Producing Business Videos: Shooting, Editing, and Embedding

One of the downsides to the flip is the inability to use a external microphone, sure if you are close enough and in a quiet environment then you can certainly use it. The other thing to note is that many people these days have iphones, and iphone4 and above produce much better image quality than many others. In my oppinion OK sound quality and Good image quality will loose out to Good Sound Quality and OK image quality.

I would love to talk to anyone who is creating regular (Monthly or more frequent) video content so please do DM me as I need your feedback on an idea I have please contact me on @ichthusvideo

I've never used one, but there are a few iphone/flip tripods out there: http://www.amazon.com/Joby-Gorillamobile-Universal-Removable-High-Bond/dp/B002Q6CDLA/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1319882818&sr=8-4

Really easy to make videos on iMovie. Drag and drop photos or videos from your iphone and add text etc. Yes wordpress used to have this little green icon that allowed you to easily embed videos. Then there is an upgrade after this that does not have the little green embed thing and also does not work with iframes. So you then need to update to the latest form of wordpress to use Youtube iframes.

Also take a backup 1st before upgrading (with a backup plugin or via cpanel). As I have experienced what can happen if you don't and a site crashes with the upgrade.

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This is great advice, especially since I'm going to start my "I'm Jeannie NOT GINI gosh darnit" video series soon.

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I am with most people on this post and would recommend starting with something simple like Windows Movie Maker. I have downloaded and tried Ulead and Sony Vegas Pro as video editing platforms and holy toledo they are complicated and difficult to learn. Start small, think big -- that is my recommendation.

P.S. - ginidietrich Do I need to come out to the Windy city so we can practice our whistle? True story - I was once almost kicked out of an NFL football stadium because the usher said I was "whistling too loud."

1- I love that you don't edit. 2- Hi Jack Bauer! 3- give me the fortune. you can keep the fame.

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iMovie is REALLY easy. You'll kill it.

Great article, I think this is a big question for many people.

ginidietrich I'm not trying to steal your thunder but C_Pappas I just presented last weekend on this exact topic: "How to get started using online video." I did a live video demo in YouTube showing you how easy it is to edit a video, and publish it to the social channels. If you would like I can send you the link.

I also do many video blogs like Gini, for myself and I do a "Facebook Rockstar of the Week" video feature for my company, WIN Home Inspection.

I use a Kodak Zi8 Camera and put it on a tiny tripod on my desk, and use a remote to hit record and stop. It really is easy, and if you're timid to start I always suggest practicing. The more you do it, the more comfortable you will feel.

Hope that helps!

Ok, so you know I LOVE this topic and did something a little similar over at Shonali 's house. I got some very good feedback from that and continue to as I move my video blogging along. After a brief hiatus due to software/editing issues (I do think you should edit a little teensy bit), I'm back.

I think tripods are incredibly helpful. I used to use a stack of books and have to get them down, move them arrange them, on and on each time. I finally bought one and LOVE it. They're cheap, too. I got one of these gripper gorilla tripods (I'm not sure of exact name, they remind me of a gorilla 'cos the legs can bend and flex so that I can literally hang the camera off a book case if I wanted).

I also think it's great to stick to 2 min or less, although I have been known to go on a tad more (ahem, 4 minutes). I consciously try to avoid the ums, ahs, and ers, but it's only natural that a few will slip in.

I've also held the camera, like here, but find it doesn't come of nearly as cool as I thought it would - too jumpy and rough around the edges. jillfoster does an awesome job of that - her arms must be solid.

Gini has a wonderfully natural style, one that I embrace as well. I don't want to be too formal - the point is to engage. Talk as if the camera is your friend and you're hanging out in a coffee shop talking. That way you're not shouting or too inappropriate with your language. ;)

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That's where Jack Bauer went after his retirement - and to be fair to him - he has probably earned his rest - what with all that round the clock world saving activity....

My dog Wolverine is equally pooped most of the time - except when there is any sort of food (except Lettuce) within a 1/2 mile radius.

Videos are fun to put together and are the future of everything!!!

One really, really important thing that needs to be mentioned here Gini is the plugin: Vipers Video quicktags. Here is a link with a screen shot:

http://screencast.com/t/sSWrxFuqb

what this will do is center the video and size it nicely within your post. For example, the video you show in this post will line up evenly instead of being slightly shifted to the left. Plus you do not have to go into any html at all, just paste in the Viper window that pops up.

Lack of editing = laziness. It's not just laziness, it's telling your audience they weren't worth the extra effort. Just wanted to get that off my chest (bad Dan Perez!). Most editing software can be learned in about an hour so there's really no excuse.

The reason most blog videos suck eggs is because people want to pump them out in one take; usually without rehearsing the material (that's right, rehearsing) or buying a cheap tripod (usually less than $20) to hold the camera in. OK, now I'll hop off my soapbox. Now allow me to add some value to the conversation:

1. Carefully write out your subject material

2. Break your content down into manageable segments

3. Rehearse your content to avoid ers, ums, and ahs

4. Position yourself in the middle of the camera, removing all unnecessary "dead space" in your shot

5. Put the dang camera on a tripod (or place on garbage can)

6. Record one segment at a time (if it sucks, do it over)

7. Edit them together in any cheap editing software

8. Keep it around two minutes unless you're ruggedly handsome with a personality so dynamic that you could be talking about civil service reform and your audience will still be engrossed (I can't help you with that one, you just have to be born that way)

Nuff said.