The short answer
Film each build as it happens and turn it into a story people can follow: the plan, the progress, the details and the handover. Show your workmanship close up, be open about what drives the cost, and make it easy to ask about a build slot.
- Film every build from the same few angles, so progress is easy to see.
- Get close on the details that set your work apart.
- Be open about costs and lead times, in ranges.
- Post the handover, and check in with owners months later.
Why social media suits conversion builders
A conversion is a big purchase, and most people take months to decide. They follow builders, save posts and compare layouts long before they get in touch. That long run-up is good news: it gives you time to show them, post by post, that you’re the builder they can trust with their money.
The builders who do well on social aren’t the ones with the slickest edits. They’re the ones who show their work clearly and consistently, so a stranger can judge the quality from their phone.
Film the build as you go
The hard part isn’t editing, it’s remembering to film. A few habits make it automatic:
- Fix two or three camera spots. A small tripod or clamp in the same places for every build gives you matching before-and-afters and easy timelapses.
- Film ten seconds of every job. Short clips add up. You can always cut, but you can’t go back and film the wiring once the panels are on.
- Talk about your choices. A voice note or a few words to camera on why you used that insulation or that battery makes great captions later.
- Keep a shot list in the van. Tape it to the wall, so whoever’s working remembers to film the key moments.
| Build stage | What to film | The post it becomes |
|---|---|---|
| The empty van | A walk-round from your fixed spots | “Day one” post, and the before in a before-and-after |
| Insulation and cladding | Materials close up, the fitting, a timelapse | “Why we insulate like this” explainer |
| Electrics | The tidy wiring before it’s hidden | Detail carousel; it shows care better than anything |
| Furniture and kitchen | Joinery details, drawers opening, the layout taking shape | Build diary Reel |
| Finishing | Soft furnishings, lighting at night, the first bed made up | Finished van tour |
| Handover | The owners seeing it, the keys, them driving off | Handover Reel, and a check-in months later |
What to post
- Build diaries. A running series for each van, so people come back to see what happened next.
- Before-and-afters. The same angle, empty and finished. Simple, and among the most shared posts a builder can make.
- Details close up. Joinery, wiring, the clever storage. This is where you prove the quality.
- Why we did it this way. Short explainers on your choices build trust and get saved by people planning a build.
- Finished van tours. Every cupboard, every switch, day and night.
- Handover day. The moment the owners see it. Ask before you film them.
- Owner check-ins. “Six months on” posts show your vans hold up on the road.
- Answers to common questions. Lead times, how the process works, what you need from customers.
Talking about money
Cost is the question everyone has and few builders answer. You don’t have to publish a price list, but posts that explain what drives the cost (layout, electrics, materials, the van itself) do two jobs. They help people work out whether a build is within reach, and they show you’re open and straightforward to deal with.
Use ranges rather than fixed figures, and keep them up to date. A post with an old price on it can cause awkward conversations later.
Turn followers into enquiries
- Make enquiring easy. Put a link to an enquiry form in your bio, with a few questions that tell you whether someone is serious.
- Post about build slots when they open. “Taking bookings for spring builds” is a reason to get in touch now, as long as it’s true.
- Use Story highlights. Builds, Process, Costs and FAQs covers most of what people ask.
- Turn DMs into posts. If three people ask the same thing, answer it publicly.
If you sell vans, kits or plans
The same ideas work. For vans for sale, a thorough walk-round tour and an item-by-item list of what’s included answer most questions before anyone calls. For kits and plans, fitting how-tos and photos of customers’ finished builds (with permission) show that people like them have done it.
If you’d rather someone else turned your build footage into posts, that’s what we do for van conversion builders and van sellers.