Uses of Online Video INFOGRAPHIC

7 Tips for Creating Online Video

When shooting an online video, there are a few keys steps you will need to take to make sure your online video is as successful as possible:

1. Try to keep your video short:

As online video watching continues to grow the trend of short-term videos continue to reign as king. This is because many online video audiences prefer fast and quick information and, in order to keep their attention, it is best not to go over the three-minute mark: keep this in mind when deciding on the type of video you want to produce.

2. Don’t ramble on:

For online video, it is important to get the point of your message across as quickly as possible so to keep your audience engaged. To make sure you do this, write a script outline before you shoot and include an introduction, 3 key points of your message, and a closing statement.

3. Ensure your sound is audible:

Many online audiences will forgive distorted frames to a certain extent but bad audio is not as easily forgiven. Test your sound before you shoot to see if you will need additional microphone support.

4. Make sure your shot is lit well:

Simply putting a lamp beside you will result in shadows on the camera. If you don't have the professional lighting equipment one suggestion could be to get in front of a window to allow sunlight and put a light fabric over the window. This will diffuse the light somewhat, creating a nice light. It will be flat light, but it will be way better than having shadows across your face.

5. Practice before you shoot:

In order to ensure a good, clear delivery of your key messages, you will require practice so make sure you do a few trial runs before shooting your final video and stay away from the use of em’s and ah’s.

6. Introduce yourself:

When shooting online video, always introduce yourself, first name and last, and state the point of your message at the start of your video. This will ensure your audience identifies with you and your message from the very beginning and can make an informed decision to keep watching.

7. Stay focused on your camera:

In order to ensure a professional delivery and that your audience stays engaged, try not to get distracted yourself. What this means is keep your focus on the camera, don’t look off screen and don’t fix you hair or touch your face.

- Rozlyn Gibson

How To: Make your videoBIO work HARDER

If you’re thinking of promoting your personal brand with video, you’re already steps ahead of the rest! You’ve recognized the value that video can offer in communicating your vision and increasing your reach. But there are a few additional considerations you can take to make your video work even harder for you!

· Make sure your message is clear and concise. Don’t bog down your audience with heavy details or confusing messages.

· Open your video with a strong statement or question that piques viewers’ interest. You only have 20 seconds or less to grab someone’s attention!

· Ask questions. Posing a question to the audience immediately engages them and heightens their connection to the content.

· Be yourself, and be natural. Viewers will be more apt to pay attention and relate if you are genuine and approachable.

· Leave the viewers wanting more, and then let them know how they can find out more. It is important to maintain a sense of intrigue, giving just enough information to whet the appetite and spark interest. Ensure that you offer an alternative means to continue the conversation by providing a website address, a social media page, or contact information.

By Stephanie Kittell, videoBIO producer

Why Video, Why Now? 3 Tips to Make Video Work for You

In this day and age of flashy gizmos, amazing doodads, and countless apps it is becoming increasingly difficult to figure out what a business owner should use to market themselves and their business. Do you jump on twitter, signup for Facebook, or do you start up a blog? Marshall McLuhan once said that the medium is the message. Now that we have so many mediums at our disposal the question remains; what is your message? Although the world is becoming filled with photo and text based blogs and sites, a tried and true way of effectively getting your message across is through the video.

Once your business has committed to adopting video as a communication tool the next question to ask yourself is: “How do I get it seen?”

1. Email: a very simple way of driving traffic to you video is posting it in your email signature. The most effective use of video in your email signature is a video that talks about you, your business, and why people should work with you.
2. Vlog: Don’t be afraid to step up your blogging game by adding video. Take a few minutes to give your thoughts on your topic du jour then toss your embed code onto your blog, and voila! You have created a post that is engaging, shows off your knowledge, and gives the world of potential and existing clients a look into your personality.
3. Social Media Tools: Harness your tools as a method of pushing out your videos. Once you have completed a new vlog entry let the world know that you have a new tidbit of knowledge to share. On twitter you have 140 characters to create a witty caption to drive traffic, on Facebook make sure your friends and “like”ers know what your up to, link it to your LinkedIn, etc… Although this seems like a tedious task it will prove highly rewarding when you look at your analytics and see that you have a growing legion of unique hits!

