James: Welcome back.
I'm James Roberts and this is behind
the madness where we talk about business
growth, ways to work smarter, and the
fundamentals of business, all geared to
unlocking your brand's peak performance.
So let's dive into this episode
where Jamie, our social media
guru is joined by Claire Stenson.
Claire is not only a close family friend,
but an entrepreneur and trying to help
women learn how to create their own
economy to be free from the system by
using social media as her main platform.
So today Jamie and Claire,
talk about short form video.
Jamie: Welcome Claire and
thanks for joining us today.
It's going to be really good
to chat about short form video.
Do you want to give a bit of
background about who you are and
obviously talk about your experience.
Claire: Yeah, so thank you
for having me on today.
yeah I'm Claire.
I'm a working mom and
entrepreneur in the making.
And I joined Instagram really to use it
to promote my business show what I'm doing
to kind of help other people see the value
in what I'm kind of passionate about.
So, I think I started and reels
were there, so everyone was talking
about reels, the reels is the new
thing This is what you've got to do
is if you want to build a business.
And, yeah, I just thought, well, that's
not going to change anytime soon so
I'm just going to have to kind of
jump on board and start making a reel.
Jamie: And obviously short form content
or short form video for anyone who is
listening really exploded with TikTok and
then Instagram kind of saw this and went,
wait a minute we need a piece of this pie.
Claire: Yeah.
Yeah
Jamie: How did you find this revolution
of making video, like people had
been taking photos for so long.
And then now there's so much
pressure on making reals.
How, how did you find that?
Claire: If I'm honest it was a big
adaption for me because I wasn't somebody
who used social media that much, I didn't
really like to post a lot of things.
I'm quite a private
person, I'd like to say.
You know, the odd photo might go out.
Then having to learn to kind of expose
yourself to, yeah, the world really,
yeah was quite a shift for me and
I'm still working on that with the
boundaries of what you want to share
and what you don't want to share.
Jamie: How'd you find that,
that's quite an interesting point
because a lot of people, feel like
obviously social media we forget
is a highlight of people's lives.
But then people don't
always set those boundaries.
How do you find that obviously,
as you said, being a mum, being
entrepreneur obviously having all
these different aspects of your life,
how do you find setting boundaries
of what share and what not share?
Claire: I think it's important for me and
I think it's important for other people
to have limits with what you share.
I think it's important to share a
bit of yourself because that's what
helps your audience engage with you.
You know, I don't like to say too
much, like I'm the mumpreneur.
I do like that term, but then I'm also
like, I also want to be known as me and
somebody who's trying to be successful
in my own right rather than, you know,
the mom who does this so, but I also
want to engage with other moms to show
them that they can do what I'm doing.
So it's hard to get that balance,
you know, with your personal life
and your business life I suppose.
But yeah, I think what you want
to expose is really down to you.
I think you should share a
little bit, cause you want
to engage with your audience.
But also, I think you need to keep
some things personal and private for
your own I suppose mental health,
really yeah because You don't want to
like I said, expose yourself too much.
Jamie: Like the world is
quite literally watching
Claire: Yeah So sometimes when you take
a step back, you think actually you know,
I've connected with people all over the
world and certainly that is like amazing.
But then other parts is, whoa, that's
a bit quite scary in some ways.
So that's why like I said, you want to you
kind of want to set your own boundaries?
Jamie: Add a filter almost
Claire: Yeah of what you want to share
and when we say add a filter I think
that's good because you want, you
don't want to expose yourself too much.
I think there's that fine line
between some people say oh they're
fake, they only share the good stuff.
But I hope that I come across the, I
don't do that you know there's a lot of my
content that you know, I'm really made-up
and that's kind of, that's a part of me.
But then there's other reels
especially at the moment.
I'm doing like, you know, I've got
no makeup on and I'm just being
a mom, I'm just showing how I
fit what I do into my daily life.
So I try and be like quite balanced
in that way and I don't always think
that people just share the good stuff.
I think that sometimes the personal
stuff is okay to hold back because you
know, that's you setting your boundaries.
Jamie: Yeah and I think, I think
that's something that obviously
helping yourself being successful
with it is, that authenticity and
kind of you can be authentic in
areas, but then keep other areas back.
Like I I've seen people or follow
people who like Gary Vaynerchuks a very,
very good example of his very, very
authentic, but then he shares almost
nothing if anything of his family.
And that is his boundary, but it
doesn't mean he's unauthentic in
the areas that he does share on.
So I think that's a really good thing.
So going back to the short form video,
how important is that authenticity
like with reels, with TikToks, with
stories, people forget about the
stories a lot in short form video.
So how important is that?
Claire: Again, I think it's about being
real, pardon the pun there, but um
yeah, you've got to be that balance.
I think a lot of people now you know
people do actually really like watching
other people's lives, which in some way is
you know, good to connect with people, but
you've got to kind of pick your side or do
you want to be a consumer or a producer.
So how much of other people's
lives do you want to take in.
But again, I think it helps you
engage with your audience and
connect with people really.
Jamie: That's a really good point.
I want to pick up on that, is
how important is that consumer
versus kind of a creator?
