A Complete Guide to Making Videos that Build Your Nonfiction Brand

Vertical, long form, shorts, YouTube channel structure, repurposing for LinkedIn, and how to get past the fear so you actually publish

Why nonfiction authors need video now

Books win trust on the page. Video wins trust in the mind. Your readers want to see your face, hear your cadence, and feel your certainty about the problem you solve. Video collapses distance. It takes you from “interesting author” to “the person I want to learn from” faster than any other medium.

You do not need a studio. You need clarity, a quiet corner, and a repeatable system. This guide gives you that system.

Outcome you can expect if you follow this guide for 90 days

• A clean YouTube channel with long form pillars and Shorts that introduce you to new readers every day

• A weekly LinkedIn video that turns lurkers into qualified leads

• A library of clips you can deploy across your site, sales pages, and emails

• Measurable growth in watch time, subscribers, and booked calls

II. What to talk about on camera

Most authors stall because they think they need to be entertaining. You do not. You need to be useful, specific, and a little bit brave. Start here.

Your four content pillars

1. Core Concepts
   The big ideas from your book, taught in simple language with one example.

2. Case Studies and Transformations
   How someone went from problem to result using your method.
   Example: Greg Giuliano on shifting team culture from low morale to high engagement through one conversation framework.

3. Objections and Roadblocks
   The reasons people do not act and how to remove each one.
   Example: “I do not have time to create content” and your 30 minute workflow that proves otherwise.

4. Action Playbooks
   Step by step walkthroughs that deliver a small win in one sitting.

Your evergreen list of 25 prompts

• The mistake everyone makes when trying to [result]

• Three ways to tell if [approach] is right for you

• How I would start from scratch today if I needed [result] in 30 days

• The one question to ask before you hire a [coach, consultant, editor]

• What I wish I knew before I wrote my first book

• Why your book is not selling and how to fix the real problem

• The fast start plan for [audience] who feel behind

• The first five pages that decide your personal brand

• How to turn one chapter into ten pieces of content

• A real client story that changed how I teach this

• The three numbers that run my author business

• My exact LinkedIn video process in 20 minutes

• What to do when you feel like a fraud

• The simple outline I use for every video

• Three ways to get speaking gigs from a book

• How to build a list without sounding desperate

• Why your hook fails and how to fix it

• My checklist for a strong call to action

• What I learned from publishing 100 videos

• The cheapest kit that still looks pro

• The framework I use for tough feedback

• How to pitch yourself to podcasts

• What to say on camera when you have nothing to say

• The one page offer that converts readers to clients

• How to measure progress when the numbers feel slow

Keep this list in your notes app. Pick one prompt. Hit record.

III. Formats that matter and where to use them

Aspect ratios and when to deploy

• 9:16 vertical for Shorts, Reels, TikTok, and LinkedIn vertical. Fast discovery. Add big captions.

• 16:9 horizontal for YouTube long form and your site. Searchable depth.

• 1:1 square optional for some LinkedIn carousels and legacy feeds, but vertical now outperforms.

Length targets

• Shorts and Reels: 20 to 45 seconds is the sweet spot. Go up to 59 if needed.

• LinkedIn vertical: 45 to 90 seconds. LinkedIn rewards retention and comment threads.

• YouTube long form: 8 to 18 minutes for educational content. Enough time to teach one thing fully and add a case study.

Cadence that compounds

• Long form: 1 video per week

• Shorts: 3 to 7 per week

• LinkedIn video: 1 to 2 per week, posted natively

This is doable in four hours per week with the workflow below.

IV. The no excuse gear list

Start lean. Upgrade only if audio or lighting is hurting watch time.

Starter kit

• Phone with 4K or 1080p 60 fps

• Clip-on lav mic that plugs into phone

• Two lights or one softbox next to a window

• Tripod with phone mount

Level up kit

• Mirrorless camera with clean HDMI

• USB mic or XLR dynamic mic

• Key light plus small back light

• Simple backdrop or a tidy corner with depth

Set up basics

• Face the light. Do not put the window behind you.

• Raise the camera to eye level. No up the nose angles.

• Frame from chest to head with a little space above.

• Record in a quiet room. Turn off AC if it hums.

V. Talking clearly on camera without sounding robotic

Use a flexible outline, not a script to memorize word for word. Speak to one person who needs help. That person has a name. Say it in your head.

The PEPP outline

1. Pain
   Name the problem in one sentence.

2. Example
   Show it in the real world.

3. Process
   Teach your two to four steps.

4. Path
   Invite the next step.

Example for authors who feel invisible on LinkedIn

• Pain: You post often but nobody reaches out.

• Example: Here is what happens when your posts read like a diary and not a tool.

• Process: A three part weekly rhythm that builds incoming leads.

• Path: Grab the free checklist, then book a call if you want help applying it.

Hook templates that actually stop the scroll

• If I had to get [result] in 30 days, I would do this

• Everyone tells you to [popular advice]. Here is the part they do not say out loud

• Do not start with [common mistake]. Start here instead

• I asked my client to do one thing. This is what happened

• The hard truth about [topic] that fixes the real problem

Say the hook like you talk to a friend. Short and certain. Then deliver.

