How to Prep for a DIY Content Day (Without Buying a Bunch of Stuff)

You've finally blocked off a day to record content.

You charged your phone, picked a location, and maybe even convinced a friend to help. You show up, realize you forgot your business cards, your phone storage is full, and you have no idea what you're actually trying to film.

A little preparation goes a long way. Whether you're attending a content day, creating content at home, or spending an afternoon batching for your website or social media, here's how to make sure you leave with content you'll actually use.

BROWSE 👉 [ Schoolhouse Calendar ] for upcoming Content Days and workshops.

THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU NEED

Before you worry about outfits or camera angles, ask yourself one question 👉 What content am I trying to leave with today? Instead of showing up hoping inspiration strikes (it doesn't, trust me), spend a few minutes thinking through your business.

Ask yourself 👉

• What services do I want to promote?

• What products need more visibility?

• What questions do clients ask all the time?

• Am I missing photos of myself working?

• What kind of footage do I never seem to have?

• Is there a season, launch, or event coming up?

The more intentional you are before recording, the easier it becomes to recognize opportunities while you're filming.

You're building a content library, not trying to create one viral masterpiece.

CHOOSE A WARDROBE THAT WORKS

Your outfit isn't the star of your content (unless it is), so don't overthink this. Focus on a wardrobe that offers a lot of variety with little effort.

A few tips 👉

• Choose one comfortable, well fitting outfit as your base.

• Stick to colors that fit your brand.

• Avoid busy patterns or large logos that aren't your own.

• Bring a jacket, cardigan, blazer, or overshirt to quickly change your look.

• Swap accessories like earrings, necklaces, glasses, or hats between recordings.

• Wear your own products if you sell apparel, jewelry, or accessories.

• Wear shoes you'll actually be comfortable standing and walking in.

• Don't forget, Content Days include close ups of your hands

The goal isn't for people to notice your outfit. The goal is for this content to feel consistent with your brand so the sporadic stuff you post between doesn't have to be so visually anchored to still be "on brand."

GATHER BRANDED MATERIALS

One of the easiest ways to make your content feel more professional is to include branded materials throughout your videos. Think about anything your clients might receive or interact with.

Examples include 👉

• Business Cards

• Brochures, Guides, Packets

• Presentation Folders

• Workbooks, Notebooks

• Notebooks, Planners, Calendars

• Thank You Cards

• Packaging or Stickers

• Products

Don't have any of those? Don't rush out and order hundreds of dollars' worth of printed materials just for a content day. Instead, open Canva and create a few simple branded pieces, print them at your local library, and use them as props throughout your recordings.

At the very least, gather items and props that coordinate well with your brand's color scheme.

Ideas include 👉

• A document featuring your logo, patterned on the page

• Coffee mug

• A page showing your brand color palette

• Different versions of your logo

• A mock client guide cover or checklist

• Pens, Laptop, Swatches

• A welcome page

• Frequently visited/used webpages printec

Most people watching your content won't know whether it's a 40 page workbook or a beautifully designed cover page... and that's okay. You're creating visual brand consistency, not pretending to offer something you don't.

PREVENT THESE MISTAKES

Nothing is more frustrating than realizing you spent two hours recording blurry videos or ran out of storage halfway through. Before you hit record, take five minutes to check the basics.

Clean your camera lens 👉 It's amazing how many "bad cameras" are actually just dirty lenses.

Clear your phone storage 👉 Delete old screenshots, duplicate photos, or apps you no longer use. Better yet, back up your photos before content day so you aren't interrupted by a "Storage Full" notification.

Bring a fully charged phone 👉 Even better, bring a portable charger and charging cable.

Bring an extra phone case 👉 If your everyday case is scratched, bulky, or off brand, consider bringing a simple neutral case to swap on for filming. It keeps your content looking polished while still protecting your phone the rest of the time.

Silence notifications 👉Turn on Do Not Disturb before recording so text messages and calls don't interrupt your videos.

Wipe off anything reflective 👉 Glasses, laptop screens, tablets, and phones all collect fingerprints that become surprisingly noticeable on camera.

CONTENT DAYS ARE ABOUT LEVERAGE

You don't need a studio full of props, leverage what you have and use already. You don't need matching branded merchandise, there is a printer at the library. And you don't need a new extensive wardrobe.

The best content feels like your business because it is your business. A little planning, a few intentional brand touches, and a checklist before you hit record can turn one afternoon into months of authentic, reusable content.

WANT ME TO DO THE HEAVY LIFTING FOR YOU?

BROWSE 👉 [ Schoolhouse Calendar ] for upcoming Content Days and workshops.