In terms of almost every
creator is also a consumer.
Yeah, but not every consumer is a creator.
How important as a creator, like yourself,
do you think consuming the right stuff
on reels and kind of seeing what's
trending what audios are out there.
Claire: Yeah, I've limited a lot
of my what I follow, who I follow,
Jamie: is that to help shape your stuff?
Claire: Ah, No, it was more for me
because I don't want to be exposed to
stuff that I'm not really interested in.
And that's going to distract me from
doing what I want to do, you know I was
thinking of the story my husband is a
painter and decorator, so he would see
a lot of people day in and day out and
he said to me once he's in a customer's
home and three hours she spent looking
at TikTok videos and reels, he said,
I am not kidding you three hours and I
thought, whoa, that is a lot of time.
Jamie: Yeah.
Claire: That's a real big
chunk of somebody's day.
Yeah.
I just thought.
What have you learned
from those three hours?
Jamie: This is something different
than it's a bit of a tangent of what
I saw were kind of no I love no I
love it because I think so many of
the listeners, but also just people
out in the world can relate to that.
You you jump on TikTok or Instagram
reels for, oh, do you know what, I'll
chill out from work for five minutes and
then you go wait, where's an hour gone?
Claire: Yeah, yeah, definitely.
So I think you've got
to limit what you see.
Jamie: Yeah, how would
you recommend doing that?
Because we've all been in there
where we can't stop the scroll.
Claire: Yeah, I know what you
mean, and I've been in that.
I do think my scrolling with reels
especially is to find you know, what's
trending what's So yeah, it's purpose
driven when I'm having a scroll
through, where the reels and the videos
Jamie: And how many times do you get lost
and think where's that three hours gone.
Claire: I definitely, no, honestly, never.
I'm very, I'm very strict.
I'm very strict.
I'm not saying I haven't done that before,
but I've got a schedule to where I you
know, do different things, but part of
that schedule like on the weekend more
so is scrolling and looking at content.
and what I want to plan for the next
week or the next month ahead and
I think, you know, I do encourage
other people to limit what you see.
You know, is it bringing value to
your life looking at that silly video
with the dog doing and whatever, you
know, like, you know yeah that's it.
You know, so just you know,
unfollow the people that aren't
putting out content that's actually
bringing value to your life
Jamie: Intentional yeah that's
great, great that's great advice
Claire: I did unfollow a lot
of people that I was just
finding, I was just you know,
Jamie: So if you're listening and Claire's
unfollowed you recently then she's okay
Claire: Yeah, but um I think that
that's, that's how, I, So I don't
get distracted you know, and I've
deleted other apps on my phone.
So again, so you don't get
distracted and looking at
Jamie: okay
Claire: stuff that
Jamie: So with obviously putting
the emphasis on being a creator and
consuming intentionally, what would
you say is in your creator toolbox to
creating short form video like TikTok
like reels, like, is it just in the app
like, what do you use to create yours?
Claire: I really just use
in the app in terms of like
planning and things like that.
Plan content days for for filming
you know, I'm a mom, I work part
time I'm also building and a
business, building a community and
I have to schedule in that time.
So I schedule in my time to look at
videos, what I want to recreate you know,
Jamie: Like your inspiration section
Claire: Yeah then I'll have some time
to plan what reels I want to film then
I'll have some time actually doing those
reels, but yeah, I haven't personally
moved to other apps I'd like to um
at the moment, I'm just trying to
concentrate on like that original sound.
You know, by talking that's a new
thing you know that Instagram is
promoting original content like that.
So,
You know, that's a different shift
because I'm having to do things.
daily, which I don't normally do.
So, yeah, again, anybody starting or
looking at it just do one thing at a
time don't try and take on too much.
So, yeah, like I said, just start on
working on the small area first of
you know, doing one reel a week, for
example and then like build it up.
Cause I get people say I will need to
be doing reels, I want to do that and
I'm like, that's amazing like definitely
I encourage everyone to be doing it.
Jamie: We've heard that a few
times over the last two years yeah.
Claire: But you need to you know, don't be
posting trying to do seven one every day.
Even I'm not, I'm not
at that stage at all.
You know, but I just started by doing
one a week, that was my goal one A
week and then yeah, then when you can
do that consistently go to two a week.
So yeah, it's just all about
scheduling and planning.
Jamie: Because one of the biggest
fears though I'm sure you've heard
from those people as well that we've
heard I think we've all heard on the
internet is oh, but I'm not comfortable
on camera, or I don't want to show my
face, or how how can I do reels when I
don't have a professional video camera.
If someone doesn't want to show their
face, one, what would your advice be
in terms of maybe building up to that
and two, can they still succeed if
they're not showing up with their face?
Claire: Yeah I would, I think
yes, I think you don't have to.
It depends what your niche is, who
your audience is, what do you buy
into, do you like those reels where
people don't show their face, you
know it depends on what your niche is.
You know, if you're, I dunno, just
looking outside at in the garden
now, like, you know, if you're into
gardening, do you need to necessarily
see your face or whatever, you know, but
it's dependent on your niche and your
audience who you want to engage with.
