Google loves video! It’s the most powerful communication medium ever invented. It will make you a real, “live” person on the internet and far more approachable. It will build trust, which in turn means more sales.
But here’s the BIG payoff – it will rocket you to the top of Google if you host it on your own site! And, it’s so easy to create your own, simple videos.
My favorite camera at the moment is the Kodak Zi8 camera. It’s a “flip camera,” which is designed for operation simplicity and ease of transferring the video files to the internet. You can shoot a video and have it on the internet in about an hour! In an upcoming webinar, I’ll unlock all the secrets to good sound and good lighting but more importantly, I’ll show you how to download, resize, compress and upload your video either to your own site or youtube with a link back to your site.
The Kodak Hi8 is a High Definition (HD) camera with a microphone input – that’s a rare combination to find right now. The microphone input is so important because people will watch poor video with great sound, but not the opposite. If you’ve got a wireless microphone, you’ll have a high quality sound and video combination that can’t be beat!
But the exciting thing is that you can put an entire package together of camera, microphone and editing program for under $200.00 US. So, you can add real value to your website without a huge outlay in capital.
And I’ll discuss the pros and cons of uploading your site to YouTube as opposed to hosting on your own site. I’ll share the steps in getting your own YouTube channel, if you don’t already have one.
Lots to learn at my upcoming webinar … and this is only the start!
The webinar is on Tuesday, April 5, 2011, 9:30am MST. It’s FREE and you can sign up at http://bit.ly/e9sFa3
Peter Temple has been a professional writer, producer and director for television for 35 years and is a professional speaker and trainer. He coaches presenters on how to structure their presentations, look good on camera or the stage, and use media effectively. Find him at theMediaMaestro.com
Sorry, I just don’t think it is correct that video hosted on your website will “rocket you to the top of Google”. It entirely depends on how useful, entertaining or irresistible it is. True, some videos become viral on YouTube or FaceBook but they are the exceptions.
The availability of good, cheap editing software and cameras makes DIY video production a possibility – rather as the PC turned everyone into DIY graphic designers in the 1980s. But nothing beats a well crafted professional video.
Thanks for your comment, Chris. I think that getting people vlogging – in any form – is the first step to building their influence, platform and word-of-mouth.
Chris:
You make a great point. I suppose as I result of trying to be succinct, that statement may seem a bit glib.
A single video won’t do it, of course. But vlogging on a regular basis can, if they’re hosted on your server, rather than embedded (Youtube). They also need to be thoughtfully named, written succinctly, performed well, and keyword-supported properly. But, it won’t happen overnight.
I certainly see the effect in Facebook and have examples of speakers who are vlogging and have seen large jumps in traffic and positioning.
And, of course, it depends on your keyword competition. But it CAN have a very dramatic effect.
And I absolutely agree with your last line!
Thanks for your advice! I was thinking about buying this camera, but I wasn’t sure. Now I know that Kodak Zi8 is good camera indeed.