Do you have a skill that you can teach? Can you explain a simple concept in 30 seconds or less? Does your phone have a camera? Then you can make social media content without too much trouble!
Extension agents are used to explaining things in-person during workshops or at events, and have refined these presentation skills over many years. With the rise of TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube shorts, and other video-first social media formats, there is a new opportunity to demonstrate skills that were once limited to in-person presentations. The process of creating videos is easier than ever.
While you may be intimidated by these platforms, their quirks and settings, and advanced production techniques; there’s one key to making effective content for these platforms: don’t overthink it. Stick to what you know best: demonstrating skills and techniques.
Simplify the demo: Figure out what you can show in 30 seconds or less– either by doing it quickly or by shortening the process through video editing.
Get someone to help: While you do the thing, someone else needs to record video of you doing the thing.
Record it! While someone else holds the phone camera, demonstrate the skill. You may want to do it a few times so that your camera-holder can capture each step clearly.
Great! You’ve got it! Now what?
If your presentation was flawless and your point is clear, go ahead and post it to your social media. If you feel like it needs a little more polish and you’ve got some video editing skills, you could trim a few clips here, add some titles and music there, and then publish!
Here (to the left) is an example of a simple how-to video that teaches basic hoof care.
Does editing seem too daunting for you? I will do it for you! As the Extension social media specialist, I’m happy to process and post short social media content for you. Send me your short video clips – just a few minutes or so – most easily with a shared album on the iPhone photos app, or just get in touch and we can figure it out! I’m always available at buras@nmsu.edu.
Further resources:
Sharing video clips with the iPhone Photos app Written by Jeffrey Buras, Extension social media specialist