The internet is a vast collection of information, opinions, and media. This collection can often be inspiring and informative or annoyingly useless and disruptive. In which category does your content lie?
Why a video blog?
This is a question you should ask yourself before grabbing a webcam.
– Video is cool and carries with it a newness that is appealing.
– A video blog allows you to post a running log of your thoughts and information on YouTube – which has potential to expose the content to millions of viewers
– You can combine audio, moving visuals, and a more direct human connection through video blogs. All of these elements are proven to increase retention rates of what you say.
Video Blog Tips
Having produced over 250 educational web videos for Silkroad Institute, I had to tackle many obstacles, and I learned a lot in the process. My goal was to make web learning appealing and even fun. Here are some tips from what I learned:
1. Use video only if it is the medium that best communicates your message. Could you just as easily write an article on your blog? Why paint a picture exactly as you see it when you could just take a picture?
2. Use props, text and picture graphics, locations, costumes, lighting, music, and guest appearances on your video blog. It is a video, make use of the possibilities.
3. Entertain your audience. It is proven that people learn better when they are entertained.
4. Quality is important (See my tips below) – don’t make your viewers suffer through a poorly done video. Eventually, they will tune out.
5. Looks matter. I’m sorry for the hard truth. Hollywood doesn’t hire beautiful people because they want to be cruel but because those people captivate the audience and are appealing to look at. You don’t have to be a model, but you have to dress nice, comb your hair, put on makeup, clean your teeth, etc. If you aren’t camera-friendly, consider narrating your video blog over a graphical presentation of the information.
6. Be interesting. Your goal is to make your viewers want to watch and come back for more. If you are camera-shy or monotone, video blogging is NOT for you. DO NOT read from a script. It makes you look distracted and that you don’t know what you are talking about. The most successful video bloggers I’ve seen are outgoing, talented, and captivating in such a way that you can’t look away.
7. Speak clearly. If we can’t understand you because you talk too soft or have a strong accent, then find someone else to do your blog or just write an article instead.
8. Be creative, be creative, be creative. Don’t add to the endless array of crap on the web that just impedes the search for quality information. Reward your audience for tuning in. Try broadcasting from different locations relevant to your topic of the day.
9. Hire a designer to create a title screen for you, topic bars, or informative graphics. Video blogs are a marketing investment. Sometimes a little money can go a long way.
Quality Tips
As you might have read in my previous blogs, I don’t believe we have to suffer because “it is only a web video”. Quality DOES matter.
1. Buy a quality web or video camera. Present yourself professionally. Make sure the camera is stabilized and not jostling around.
2. Buy a quality microphone. Make sure the volume is loud enough. Most recording software has a meter that visually shows the volume level it is recording at. Make sure the levels are high enough that you will be heard but not so high that it is clipping out.
3. Lighting makes all the difference. The easiest way to get good lighting is to shoot in a bright, naturally lit environment with fairly even lighting. If you can afford a good lighting kit, your results will be even better.
4. Backgrounds are important. Make sure you stand out from the background and that everything behind you is purposely there. Your boxers hanging over the side of your bed is NOT professional.
5. Have a video expert or friend film you or help with the editing.
Remember, you may have the best content in the world, but if no one wants to watch, the information is wasted. Do your part in respecting the benefits of web video and inspire the masses.
Ben Young
CEO / Head of Production
Rapid Eye Digital
www.rapideyedigital.com
www.rapideyedigital.com/blog
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KeHoeff (15 years ago)
hey this is a very interesting article!
KrisBelucci (15 years ago)
Great post! Just wanted to let you know you have a new subscriber- me!
AndrewBoldman (15 years ago)
da best. Keep it going! Thank you
Lhady (14 years ago)
Video blogging is kind of cool but i think it is more time consuming than regular text based blogs. i already have at least 1 video blog and 2 regular blogs.