Buzz it!
In yesterday’s post I gave you some ideas for blog post alternatives that you can use when you just don’t have time to write. One of those suggestions included posting a Youtube video, but what exactly should you make a video about? If you’re already boring people with your written content you certainly don’t want to put them into a coma with your video? So what can you do to make sure it’s engaging? And why should you bother in the first place?
What are the benefits?
The great thing about videos, is that they help keep visitors on your site longer and simultaneously help optimize your blog. When search engines see that people are clicking on videos that have the same title as those keywords you’ve been aiming for, it increases your ranking for those words as well. This encourages them to send more traffic to your blog.
This benefit alone is well worth it, but videos also saves you from having to write another post. So if you’re suffering from a bit of blogger’s block – a video is a good way to go.
Just as a rule of thumb, videos should be short. I know Youtube gives you about ten minutes, but really you don’t want more than 5 minutes. Most people spend no more than 2-3 minutes reading a blog post, so keep that in mind.
The good thing about keeping it short though, is that it gives you more opportunities to create more videos. You can always divide it up into parts and review each part in a new post over the course of a few days. Just be sure not to end abruptly in the middle of a step. Each video should feel complete even if the next portion will be presented later. Also, be sure to let your viewers know when you will be posting the next part and encourage them to subscribe so they won’t miss it (oh yeah, increasing your subscriber list is another beneficial way to use videos, but I’m sure you already knew that…I digress)
So here’s 5 ideas for creating an engaging video blog post:
(Since every niche will vary, I’ve intentional left these a little vague, so that they can be applied universally. Feel free to send your questions my way if you need clarification.)
- Create a “How-to” video. You could make a video that shows your audience how to do something. Show them step by step and talk them through it. This is probably the easiest kind because you’ll talk to them as if they were right there with you. Simple enough, right?
- Create a review video. Make a video that shows how to use a product you’d like to promote, or one that demonstrates all of the beneficial features that the ordinary consumer wouldn’t know about. Think of this as an “insider’s secret” kind of video.
- Create a documentary style video. This could be a travel video where you document important events or trips related to your niche. Show your viewers a brief glimpse of the setting and then focus on the highlights of one main event per video. If you’re going to a conference and can’t record it, you could do a news report style recap video in the lobby.
- Create a testimonial or an interview video. Get out and ask people questions related to your niche. Develop some questions as you would for an interview post, but allow the conversation to flow naturally and add or omit questions as necessary.
- Create a freestyle video. Cut the camera on and start talking about what’s new in your blog niche. Then go back and edit it to give it focus.
So what do you think? Can you add number 6, 7 or 8? What video post ideas do you have to share? Let’s help each other out.
Jean Sarauer
Josh Garcia
mark
Blog Angel a.k.a....
Evelyn
Gurl
James Tayo
John Soares
Mars Dorian
Mike Roosa
I did my first video post the other day, and it made me realize that I need to go spend some money on better equipment!
I did enjoy doing it, even though it is extremely obvious that I am nervous. I can speak much faster than I can type!
Keith´s last blog ..Linking Out For SEO
That’s great to hear. Yeah, technology is changing so fast it’s really hard to keep up with gadgets – I need a new video camera to – my web cam is super cheesy.
Great ideas here Kiesha!
This is something that I am seriously thinking about doing soon. I am going to be having surgery on my hand in a couple of weeks and I need to find some creative ideas to keep my blog going.
I am also looking for some guest posts if you are interested Kiesha!
Kevin M.´s last blog ..Three ways to find rest when you really need it
I pray your surgery goes well – and now you have an alternative for blog posts. I’m looking forward to seeing what you come up with.
great ideas…my youtube account is currently with no videos.now i know what to do when i start making videos thanks.
mk akan´s last blog ..Is Akismet Bullying Your Comments Too?
I often find myself reviewing and recommending certain online sites or software to my readers. I have always wanted to create videos to document how to set up and use these. I recently gathered together the software I need to do the kind of screen capture (with audio) that I am after.
Hopefully I’ll pull myself together and find the time to start doing them soon. I know that posting videos on YouTube can help my blog SERP and PR. So I really need to get to it. Thanks for the great ideas and the reminder to get on with it.
Blog Angel a.k.a. Joella´s last blog ..Blog Plagarism – Discourage, Detect & Respond To Content Theft (Part 2/3)
Thank you – finding the time is definitely a challenge. I totally understand… believe me. I look forward to seeing the finished product! :)
Easy peasy. In fact this is what I love to do. In fact I think that I might be the one that left the comment you mentioned from yesterday. ;)
ileane´s last blog ..HootSuite Tutorial Video
Nice post — this is a really interesting topic as it not only pushes bloggers to create original content, but new forms of it entirely as well.
6. A Personal Tour
I always find personal video tours really interesting — especially when they reveal part of the blogger’s world that readers don’t usually see but can relate to … like a home office.
Darren Rowse produced a couple home office tours along these lines that I enjoy every now and then.
Thanks for this helpful addition. Love it!
Great information! I have finished a “How To” video and now am in the editing process. You have given me some ideas for upcoming videos that I think my readers will enjoy.
6. A photo collage of how to do something or pics from a trip you took and you can share what the viewer is seeing either by voice/letter or simply add some good music.
7. Interviewing an established person in your niche, video style/podcast. Podcast can easily be converted to video.
8. Answer a question from your readers via video.
The time limit on videos is something that I try to consider. It is very hard for me to watch a video over 5 minutes.
As you can see, I am into doing videos. lol..
Very useful information!
Evelyn @ Natural Raw Living´s last blog ..Don’t Put Anyone On A Pedestal
I’m really digging number eight — not only is it something every blogger can do, it’s also something readers of all content will be able to appreciate.
9. Live Chat
This might be in a slightly different genre of video content, but I find it really exciting as a reader / viewer.
Christopher´s last blog ..Where Did All the Unique Blog Content Go?
@Evelyn – I can’t wait to see it. Shoot me a link when you finish :)
@Christopher that is an excellent idea – Skype is a great platform for that maybe you can record this session with some screen capture software (not exactly sure how that would work, but I like it!)