With all of these helpful hints in mind one question remains: how will you produce the videos to push out to the world? At videoBIO we have several types of video packages available ensuring that you will find the package that best suites your needs.

If you want a video that highlights you, your business, and why you’re amazing to work with, we can create a video that will co-exist well on your main website and in your email signature. Were you thinking of creating a series of short videos for your vlog? Excellent! videoBIO has recently launched a new product called LiveRecord that allows you to record short video messages that can be emailed, posted via embed code, or linked to videoBIO’s brand new videoPAGE; a stand alone mini biography page where you can provide links to your social media tools, have a video message to highlight yourself, and create a small write up about anything you wish.

In short, videoBIO is your one-stop shop to fulfilling your online video needs. Contact us today, let us know what you envision, and we'll connect you with best video products to fit your needs.

Jermaine

5 WAYS TO STRENGTHEN YOUR PERSONAL BRAND

In today’s ever-changing virtual landscape of social networking, information sharing, and communication, it is important to have a firm grasp on who you are and what you can offer to the world. You already have a personal brand, whether you are conscious of it or not. It is how people perceive you. The stronger your brand, the more you will stand out against the clutter of the web.

Here are 5 simple things that you can do today to strengthen your personal brand:

1. 1. State your value in one sentence.

It is important to create a one-liner that encapsulates who you are and offers a glimpse into the value you provide. Use this on business cards, in email signatures, on your social media profiles, and on your website if you have one. A well-written and concise one-liner will capture your audience’s attention.

2. 2. Create a personal pitch.

Your personal pitch expands on your one-liner value statement, and should convince people of your unique value in one minute or less. This is effective in face-to-face communication, and being prepared with a pitch will help you to network in any situation.

3. 3. Maintain your online profiles.

Make sure your online profiles on various social media sites represent you in the best light and be sure your online profiles are representative of how you want others to perceive you.

4. 4. Utilize social media to associate with the right people.

Be active with your social media sites and engaging regularly. Not only will you boost your online presence, you’ll also ensure that you are accessible to all the right people.

5. 5. Showcase your brand with video.

Text on a screen can only go so far, and photographs only tell half the story. Online video is an excellent way to manage your first impression, give your personal brand wings, engage your audience, and extend the reach and impact of your brand in a full communication.

-By Stephanie Kittell, videoBIO Producer

Social Video- where does it live in the marketing mix?

…and who is making the decisions? In a recent article published by the Business Insider-- The Top 20 Social CMO's Of The Fortune 100 http://t.co/vAKMYD3 we hear that Chief Marketing Offers (CMO’s) are doing more ‘do as I say, not as I do’, and need to get into the drivers seat when it comes to personally experimenting with social media and video if they are going to be credible in leading the charge as the shift to social media in the marketing plan gives new definition to the communication strategy. Often the purveyors of social media are the ones in the trenches experimenting and doing the work, not leading. This poses a new challenge to vendors selling strategic solutions and innovative applications into the c-suite.

Social video is one of the most interesting applications for video as it pushes companies to think about video in the spectrum of uses from spontaneous video clips and messages to polished, highly produced video for what we knew as marketing or advertising uses. But video has changed. It’s no longer an event but a continuum of more personalized communications then you could ever achieve with text or pictures.

User generated video content and personal branding are pushing the volume of video content towards personal video messaging, profiles and spokesperson-led conversations and communications on video. A new communication standard that is coming fast and furious and putting CMO’s in the catch up seat as they figure out where and how they want video to live in their communication mix. Here are a few questions for CMO’s to think about as they consider video and putting video tools in the hands of their teams for self producing video:

1.Is showcasing your people and their respective voices important to your company

2. Do you consider yourself an innovator and experimenter of new technology and do you want to stay ahead of the curve in the video revolution

3. Have you experimented with video (outside of your agency)

4. Do you want to create video content for a variety of uses? If so, how much (a progressive video content creator would be creating and sharing video daily as part of regular communications)

5. Do you envision empowering end users in your company with video tools allowing them to video message, create social video, self produce video content?

6. Is compliance with your brand and messages an important factor in managing and moderating video messages generated by your sales reps, employees etc.