VI. Long form YouTube: the engine of depth

YouTube is the library where your expertise lives forever. Treat it like an author treats a backlist. Each video is a chapter that keeps selling the big idea.

Channel structure

• Banner: Who you help and what result. Clear words. Your face. One weekly video promise.

• Playlists: Core Concepts, Case Studies, Quick Wins, Author Business. Order videos by value, not date.

• About: One paragraph that states your promise and the path. Link to newsletter, lead magnet, and booking page.

One video every week. The spine

• Title that promises a specific result
  Example: Author LinkedIn Strategy that Books 2 to 5 Calls per Week

• Cold open in under 15 seconds that states the value

• Teach one concept with a concrete example

• Summarize. Invite a next step. Ask for a comment that starts a discussion

Title formulas that search engines love

• How to [do X] without [pain]

• [Number] ways to [result] even if [objection]

• The real reason your [thing] is not working and how to fix it

• Do this before you [popular action]

Thumbnail basics

• One big promise in 3 to 5 words

• Your face with a clear expression that matches the title

• High contrast background and clean edges

• Avoid tiny text and clutter

Watch time boosters

• Start with the problem, not your bio

• Tease what is coming at the 20 second mark

• Use chapter markers to reduce drop off

• Cut the blanks and umms in editing. Keep your energy moving

End screen strategy

• Link to the next video in the same topic cluster

• Add a subscribe element in the top corner

• Do not end with a dead stop. Give the viewer a reason to click

VII. Shorts that pull new people to you

Shorts are billboards. The goal is curiosity and a click to long form or your site.

Three reliable formats

1. One strong take
   State a belief that helps your audience choose.

2. Before and after
   Show a common mistake, then the fix.

3. Rapid checklist
   Three steps to get moving today.

Shorts script template

• Hook in 2 to 3 seconds

• One point with one example

• One sentence call to action

Endings that convert

• Comment with your roadblock and I will reply with a fix

• Save this for your next writing session

• Full walkthrough is linked on my channel

VIII. LinkedIn video that turns attention into leads

Your audience is already on LinkedIn. Give them the proof that you can help without sounding like a pitch.

Weekly LinkedIn video rhythm

• Monday: 60 to 90 second story about a client insight or a personal lesson that maps to your method

• Wednesday: Tip or framework pulled from your long form video

• Friday: Quick win checklist with a soft invite

Posting checklist

• Upload natively. Do not drop YouTube links in the main post

• Add a text hook above the video. 2 lines max

• Use 3 to 5 relevant tags at the bottom

• Ask one specific question that invites responses

• Reply to comments within the first hour. This pushes reach

Example post copy
Line 1: If your book is not creating leads, try this weekly video cadence.
Line 2: It takes 30 minutes and builds trust on autopilot.
Line 3: [Native vertical video]
Line 4: Which step feels hardest right now

How to convert interest to calls

• Add your booking link to your Featured section

• Pin a comment with your guide or checklist

• DM people who comment with a genuine thank you and one helpful resource. No pitch unless they ask

IX. The 4 hour weekly workflow

This is the part everyone overcomplicates. Follow this and you will publish on time without losing your life to editing.

Day 1. Plan for 30 minutes

• Pick one prompt from the list

• Write your PEPP outline

• Decide the long form angle and two Shorts you will clip from it

Day 2. Record for 60 to 90 minutes

• Set up once. Batch three takes if you can

• Record the long form video first

• Record the two Shorts with bigger captions

Day 3. Edit for 90 minutes

• Long form: cut pauses, add chapter markers, export 1080p

• Shorts: jump cuts only, big captions, safe margin for mobile text overlays

Day 4. Publish and repurpose for 45 to 60 minutes

• Publish long form on YouTube with title, description, chapters, end screens

• Publish two Shorts across YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok

• Post one vertical video on LinkedIn with the text hook

• Add the long form to your site as a blog with a simple summary, transcript, and an opt in

If you have a team, this is where Rising Authors plugs in. We set the templates, build your title bank, design thumbnails, and hand you a calendar that keeps you on pace.

X. Editing essentials that save time

You do not need cinematic transitions. You need clarity and pace.

General rules

• Cut silence under 0.3 seconds

• Add captions for all vertical content

• Use b roll only if it illustrates the point

• Keep background music light or skip it

Your editing beats

• Beat 1: Hook cold open

• Beat 2: You introduce the promise and the path in one sentence

• Beat 3: Teach the steps with one illustrative story

• Beat 4: Summarize and invite the next step

Caption best practices

• All caps for the main headline only

• Sentence case for the rest

• High contrast colors

• Keep text above the app UI safe zones

XI. Overcoming fear, perfectionism, and the voice that says do it later

You do not need more confidence. You need successful reps. Confidence follows action, not the other way around.

