In this episode of Storytelling in a Small Town, Trent, Brian, and AJ tackle the part of content creation most small businesses skip: what to do after you hit record.

They break down simple DIY editing moves that instantly make your videos feel more professional (without turning you into a full-time editor). You’ll hear practical advice on trimming dead space, avoiding the “millennial pause,” getting better feedback, and deciding when to polish vs. when to just post and learn.

They also dig into how music, pacing, captions, and color subtly shape emotion—and why you don’t need to master all of it to start making better content.

What You’ll Learn / Big Moments

• The #1 DIY edit everyone should do: Trim the beginning and end so viewers don’t watch you hit record, adjust gear, or fumble
• The “millennial pause” explained: Why millennials tend to hit record… pause… then start talking—and why Gen Z doesn’t
• Tech habits shape content habits: Older tech trained people to “wait for it to catch up,” and it still shows up in our videos
• Old film rules vs. social rules: Why starting on a black frame (film school) can hurt performance on social media
• Sleep on your edit (when it matters): Coming back with fresh eyes helps you catch awkward cuts, framing issues, and timing
• Get feedback the smart way:
  • Use a small group of trusted “early testers”
  • Ask for the type of feedback you want (sniff test vs. nitpicky final)
• When to just post it: For short shelf-life social content, audience feedback can be your best teacher
• Algorithm reality check: If no one sees it, you won’t get useful feedback—pair content with platform best practices
• Editing choices that affect emotion:
  • Music sets tone and pace immediately
  • Pacing controls how fast information hits the viewer
  • Color temperature and filters can make content feel warm, safe, clinical, or dramatic
• Captions are basically mandatory now: Auto-captions are easy—just quick-check spelling (or don’t, if you want “comment bait”)
• The bigger takeaway: Don’t overthink it—have fun, trust your instincts, and keep experimenting