Jamie: Yeah I that's I think
that's really a good point.
Claire: But I think it's good to
mix it up personally again, like
I'm doing different things as well.
So I think that's important.
Jamie: I do think that's, that's a really
good point kind of using the gardening
example is if someone's coming to your
channel for gardening advice, then okay
yeah, one week having your three favorite
tips maybe you're really nice and you
talking about them, but Then next week
kind of walking around in the garden,
and showing them what type of flowers
or the soil or stuff like that they
don't need see you face maybe a voice
and that could be a nice lead in to
Claire: Yeah yeah to be fair,
I think the voice thing was
the now that's the new thing
Jamie: A nd look you
now now you're on a podcast
Claire: I know, it is getting used to
the sound of your own voice and it's
getting used to seeing your face as well
I think you touched on the point, you
know what would you say to someone who's
feeling worried, fearful doesn't want to
do this and I had all of those feelings.
You know, at the start and when I look
back on the reels was I did when I
first started you know, it's cringing.
Jamie: But also do you feel proud?
Claire: Yeah but I start somewhere.
So I look back and I think I remember
sitting in my lounge I did it doing
it thinking, oh, this is a bit weird
and remember putting it out there
and I remember getting the you know.
Jamie: Pressing that dreaded share button
Claire: Yeah and then you just have to
forget it and you know, I did get those
comments of what I thought people would
say, or what are you doing and that was
funny, or like, you know, and you know,
that kind of taking the mick a bit.
Jamie: Did you ever have anyone Kind
of like troll or any negative comments
Claire: Uh not like troll, I'm not
that much of a big account but um
yeah definitely from friends and
family that uncomfortableness.
Jamie: How did you deal with that
because that's what everyone's worry is.
Claire: Yeah completely brushed off like
I'm at the point now I do not care um and
I think you've got to get to that point.
Otherwise, why would I keep doing
what I'm doing if you were so
worried about other people think.
You know, at the end of the day your
buying stuff from people on the internet
who are doing reels or videos who've
been on Love Island or whatever.
Do you know what I mean it's, very,
yeah, it's very, it's through media.
It's through social media.
Like we're in this world of Social
Sally and Uh doing that all the time and
you're probably not even realizing it.
So what's the difference
between me doing it.
Jamie: I mean it's not changed
like, as in, from newspaper
days, it's just different medium.
Claire: Yeah exactly.
So you have to be strong, I brush it off.
I don't mind if you want
to laugh at me that's fine.
Jamie: Yeah, you're doing you.
Claire: I'm doing me yeah.
And it's it's, you know, You connect
with the people who you want to
connect with my content isn't for
people that I know necessarily.
Do you know what I mean like.
Jamie: You have your community.
Claire: Yeah.
I have my community.
and those people that I have connected
with because of what I'm doing.
Those are the people that I want
to work with, or those are the
people that I want to engage with.
So.
yeah.
That's why I think Just
go just go with it.
Jamie: That's it I'll have to say
that's a great message for anyone who is
worried about kind of showing up because
the internet can be a nasty place, but
focusing, as you said on the purpose
of why you're there is a it brings.
Um alright just to wrap up, someone
starting out reels and they want
to start today what would be your
five tips that you would just say.
Go for it.
Claire: Plan what you want to do.
Look at what you want to achieve
from doing that reel so who
do you want to engage with.
What's your message, in
general or in that reel.
Jamie: So connecting it back to the brand.
Claire: Yeah.
Jamie: Yeah okay cool.
Claire: And find some quiet time, quiet
spot, an environment that you going
to feel confident in because even if
you're by yourself doing it, you need
to feel confident when you're doing it.
And number five, just, just go for it.
Just do it.
Yeah.
Just get over the yeah Just
get over the first, the first
hurdle was doing the first one.
Once you've done one you can do two,
once you've done two, you can do three.
So you're learning yeah, get
through the first one, you'll
you'll feel so much better after.
Jamie: Brilliant.
That's some really, really good
advice and thank you so much for
jumping on and being a guest.
Claire: A pleasure it's been fun
Jamie: Yeah So make sure you're
checking out Claire on a social
media, she is in various places
which James well uh do in the outro.
Just here's a reminder for you
later um and thank you very much
Claire: Thank you
James: There, you have it another great
podcast, mainly because I wasn't in it.
But as we've always said, if
you want to get involved with
the podcast, give me a shout.
You can see that we're
talking about Instagram.
You can find us on Instagram,
we are hello_method.
And if you want to learn more about Claire
and what she has to offer, then jump onto
her Instagram, it's Claire, with all of
the letters as I always say, c l a i r
e Stenson, s t e n s o n underscore CS,
and that's over on Instagram as well.
We'll drop all of this in the show notes.
As we say at the end of all of these,
our madness never stops here at Method.
So we'll be back soon with the next chat.
But to have your say, let us know,
let us know what you want to hear.
That's why we're producing the
podcast to be helpful for you guys.
We've got some more amazing guests.
We've got some great
topics that are coming up.
But again, feed back to us, let
us know what you want to hear.
Thanks for listening.