Today, I’m introducing you to Kate Tran — my neighbor and a videographer I’ve personally worked with. If you’ve taken any of my courses, you’ve already seen Kate’s incredible work. She’s the owner of a Nashville-based video production company, and has worked with major brands like CMA, Like to Know It, Tractor Supply, Make-A-Wish, and many more. But what really shines through in this episode is her passion for helping smaller, lesser-known brands find their voice through video content.
We’re diving into how to create amazing video content as a small business owner — especially when you're wearing many hats and doing it all yourself. The focus is primarily on video content for social media, especially Instagram, but we also touch on other uses for video as well.
In our conversation, we cover topics like:
- Building confidence on camera
- Testing your content with Reels trials
- Avoiding common mistakes business owners make with video
- And so much more!
Plus, I also encourage you to listen all the way through to the end — my favorite part of the conversation happens in the last 15 minutes. Kate and I talk about working mom life. She’s a mom of three and was a stay-at-home mom until COVID hit in 2020. When her youngest was about a year old, she started freelancing, not even sure she could call it a business yet. She shares so much wisdom about starting a business as a mom and balancing motherhood while building something meaningful.
LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE NOW:
Subscribe & download the episode to your device: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | iHeartRadio
Search for episode 310!
About Kate Tran
First off, I just want to say how honored I am to be here and to be talking with you. I admire you so much — everything you’ve built, everything you’ve done, and the person you are — so thank you again for having me.
My name is Kate Tran. I own a video production company called KTVP Studio, where we help entrepreneurs, small businesses, and even big brands create video content that’s authentic to them and beautifully tells their story. I absolutely love what I do — it’s so much fun.
On the personal side, I have a wonderful husband and three fun, rambunctious kids who definitely keep me busy as well. I’m so excited to be here today!
What would you say makes for successful video content?
To me, successful content starts with being really focused and clear about the intent of what you want that video to do for you. It’s not necessarily about getting tons of engagement or going viral — although, of course, that’s always a nice bonus.
The real goal is to create focused content that’s specifically for your audience — content that truly connects with them right where they are. That’s what I believe makes content successful: when you’re strategically positioning yourself to help the person you once were or to serve your future clients.
What video content is most important for small business owners to create? And what are we skipping over (that we shouldn’t be)?
Yeah, so I think a lot of the most successful content I’m seeing right now is founder-led content — where the business owner is personally involved in creating it. This can definitely be time-consuming for some people, but if you have a system in place, it works really, really well.
Most people are on social media to connect. So when they see a founder they can relate to and support, they’re more likely to want to join in and be part of your mission. Anytime you can show up and share your passion, your "why" behind the business, the impact you want to make, and your personal story — that’s huge. Founder stories are so powerful, and honestly, I feel like they’re still pretty underrated.
Even on my own Instagram, one of the videos that consistently gets engagement is my founder story — just a simple video where I introduce myself, share a little about my family, why I started my company, and my mission. People watch it, like it, and then follow.
At the end of the day, people want to know you and why you’re doing what you’re doing. They don’t just want to be sold something.
What should you include in a founder video?
I think it's great to start with a little bit about who you are, and if you feel comfortable, you can share a bit about your family too — just to give people a sense of who you are personally. Then, talk about how you got started and really highlight the mission that's driving your business.
For me, for example, I wanted to advocate for people who can’t afford the big marketing companies with full production teams and massive budgets. My goal was to come alongside business owners and be a true partner — someone who can help tell your story without the huge price tag of a big agency. That kind of genuine support and partnership connects so much more deeply with people than just saying, “Let’s make a video and hope it turns out great.”
What tips do you have for someone to help them feel more confident on camera?
There are so many things, but the number one tip I would give is: talk to the camera. I know it can feel uncomfortable at first, but getting used to talking to the camera like you're talking to your best friend is key. That’s what helps the most authentic version of you come through.
