Blogging Tips

Video Blogging is probably the best way to build a strong presence for yourself online, and fast. I have done plenty of research in preparation for the recent launch of my personal youtube channel, garin.tv, and the following ten tips are most important steps I discovered. These tips include suggestions for getting the best video quality, and also how to started spreading your videos online. These are the tips that have helped me the most on my way to getting started on the Video Blogging scene, and hopefully they will help you get started too!

1. Get a YouTube Account

YouTube dominates the online video space. If you upload your videos to only one video network YouTube is your best bet. They are the biggest video platform online and serve over one billion videos daily. There is also significant niche traffic to be had by uploading Videos to numerous networks, and a great way to manage this is with a site called TubeMogul. TubeMogul is a video syndication service that allows you to distribute your videos to multiple video sites at once. TubeMogul also has built in analytics allowing you to see where your videos are being watched the most.

2. Be professional

You don’t need to be wearing a suit and tie but at least remember to shave. If you want to produce a Viral Video you probably won’t do it looking like a slob. Find yourself a good professional setting. I just use a couch but it works for me because that is where I feel most relaxed, which brings me to my next point.

3. Get comfortable

Video Blogging is a little nerve racking, so it helps to be comfortable. Find the place where you feel most comfortable, your favorite couch or chair perhaps, and get set up. Plenty of light is also a necessity, but not so much that it feels unnatural. Personally I prefer to record when no one is around so I can focus on the video at hand and not what others in the immediate area are thinking about what I am doing.

4. Make sure your batteries are charged

Real simple suggestion here. It sucks if you get into a good dialogue and it is cut off mid sentence due to a failing battery. Then the battery need to be charged, or an AC adapter attached, and the entire flow is interrupted.

5. Use a script

Having a script makes the production process significantly less stressful. Knowing exactly what you want to say before you say it allows you to focus on delivery when the camera is rolling. It is best to look at the camera as much as possible so point form might suffice so that you can ensure you achieve the best results possible.

6. Remember that YouTube has a 10 minute video limit

Even though they support HD Video YouTube still implements a 10 minute video length cap. If your plan is to create a video longer than 10 minutes you will need to chop it up into pieces so that each file you upload is at least 10 minutes or less.

7. Practice makes perfect

The more videos you are able to make the more natural it will feel for you to be in front of a camera. If you can break your video into sections this will allow you to do multiple takes for each section. If you were going to make a video of these tips, for example, the best way would be to record each tip separately several times and then take the best clip of each tip. With this method during the editing process you will simply need to determine the best take of each section and piece them together.

8. Use a Tripod

I bought a compact tripod from a local electronics store for only $15 and I use it almost everytime I shoot. I also had a HD tripod stand given to me and I use this as well for some scenes. A steady camera is a necessity so if you do not have a tripod handy ensure the person handling the camera is careful to hold it as still as possible.

9. Give yourself time to edit

The Photographer Thomas Hawk says that for about every ten pictures he takes he usually only keeps about one. With Video a similar rule applies. Shoot a lot, use a little.

10. Syndicate your video

If you are unfamiliar about how Podcasting works check out this tutorial about how to make a video podcast. Once you have created your video you can submit it to Podcastblaster and iTunes and it will be a registered podcasts.

Scobleizer Summarizes

Earlier this year I had a chance to visit Robert Scoble at his home. My cousin Luke even took Scobleizer surfing. Scoble is a really down to earth guy and in the video below he shares 5 of his best video blogging secrets.

Do you have a YouTube channel? If you do feel free to share it in the comments below.