Choose a Platform
With that in mind the first thing that you should do when getting ready to set up your
video blog is to pick out a blogging format. Some people prefer to depend entirely on
video blogging communities but it is best to invest in your own, independent, website. A
great platform for you to use is Wordpress.
I have used Wordpress successfully for video blogs and traditional blogs. It is extremely
easy to install and update plus there are many websites that are designed to show new
users how to use it. One of the primary reasons that I recommend Wordpress is that
the platform has a feature which allows you to automatically post scheduled posts. This
means that you create and upload many video blog posts and set the date and time for
them to post to a day far in the future. Doing this will let you continue adding posts to
your blog even if you are not around.
If you want to test drive Wordpress for free visit Wordpress.com and sign up for a free
account that you can use to get used to the platform and blogging in general.
Setting up a Web Address
From there, pick out a domain name that will catch the attention of visitors and relates to
the primary topics you will be discussing in your posts or video performances. One
word domain names are the best but if you cannot register one word then choose two.
Avoid hyphens if possible and always choose a phrase or name that visitors will
remember without confusion.
Finding a Web Hosting Company
Next, find a web hosting company that will let you register your domain name, host your
website, and install Wordpress with little or no knowledge. There are two web hosting
companies that provide these services and have great customer service. These two
companies are Hostgator and Dreamhost.
Setting up Shop
When you have successfully signed up for a domain name, web hosting account, and
installed Wordpress experiment with the Wordpress platform until you have grown
comfortable with the content management platform and blogging in general. This is
extremely important if you have no blogging experience. Also, find a good theme that
will impress visitors and make your website look more professional. Some free
Wordpress theme sites are:
- Wpthemesfree.com
- Freewpthemes.net
- Fresheezy.com
- WpSkins.org
You can also go to your favorite search engine and do a search for Wordpress Themes
and you will get loads of options!
Always customize your free theme to showcase your websites domain name or a logo.
If possible and your budget permits hire a Wordpress theme designer. Some freelance
designers can be found that charge between $50.00 and $200.00 to create a completely
customized theme for your Wordpress site. This theme creation will also sometimes
include logo creation. Great places to find affordable freelance website designers are:
- Sitepoint.com
- Craigslist.org
- DeviantArt.com
Getting the Equipment
When searching for equipment to create the videos for your video blog it is not
necessary to focus on getting the most expensive equipment on the market. Instead
focus on equipment that will help you produce a viewable video blog that will be enjoyed
by viewers. There are a few basic pieces of equipment that you will need to start your
blog and these pieces of equipment are:
- A reliable computer with Internet access with a lot of storage capacity.
- Easy to use/understand video editing software.
- Camera or Camcorder for video and picture capture.
- 66” + tripod for mounting your camera/camcorder.
- A good microphone for additional audio capture.
Most individuals hoping to start a video blog already own a reliable computer, have
Internet access, and can free storage space if an adequate amount of storage space is
not available. In the event that you own a computer which only has a small amount of
storage space there are ways to add an additional hard drive onto your computer giving
you the storage space necessary to manage your video files. Many computers also
come with video editing software, usually Windows Movie Maker or iMovie.
If you do not have video editing software on your computer here is a short list of
popular video programs:
- Final Cut Pro (Mac/Paid)
- Windows Movie Maker (PC/Paid)
- iMovie (Mac/Paid)
- Avid Media Composer (PC/Paid)
- Roxio Video Wave (PC/Paid)
- Open Movie Editor (Linux/Free)
- Mewa Film (PC/Free)
There are many new video editing software programs released daily and many come
with a free trial. To find free video editing software or to get reviews on paid video
editing software visit CNET.com and Download.com. Both sites provide user reviews of
the latest video editing programs. Some digital cameras and digital camcorders even
come with video editing software.