If you can connect to that mindset — like, I’m just talking to Elizabeth right now, sharing something I’m excited about — that energy and authenticity will really come across on camera. But if you’re trying to be overly polished or present yourself as something you’re not, it’s going to feel awkward, both for you and for the viewer. It just won’t feel natural.
Another thing I would say is: don’t get discouraged. Even just recording this podcast, we’ve had to pause, go back, and re-record a few parts. That’s totally normal. So if you're recording and have to stop and start a few times, that’s just part of the process.
If you're working with someone else, don’t apologize every time you need to pause. Just take a second, reset, stay in that positive mindset, and pick up where you left off. If you let yourself get into a “I’m so bad at this” headspace, it really affects the content — and it ends up taking much longer, too.
So just keep going, keep practicing. The more you flex that muscle, the easier and more natural it’s going to feel over time.
Read more: How to Create Engaging and Viral Instagram Reels with Stephanie Kase
What advice do you have for business owners on what to wear in videos?
Oh, yeah! So usually what I recommend is: start with your brand colors. You really can’t go wrong with them — they’ll look great on your page, whether it’s your website, Instagram, or anywhere else. Sticking to those colors helps everything feel cohesive and really makes your brand pop and stand out.
I also suggest avoiding pinstripes or thin-lined patterns, because they can create a moiré effect on camera, which is that weird wavy distortion. Instead, go for solid colors or larger patterns that show your personality.
And when it comes to your background, don’t stress about perfection. You can see even now — my tree’s kind of leaning behind me — and that’s totally fine. It doesn’t have to be perfect. What matters most is your messaging and what you’re trying to communicate to your audience.
Even as a videographer, I’ll say: it doesn’t have to be the highest quality, most perfectly produced video. It’s really about the content itself — the value you're providing, the message you’re sharing, and how you’re showing up to serve the people you want to help.
Can you walk us through your creative process?
What I would say here is: don’t try to tackle one video at a time. I’m sure you’ve heard this before, but batching content is huge right now, and it’s incredibly helpful — not just for content creators like me, but also for business owners.
If you can break the process into stages and focus on one stage at a time, your brain stays in that mode, and it ends up taking a lot less time overall. For example, our process usually starts by collecting content ideas first. we’re not trying to come up with them on the spot if we can avoid it. Of course, sometimes ideas just come to you in the moment and you roll with it, but most of the time we plan ahead.
That prep work allows you to come up with better hooks, better scripting, and you walk into filming feeling so much more confident and prepared. You’re excited about the ideas you’ve already brainstormed, rather than sitting there thinking, Okay, I have to film this one Reel… now what text should I put over it?
When you’ve done that strategic pre-work, the whole process flows much more smoothly.
So for pre-production, you’re:
- Collecting your content ideas
- Writing out potential hooks for each video
- Jotting down key talking points you want to coveR
I usually suggest not scripting everything word-for-word because that can come across robotic — and you don’t want that. You want to sound genuine and authentic. So just having clear bullet points or notes for each topic works really well.
During this pre-production stage, you can also think about:
- What props you might need
- Outfits you want to wear for each video
- Any backgrounds or locations you want to use
Once that’s all ready, then you move on to filming day. Maybe you dedicate one day a week for filming, where you’ve already done all your prep — you’ve gathered your ideas, you know your talking points — and you can sit down and film 10 to 12 videos in one session.
The key here is: don’t edit on filming day. Keep filming and save editing for a separate time. You definitely don’t have to edit everything the same day you film. The goal is to create a system that’s sustainable, so you don’t burn yourself out trying to do it all at once. When you try to cram everything into one sitting, it can start to feel overwhelming and unmanageable.
Instead, break the process into stages that you can consistently repeat without burning out.
After filming comes the editing phase. You’ll go through all your videos and edit them in batches. When you’re focused just on editing, it becomes a much more streamlined process — you’re in the zone, cutting them up, adding text, and getting them ready to go.
Once your videos are edited, you move on to scheduling and posting. But — and this is the part a lot of people forget — you’re not done after you post. You need to go back and review how the content performs. Look at what worked, what resonated, and what didn’t. Ask yourself: Why did this one do well? What can I improve?
