Ever Wondered How to Create Online Videos?


How to make a video online

The inspiration for this post started when Steve Rucinski, my co-host on my former radio show, pointed out some content on how to make a better video, written by Lou Bortone.  The original posts we pointed to are on sites long gone.  But I have preserved the tips below, and also point out that Lou has a YouTube channel about video marketing.

Lou’s tips are basic and yet critically important to producing a professional-looking video on a shoestring.

I liked his first tip about video backgrounds. In video and in still photography our focus is on the image at hand and we forget to check out the background. Consequently, we could end up with a picture that appears to have a flag pole growing out of the top of our head, or as Lou cautions — a close-up of our taste in art (not necessarily everyone’s favorite).

But I wanted more. I wanted to know HOW to create a video. I discovered that Lou has created a Guide to Producing a Video Blog.

In his how-to Guide he gets into more detail about the fundamentals of creating and uploading video to your blog; offering sites and tools that will make the process easier.

Along with offering training and how-tos for video, he offers the following suggestions for the use of a video blog (vlog):

– Provide in-house training videos for staff or new hires.
– Share footage of company events or milestones.
– Create virtual tours for real estate or travel sites.
– Produce executive biographies or video “press releases.”
– Send out video postcards via e-mail or include in your e-newsletter

And what about the online home of millions of videos, YouTube? A video by Tim Carter of AskTheBuilder.com covers how to make a video — from writing the script, to using props to occupy your hands, to head movements. to your energy level.  And who better to tell us about how to create videos than somehow who makes how-to videos for a living. Tim has been writing and creating videos for years giving advice to handymen, construction professionals and do-it-yourselfers — for a long time.  (Coincidentally, I met Tim in person in 2018.  I had forgotten all about this post — and was surprised to see this excellent video he created.)

Finally, if you are looking for a tool to create simple videos, try Animoto.  It offers the ability to put together good business videos using an easy tool.

Have you created video for the web? If so, do you have any favorite resources to share?

12 Comments ▼

Anita Campbell Anita Campbell is the Founder, CEO and Publisher of Small Business Trends and has been following trends in small businesses since 2003. She is the owner of BizSugar, a social media site for small businesses.

12 Reactions
  1. Plenty of good tips. I have played around with a video email message system called Talk Fusion. It could be used for personal use if you want to send email messages with a bit of a splash, nice colors and a personal message to your loved ones. If you want to build your brand and incorporate a communication platform with your graphical profile, you have to check out this new technology. I have placed a short welcome message on my personal site . I will create LiveVideo sessions later on. LiveUniverse acquired PageFlakes some time ago.

  2. Oops! The URL to my personal site disappeared when I used brackets. Click on “Martin Lindeskog” Says if you want to see and listen to a short welcome message. The whole designed frame and layout is used when you send email messages. On a site it is only the video image.

  3. If you have specific video questions join me on http://www.BlogTalkRadio/Online4Offline while I Interview Jim Kukral of Online Video Toolkit Wednesday, October 1st.

    Doug

  4. I’ve been experimenting with real estate videos and got a DVD on how to shoot and market real estate videos at http://www.nashuavideotours.com/virtualtours/how-to-shoot-real-estate-video.html

  5. Good stuff. I’m just a little surprised you didn’t do this article as a video. Or at least have a video instead of a still to support it =).

    I would add, know your script. Don’t try to wing it. Nothing looks less professional than someone umming and ahhing on video. Learn how to look down the barrel of the camera and deliver your message clearly and concisely. Even if you’re used to giving kick-ass stage presentations in front of thousands you need to learn how to deliver on video. It’s a whole different kettle of fish. Practise in front of camera. Watch it back and notice how many times you look off screen. Watch how the pros do it and learn.

    Just some thoughts.

    skribe

  6. Wow. Constructive critic from skribe.

  7. These all look like great resources for video beginners. I agree with skribe that it needs to be somewhat scripted. It really turns me off to see or hear someone bumbling around. I have no experience with making videos and I currently have no desire to see myself online.

  8. Hi skribe,

    Yes, I guess thinking about it further it could have been done as a video.

    The only thing with doing it in video is you can’t just click on the video and jump over to the links sprinkled in the article. Wouldn’t that be a great feature if you could click through videos and jump to articles and other videos? 🙂

    Anita

  9. Hi Anita,

    “The only thing with doing it in video is you can’t just click on the video and jump over to the links sprinkled in the article. Wouldn’t that be a great feature if you could click through videos and jump to articles and other videos?”

    That is possible if used in Flash movies. You can include video shoots and links in a Flash movie. But of course, that means a couple of movie editing and just a little coding on the links 🙂

  10. This is a great resource. Thanks for putting this together!

  11. Mary Grace – I love your idea of live links in the video – can’t you just picture the person in the video pointing to a spot to the right or left of the screen where the links can be found? Can we really be that far away?

    Skribe – you couldn’t be more right about a script and practicing! I took a class called Your Podcast Sucks and the instructor offered up several suggestions for making a great podcast – which all transfer to video and the number one recommendation was a great script and practicing – they go hand in hand. If you want it to sound OFF THE CUFF – then write a script and rehearsal until it sounds natural.

    Thanks for the comments.

  12. If you need something more creative and interesting than a talking head, try a motion graphics video!

    You can still throw a voice over on top, but it looks much more interesting than just sitting at your desk describing your business/product.

    I can put one of these together for your website, and it won’t cost an arm and a leg.

    Nate Hanson
    http://www.pilothousefilms.com