This guy’s desk doesn’t even have legs! I sure hope his video editing skills are better!
I still have a VERY long way to go in my video blogging / video making / editting skills, but I found a bunch of very useful hints and tips that I thought I would share.
Please share your own hints and tips here if you would… I need all the help I can get!
30 Video Hints and Tips That Have Helped Me:
Video settings: MPEG-4 (MP4) container, H.264 or MPEG-2 codec, <= 1400 kbps bitrate
Audio settings: MPEG-4 (MP4) container, MP3 or AAC codec
FFMPEG is a command-line tool for converting video
Do not add letterbox or pillarbox bars – sites will do that automatically to fit viewer
Be very specific in picking a CATEGORY for your video – it matters!
Be “hard-skinned” and DO NOT feed the trolls
Use very descriptive titles – include short purpose blurb, if possible – keywords!
Really attempt to learn about video making techniques – quality does matter to some degree
If can be done in 30 seconds to 2 minutes, then do it in less than 2 minutes! Period!
Create an appropriate scene – the background does matter – be amateur with class!
Have some form of ‘hook’ to entice and keep people coming back
Be energetic, funny, entertaining (when appropriate) and DO NOT MUMBLE!
Give people a reason to forward your video around
Have some form of familiar routine sign-on or sign-off… build that relationship
Present a call-to-action in every video – get those engaged who want to be engaged
Try to treat every video as a stand-alone – don’t depend too much on others in your library
Try something new every once in a while: scene change, more ‘actors’, new format, et cetera
Put your link at the beginning and end of every video (and in between when it counts)
Give credit where credit is due somewhere in your video
Put your homepage / blog link in your video description – hey, some people check it!
Use a BUNCH of tags and use them well – consider making a standard list / template
Put up some ‘notes’ for the show on your website – give them something tangible
Consider doing “video response” replies to other videos you really enjoy – tag it up nicely
Make playlists for your video channels when you can – make it easy for the viewers
Don’t forget to favorite and share the videos you really enjoy – it gets noticed!
Cater to your super-fans: they are putting in good time for you – do the same!
Ensure you have adequate lighting – dark, blurry, grainy videos don’t do anyone any good!
Ensure you have decent sound – what’s the point of a presentation if you can be heard clearly?