We call this process CR²: Create, Refine, Repeat. Don’t skip the refinement phase. Pay attention to the content that’s connecting with your audience, and be willing to let go of the stuff that didn’t work as well. That way, your content keeps improving and you’re always building on what’s most effective.
Do you think people should plan video content that they can repurpose? Or should content be created platform-specific?
I would say — it depends. Podcasts are great because you can repurpose that content in so many different ways. You can use it for long-form content, splice it into smaller clips, and share those across various platforms.
But you do need to tailor the content for each platform, based on what works best there. For example, YouTube is typically more long-form, unless you're doing Shorts. With long-form, people are showing up because they want the full context — they want to get to know you, follow your brand, and really invest in what you’re sharing.
On the other hand, with short-form content like Shorts, Reels, or TikToks, you don’t have as much time to dive deep. You need to focus on one clear concept at a time. Ideally, you're creating enough curiosity in that short snippet that viewers feel pulled in and want to check out the full episode or follow your brand.
So even if you're filming everything at once, the messaging needs to be thoughtfully crafted for each platform. It’s really about asking: How can I take this content and present it in a way that will perform best on each specific platform? That strategic approach makes a huge difference.
What advice do you have on making evergreen video content?
Focus on evergreen content—material that stays relevant throughout your journey as a business owner. While viral trends can boost visibility in the short term, evergreen content reflects your core message: who you are, what your brand stands for, and how you serve your audience.
The best evergreen content addresses the problems your clients face and demonstrates how you can solve them. Ask yourself, "How can I be so valuable to my clients that they can't ignore me?" That's the kind of content that remains effective and impactful over time. Create content built on those lasting ideas—concepts that will stay true no matter how your business evolves.
What are some common mistakes you see with video content?
One of the biggest mistakes I see people make is not refining their content—or being willing to repeat it. Repetition is not a bad thing. In fact, successful creators revisit and analyze their content: What worked? Why did this one go viral? Why did this one resonate? Draw some conclusions. Make hypotheses. Learn from what connects.
Too often, people just check the box: “Okay, I’ll post three times a week at this time. Done.” And yes, consistency matters—I don't want to discourage anyone who's just starting out. If you're showing up, that’s a great first step.
But the next level is analyzing your performance. Look at what's working—and what isn't—and adjust accordingly. Don’t be afraid to explore outside your industry either. If you see a viral video from a completely different space, ask yourself: How can I apply this to my business?
Whether you're selling a product or a service, there’s always a way to adapt creative concepts. It’s all about experimenting and learning. Tools like trial reels are perfect for this. If you're unsure about a video’s potential, post it as a trial reel. It takes the pressure off—and you get valuable feedback on what works.
Read more: Viral on Instagram: 7 Million Plays Later! What I’ve Learned From My Viral Baby Reel
What is a trial reel?
When you're about to post a video on Instagram, there's a toggle option labeled Trial Reel. Now, the catch is that you can’t schedule trial reels—you have to post them manually and immediately—but the feature is a great way to A/B test your content.
I’ve used it to post videos just to see how they perform. The key thing is: trial reels only go out to non-followers. That means your current audience won't see them, so there’s less pressure if the video doesn’t perform well.
But if it does perform—if it gets thousands of views or even goes viral—you can then post it to your main feed so your audience sees it. It’s a really effective way to test different versions of a video. You might try one with a certain hook at 2 p.m. and another version with a different hook at 4 p.m., and then compare the results.
Honestly, it's a game changer. You get real-time insights without risking engagement from your core audience. It's awesome.
What should you do if a reel goes viral? Should you repost the same thing later?
I’ve definitely reposted the same content before—but I always try to make it better each time. Think of it like a science experiment. You form a hypothesis: “This video performed well because of the hook,” or “People stayed engaged through the first 3–5 seconds.” Then you look at the watch time data to see where viewers dropped off. Maybe the video was too long. Maybe there was a moment where interest faded.
