Is video blogging better than written blogs these days?
I am seeing more and more videos and articles about the popularity of videos. I personally like learning through watching videos and also find them easy to listen to when doing other things. However, how do I learn the preference of my target market. Also, how do I get started with video blogging? I have tried a few videos on my computer and they don't look high quality. I don't want to spend a lot of money, but I know they need to look good.
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Oct 19, 2015
In my field of work, video blogging is more efficient because people are interested in knowing who the deal with. The information age will require businesses to use more and more videos. It is practical like you said but more social.
For your questions, make sure your target market look for information that way. See where the hang a lot. And make sure the content answer a lot to their hot buttons meaning frustrations, struggles, fears....
For the quality you are right. The videos need to look professional not just good. But again know your target market and on that I agree with Steve Smith and Will Hodgan third point.
Sep 19, 2015
Video blogging can be just as, if not more effective than straight text by the addition of relevant textual content to your video pages. Using the same on page search engine optimizations that you would with an article. Also having a selection of your videos which are linked back to your video site on YouTube can be a great source of traffic.
Sep 19, 2015
I've found that videos help my followers to connect with me and put a face to the words. You don't have to exclusively do video blogging, but maybe a weekend video would be good and would allow you to see how your followers respond to it. A lot of what we do on social media is a matter of trial and error and seeing what works for your specific fan base. What works for one may not work for another.
Sep 17, 2015
Caitlyn:
Videos are perfect for your intended audience: mothers and parents. They are very engaging and they DO NOT need to be lengthy at all. You create a channel on Youtube, optimize it for keywords, connect it to your website and other social media accounts e.g., Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc) and you are good to go.
Yes, you can use your own computer or even smart phone. However, I recommend you buy an inexpensive lapel microphone to connect the audio to them. Otherwise, the audio comes out like in the distance. Plus, a lapel mike makes you look more prepared.
When recording your videos --- have a goal in mind. What will you cover? Why? And what will you get out the video (as a viewer)? Practice ahead of time, but most importantly be aware of your TONALITY. Biggest mistake most people make is not raising or lowering their voice throughout the video and it comes out as flat as could be. Think the history teacher in the told-school movie "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" --- flat and monotone!
Lastly, run a test of lighting and your surroundings. Record something and play it back and see what pops up in the immediate background that will or may be distracting for your viewers.
Sep 14, 2015
Hi Caitlin,
To have a nice video blog, first depend on how good you are in addressing people through video as an individual. Unlike written blog, people get to see your body language and expression among others. With that, without looking at the quality of the video, you can be able to attract people to you videos or not.
The second thing is approaching what you fear, spending on a good camera. It seems you have learnt that quality video is also an attraction for people watching online videos. You therefore need to put a side some money to acquire a good video camera for quality recording. Once you have recorded, time must also be spent in edit the video to have the best for online use. This may therefore require you to learn how to edit the videos otherwise, hire someone who can work on that.
About learning the preference of your target market, I would suggest you post a few video for them and compare their response on the video to then written blog on the same subject. From the comparison, you can then learn of their preference.
Sep 12, 2015
I had a quick peek at your profile. As you want to get in to the kids communication / entertainment space. There is something to decide what direction you would want to go in? Is it writing, or video (story telling). If you want to write, then your video would look very different then a video that is intended to do story telling. Video is very powerful. But very expensive. If you really want to get in to kids story telling through video. Then you will have to think about a big investment in the future (not to distend). Story telling through video can compliment the books or short form story’s for and website.
Now for getting started with video. I would try to avoid doing it your self. And certainly don’t invest yourself in equipment. It just gets stupid expensive. See if you can find a student that is studying media / camera, and some one that is in to producing. That way they can lean, and so can you. They will likely have some equipment. Or know how to get ahold of some for a low budget.
Stay in the middle of the road to start with. Until you have experience. And see the responds of your audience. Don’t make it to artsy, or to playful just yet. And, if this dos become an ongoing thing. Just to keep moral up. Take the people that your working with out for a meal after the product is posted to your site. There to, you might want to have a web student to help you out with developing your website.
Good luck, and let me know how things pan out.
Sep 10, 2015
You could always do both. Create the video, then have it transcribed, for the blog and written text. Embed the video in the blog post, then have the transcription below it.
Or, break down the video into sections, and blog about the video content, provide any links you mention etc.
Tim Ferris' s 4 hour Work Week blog is a good example of this, and probably many other podcasters.
Sep 10, 2015
I think in high percentage yes - It depends on quality & video aim - I think according to people high speed type of life - they prefer to see video easier than reading but not in every way , I assume that to my self - I prefer to see very often and not read .
Sep 9, 2015
it depends on what you talking about and to do/setup video is easy and cheap but if you're not "actor" type then people lose interest. The majority of video/clips people want to watch is of other people doing stupid or funny or hurting themselves type things. I prefer to read an article because I can read it over a few times and analyse what it's all about as where video you need to find the exact point where the words are getting said. Best is to try and find out what works for you and so do both and see what happens.
Sep 9, 2015
I think both have their uses. Video blogging is great for short presentations and visuals, but writing isn't going away anytime soon. Use a mixture of both. As for decent quality, you might look into some webcams that are a bit higher priced. At the same time I wouldn't be too self-conscious about the quality of video.
