Using Windows Movie Maker to produce promotional videos

If you run a small business and do not have the marketing budget to hire an agency to produce a promotional video for your company, why not create your own? Using Windows Movie Maker you can produce a simple movie for no cost. This video can be used to promote your business on your own website and also can be uploaded onto YouTube. Movies can be created using video clips or photos and music or audio can be added.

Making a movie using still photos/video clips

• Open Windows Movie Maker
• File – New Project
• To import photos from computer: Left-hand column – Tasks – Import – Pictures – locate the picture and click ‘import’
• Drag picture down to timeline
• Repeat process for all photos you want to include
• Default settings holds photos for 5 seconds in the movie. To adjust length of time click on the selected photo, look for red arrows and ‘click and drag to trim the clip’
• In Tasks column – Edit – Effects: you can choose different effects to use in the movie
• In Tasks column – Edit – Transitions: choose different transitions to use between photos
• In Tasks column – Edit – Titles and credits: Add a title at the beginning, before a selected clip, on a selected clip or credits at the end
• Add audio/music to your movie - In Tasks column – Audio or Music – Locate selected sound clip from your computer – Import
• Drag audio clip onto timeline and adjust time if required
• Save movie
• See the next clip on how to upload your video to YouTube