How to Create Engaging FAQ Videos for Your Mediation or Arbitration Practice
Videos are an excellent way to connect with both current clients and potential clients in the mediation and arbitration field. According to recent studies, people spend nearly one-third of their time online watching videos. Moreover, over half a billion people watch videos on platforms like Facebook every day. For mediators and arbitrators, FAQ videos are particularly powerful because they address the specific questions and concerns that clients and leads typically have. By directly answering these questions, you build trust and demonstrate your expertise.
So, how can you create effective FAQ videos that resonate with your audience and help convert leads into clients? Here’s a simple guide tailored specifically for professionals in mediation and arbitration.
Option 1: Hire a Professional Crew
You could choose to outsource the entire process by hiring a professional film crew. They can handle everything from setting up the lighting to shooting and editing the footage. This is a great option if you prefer a polished, high-quality video. Many mediation and arbitration professionals opt for this approach to ensure their videos reflect the seriousness and professionalism of their practice.
However, this level of production is not necessary for success. Many clients appreciate a more personal, authentic approach, which brings us to the second option.
Option 2: DIY – Create Your Own FAQ Videos in Three Simple Steps
If you’d rather create the videos yourself, you can do so easily with just a few basic tools and a bit of preparation. Here’s how:
1. Gather Your Equipment
For equipment, all you really need is your smartphone. Today’s smartphones have excellent video capabilities, and a simple, authentic video can go a long way in building rapport with your audience. The informal nature of a selfie video, even with its occasional imperfections, can make you appear more approachable and genuine—qualities that are incredibly important in mediation and arbitration.
However, if you want to take it up a notch, consider purchasing a smartphone tripod and a clip-on microphone. These inexpensive tools can improve the stability and sound quality of your videos, giving them a slightly more professional touch without losing that personal feel.
2. Press ‘Record’
It’s as simple as pressing record! Before you start, think of one or two common questions your clients ask. For example, “What should I expect during my first mediation session?” or “How does arbitration differ from going to court?”
We recommend speaking off-the-cuff rather than scripting your answers. Scripting can make you seem stiff and less relatable. Instead, imagine that a potential client has just asked you the question, and respond naturally, as you would in a face-to-face conversation. Don’t worry about making mistakes or having to do multiple takes—these videos should feel real and down-to-earth. Aim for videos that are 30 seconds to two minutes long.
3. Edit (or Don’t)
Once you’ve finished filming, you can upload the video directly to your website, YouTube channel, or social media platforms. There’s no need to edit the video unless you really want to. If you do feel like adding some graphics or text overlays, you can use a free video editing app like iMovie (for Apple users) or InShot (for both Android and Apple users).
Remember, the simplicity of your video is often what makes it effective. The goal is to connect with your audience and answer their questions in a way that builds trust and demonstrates your expertise.
Examples of FAQ Topics for Mediators and Arbitrators:
Mediation FAQ Video Topics:
“How do I prepare for my first mediation session?”
“What happens if we can’t reach an agreement during mediation?”
“How long does a typical mediation session last?”
“Is mediation confidential?”
Arbitration FAQ Video Topics:
“What is the role of an arbitrator?”
“How is arbitration different from a court trial?”
“What should I bring to an arbitration hearing?”
“Can arbitration decisions be appealed?”
Conclusion: Keep It Simple and Authentic
Whether you choose to film these videos yourself or hire a professional team, the key to successful FAQ videos is authenticity. Your clients want to see the real you—someone who is knowledgeable, approachable, and ready to help them through their mediation or arbitration process.
If this sounds overwhelming, remember that help is available. Should you prefer a more polished, professional video, consider reaching out to a service provider who can handle the filming and editing for you. In just a few hours, you can create a suite of FAQ videos that will serve your clients and grow your practice for years to come.
CONVENING AND MARKETING
Are you entering a mediation and not sure what to expect? This little workbook gives you the tools and insight into your conflict and prepares for approaching mediation with some clarity and vision.
Whether you convene your cases yourself, have an assistant make the necessary contacts or belong to a professional tribunal – don’t kid yourself; convening and marketing go hand in hand.
How your conduct yourself on the phone and in writing, how you answer the parties’ questions, the way in which you collect information, and whether or not you can get reluctant parties to come to the table – it’s all marketing and customer service. One of the key ingredients is moving a potential case into the active mediation process. This frequently proves to be one of the greatest challenges for providers. It can be most difficult when the parties are unrepresented or involved in a highly emotional dispute.
Since Marketing Resolution is always in search of resources to assist providers in strengthening their skills both as mediators and arbitrators as well as powerful marketers, we’d like to direct you to https://joyceodidison.com/books/ where Mrs. Joyce Odidison offers seminars and workshops that will help you and your clients to prepare for mediation as well as a fantastic workbook (and many other books) for you and your clients. Her site claims that the Pre-Mediation Workbook will increase your rate of successful mediation by approximately 90%. The Pre-Mediation Workbook offers over 40 mediation preparedness tips and tools, will help you move potential cases from the convening process to the mediation process, transform high conflict into powerful bargaining and negotiating opportunities, reduce caucusing, gain tools to explore and deal with suppressed anger, and apply strategies to curb any power imbalance before mediation.
As marketing goes, it doesn’t get much better than Mrs. Odidison’s Pre-Mediation Workbook to help you move potential cases from convening into the hearing room.
***If you have a resource, tool, tip or technique that you’d like to share with our industry, drop us a line, send us a sample, or email a link and we’ll convey the information to our colleagues.