Those of us at MessageMakers (at least, those who consider ourselves part of Team Video) believe that every day you should do something to make yourself a better videographer. This Lifehacker article about how to make videos look more professional has some pretty great tips for improving the quality of the videos you shoot.

The spirit of the article can basically be summed up as “be prepared,” but we wanted to draw attention to entry #8:

“B-roll is secondary footage that you splice into your primary video to flesh out the story. … When the time comes to assemble your final movie, you can mix in this footage to add variety.”

Please do this. You’re going out with a video camera to capture a story – what actually transpires is incidental. Telling a story involves context and comparison; that’s what B-roll can do for you.

Many people don’t think of secondary footage when they shoot, but it is absolutely essential. For example, take a look at this video MessageMakers created for Rick Snyder’s 2011 gubernatorial inauguration.

The B-roll – crowd shots, flag shots – helps set the tone. Instead of static shots of people standing at a podium, the footage gives the viewer a feel for the event.

Don’t skimp on B-roll; it’s the foundation of a good message.