Today I'd like to share a quick how-to so you can post your own videos on your blog.
It's a lot easier than most people think. Like I said last week, I don't own a video camera.
Equipment Needed:
#1 - A digital camera that can shoot video. If you're not sure about yours, check the various shooting modes you have: close ups, scenery, action, flash, movies... Your shutter button may have a little movie camera icon on or near it.
#2 - A method of transferring images from the camera to your computer. Could be a memory card or a cable that hooks them together.
#3 - A computer with an online connection
#4 - A blog or other website where the video will ultimately be shown
If you're reading this, chances are you have #3 on the list. If you also have at least #1 and #2, then you're ready to start.
Ready?First, decide what you will use for your #4 in the above list. It could be YouTube, but I'll be expanding on this concept in upcoming posts and to take advantage of all the great tips coming up, you may want to have your own site (or blog.) At the very least, you'll want a website or blog that will let you submit your video for all to see (other than You Tube.)
Step One: Choose your subject matter.
This first video will be your demo, so don't stress out about this.
If you want to be the star of your demo, set the camera on a counter or cabinet and step back so it can show your lovely face as you recite a short poem or sing a silly song. Actually, you could simply introduce yourself. That would be a short and sweet 15 to 20 second video perfect for your demo.
If you'd rather not be the star (I understand completely,) then find something interesting, be it a family pet, a tree in the yard, or a goofy kid.
Step Two: Shoot your video.
Don't make it too long, just 30 seconds to one minute is enough.
A little camera shake and wobbliness is ok for your demo. You're a real live human.
Shooting tips:
- Make sure you talk during the video to keep it interesting. Describe what you are shooting and explain something interesting or significant about your subject.
- Talk at a comfortable pace, not too fast, and speak clearly. Smile - people will hear it.
- You may want to plan ahead with what you will say to avoid dead space or overuse of words like "Ummm" and "Uh..."
- Make sure there is sufficient light for your viewers to see the subject.
- When moving the camera from one subject to another, move slowly. Rapid movements make viewers dizzy and disoriented with your scene.
Step Three: Upload your video.
If you can take the memory card out of the camera and insert it into a port on your computer, you can upload the video directly you YouTube.
OR - If you need to connect the camera to your computer with a cable, upload the video to a file where you can find it. You can upload it to You Tube from there.
Go to YouTube and either log in or sign up.
In the upper right hand corner, you should see a button that says Upload. Click it and follow the instructions to upload the video you just made.
Your upload will take a few minutes, depending on how fast your internet connection is.
When I upload videos, I notice that YouTube says to wait until I see a message telling me the video is done but it seems to take forever. Meanwhile, if I open a new window and go to You Tube, my video is there, ready to play with. You video may be ready before YouTube tells you it is - you may want to check on it in a new window after a few minutes.
Step Four: Embed your video into your blog.
Note: What blog would you like to post your demo video to? You may want to consider that at this point. Ok. Open that blog. Ready?
When you see your video, grab the code to embed it, and open a new post in your blog. Click to edit the HTML of the post, and paste in the code from You Tube. Add any appropriate comments and publish it.
Ta-dah!
Once you get the hang of this, you should be able to produce a great little video for your blog in about 15 minutes or less.
Coming up next: I've got some big ideas for you! Check back later this week to find out how you can use video in your blog to increase traffic and/or Etsy sales!
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hi pam! thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. :)
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