Sometimes, creators give away too much value too early—like putting everything in the text overlay right at the start. If viewers feel like they’ve already gotten the message, there’s no reason for them to keep watching. So it’s important to create a curiosity gap and hold the key value until later in the video.
And when you do repost, always aim to improve it—tighten the edit, tweak the hook, or shift the timing. I’ve even reposted videos from a few years ago, and they performed just as well, if not better, the second time around. The truth is, most of your audience probably didn’t see the original post. Even if it had solid engagement, chances are a large portion of your followers missed it entirely.
Think about the people you follow—you’re not seeing all their content unless they’re a close friend or you’re actively checking their page. So don’t worry about over-posting, especially if you’re promoting something important like an event. Sure, you might lose a few followers, but most people will appreciate the reminders—and that’s how you get the visibility and turnout you’re aiming for.
When you look at the data, what do you look for?
The more data you can gather, the better. One of the most important metrics to track is watch time, because it shows how long people are staying engaged with your content. Shares are also a strong indicator that people find the content relatable or valuable enough to pass along.
Another key signal I pay attention to is the comments. When I see things like, “Oh my gosh, this is so me,” or “I totally identify with this,” that tells me I’m on the right track. It means the content is resonating with my ideal audience—and that’s exactly where I want to be.
What was it like starting your business as a mom with three kids?
So I was freelancing and had worked for a few production companies before that. But when I had my second daughter—Peyton—I decided to stay home and be a full-time mom. And honestly, that’s a full-time job in itself. There's so much you do for those little ones, and I just didn’t want to miss those moments. I’m incredibly grateful for that season of life; it was really special.
Then COVID hit and everything shifted. My husband and I had conversations about adding some extra income to make sure all the kids' needs were covered. He said, “Kate, you’re an amazing videographer. You’ve been freelancing for years—why not start your own business so you can work when you want to?” Of course, now I know that’s not exactly how owning a business works—but back then, I went for it.
At the time, I didn’t see myself as a business owner. I had no background in finance, no formal business training. I came from a loving home, but financial freedom or entrepreneurship just wasn’t something we talked about. So I felt really intimidated. But I prayed. I asked God to make it clear—and decided to follow my husband’s encouragement and just try. And then… it took off. Fast. God opened doors I never expected. It was clear this was the path I was supposed to be on.
Balancing being a mom while running a business
It’s been a wild ride, and such a rewarding one. Building a business brings so much personal growth—you’re constantly learning and talking to all kinds of people. One of the biggest things I’ve learned is that when you genuinely care about your clients and their success, your business naturally grows. Right now, we have about an 85% return rate, which blows my mind. So many clients come back because they feel seen and supported.
A lot of that care comes from being a mom. When you're raising babies, you’re constantly tuning in to their needs, trying to be the best version of yourself. I brought that same mindset into my business: How can I serve you better? What do you need? How can we grow together? That attentiveness and empathy have been huge for me.
At the time, my youngest, Gavin,was just one, so it was a brand-new world for me. I was constantly learning, consuming information, and growing. I’ve always loved to learn—I was the straight-A student who genuinely enjoyed school—so that love of learning really helped me as I built my business.
Read more: Juggling too much? 4 Keys to Maintaining Your Sanity as a Mom and Business Owner with Ashley Freehan
Feeling like you’ve “made it”
And I never felt like, “I’ve made it.” Especially in the content space, you have to stay open to feedback, stay flexible, and be willing to grow. That’s hard at first—especially as a creative—because you can get emotionally attached to your work. When someone says, “I don’t like this,” or “Can we change that?” it can feel personal. But it’s not. It’s about making it better for the client. And when you shift your mindset from failure to growth, everything changes.
How did you find the time to work on your business? What was your childcare/help like?
The best advice I can give is: just try to get 1% better every day. That might mean finding a little more time in your day or being more intentional with how you use it. I really had to look at my schedule and ask, “Where can I be more effective?”—especially when it came to managing the kids.
