw, often letting videos sit unpublished because they weren’t “good enough.”
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Imposter Syndrome: I wondered if I was truly qualified, fearing negative comments or trolls.
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Time and Money Fears: I believed that I needed to use what the professionals were using and I didn’t have the time to learn the latest equipment or the money to buy them.
But here’s what I learned: You don’t need fancy equipment. Your webcam or a smartphone will do. Today, AI-powered editing tools make life so much easier. Most of the “flaws” I obsessed over were things viewers barely noticed. With consistency and self-compassion, I finally started sharing my knowledge through video.
The Framework That Changed My Approach to Video
To help others (and structure my own process), I developed what I call the “Embrace Video Framework.” Here’s how I break it down:
1. Gain Clarity: Laying My Strategic Foundation First, I had to figure out who I was truly talking to. I stopped guessing and started listening: What questions does my audience actually have? What are their pain points? Why am I making these videos in the first place? I realized that being “romantic” about my ideas wasn’t helpful—what mattered most was what my viewers wanted and needed. Defining my niche and purpose made everything that followed much easier.
2. Generate Content: Ideas Into Action Armed with clarity, I brainstormed video topics using tools like Answer Socrates and good old YouTube search suggestions. I opted for evergreen topics, so my videos would serve viewers for years, not just days.
At first, I created faceless videos—screen recordings and narrated slideshows—to get comfortable. Only later did I step in front of the camera more regularly. My advice: Choose what works for you right now! Batch recording and using AI tools like Kapwing made editing and consistency manageable.
I also learned how crucial it is to structure each video with a hook, solution, and clear call-to-action. That way, every viewer knows what to do next.
3. Grow My Audience: Beyond Just Posting I stopped assuming the algorithms would “just know” to promote my videos. Instead, I optimized my titles, descriptions, and thumbnails with keywords, created playlists to encourage binge-watching, and started sharing across different platforms. Shorts, in particular, helped boost my visibility quickly.
Analytics became my friend—not to obsess over vanity metrics, but to see what actually resonated and resulted in real business leads. I learned to experiment, embrace imperfection, and focus on serving my core audience.
My Challenge to You (and Myself)
This journey is never really “over.” Right now, I’m challenging myself to a 90-day video streak—not for the metrics, but to stay consistent, experiment, and keep growing. If you’re waiting for the perfect moment, trust me, it doesn’t exist. Start where you are, use what you have, and improve as you go.
If I can move from a nervous, perfectionist video strategist to someone excited about sharing on video (and helping others do the same), so can you. Let’s embrace video together and see where it takes us!
Ready to start? Join my October workshop Embrace Visibility on October 18th and 22nd and let’s create fun and scroll-stopping animated short videos using tools like Hedra.ai Let’s step into visibility—one video at a time. https://edieclarke.com/facelessgroup