Five tactics that work

1. Publish ugly on purpose once a week
   One take. No polish. Teach one thing you know cold.

2. Record before you judge
   If you evaluate while speaking, you will sound stiff. Speak, then edit.

3. Shrink the promise
   You do not owe the world your best video. You owe your audience one useful idea.

4. Stack proof
   Create a private playlist of your past wins and testimonials. Watch it before you record.

5. Set a public cadence
   Tell your audience you publish every Tuesday. Deadlines create discipline. You already know this from your newsletter streak.

Mindset reframe

• The camera is not a jury. It is a bridge.

• You are not trying to impress everyone. You are trying to reach the right ones.

• Imperfect and consistent will beat perfect and occasional every time.

XII. Turning one video into a week of content

Record once. Slice many.

From one long form video you can produce

• Two Shorts

• One LinkedIn vertical video

• A blog post with transcript

• Three pull quotes for images

• One email with the key takeaway and link

Repurposing template

• Long form title
  How to Outline a Nonfiction Book Readers Actually Finish

• Shorts
  Hook 1: Stop writing your introduction first
  Hook 2: The 20 minute outline that saves weeks

• LinkedIn caption
  If your outline reads like a table of contents, readers will stop at chapter two. Here is the pattern I use instead.

• Email subject
  The outline that keeps readers moving

XIII. Analytics that matter and what to do with them

Ignore vanity metrics. Watch the ones that drive growth.

YouTube

• CTR goal: 4 to 6 percent. If it is low, fix title and thumbnail.

• Average view duration goal: above 40 percent. If it drops at the start, tighten your cold open.

• End screen clicks goal: above 3 percent. If low, pitch your next video more clearly.

Shorts

• Watch time percentage and follows per view

• If people drop at 2 seconds, your hook is soft. Rewrite it with a stronger claim or a visual start

LinkedIn

• Saves and comments beat likes

• If comments are low, ask a question that is easy to answer in one line

Set one improvement target per month. Do not change ten variables at once.

XIV. Calls to action that feel natural

Your viewers want clarity, not pressure. Offer one next step. Say it like a helpful guide.

CTAs that work

• Get the checklist. Link is in the description

• Book a clarity call if you want help applying this

• Join the newsletter for the weekly playbook

Where to point them

• A lead magnet that maps to the exact topic

• A booking link for qualified viewers

• A product or workshop that extends the lesson

Rising Authors builds these paths into your site so each video has a job and every view can become a conversation.

XV. Real world examples

Greg Giuliano
Leadership coach and author. Long form case studies on team culture. Weekly Shorts that highlight one conversation tactic. LinkedIn videos that invite managers into micro sessions. Result is steady speaking and consulting interest from the exact leaders he helps.

Domenic Chiarella
Author of Tomato Paste Leadership. Short stories about growth habits, clipped from longer talks. YouTube pillars on leadership systems. LinkedIn native video invites to a 45 minute clarity session. Result is a clean pipeline that begins with a book and leads to paid work.

Cheri Bergeron
Mission: Motherhood. Vertical stories about choosing motherhood on your own terms. Long form interviews that humanize the path. Weekly LinkedIn videos that welcome conversation and community. Result is a growing audience that trusts her voice before the book drops.

Dr. Pete Patterson
Living a Whole Life. Gentle, direct vertical content that blends spiritual and physical care. Thoughtful long form teachings. LinkedIn posts that feel like a conversation with a caring physician. Result is an audience that shares his videos because they feel seen.

You do not need to copy their topics. Copy their consistency and their clarity.

XVI. Your 30 day starter plan

Week 1

• Set up your YouTube channel and playlists

• Record one 10 minute video and two Shorts

• Post one LinkedIn vertical with a simple caption

Week 2

• Record one 12 minute tutorial

• Record two Shorts that tease it

• Publish on YouTube and LinkedIn

• Start a simple spreadsheet with your titles, links, and basic metrics

Week 3

• Record one case study video

• Clip two Shorts with the before and after

• Invite comments about the biggest roadblock

Week 4

• Record one objection video
  Example: Why you do not need a huge audience to sell your book

• Clip two Shorts

• Publish a roundup email linking to your best video of the month

• Look at your numbers and decide one improvement for next month

At the end of 30 days you have four long form videos, eight Shorts, and four LinkedIn videos. That is a catalog. Now you refine.

XVII. When to get help

If you are an author with momentum, your time is best spent recording. Outsource thumbnail design, editing, titling, and channel ops once you have proven your cadence.

How Rising Authors helps

• Topic planning tied to your offers

• Filming frameworks and recording setups that work in small spaces

• Editing templates for long form and vertical

• Thumbnail and title packages

• Upload, SEO, and distribution rhythm

• LinkedIn posting and comment management

• Analytics reviews with clear next steps

You bring the truth you want to teach. We build the engine that carries it.

XVIII. Final word

The camera is not the point. The person on the other side is the point. If you record with care and consistency, your videos will not just be content. They will be corridors that move the right people toward the help they need.

Pick one prompt. Hit record. Teach one thing. Publish on Tuesday. Repeat for 90 days.

Everything changes from there.