You Don’t More Resources. You Need a Strategy.
Let’s say this clearly: the camera isn’t the issue.
Many business owners assume their video marketing struggles come down to production quality. If only they had the right lighting. The right lens. The right backdrop. Then things would finally “click.”
But after years in both journalism and strategic marketing, Maren Larson sees a very different pattern. The businesses that win with video don’t necessarily have bigger budgets. They have clearer strategy.
In our recent conversation, we unpacked what that actually looks like — from starting where you’re confident to using long-form content as a growth engine. If you’ve been waiting until everything looks perfect, this might be the perspective shift you’ve been needing.
Start where you’re confident (even if you never feel “ready”)
One of Maren’s most practical pieces of advice is simple: start where you feel the most confident. Talk about the thing you could explain “in your sleep.” A lot of people talk themselves out of video because they assume everyone already knows what they know. Maren’s take? They don’t. And when you share what comes naturally to you, your confidence shows up on camera.
Also—this is important—Maren admits she’s never felt totally comfortable on camera, even as someone who did it for a living. Confidence usually isn’t something you wait for. It’s something you build by showing up.
The misconception: every video needs to look expensive
If you’ve been holding off because you think your videos need to be polished, scripted, and professionally shot… take a breath.
Maren points out that great video strategy includes both high-quality production and organic, “in the moment” content. Think of it like this: your highly produced videos might live on your website (your digital first impression), while your phone videos build familiarity day-to-day. People connect with realness. And right now, audiences are used to vertical, phone-style video that feels relatable.
Low-hanging fruit: FAQs are content ideas sitting in plain sight
Here’s a repeatable strategy you can use immediately: turn your FAQs into videos.
If prospects and customers keep asking the same questions, those answers should exist in more than one format—especially video. Maren makes a strong point that content isn’t “duplicative” just because you already wrote it somewhere. People consume content differently. Some prefer reading. Others want to listen. Others want to watch.
Consistency beats viral
It’s easy to get discouraged when a video gets 30 views. Maren offers a perspective shift: if you had 30 people in a room listening to you, you’d feel that mattered. Social platforms can make you think success equals thousands of views, but your audience isn’t everyone. The goal is to reach the right people and get a little better each time.
Shoot once, use it a million times
A big theme in this episode is repurposing. A single long-form conversation can become:
short clips for social
a blog post from the transcript
newsletter content
LinkedIn posts
screenshots for email promotions
Maren’s team even records blog interviews because the content can live in multiple places later. If you’re already doing the work, you might as well get the full return from it.
Final takeaway: do it, but do it for someone
Maren’s closing advice is a great one-two punch: start, and then get clear on who you’re doing it for. When you know your audience, your message gets sharper, your platform choice gets easier, and your videos start to feel like they belong somewhere—because they do.
