How to Create Engaging Video Content Without Being on Camera
You want to share important information with your audience. You have valuable insights, expertise, and a message that needs to be heard—but there’s one small problem.
You don’t want to be on camera.
Maybe the lighting isn’t quite right. Maybe your hair isn’t perfect. Maybe you just don’t feel comfortable putting your face out there yet. I get it. I’ve been there too. It took me a long time (and a lot of practice) to feel at ease holding up my phone and saying, “Okay, let’s talk about measles.”
But here’s the thing: You don’t have to be on camera to create engaging, effective video content. Let me show you a simple way to do it using just your iPhone or iPad.
The Tools You Need
There are a couple of apps that make this process easy. My go-to recommendation for practice owners is CapCut, an intuitive and powerful editing tool. However, CapCut has been removed from the App Store, so if you don’t already have it, no worries—we’ll use InShot instead.
InShot is available for free, with some premium features costing a few bucks, If you plan to make videos regularly, the small investment is worth it.
Step 1: Choose Your Background Clips
Since you won’t be talking on camera, you’ll want visual movement in the background to keep viewers engaged.
Open InShot and select Create a Video.
Pick a few short clips—these could be simple shots from your daily life, like walking outside or nature scenes.
Aim for 10-second clips to allow enough time for text overlays to be read.
For my example video on measles, I grabbed a few clips from a walk with my kids.
Step 2: Adjust the Video Orientation
Social media platforms favor vertical (9:16) videos—Instagram Reels, TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Facebook all perform better with this format.
Hit Canvas in InShot.
Change the orientation to 9:16.
Tap Apply to All so every clip is adjusted.
Step 3: Trim Your Clips
Next, shorten your videos as needed. A tight, engaging video is better than one that drags.
Trim out any unnecessary footage.
If kids are in the video and you don’t want their faces shown, cut those sections out.
Aim for a 12-15 second total runtime—just long enough to get your point across while keeping viewers’ attention.
Step 4: Add Text Overlays
Now comes the core of your video: the message.
Tap Text at the bottom of the screen.
Type out what you want people to read.
Use Apple Notes or another writing app to prepare your text beforehand.
For my measles video, I wrote: “What to do if you find yourself in a measles outbreak.”
Make sure your text is:
Easy to read (adjust opacity, add a shadow, and make it large enough).
Broken into small, digestible sections for readability.
Step 5: Add Emphasis and Direction
A small but effective trick: use arrows to guide viewers' eyes.
For example, I added downward arrows near the bottom of the video to direct attention to the caption, where I listed additional important details.
Step 6: Add Background Music
Adding light background music can enhance engagement.
Tap Audio > Music.
Search for something simple, like “piano”.
Adjust the volume so it complements rather than overpowers the text.
I picked a calm piano track—just enough to add some ambiance.
Step 7: Save and Post
Once everything looks good, it’s time to export your video.
Hit Save in InShot.
Upload it to Instagram, TikTok, or any other platform.
Add a caption with additional context and a call to action.
For my measles video, my caption was: “Four things to know and watch for with measles.”
This encourages viewers to expand the caption and read more, increasing engagement.
➡️ Want to see my post in action? Check it out here.
You Can Do This!
If you’ve been holding back from making videos because you don’t want to be on camera, this method is for you. You can educate, share your expertise, and grow your audience without ever needing to press record on your face.
Try it out, and text me your video link when you post it to 402-741-4494
😎 Want to see even more practice marketing strategies that you can do in just 10 minutes per day? Sign up for an upcoming practice marketing workshop (free).
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