I have to admit, when I recorded my first video I was so nervous. I was scared that I would have many takes and never get it right. I went in with that mindset and came out more discouraged than ever. I eventually met Amani Channel as my on camera mentor and he taught me how to be comfortable by giving me some valuable tips and like most things in life, you learn by trial and error.
Video Converts
As a blogger, one of the easiest way to connect with your audience is with video. A study by eyeviewdigital.com shows that using video on landing pages and blogs can increase conversion by 80%.
Some reasons why video can give you more engagement
- Videos increase the length of time people stay on your blog, giving your message longer to sink in.
- If you feature yourself in the video, the trust factor is raised significantly.
- People are lazy and prefer to watch vs. read.
My Video is not Perfect
I hear this as a video trainer often. You see others videos and you wonder how your video can look as good as someone else's from the start. Here is a quick tip to give you more confidence, go to any YouTube video channel that has been in existence for more than 4 years and you will see their video progression. As the cliche goes, “Rome wasn't built in a day” and neither will your video.
Watch this video that I recorded for this blog post to see me walk through the 5 Basic Video Blogging Tips
1. Write a script
This is a must for most people starting out. I would suggest you create talking points so you can make sure you hit all of your major points.
2. Shoot in landscape mode (if you are using a mobile phone)
In our Storyteller's Mobile Production Guide guide at WebVideo Chefs, we stress this for mobile video. It's so basic, but so many people forget to do it. If you hold the camera vertically, your image will be very small and surrounded by those, thick, ugly black bars when you upload it to YouTube. Not a good look and besides, it's very unprofessional.
3. Edit your video
I use iMovie for iOS to edit my videos and it works well for me. I have created an in-depth training to get you jump started if you use this software. For those of you who are on a PC, check out Ms. Ileane's tips for using Screencast-o-matic.
4. Relax and be yourself
This was the hardest thing for me to learn, I wanted to be like all of the other people I saw online. I realized that I could only be me and I did exactly that and carved out my own niche. When you keep it real, your audience will find you more likable and it will be easier for them to relate to you.
5. Learn from others
I learned from professionals like Amani, and many others to see how they deliver and watch them behind the scenes. It's not live television so multiple takes are just fine. I would just make sure you are prepared.
I always tell bloggers that creating effective videos is a journey not a destination.
What is your biggest video challenge in creating videos? Share in the comments below and let’s help each other out.
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