Do you remember the first time you ever had a to record yourself talking on camera? I do. I was incredibly awkward. In my defense, I went my whole childhood never having to do anything of the sort, aside from “I love you, dad!” videos to my dad when he was deployed. This is no longer true. Most people under the age of 30 are relatively comfortable on camera. As a small business owner, this is incredibly valuable—especially if you provide a service or product that truly brings people value.

With social media ads and market manipulation running rampant, people have not only gotten better at speaking on camera, but at recognizing when they are being sold to. Our brains, designed to pick up subtle signs of trustworthiness in the human face, have learned to recognize when a smile is genuine or paid for. Because of this, your best ad is an honest one, and video makes it even easier for your customers to recognize that truth. Don’t be shy, ask your customers to shoot you a video review. If they appreciate what you’ve given them, they will probably be more than happy to support.