Making Videos that Don’t Suck!

Social Crush Workshop Handout

Videos have become the most consumed type of content on the Internet with over 45 billion videos being viewed each month in the US alone. At their simplest level videos are a transaction between the producer and the viewer, where there is an expectation of entertainment. This workshop is broken into three topics of discussion – Getting Started with Video, Video Production & Editing, and Publishing & Optimization.

Getting Started with Video

WHY VIDEO? SUGGESTED TOPICS Immediate Product Overviews Intimate Video Tours Inexpensive Testimonials Interactive FAQ/SAQ

Blogging Glossary/Terms

WHATS NEEDED? Proper Attitude Kodak Play Sport, Flip Camera or

equivalent Tripod with Video Head Lavaliere Microphone (optional)

Secrets to Success with Video1. Understand your message2. Storyboard & Create Narrative before starting3. Use Proper Lighting4. Watch for proper color balance (Subject verse background)5. Avoid sporadic or jerky movements6. Don’t Zoom, use Cuts7. Familiarize yourself with your equipment8. When possible have narrative within the video9. Place videos on all possible portals with proper naming, tagging, and back linking10. Make sure the video is entertaining… Would you watch it?

Example Videos

@2011 Mac Village Productions 1

Video Production & Editing

Now that you have figured out your messaging, familiarized yourself with your equipment, now comes the fun part, Production and Editing! So you’ve been “Green-light” – Lets get to work and get our film shot and produced! Regardless if you’re a PC or a Mac; there are simple easy to use tools to get your video looking great!

PREPARING FOR THE SHOOT 1. Make sure your shoot location is ready2. Make sure light is ok, and don’t shoot into sun3. Shoot sample of subject and people to check sound levels4. Make sure camera is on a tripod whenever possible!5. Watch Subject and Backgrounds6. Avoid sporadic or jerky movements – Practice Pans7. Always shoot video in highest resolution - 10808. Get over yourself! – Focus on the message not yourself or how you sound

EDITING YOUR FOOTAGE ON PC OR MAC 1. Most cameras today will connect to computer via USB2. On PC – Software will be preloaded on Camera

a. Kodak – Arcsoft Media Impressionb. Flip – Flipsharec. Sony - Bloggie

3. On Mac – Software to use iMovie4. At beginning of video establish Brand

a. Place company/product logos – Transparent background Logo best .PNG fileb. Name of Product/Location/Featurec. If testimonial video use – lower 3rd branding with name and title

5. At end of video tell viewer what to do next… aka - Call to Action:a. Web Addressb. Phone Numberc. Contest Detailsd. Promotion or Special “Act Now” Offere. Annotations

6. When possible in all videos usea. Background Music, it draws out emotion from viewerb. Spoken Narration to help with organic SEO

Media Impression iMovie

@2011 Mac Village Productions 2

Publishing & Optimization

Once you have your video edited and ready to be shown you now need to get it out on the Internet on one of many popular video sharing sites such as YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook. While having your video on your website or blog is also important, placing this content on Social Media networks allows for people to share, like and Plus your content!

YouTube – Provides a free portal/page for your videos, which is called a channel.

TO SETUP A CHANNEL: 1. Create a YouTube Account2. Create a unique user name for the channel3. Complete basic Setup of Channel (Mandatory)

a. Description of your businessi. Make sure you put biz phone #

b. Add links to your website(s)c. Connect your social networksd. Upload an about Me picture or logo

i. 800x800 max size

KEY ELEMENTS WHEN UPLOADING VIDEO: 1. Video Title - Provide Meaningful name2. Video Description - Start with full backlink to

websitea. ie.. For more info visit http://mysite.com

3. Tags/keywords - Use them to help with organic SEO

a. Product nameb. Company namec. Phases use “Parallels Desktop”

4. Select appropriate privacy setting (public)

@2011 Mac Village Productions 3

EMBEDDING VIDEOS IN YOUR WEBSITE OR BLOG: 1. Go to the video on YouTube2. Click on the Share button3. AWAYS – Uncheck – Show Suggested videos4. Select size of video5. Copy HTML iframe code into Website/Blog

Post

MAKING VIDEO APPEAR INTERACTIVE WITH ANNOTATIONS: 1. Plan linkage points on videos prior to shoot2. Place graphics/buttons within video during edit stage3. Leave buttons on screen long enough for choices 8 – 20 seconds4. Upload videos as unlisted, then place annotations on each video5. Make each video public

Example Annotation Videos

@2011 Mac Village Productions 4