Struggling to update your blog on a regular basis?
In this video, I share five reasons to consider creating a video blog instead. (I also share two suggestions for making your videos appeal to your audience.)
One of the things I mentioned is that video blogging doesn’t have to take any more time. I’ve worked really hard to get my video set-up just right, but you certainly don’t have to start there. Check out these two posts from the CMBA archives – why I’m not quitting my day job and is pre-show marketing really worth it – to see that you don’t have to have a fancy set-up or lots of editing to create a video blog. Both of those were created using the camera on my computer and uploaded straight to the Internet.
It’s the content that matters the most, so don’t sweat the details when you first start video blogging. Just start.
I love the idea of video blogging. Kinda freaks me out a bit though and I’m not sure what my readers would like to hear about? Something to think about…
Great point of view. However, I think it’s more that people are camera shy… rather than not wanting to spend the time. I think many of us are finally more comfortable simply blogging and sharing through the written word, now there’s video – a whole new frontier to face!
I suppose a step before video could be audio? People can still get your character through your voice and it’s more casual…pretty much all the advantages you noted about video hold true…
However, you don’t have to worry about looking perfect or the fact that glancing off camera or staring too hard into the camera – both look weird! I suppose it’s like radio versus television.
Of course, video does matter if you need to demo something or want to show something “in-person” versus just talking into the camera. In fact, I almost prefer audio if it’s not crucial to see something. If you are simply talking into the camera, is it wasting bandwidth for the video?
Perhaps I am just a luddite, but video does nothing for me. As such, I completely missed this entire article – because it’s a video. I know that I am not the only one that is this way, either.
Video is wonderful for demonstration, or if you have something to impart that NEEDS to be seen rather than just written about ( as Linda pointed out). But there are entirely too many bad videos out there.
Not to mention that there are still plenty of people like me that just do not want to go on camera.
Linda also brings up an excellent point: if you are just talking to the camera, isn’t it a waste of bandwidth to use video when you can write instead?
Linda & Claudia –
The more you create video, the easier it is to get comfortable in front of the camera!
You might want to check out this post on gaining confidence in front of the camera to help you get started – http://www.craftmba.com/2011/05/05/video-challenge-how-to-set-up-your-video-studio/
So I’m a written word fan and will always choose traditional blogging over video, however, I am not against video, I just think that there are pros and cons to both. I also think that video is trendy right now and while it is a visual thing and most people are visual, you don’t want to do something because everyone else is doing it. Also I know that I personally have respect for people who can write and communicate in written word better than in person. I find that one of the biggest cons to video blogging is that not everyone is captivating. Of course that’s a con to traditional writing as well, but it’s easier to find your voice and maintain your voice written wise than it is on video.
While it takes practice, much like anything, I do think that there is a lot of success to people who actually shine in person. If you’re awkward, nervous, lose your train of thought, say “um” a lot in video, it’ll show and people will not watch your videos.
I also find that if you are video blogging to create content, in most cases you’re just wasting the same amount of time that you’d waste looking at a screen trying to type words. I think video blogging should be included in your traditional blogging, but it should be used in a limited setting and developed as your purpose for video blogging and content does.
Megan, I completely agree! I was afraid of video for a long time and the first few times I did video it took me half a day just to get the video ‘right.’ But the more I am doing it the easier it gets. I’m still not as ‘natural’ in front of the camera as I’d like to be, but the more I practice the easier it will get.
Thanks so much for the post and reminder! Off to do a video right now 🙂
I definitely neglect my blog when I get busy–like now. LOL I’m also very camera shy, so I can’t see myself just making a video for the sake of making a video, but I do teach classes. So I’m also thinking I’d like to overcome the fear of the camera and teach classes via video at some point. I can see adding small “how to” or “how I did this” video segments to my blog to give people the comfort and confidence of taking a video course from me. Definitely worth thinking about. Thanks! And thanks also for the reminder to see your post about how to set up a studio, because that’s something I need to do too. 🙂
Now, if we can just figure out how to get the camera to subtract pounds instead of adding them! 😉
Most people, including myself, neglect their blogs due to time and topics to discuss. Both of these are needed whether you write your blog or do a video entry. If you can’t keep up with your blog with written entries, you can’t just turn on a camera, talk about something and call it done. As Claudia pointed out, there are entirely too many bad videos out there.
