If the considered getting in entrance of a digicam and filming a video fills you with terror, you’re not alone. However the course of of constructing a video doesn’t must be scary—and, the truth is, video would possibly simply be the important thing to your success.
That’s the philosophy of Keri Murphy, a global speaker, media skilled and enterprise mentor. By means of her firm, Impressed Dwelling, Murphy helps entrepreneurs get comfy being on digicam—and, simply as importantly, she teaches them leverage the ability of video to develop their manufacturers.
“When you’ve got a services or products and you are attempting to search out purchasers on-line, it’s important to be utilizing video,” she says. Including that for those who don’t use video, “You’re going to turn into out of date. That is the best way of the world.… It’s very important.”
Murphy’s On-Digicam Roots
As slightly lady rising up in Portland, Oregon, Murphy all the time needed to be in entrance of the digicam. After a lot of begging, her mom agreed to signal her up for native modeling and performing lessons when she was 11. Murphy spent her teenagers doing commercials and unbiased movies, with a purpose of sometime changing into a supermodel or Mary Hart on Leisure Tonight, she says.
In her 20s, she launched an inside design enterprise, then purchased and grew a expertise company. However whilst she branched out into entrepreneurship, she by no means forgot her video roots. “I used to be nonetheless on digicam on a regular basis, selling my enterprise and doing life-style segments with the native morning present,” she says. “I used to be in New York doing style week segments.”
Then, the 2008 recession hit, and Murphy misplaced every part. It was devastating, however the expertise taught her an necessary lesson—one which she nonetheless carries together with her right this moment. “The enterprise is an extension of me, however it’s not all that I’m,” she says.
Murphy moved to Los Angeles to work in tv internet hosting, however after just a few years, she felt unfulfilled. She remembers feeling known as to do one thing huge together with her life, however on the time, she didn’t but know what that was. After a interval of private improvement, touring and soul-searching, she realized she needed to assist individuals get extra comfy expressing themselves.
Constructing On-line Communities and Actions
With that purpose in thoughts, she launched Impressed Dwelling in 2011. Since then, she’s interviewed a whole lot of celebrities and profitable entrepreneurs on ILTV, the corporate’s media channel. As well as, Murphy teaches entrepreneurs use video to succeed in new purchasers and develop their companies.
She affords packages for entrepreneurs who’re at numerous levels of their video journey, however some of the well-liked is an immersive, two-day coaching and video shoot in Los Angeles. Individuals hone their messages, work on their physique language and apply being in entrance of the digicam. Then, Murphy brings in movie star hair and make-up artists, model photographers and different specialists for a video shoot. Individuals go dwelling with movies they’ll use on their web sites, in electronic mail newsletters, on social media and wherever else they wish to make an impression.
Murphy works with a big selection of people, from health trainers and plastic surgeons to govt coaches and actual property brokers. To reach their companies, entrepreneurs should first set up themselves as a trusted useful resource and an authority of their subject, says Murphy. They have to additionally create an emotional reference to their ideally suited purchasers. Video is one of the simplest ways to realize each of these targets, it doesn’t matter what trade they’re in.
A few of her purchasers are utilizing video as an promoting and advertising and marketing instrument, however most wish to grasp the medium to allow them to construct on-line communities and actions. They’re growing on-line programs and constructing out YouTube channels but in addition rising their audiences to allow them to obtain even larger goals, like writing books, securing talking engagements, beginning product traces or establishing model partnerships.
“Every thing actually is dependent upon your viewers proper now,” Murphy says. “It’s not like again within the day when networks would come scout somebody and develop you. When you do have huge goals of writing a ebook or talking on huge levels or no matter it might be, now you’ll want to come packaged and prepared.”
Overcoming Fears Round Video
Many entrepreneurs—particularly ladies—come to Murphy with a variety of nerves and anxiousness round being on digicam. However she helps them overcome these fears by reminding them that how they give the impression of being is just not almost as necessary as what they’re saying and the way they’re saying it. Confidence and credibility are key. “Video is just not about you,” she says. “You’re only a conduit to a message.… General, for those who present up as a reputable supply with an answer, I actually don’t care what you appear like.”
She additionally encourages entrepreneurs to behave as in the event that they’re solely speaking to 1 individual—their ideally suited consumer—reasonably than each single individual on the web. And, in Murphy’s coaching classes and video shoots, every part is unscripted as a result of, she says, “You possibly can’t be in your head and your coronary heart on the identical time, and video is all out of your coronary heart.”
Above all else, Murphy advises entrepreneurs to concentrate on what units them other than everybody else and refine their messaging accordingly. Then, she encourages them to dive proper in to the fantastic world of video. “Embrace the truth that you understand sufficient, that you’ve one thing precious to share,” she says. “The extra you let concern stand in the best way of you displaying up, the tougher it’s going to be.”
Suggestions for Mastering Video
Begin Now
Many entrepreneurs suppose they should be able to take a giant step ahead or strive one thing new, like video. However, as Murphy likes to say: “Prepared is a choice, not a vacation spot.” Cease pondering and begin doing, she recommends.
Skip the Tendencies
You is likely to be tempted to report and submit a video that follows the most recent foolish TikTok development. However Murphy says your time is healthier spent producing movies that share constant messaging over time. “Good content material by no means dies,” she says. “Cease chasing tendencies and begin making nice content material.”
Choose One Platform
Between LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Fb and extra, too many entrepreneurs get caught up in questions round which platforms they need to be utilizing. Simply select one—the one your ideally suited purchasers are utilizing—and don’t fear about the remainder, Murphy says. “Your ideally suited consumer is just not on each platform, and never each platform wants you on it,” she says.
This text initially appeared within the September/October 2025 problem of SUCCESS journal. Photograph courtesy of Keri Murphy.
