4 Ways to Put Video on Your Site or Blog

1) An Embed Code

If you have an existing website you can easily paste in what is called an “Embed Code”. This code is generated by your video host. To do this you'll paste a small tidbit of HTML into your website's code.

This is an example of finding the HTML view, depending on your site or blog service this could be different.

Bizideo's fast pre-generated Embed Code you can copy.

An example of Bizideo's more advanced Embed Code generator.

See that was pretty easy!

2) Image Link

This method is handy if you are worried about the load time of your website. Normally a video doesn't slow things but if you have a lot of special widgets on your site that can slow it down. The image method works like this: You take a still or screen-capture from the video and link to the published video page or a popup video itself. 

This is a good example of using and image to direct visitors to a video.

3) Video Landing Pages

Video landing pages are a great idea if you don't have access to edit your website or if your host doesn't permit video codes. You can also use Video Landing Pages to highlight an event, service or new product.

This is an example of a Video Landing page highlighting a Webinar event.

The above was built with the Bizideo Wizard.

4) Build Your Website with Video from the Start

If your website is really out of date or you don't have one this is a good option. 

This is an example of a video website being built.

The above was built with the Bizideo Wizard.

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Embed How To Video on the Bizideo Enterprise System.

How to Start a Video Blog

How to Start a Video Blog

Starting a blog can be a frightening endeavor and adding video to that seem almost impossible to a fledgling blogger. This guide is here to help show you how it’s not that bad and gets easier the more you do.

Tips on How to Start a Video Blog

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Deciding on a starting goal can be fun!

Figure Out Your Goal

Figure out your overall goal with this blog. This what you are going to target your overall efforts on.

Examples:

• Improving the following of an existing blog
• Promoting your products
• Building a stronger relationship with existing clients
• Educating your followers on a topic
• Demonstrating your expertise
• Adding fun to your brand

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Plan Out Possible Videos

This part may seem hard at first but before you start make sure you have at least 5 videos planned. You won’t need to publish or produce these all at once but planning them out ahead of time will make it easier to keep up with a publishing schedule. (To help keep content fresh) Once you have published content you can develop a new list of videos to create based on views and feedback.

Examples:

• Introduction to the blog
• Product Videos
• Company Introduction Video
• How to Videos
• How Things Work
• Introduction to Your Staff
• Adaptations of Older Blog Posts

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Decide on a Brand

Your brand is the overall look and feel your company makes, this expands to your video blog experience as well. There are several ways you can brand your video posts and they are easier than you might think.

Branding Elements for Your Video:

• Opening Title Card (normally an image or a color scheme over an image)
• Overlay Graphic (normally a logo that sits in the bottom corner of your video)
• Video Player Colors
• Genre of Background Music
• Possible Ending Credits

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Automatic Scheduled
Publishing is Wonderful.

Plan a Schedule

Part of the challenge of a blog is keeping it fresh and the best way to do that is to plan out little deadlines to help motivate you. These deadlines can help you scope out what you need to get done and track what times/dates work best for getting the most views from your audience. Don’t fret that doesn't mean doing a post everyday!

Common Schedules:

• Once a week (experiment with what day works best)
• Tuesdays & Thursdays
• Mondays, Wednesday & Fridays
• Random days but set number a week

Remember to experiment to figure out the best schedule for your blog. How to Schedule Your Video Publishing. How to read video statistics.

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Work out a Routine for Shooting Video

This is the part that most people find daunting, but once you have a routine down it makes things a lot easier. We have several resources to help you out with this step.

Video Creation Tips: Part I

Video Creation Tips: Part II

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Promote all Your Posts

Socially sharing your Video Posts is a good way to expose it to potential new followers. To help remember all the steps to promoting your content check out our New Content Checklist. (Customize it and print it out and keep it next to your computer to help you remember.)

Have Fun!

Remember that your video blog is a chance to express your personality or brand. Let your personality shine!

Turn Your Presentation Into A Video

Turn Your Presentation Into A Video

Tips on how to make your presentation into a powerful video presentation

Remember this is not just a chance to do the same old thing
take the opportunity to improve your traditional presentation.

Start with What You Have

Whether you have a brochure or a slideshow you can adapt it to a promotional video. Brochures take a little more effort to scan images or get the original image files but that is achievable still. The goal is to use what you have as a starting point so you don’t have to start from scratch.

How would You Improve It?

This is your chance to add in or change things you may have wanted to update already. Take this opportunity to look over your current presentation and make changes.

Here is a quick checklist:

• Is it up to date?
• Can you address common questions?
• Is the presentation too long?
• Are you missing visuals?
• Do you have a new product?

Prep it for Video

There are 2 types of Presentation Videos you can do, you will prepare for your video differently based on the type you want to create.

