In our previous blog post, we talked about the State of Inbound market research report that was released. One of the primary takeaways from this report was the distribution channels marketers planned to use in the coming 12 months.
With YouTube and Facebook video leading the charge as the top 2 content distribution channels, it makes sense to ask yourself is video blogging worth it?
The answer is a resounding Yes! With cheap web cameras, camcorders, free video capturing and editing software, and numerous platforms to share video posts, video blogging should be booming. However, most bloggers are wary of getting into video blogging and the reasons are well understandable. Here are 5 things to consider when getting into video:
- Engaging Topic: Do you have one? The first 15 seconds of your video are key. The attention spans online are very short. Try and hook the viewer in the first few seconds and spark their curiosity to increase the chance of them watching the full video and engaging with you. Tell your viewer what you are going to tell them and give them a reason to stick around with you. In all cases, put yourself in your audience's shoes and ask: What does my target audience want to watch? Look at search trends or what questions they ask in social media.
- Videogenics: Or, how confident do you feel and come across in front of the camera? If you're the strong public speaker type, then you should enjoy your time in front of the lens. If not, maybe consider alternative methods of communication like How-To videos that show the product rather than the person, use animation to tell a clever story, or engaging slideshows with your voiceover.
- Hosting: Videos can get large in file size and take up space on your website, which may mean more space and more cost. Alternatively, you may keep your videos on YouTube, Vimeo or other video hosting site. Doing this helps your videos to be found on YouTube and Google and help you get additional traffic.
- Optimizing: Most YouTube users discover videos by using search, by recommendations and related videos. You should optimize your channel and videos to have a better chance of getting in front of these people. There are several factors that affect Google and YouTube search algorithm, related videos and recommendations. These are the factors you should be aware of:
- Number of videos. Size of your channel is important. Increase your video output and start building your video archives. Figure out the right publishing schedule and follow a content calendar to get your video count up.
- The frequency of new uploads. The algorithm loves regular uploads. Consistent audience is built by publishing content consistently. Release your new videos often and on a recurring schedule. Tell your viewers about your schedule to build buzz and make them look forward to watching your new video.
- Video quality. High definition videos are more prominent than low quality videos in search results. Shoot and upload your videos in HD format.
- Number of subscribers is important as having a large subscriber base signals your influence. It also means that your videos will have an audience from the moment you upload them.
- Self-Promotion/Engagement: Once a video post is published, there's still more to do. What differs video content from a regular text post is that all you’re going to say will remain only as video frames. This is in terms of search engine optimization isn’t good, because an HTML page should contain text. One workaround is to publish a script of your video. Another is to combine the video with a short text description highlighting the key points of your post.
And once someone has watched your video, you want them to take action and engage. For your content to spread organically you need to get more viewers to take action. Get them to subscribe to your channel, like the video, comment on the video or share the link to their social media following.
Videos are not something to shy away from, especially based on the evidence of increased video channel usage. It may seem daunting to get this going and figure out the best methods to use, but like everything else, with a little practice you'll master it. You don't need to achieve Hollywood quality movies. You just need to entertain, inform, and educate in a personal manner.
And as always, Screaming Garlic is here to help. Feel free to ask us anything - no pressure, no cost, no pain.
