You don’t need a pro videographer or fancy gear to capture great on-site footage.
With just your smartphone and the 4-stage Content Factory process, you can create the same kind of authentic, SEO-boosting content we capture for clients.
Why DIY content works
Google values Experience, Expertise, Authority, and Trust (EEAT), and experience matters most.
Polished ads look nice but don’t show the real you.
Genuine clips of your team, your work, and your customers build both trust and SEO power.
DIY filming lets you:
- Capture content anytime.
- Save on production costs.
- Build a reusable video library.
What you’ll need
- Smartphone (iPhone or Android)
- Tripod or stabilizer (optional)
- Natural light (avoid dim, yellow lighting)
- Quiet location or clip-on mic
How to film
Follow our on-site process, simplified for DIY:
1. Plan your shots (30 min)
- List activities, people, and places to film.
- Pick 2–3 locations (office, job site, customer visit).
- Get consent from anyone on camera.
2. Film the action (2–4 hrs/week)
- Capture daily work and interactions.
- Keep clips short (30–60 seconds).
- Film in both landscape (YouTube) and vertical (TikTok/Reels).
3. Add casual moments
- Record team lunches, before/after shots, or quick Q&As.
- Think “behind the scenes,” not “commercial.”
4. Organize your files
- Upload to Google Drive or Dropbox for your team.
- Label clearly (e.g., JobSite_BeforeAfter.mp4)
What to capture
Show what customers care about:
- Day in the life – you working with clients or on projects.
- FAQ answers – look up “People Also Ask” for your service.
- Behind the scenes – setup, team culture, real moments.
Easy prompts
- “What’s the #1 question customers ask you?”
- “Can you show how you prep for a job?”
- “What’s one mistake homeowners make in [city]?”
- “What do you love about serving customers in [city]?”
How to repurpose your footage
Turn your raw clips into:
- Short-form videos – TikTok, Reels, YouTube Shorts.
- Blog posts – transcribe short clips into how-tos.
- Service pages – add testimonial or work-in-action clips.
- Ads – authenticity converts better than polish.
Final thoughts
DIY video is about authenticity.
Every clip adds to your digital footprint, boosts your SEO, and makes you the obvious local choice.
Want us to handle filming? We offer full-service on-site production, too.
Dennis Yu
Dennis Yu is the CEO of Local Service Spotlight, a platform that amplifies the reputations of contractors and local service businesses using the Content Factory process. He is a former search engine engineer who has spent a billion dollars on Google and Facebook ads for Nike, Quiznos, Ashley Furniture, Red Bull, State Farm, and other brands.
Dennis has achieved 25% of his goal of creating a million digital marketing jobs by partnering with universities, professional organizations, and agencies. Through Local Service Spotlight, he teaches the Dollar a Day strategy and Content Factory training to help local service businesses enhance their existing local reputation and make the phone ring.
Dennis coaches young adult agency owners serving plumbers, AC technicians, landscapers, roofers, electricians, and believes there should be a standard in measuring local marketing efforts, much like doctors and plumbers must be certified.