Just because you can do it, doesn’t always mean you should do it. I’ve seen videos that literally made me not buy from a certain person just because the video was so poorly produced that I questioned the professionalism and workmanship of the seller.
It is a little scary but the world belong to those who dare.. And, not all videos have to be in such or such way. Everyone has a gift to share and something to shine about in their own personal way. In my opinion, I like “how to” videos which combines the message about who you are and what you do in a very effective way. And I agree about keeping it short and sharp. I follow blogs but haven’t started my own yet (shame on me) and the number one blog I follow is this one by far! Thanks Megan!!
Is it weird that I DON’T like watching videos because I have a short attention span? Megan, you even mentioned it as the other way around… But I can skim a blog post in 1-2 minutes — less time than it would take to watch even a 3-5 minute video. Does this hold information that I want? I can figure that out in 30 seconds from a written post, but I have no idea if a video is useful… so I might just skip it.
I know that you are speaking to Makers and not just Readers, but I am of a “do unto others as I would have others do unto me” sort of person.
I think that there are advantages to video, but more for visual/demonstration/travel spaces…. (does anyone know of a good 5-10 minute video on making icons??? Can’t find one!)
Are we allowed to send coitmalnps about the insanity going around on the 3D Warehouse? There’s an overload of modelers who take up previous Warehouse space with poor models (cubes, lines, etc.) and they don’t even try to improve. There’s also a bunch of untrustworthy raters who rate even the best models 1-star.It would be great if you guys could just anonymously remove all the squares and lines. It would also be nice if you could add a feature to “rate” user ratings, such as what they have at Youtube.
Thank you so much for this clip. Its so helpful and inspiring!
I Love this tip. But i wonder how i can apply it to my business. My business name is: Tasha apparel, we sell wholesale clothing to businesses world wide. We have started a video blog that we are yet to launch for all of our products but a direction on format on how i can create it would be greatly appreciate it. I have hundreds of products coming in every week and to display. A format of what you believe that can work would be appreciated. thanks.
Thanks so much for this–I really must take the plunge. Have been thinking about it for at least 6 months now. I was thinking I would have to write a script, what would happen if I forgot what I wanted to say..etc. Thanks again!
about the work of Kiki Dimoula but for man Kiki Dimoula! And a poem to read, winner will be. And let’s not miss the ootnrtupipy to hear live, in a presentation, an event. Excellent initiative for’ this broadcast. Well done and good continuation!
Thanks Magan for the tips and suggestions. I’ve been incorporating video into my blog. I’ve gotten positive feedback from my readers. I hope to do more in the future, mainly me talking about what inspires me and what things I think about when I’m making or getting ready for a project. I totally agree w. keeping it short and not being too intimidated about the whole editing process or making it fancy. I’d like to just learn more as I go along, so I’m not letting the editing/producing part hold me back.
Oops, sorry for mis-spelling your name Megan. Duh!
I to neglect my blog and have NO time to devote to it. However video blogging is always on the back of my mind to do. I am camera shy but know i just have to get over myself and just do it. I have done one video and it was horrible! but i think, as with all things, i just need to practice. I think this will go on my January to do list. I am notorious for grammar errors, thus one of the main reasons i HATE blogging. But i also feel i have alot to say and have tons of ideas for my blog, just not the time to write them. so why not video blog them. I also think that video blogging will become more and more the norm as we are a generation of multi taskers and I love being able to listen to a blog post while doing something else. I have two young boys too, so again, i am still getting work done and listening even when i have to run to take scissors out of their hands 🙂 good post Megan, thanks for sharing it!
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