I'll be honest, I'm probably making at least three of these mistakes myself. Video marketing feels like it should be simple: point, shoot, post, profit, right?

Wrong.

Most small business owners (myself included) dive into video marketing with good intentions but end up frustrated when our videos get three views and zero leads. Sound familiar?

Here's the thing: you're not bad at video marketing. You're just making some super common mistakes that literally everyone makes when they start. The good news? These are all fixable in under 10 minutes each.

Let's dive into the five mistakes that are killing your video marketing, and how to fix them right now.

Mistake #1: You're Winging It Without a Strategy

What this looks like: You see everyone else posting videos, so you grab your phone and start talking about... whatever comes to mind. Maybe it's Monday motivation. Maybe it's behind-the-scenes stuff. Maybe it's you explaining your services for the 47th time.

Why it's not working: Without a clear strategy, your videos have no purpose. You're essentially shouting into the void, hoping something sticks.

The 5-minute fix:

Before you hit record, answer these three questions:

What's the ONE thing I want viewers to learn?
Who specifically am I talking to?
What should they do after watching?

That's it. Write those answers down and refer to them while filming. This simple framework will make your videos 10x more focused and effective.

Pro tip: If you can't answer these questions in one sentence each, your video idea needs work.

Mistake #2: Your Thumbnails Look Like Afterthoughts

What this looks like: You're using whatever random frame your video platform auto-generates, or you're putting zero effort into creating something eye-catching.

Why it's killing you: Your thumbnail is basically your video's book cover. If it looks boring, blurry, or confusing, people scroll right past, no matter how amazing your content is.

The 3-minute fix:

Create custom thumbnails with these elements:

Your face (if you're comfortable with it), people connect with people
Bold, readable text that hints at the value
Bright, contrasting colors that stand out in a feed
Keep text to 5 words or less

You don't need fancy design skills. Canva has templates specifically for video thumbnails. Pick one, customize it, and you're done.

Mistake #3: You're Creating Content That's All About You

What this looks like: "Welcome to my business! Here's what we do, here's why we're great, here's our process..."

Why it's not working: People don't care about your business, they care about their problems. When every video feels like a commercial, viewers tune out.

The 2-minute mindset fix:

Follow the 80/20 rule: 80% value, 20% promotion.

For every promotional video you make, create four that solve problems, answer questions, or teach something useful, without pitching your services.

Easy content ideas that actually work:

Common mistakes in your industry (like this post!)
Behind-the-scenes of your process (but focus on what the client gains)
Quick tips they can implement today
Answering questions you get asked all the time

When you consistently provide value, people will seek out your services naturally.

Mistake #4: You're Not Telling People What to Do Next

What this looks like: Your video ends with "Thanks for watching!" or just... ends. No clear direction for what viewers should do if they found it helpful.

Why it's costing you: Even if people love your content, they won't magically know how to work with you or where to find more information. Without a clear call-to-action, you're missing conversions.

The 1-minute fix:

End every video with a specific call-to-action:

"If this helped, check out my free guide at [website]"
"Got questions about this? DM me the word 'VIDEO'"
"Ready to stop struggling with this? Book a call at [link]"
"Subscribe if you want more tips like this every week"

Make it clear, specific, and easy to follow. And yes, include it both verbally AND visually in your video.

Mistake #5: Your Videos Are Way Too Long

What this looks like: You have so much to share that your "quick tip" turns into a 15-minute lecture. Or you take forever to get to the point.

Why it's hurting you: Attention spans are short. Really short. If you don't hook people in the first 10 seconds and deliver value quickly, they're gone.

The immediate fix:

Keep most videos under 2 minutes
Lead with your strongest point
Cut ruthlessly, if it doesn't add clear value, delete it
For complex topics, create a series instead of one long video

Quick hook formulas that work:

"Here's the mistake that's costing you customers..."
"I learned this the hard way so you don't have to..."
"This 30-second tip will save you hours..."

Get to the good stuff fast, deliver it clearly, then wrap up with your call-to-action.

The Real Problem Behind All These Mistakes

Here's what I've learned: these mistakes all stem from the same root issue, we're creating videos for ourselves instead of our audience.

We talk about what we want to say instead of what they need to hear. We make videos that make us feel productive instead of videos that solve real problems.

The fix? Flip your perspective. Before creating any video content, ask:

What's keeping my ideal client up at night?
What question do they ask Google at 2 AM?
What would make their day easier?

When you start with their problems, everything else falls into place.

Your Action Plan for This Week

Don't try to fix everything at once. Pick ONE mistake from this list and focus on that for your next five videos. Here's how:

Week 1: Plan your next video using the three-question framework
Week 2: Create custom thumbnails for your last five videos
Week 3: Review your content ratio, adjust to hit that 80/20 split
Week 4: Add clear calls-to-action to everything
Week 5: Cut your average video length in half

The Bottom Line

Video marketing doesn't have to be complicated. You don't need expensive equipment, perfect lighting, or Hollywood-level editing skills.

You just need to stop making these five mistakes.

Your audience wants helpful content delivered in a way that respects their time and solves their problems. Give them that, and your video marketing will start working.

And hey: if you're still feeling overwhelmed by content creation, you're not alone. Most small business owners struggle with this stuff. The good news? It gets easier with practice.

Now stop reading and go fix one of these mistakes. Your future self (and your bottom line) will thank you.

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Because here's the thing: you're not bad at marketing. You're just trying to market a business that wasn't built for you.

Fix that first. Then watch how much easier everything else becomes.

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Your marketing will thank you. And more importantly, so will your sanity.

Are You Making These 5 Common Video Marketing Mistakes? (And How to Fix Them in Under 10 Minutes)