Sometimes it meant making sure their needs were met more efficiently, or asking for help: “Can you pick up so-and-so and bring them here?” Those small adjustments—getting an extra 30 to 45 minutes—add up and make a big difference, especially in the early days.
And I have to say, my husband was a huge support through it all. Honestly, if it hadn’t been his idea, I probably wouldn’t have even tried. It felt so daunting at the time. But his belief in me gave me the courage to step out and try something new. That kind of support is invaluable.
So my advice is to surround yourself with people who believe in you—people who won’t feed into the negative self-talk. You know, those voices that say “I’m too late,” “I’m too old,” “I’m just a mom, I can’t do this.” You need people who help silence that noise and push you forward.
For me, my husband was that person, and I’m incredibly grateful and blessed to have his support.
Are there any boundaries or systems you put into place to protect your time and energy as a working mom?
One of the most impactful things someone told me—another business owner friend—was this: “When you say yes to one thing, you're saying no to something else.” That really stuck with me. It made me start evaluating my decisions more carefully. I began asking myself, “Is this yes really worth it? Or is this a no I need to make?”
At the beginning, it was hard. When you're just starting out, you're in hustle mode—you say yes to everything. You want to get out there, meet people, take every opportunity. But over time, I realized the importance of weighing those choices. Is this opportunity worth my time, or is being present for my child at their event more important?
More often than not, I found that showing up for my kids mattered most. That’s a role only I can fill. So yes, maybe it’s a few thousand dollars on the table—but my priority is to be there, to let my kids know they matter more than any business win.
That kind of clarity takes communication too—talking things through with my spouse, making sure we’re aligned and on the same page as a family. And honestly, I learned this the hard way. I’m naturally a people pleaser, so my default was always to say yes—trying to take care of everyone and meet every need.
But I’ve trained myself to pause and ask: “What am I really saying yes to here? And what am I saying no to?” That reflection helps guide me to make better decisions—ones that support both my family and my long-term vision.
Read more: Celebrating my Business Anniversary: The Biggest Lessons & Highlights from My 7 Years in Business
Defining what success looks like
Another big part of this journey is really defining what success means to you. It’s so easy—especially as a business owner—to equate success with money or visibility. But for me, I had to take a step back and really think about what matters most.
Now, my spouse and I do this every year—we sit down and write out our goals. We cover everything: personal goals, spiritual goals, business goals, and family goals. And over time, I’ve realized that no amount of fame or financial success could ever replace the success I already have with my family.
I don’t want to get so focused on achieving a certain level of professional success that I lose what truly matters. I don’t want to look up one day and realize my family isn’t happy—or worse, that they don’t even know me.
So defining what success means for you—not just what the world tells you it should mean—is incredibly powerful. Because for me, if I become the most well-known videographer out there but my family feels disconnected or overlooked, that’s not success at all.
Any final advice for moms thinking about starting their own business?
I would say—don’t feel like it has to be done a certain way or on a specific timeline. There’s so much pressure out there, and it’s easy to feel like you’re starting too late. I know I felt that way. I thought, “I’m this age—am I too late to begin?” But then I looked it up, and the average age of the most successful entrepreneurs is actually around 43.
So no, you're not late. Start where you are. The important thing is to surround yourself with people who will support you through the journey—whether that's other business owners or friends who can give you honest feedback. I have people I send my content to, just to ask, “Is this cringey or does it connect? Should I post this or leave it in the drafts?” Having that kind of sounding board is incredibly helpful.
But more than anything, remember: there's no right way to do this. There’s no rush. Take your time. Move forward with peace, not pressure. You don’t have to have it all figured out right now. You’ll hit your milestones when the time is right.
Just focus on getting 1% better each day. That’s the mindset I repeat to myself constantly: “What can I do 1% better today?” Because after 100 days, that’s 100% growth. And that kind of steady, intentional progress adds up to something amazing.
Links Mentioned:
Work with Kate Tran Video Production
Follow Kate on Instagram
Not sure which template is right for you? Take the quiz!
Listen to the Breakthrough Brand Podcast