Sep 9, 2015
Hi Caitlin, I would imagine that all of these opinions can be overwhelming & your mind must feel like a ping pong ball reading all this wonderful expert advice. I'm going to add one very important piece of advice that I didn't see anyone discuss. That is, money. The only reason we get up each day is because we have bills to pay, whether it's rent, a mortgage, school tuition, phone bill, heating oil etc.. Now, most people become very defensive when I say this, and they quip "money isn't everything". Yes it is. When your landlord comes for the mortgage & you don't have it, he will ask you to leave wherever you're living. Also, you cannot say "I love you" either because you will still become homeless, Whether you decide to take up vlogging or blogging, you are going to want to profit from it. Depending on the message you're trying to deliver & the amount of people following you, this will reflect on your income. I don't know if your message is love, health, money or motivational, I'm pretty sure you will be taking up this endeavor to make "money". If you would like me to teach you how I do it, let me know. Here is an updated computer snapshot of my income as of today 9/9/15 - Anyone can click on this link & see that I don't speak with a forked tongue. If anyone is interested in learning how to bring in big bucks, email me. To answer your question, both vlogging & blogging are the correct way to go. Include pictures, graphs, slide shows, power point presentations etc. Do not send me any spam, I do not want to read any offers, join any clubs, get advice on how to build my business or be added to any lists etc. This is a one time offer. Good Luck to all seeking the American dream. =) https://www.dropbox.com/s/sexbo5rlblwshj4/Screenshot%202015-09-09%2016.37.56.png?dl=0
Sep 8, 2015
Video is definitely a component that you should add to your blogging strategy if feasible. But just be sure to combine this with a written blog of your video's content so that it will get crawled by the Google Spiders. But again, definitely include video!
Sep 7, 2015
Hi Caitlin, I think the best medium for showcasing your skills to your target market are those that reflect the 'essence' of who you are. If you have a talent for writing, then blogs, articles, forum engagement etc. is an excellent medium. If you are more comfortable delivering a podcast than being in front of a camera, this will be a good platform for you. I think the answer is to be your authentic self. Decide what you feel most at ease with and then explore ways to use this method to communicate. So, using the podcast example, choose a topic you are knowledgeable and passionate about and then get someone to interview you about it. By having a two-way conversation, any initial nerves will melt away as you begin to engage about your subject. Post links on all the social media platforms you use.
Asking for feedback from clients, colleagues, friends, sending links in any newsletters you produce or doing a sample survey will help you determine preferences from your target market but remember- this feedback will be based on how well you 'connect' with them and that comes back to content, relevance and...authenticity. Good luck!
Sep 7, 2015
Hey Caitlin
They're great for getting your face out there, so when you get started it doesn't really matter if they look good or not, concentrate more on the content at the start.
We have a free course coming out next week which will help businesses get started with video for a really low cost. Would you like me to send it to you?
Sep 6, 2015
Hi Caitlin,
the short answer to your question is yes.
That said, there are a number of things you need to consider. I have a free report on them at my website tippingpointmarketing.co under the free marketing resources button on the home page. There's no opt in required. It's just pure education. There are a couple of reports there that will help you.
The most important part of any marketing or educational content that you produce is that it's important and relevant to what your audience wants.
What are you wanting to achieve with your blogging ?
Happy to put you on the right path if that works for you.
Cheers,
Mike
Sep 6, 2015
Many people have posted the pros, so here's three major problems with video blogs:
1) It hurts your search relevance because the content of your blog isn't indexed, only the title <- this limits your audience
2) It requires your audience to have access to audio, knocking out a lot of work browsing, subway, walking around, etc. <- this limits your audience
3) It forces your audience to consume it mostly in-order, rather than quickly scrolling to the specific piece they're interested in, since that's so difficult to do with video. <- this limits your audience
As an audience member I avoid video blogs because I want specific info, and I want to consume it at my speed not the presenters, and I often am encountering the blog from an email or social media and want to quickly scan it before delving in to see if it's interesting. I very very rarely consume video blog content, and only if the title makes me absolutely sure that it is going to be worth the time. I think this is true of many people: if they see a 15 minute video and a link to an article with the same title which is easier to choose?
Sep 6, 2015
Sep 6, 2015
Hi Caitlin, Very interesting question. The simple answer is yet, and in my opinion is more direct, generates instant attention and has more reach.
Quite rightly, there is a surge in "audio-visual" marketing and it's popularity appeal and as you point out, learning through watching videos seem easy and you the user, have control over the use and consumption of the content especially "when doing other things".
However, you need to understand your target market and the most appropriate platform to share content on. Assuming you know your "target" audience, what are their engagement habits, how well do they respond to your articles. How about surveying your readers on the proposition of presenting your articles on video and even doing that with your first video? This should give you instant feedback.
To get started with video blogging, you will need to consider the following;
1. Content & Type - What kind of content is it - Is it informational, guided insights, service offering?
2. The Presentation - If your blog involves references and links to articles, call to action (interactive) the more your audience may prefer a written blog. Then again, depending on the age of your audience and the type of work or interests they possess, video might be a better way to reach them.
Q. I don't want to spend a lot of money, but I know they need to look good.
A. You get what you pay for, i'm afraid. Understanding what you want to share and how you share it is only part of the process. Most people will not engage if the video is lacking in style and presentation. If you intend to do it yourself, you will need to get some training or hire a communications coach to help you with developing the right pitch, style and format for your presentation. There are also a lot of experts out there who can work with you to produce good engagement and marketing content for your audiences (at affordable prices).
Hope this helps. Feel free to connect if I can be of further help.
Best of luck
Sep 6, 2015
Just like face to face meetings you. Have 30 seconds to get. Their. Attention
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