Video Blogging and embedded tutorial videos in blogs are very popular, and I have been wondering about the future of blogging as I read more about more about the subject. People seem to read books less and less now that you can find so much to read online. I even find myself choosing my Google Reader feed over an engaging novel pretty often lately. I used to crave a quiet hour of reading a good book, but now I catch myself loosing focus quickly and putting down my book and moving on to other things. Even while reading blogs I seem to be lacking in an attention span as I scan paragraphs and am more intrigued by a photo or a video than a chunk of text. It makes me sad to think that I could be conditioning myself to read less and less, but I am excited by the progress being made in the exchange of information via video technologies. So I will stop being melancholy about the devaluation of literature and be optimistic about the future of video blogging.
Having a video blog is being recommended more and more by marketing and social media consultants. It’s a great way to engage a viewer and you can really capture their attention with visual and even auditory stimulation. On the Ignite Social Media blog I found this post by Kailee Brown. She talks about the reasons why businesses should add videos to their repertoire of social media tools, and I agree with most of what she said. My comment on her blog talked about a few of my qualms with video blogging and the way that she presented herself to the camera. I don’t think that her format was all that effective, since she stared at the camera the whole time, swiveled around in her chair, interrupted herself with several “ums” and basically lacked any engaging visual stimulation. I don’t mean to criticize her personally; I just feel that the format she used could prove unsuccessful for someone trying to send an important message via video,
A few of my ideas for an improved video include the following:
-Try an interview format. It would be much more interesting to see two people talking to one another than to be bombarded by one face addressing you/the camera directly. Create your own interview with an expert and talk about the product or concept you want to promote with your video. I might interview my company’s owner and talk about the benefits he has found from using Twitter, or ask my co-worker some questions about her established blog.
-Check out Slideshare. Uploading PowerPoint presentations is fast and easy, and you can make a tutorial with appealing images and short chunks of text that will keep the viewers attention better than a long blog post. It feels like a video but can be clicked through at the viewer’s leisure.
-Try other formats, like this one used by Hubspot (on their website or YouTube).
They used paper cutouts and drawings to tell a story, and although it is notably low-tech, I found it engaging and informative. Sometimes simple can be so much better.
-Viral videos, if you have the time and expertise to produce something worthwhile and entertaining, can be a great way to show the personality of your brand. Some really popular videos have given new companies and their products a real boost in their online presence. Take a look at this famous post-it sticky note video. Even just a silly video around the office could be a great way to provide insight into your company and staff.
-Do not discount the value of a face, despite what I said earlier about Kailee and her video blog. I found this post by Chris Brogan and really liked the way that he personally connected with his viewer by talking to them directly.
The content of his message was suited to this format, so I encourage direct addresses in cases such as these. Sending a brief and direct message can be valuable as well.
I am still new to the world of blogging and video, so I wish I had more examples to share and expert advice to give. All in good time…
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