The Angry Video Guy: Stop Making These 7 Embarrassing Video Mistakes

I make videos for a living, so I also watch videos for a living. I love this industry and I love the art. But sometimes, I want to throw a chair at my screen.

We are living in the golden age of content, yet somehow, we are also in the dark ages of quality control. Whether it’s a billion-dollar brand or a local influencer, the bar seems to be getting lower.

So, consider this an intervention. If you are guilty of these video crimes, please…be better.

The "Bludgeon" Strategy (Bad Media Buying)

Advertisers and media buyers, why do you think the best way to win a customer is to annoy them into submission?

I’m talking about the "Split 30." Seeing two 15-second spots back-to-back is fine if they tell a story. But running the exact same 15-second commercial twice in a row? Or that local Westchester car dealership’s commercial that will pop up 7 times before the 3rd inning of the Yankee game. That isn't marketing. That’s psychological warfare and it makes me NOT want to contact a business.

It causes massive ad fatigue, where your audience stops seeing your brand and starts resenting it. You are destroying your own brand recall for the sake of frequency. If you have the budget to buy the airtime, have the decency to produce a second variation of the commercial. Respect your audience, or they will mute you.

The "Nose Cam" and Other Selfie Crimes

To the social media warriors: I appreciate the hustle. But we need to discuss camera angles.

We don't need to see up your nostrils. We don't need to see the ceiling. And we definitely don't need the first three seconds of your video to be you fumbling with the phone, looking confused, before you start your "spontaneous" influencer style video.

That is what editing is for. Please take the time to try it.

Also, if you are filming in public, on Main Street in Beacon or Mt. Kisco, stop getting mad when people walk through your frame. You are on a sidewalk, not a closed set. You want control? Shoot in your office.

The "Buzzword" Bingo

Ahhhh, the buzzwords…"revolutionary," "next level," or "disruptive". Wow, they’re EPIC!

These words are hollow. They mean nothing. When you say your new toaster is a "paradigm shift," nobody believes you. They just think you are trying too hard.

Stop telling us your product is "next-level-game-changing." Show us the value. You shouldn’t have to use five buzzwords to explain what it does.

The Volume Wars

Why is the commercial break 40 decibels louder than the TV show?

Maybe you just don’t know any better about audio mixing, or maybe it’s to grab attention, but it has the opposite effect. It makes us scramble for the remote to mute your commercial. If your audio mix is peaking in the red, you don't sound exciting. You sound amateur.

And if you can hear the metro-north train’s horn blaring on the tracks next door, or the NY Suburbia-staple-leaf-blower humming over your voice, maybe go someplace quiet?

"Patented Bio-Formula" (and other Fake Science)

Stop using science-y words to sell simple things. Do you really need "nano-advanced-hydro-infused-aqua-technology" to describe water?

It’s misleading, it’s over thinking, yet it’s lazy, and it treats the viewer like they’re an idiot. Just tell us what the product does and why I need it.

The Thumbnail Trap

I’ve seen YouTube thumbnails that are just… unfortunate.

If you let the platform auto-select your thumbnail, you are gambling with your brand…at least check and make sure it looks good. No one wants to click on a video where the freeze-frame someone bending over (hopefully no plumbers crack), or making a face that looks like they just smelled bad milk.

Pick a frame that makes people want to click the play button, not keep scrolling. It’s easy and is probably the most important thing you can do when you upload a video.

Sloppy Sets

I can see your mic cable. I can see someone checking their texts in the reflection of the window. I can see the dirty coffee cup on the shelf behind the "expert."

These details matter. This is basic production value. When you leave junk in the frame, or when your audio sounds like you recorded it inside a tin can, it distracts from your message.

The Bottom Line

Look, I rant because I care. A solid video marketing strategy isn't just about going viral; it's about respect. Video is the most powerful tool we have to connect with people. When you cut corners, you break that connection.

You don't need a Hollywood budget to avoid these mistakes. You just need to pay attention to the details.

If you are tired of making videos that make people angry (like me), maybe it’s time to bring in a team that sweats the small stuff.

Author Bio:

Mike Meyerson, owner of Absolute Motion, on a mission to create quality videos for businesses in the NY area for over 25 years…and no, he’s not usually angry.