Spokesperson Video

These are videos that feature a real person or persons. They might be speaking, demonstrating a product or present in another manner. If you are using a spokesperson make sure you do the following items before you start recording.

Double check your equipment.

• Make sure your cast’s appearance represents your company brand
• Make sure your cast has a teleprompter, script cards or has memorized their lines
• Make sure the lighting looks good
• Make sure you equipment works
• Make sure you have water on hand for your talent and breaks!

Slideshow Video

Unlike a spokesperson video the focus isn't on your talent’s appearance but on the visuals you use. You can still use shot video (ex product footage) in addition to still footage (images, charts) but this form of production generally is less expensive. If you have a PowerPoint slideshow you already have everything you need. Preparing to create your video does have some items you’ll want to do before you start producing.

• Do you have Powerpoint 2010? If you do you can save it as a wmv right now!
• Are the images large enough to look good?
• Do you need additional images / charts?

Start Building

Now we can start, here are some resources to help you if you don’t already have a video production/editing software.

• CNet Video Editing Software
• TechRadar Top 9 Video Editing Softwares
• MakeUseOf Top 6 Mac Video Editing Softwares

Be sure to take breaks as you work on your video.
 Keeping a fresh eye is important to doing a good job.

Tips as You Work

• Save often
• As things load go and take a break
• Check the volume levels
• If you computer slows down turn off unnecessary programs as you work
• Keep the special effects professional
• Consider adding some quiet background music

Testing, Uploading

Once you complete your video be sure to watch your video to make sure it looks good from start to end. I’m not kidding when I saw watch it from start to end, I've helped many people who had missing elements at the end of their video where the audio track was longer than the video track substantially.

Once you are ready you can upload your video. (Supported Formats)

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For a good example of how a presentation can turn into a video check out how Impression Management who uses both types of presentation videos.

Impression Management's Videos are a great example of presentation type videos.

3 Examples of Approachable Brand Videos

A good video for a florist would be how to care for your
cut flowers, it would be informative as
well as give you a chance to make your staff
seem more approachable.

3 Great Examples of Approachable Brand Videos

Video can serve a lot of purposes in your company but building a relationship with your customers can often be overlooked. A brand video doesn't have to be void of personality, in fact as you'll see in these three videos personality can help make a video. People respond to emotion and a video that leaves them smiling or makes them feel that you are more approachable can be powerful.

Gerber's Taste Testing Video

Not only is it easy to tell it's Gerber (even muted you see the logo on all the highchairs) but they show the product being enjoyed or at least experienced by babies who are always a win. This video is cheerful, friendly and therefor popular.

Great Points

• Happy
• Adorable - babies always are
• Funny / Charming
• Brand Obvious
• Product Featured
• Short

Melissa & Doug Anniversary Video

This video may run a little long but it's definitely charming and makes the company feel more approachable. The placement of product in the video also adds to the charm, and helps showcase what it is they do.  

Great Points

• Humor
• Tells company history
• You meet the owners - very endearing
• Product placement

Coke Happiness Machine

This video is longer and like the above is meant to be fun so you associate those good feelings with the brand itself. It's hard not to smile as the video unfolds and you get to see the reactions of those getting the pleasant surprise.



Great Points

• Fun
• Happy
• Great reactions
• A bit of the unexpected
• Brand still obvious
• Product Featured

The above are just examples of how other companies have successfully used video to create emotion in their viewers. You may have noticed they range from high production to a more affordable level. Showing that you don't need to use your entire marketing budget to create a successful video. 

Other Resources:

• Small Business Video Creation Tips (2 Parts)
• New Content Checklist
• How Others Make Money Using YouTube
• Use Video to Improve Conversion Rates
• Reusing Your Blog Articles – How to the most out of your content

5 Tips for Setting Up A Video Site

1. Make sure your videos are entertaining and to the point. People may be willing to watch a video but they won’t wait 40 minutes for something that should take 4 minutes to share. If you find your videos are long feel free to cut them up, that way users can pick and choose only what they want to watch and save some time.


2. View your videos before uploading them. Make sure you take care of any audio oddities, typos or other mistakes before you upload and publish your content.


3. Publish often; try to keep your videos fresh. Depending on your content once a month could be fresh or every day.  If your content is a service or is largely informational and tends to be more complex users will be happy with a new video every couple of weeks to a month, if you have a highly social site you’ll need to try to keep content fresh as your target audience is used to daily updates!


4. When you set up your Bizideo Wizard account you can start uploading your content right away. To save time we suggest you add your videos to the upload list right away and then go about making your website.


5. Include social sharing tools! The Bizideo Wizard has several different social sharing tools already built in, making it as easy to add the ability to share content.

As always if you need help with these tips and have a Bizideo account please contact us at Support@Bizideo.tv, if you aren’t currently in possession of a Bizideo account contact our sales guys at Sales@Bizideo.tv.