- In this video, you'll learn all about
using stock footage to improve the quality of your videos.
We're going to show you how to use stock footage effectively
and the best places to find it.
Used correctly, stock footage can really
add to the production value of your video content,
but if you don't know how to source good stock footage
and use it well, you could end up spending
a whole lot of money and not having much to show for it.
(upbeat music)
Welcome, I'm Jess.
Now, before we get started,
be sure to hit that Subscribe button
and click the bell, so that you'll get a notification
every time we upload a new video about video marketing.
Now, let's start with the basics.
Stock footage is a piece of video footage, or B-roll,
that can be used in a video to spice things up a little.
Stock footage isn't something you shoot yourself,
but rather, something you purchase
or find online to use in your videos.
The chances are you'll have probably seen stock footage
a bunch of times already in your favorite TV shows,
documentaries, and commercials.
So, when should you use stock footage?
There are plenty of reasons why
you might want to use stock footage.
The most obvious reason is that it helps you to produce
great content without the production hassle.
You can get a high-quality clip of, say, a baby laughing
without having to actually find a baby
or hire a production crew
Stock footage is also often used for any afterthoughts
you might have during post-production.
While you're editing, you might realize
that you forgot to film something
and then, want to use stock footage to replace it.
Another great way to use stock footage
is as cutaways for video interrupters.
Interrupters are a little-known video marketing hack
that helps to increase your watch time.
They break up boring static shots
to keep your audience engaged.
Of course, there are some downsides
to using stock footage, too.
For example, it can look quite impersonal
if you're using generic stock footage in a company video
instead of shots of your actual team members.
To avoid this, reserve stock footage
for more informative pieces or times when shooting
the footage yourself just isn't possible.
So you've decided you need stock footage.
How do you find it?
How to find the best stock footage.
The thing first you need to know here is about licensing.
To avoid any copyright claims, look for either
royalty-free or rights managed footage licenses.
Royalty-free licensing grants you non-exclusive rights
to use the footage in any way
you see fit for a one-time flat rate
and is the most popular licensing type for stock footage,
whereas rights managed will give you
exclusive use of the footage.
There are lots of places to find royalty-free stock footage
and the best site will totally depend
on what type kind of clips you're looking for.
You might have to browse multiple sites
to find exactly what you want, so it's difficult
to say which site is definitively the best.
That being said, some popular sites that you might
want to try include Shutterstock, iStock, and Adobe Stock.
All of these sites offer thousands, if not millions, of HD
and 4K royalty free images
and stock footage that you can browse through
and purchase individually.
This means these sites are great for one-off purchases
and tend to have much higher quality footage
shot by videographers around the globe.
However, if you need access to lots of stock footage,
the costs can quickly add up.
If you really don't wanna pay for stock footage,
your options are much more limited.
There are very few sources of free video stock footage,
but your best bet is probably Pexels.
Just be aware that there really aren't a lot of clips
to choose from, so you'll probably struggle
to find something suitable.
A more economical solution, especially if you're running
a YouTube channel like us,
is to use subscription-based stock footage services.
In that case, we highly recommend
signing up for Videoblocks.
With Videoblocks, rather than paying
for each individual clip, you only have to pay
a subscription fee every month
and then, can use unlimited stock videos.
Not only that, but the rights to use the videos
last forever, even if you cancel.
We love Videoblocks.
It can really help take your YouTube videos
to the next level.
So in summary, using sites for one-off purchases
usually gives you access to a greater quality
and a more diverse range of videos,
whereas a subscription service
is a more cost effective solution
if you're looking to use a higher volume of stock videos.
However, paying for one stock footage clip
can vary from $50 to $300, whereas a subscription
to Videoblocks is between eight to $17 a month.
So even if you do only want one clip,
check on Videoblocks first, as it may be worth signing up
and canceling after your download.
All right, well, that just about covers it.
I hope you now know how to use stock videos
to improve your content.
If you enjoyed this video,
then don't forget to let us know by liking this video
and subscribing to our channel
for more video marketing tips.
And leave us a comment below if you have
any stock video tips of your own that you'd like to share.
And finally, if you need any more help
with your video marketing, you can get in touch with us
here at Spiel at www.spielcreative.com.
Thanks for watching.