Why Every Business Should Be Creating Video Content in 2026

Video has become a bigger part of our lives than any of us could have imagined. In fact, the average person in the UK now spends over three hours a day on their smartphone—that's more than 120 hours every month.

Whether it's keeping up with the latest trends on TikTok, following your favourite celebrities on Instagram or catching up with old friends on Facebook, we're consuming more content than ever before. Carefully designed algorithms deliver the content we're most interested in straight to our screens, keeping us engaged for hours every day.

For businesses, this presents an incredible opportunity. Video is no longer just a marketing trend—it's one of the most effective ways to reach potential customers where they're already spending their time.

Video Builds Trust Faster Than Any Other Medium

While high-quality video is important, the biggest factor in building trust is the people behind the business. Faceless companies often struggle to create the same level of engagement as brands that put real people at the heart of their content. Customers want to know who they're buying from, and video is one of the most effective ways to showcase the personalities, values and people that make your business unique. Take Currys, for example. As one of the UK's largest electronics retailers, they could simply advertise their latest products with polished promotional footage. Instead, they've embraced social media trends by putting their own employees in front of the camera. The result has been hundreds of thousands of views across multiple videos, with many reaching millions through viral success.

The biggest difference? They transformed what could have felt like a large, impersonal retailer into a brand that feels approachable, relatable and authentic.

The great news is you don't need to be a national company like Currys to benefit from this approach. Whether you're a local café, estate agent, gym or independent business in Hampshire, introducing the people behind your company helps build trust, creates stronger connections and encourages customers to engage with your brand. People don't just buy products or services—they buy from people they feel they know and trust.

Professional brand films and interview-led video content allow businesses to showcase the people behind their company, helping build trust long before a customer makes contact.

Social Media Rewards Video Content

Social media, by its very nature, rewards consistency. The more regularly you post valuable content, the greater your reach and the bigger your audience can become.

The good news is that creating content doesn't have to consume your time. If you're a smaller business thinking you don't have the resources to maintain social media, you'd be surprised how often the simplest ideas produce the best results. Many businesses now work alongside content creators and videographers to produce four or five pieces of content in a single filming session, which can then be scheduled and shared over the following month. One of the biggest lessons I learnt during my time at Chelsea Football Club was that more effort doesn't always equal better results. Early in my career, I'd spend an entire matchday capturing cinematic footage of the stadium, player arrivals, warm-ups, the dressing room and the tunnel before even filming the match itself. After six hours of filming and a couple of hours editing, those videos would typically receive around 80,000 to 100,000 views.

When I looked more closely at the data, however, it became clear that the content audiences really engaged with wasn't the eight-minute highlight films—it was the short, punchy moments. By focusing on 10–15 second slow-motion clips of goals, tackles and moments of skill, some of those videos reached millions of views. A workflow that once took an entire day was reduced to just minutes, yet the results were significantly better.

The lesson? Success on social media isn't about spending the longest creating content. It's about understanding your audience, recognising current trends and producing content that people genuinely want to watch. Whether it's showcasing a new menu at your restaurant, introducing a new fitness challenge at your gym or simply helping customers get to know the people behind your business, these same principles apply. Great content isn't exclusive to major brands—it's something every business can use to build its online presence. With the right strategy and professionally produced video content, businesses can create months of engaging social media content from a single shoot, helping increase brand awareness, reach new customers and grow their online presence.

Professional Video Helps Your Business Stand Out

Now, while social media itself doesn't need to be complicated, the thing that really makes businesses stand out is the quality and consistency of their content. You might have a fantastic idea or understand the latest trends, but if your videos are poorly lit, the audio is difficult to hear or your products simply don't look their best, people are likely to keep scrolling before they've even given your business a second thought.

This is where working with a professional videographer can make all the difference. An experienced videographer doesn't just turn up with a camera—they help develop your ideas, plan your content and deliver polished videos that reflect the quality of your business. It removes the stress of creating content yourself, allowing you to focus on running your business while maintaining a professional and consistent online presence.

Perhaps more importantly, social media has become an incredibly competitive space. Every café, gym, estate agent and independent retailer is competing for the same attention. Simply posting content is no longer enough. To stand out, your videos need to feel professional, memorable and authentic, while maintaining a style that is unique to your brand.

Whether you're looking to attract new customers, recruit talented staff or strengthen your brand, professional video production helps businesses stand out in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

Video Supports Every Stage of Your Business

Video is often associated with advertising, but its value extends far beyond promoting products or services. Today, businesses are using professional video throughout almost every stage of their customer journey, helping them communicate more effectively both externally and internally. For example, a professionally produced brand film can introduce potential customers to your business the moment they visit your website. Recruitment videos can help attract talented employees by showcasing your company culture, while customer testimonials provide powerful social proof for those considering your services. Event videos allow businesses to capture key moments that can be shared long after the event has finished, extending its reach and value far beyond a single day.

The versatility of video is one of its greatest strengths. A single filming session can produce content for your website, social media platforms, email marketing campaigns, presentations and even internal staff communications. Rather than creating separate content for every platform, businesses can maximise their investment by producing a wide variety of assets from one carefully planned shoot.

No matter the size of your business, professional video has the ability to educate, inspire and build stronger relationships with your audience at every stage of their journey.

From brand films and recruitment videos to event coverage and social media content, professional video production offers businesses a flexible and long-lasting marketing asset that continues delivering value long after filming has finished.

It's an Investment, Not Just a Marketing Cost

When many businesses think about video production, it's easy to focus on the upfront cost. However, the real value of professional video lies in how long it continues to work for your business after filming has finished. Unlike traditional advertising, which often disappears once a campaign ends, professional video can be repurposed across multiple platforms for months—or even years. A single filming session can provide content for your website, social media channels, email campaigns, presentations and future marketing, giving you a library of high-quality assets to use whenever you need them.

Perhaps most importantly, professional video continues working even when you're not. While you're serving customers, attending meetings or enjoying time away from work, your content is still promoting your business, introducing potential customers to your brand and generating new enquiries around the clock.

The businesses seeing the greatest success today don't view video as a one-off expense. They see it as a long-term investment in their brand, helping them build trust, attract new customers and stay visible in an increasingly competitive digital world.

Investing in professional video production today can continue generating value for your business long into the future, making it one of the most effective long-term marketing investments available.

Final Thoughts

Video has never been more important for businesses than it is today. With people spending more time than ever on their phones and consuming content across multiple platforms every day, businesses have an incredible opportunity to connect with new audiences through engaging, professional video.

Whether you're looking to build trust, grow your social media presence, attract new customers or simply tell your story more effectively, investing in high-quality video content can have a lasting impact on your brand. The businesses that embrace video today will be the ones that stand out tomorrow.

At Lawes Creative Films, I work with businesses, brands, sports organisations and event organisers to create professional, cinematic video content that helps tell their story and connect with their audience. Whether you're based in Hampshire, London or anywhere across the UK, I'd love to help bring your next project to life.