You will also need to acquire software that can be used to convert your videos into a
variety of file types. Many videos you create will originally be in MPEG4 format and not
all sites accept this format. Some websites that you will eventually want to upload your
videos to will automatically convert your file but this can be a slow process. It is best to
convert them yourself using one of the following programs:
- AVS Video Converter
- Roxio Easy Media Creator
- Gear Video
- Any Video Converter
- CinemaForge
- Windows Media Encoder
- MPEG Streamclip
- Movavi
Owning a video editing program is an extremely important part of running a video blog.
While many vlog owners simply create a video and post it on there blogs using software
to edit your videos will help increase your vlogs popularity and the quality of video you
are providing your viewers. This will be very important when you start vlogging for
money.
A camcorder or camera that makes digital videos is also necessary to start a video blog.
If you are working on a budget or do not want to invest a lot of money in a new venture
you can start out using a camera phone that will take short videos. Since most camera
phones only take 30 seconds worth of coverage and generally produce poor quality film
you will probably have to use your editing software to sync the many short clips together
and enhance the quality of the film.
Web cameras are another affordable alternative and are better to use than a camera
phone. A web camera will make it easier for you to film yourself if you are running a
one person show. The web camera can be mounted on a tripod giving you more control
and flexibility when filming yourself and can be purchased for as little as $10.00 online
and at certain retailers. They can be used to create longer video clips than a cell
phone, plus they can be used for taking still photographs.
Digital cameras and camcorders are the preferred choice of many serious video
bloggers. They produce higher quality videos and can be used to record extremely long
clips. Quite a few video bloggers use them to create long how-to or explanatory videos
that are later split up into shorter, blog friendly, clips. The downside to choosing digital
cameras or camcorders is that they cost much more than web cameras and are not
always as accessible as camera phones. A good digital camera can cost a minimum of
$200.00 and a digital camcorder can cost at least $400.00.
There are ways to avoid spending a large amount of money for a new digital camera or
camcorder. One way to save money is to borrow or buy a camera/camcorder from a
friend or relative. More people than you imagine have purchased expensive cameras
and camcorders only to upgrade to an even more expensive version a year or two later.
These people are usually more than willing to sell or give the old equipment to close
friends or family who need them. If you do not know anyone with a used digital camera
or camcorder consider purchasing one online at a discount store. When doing this
always buy from a store with a return and refund policy. Also visit your local retailers
that sell display or customer return cameras and camcorders. Wal-Mart and Best Buy
often sell items this way for 50% or more off and buyers can benefit from an extended
return policy and even additional discounts.
Microphones can be purchased at many retailers that sell software and computer
equipment. They can also be purchased online for an affordable price through many
different online retailers like Walmart.com Target.com and even Amazon.com. A good
microphone is necessary when you are using a web camera and your computer does
not have a high quality microphone built in. In other situations you might need to add
audio commentary or explanations to the video clip after it has already been filmed.
Tripods are also needed for mounting digital cameras, camcorders, and even web
cameras. A good tripod can be placed on nearly any surface and will allow you to
record video anywhere in your house without any assistance. Wal-Mart and other
retailers sell tripods in there camera and video equipment sections. The best tripods
can be found in retail locations specializing in photography. Purchasing Tripods online
at places like Amazon.com and even Ebay.com will help you get a great deal but should
only be used when you have time to wait for the item to be shipped.
Creating a Video Post
When you have all of the equipment you need to make your video posts then you are
ready to get started. Pick out a location that is interesting and clean! No one wants to
see a messy room as a background. If you are more comfortable making a video using
a plain background hang a sold color sheet or piece of fabric behind you since that is
more interesting than a beige or white wall. Create a short video clip for your first video
blog post and upload it to your computer.
Use your video editing software to make changes to your video. Enhance the quality of
your video by making colors more video, increasing the focus, or even changing your
color video to black and white. Add any affects that you feel would be useful such as a
fade in or out and even music. Also use text affects to insert the domain name of your
website and/or your logo so that if your video is shared or distributed later viewers will
always know where it came from.
As soon as you are happy with your video use your editing software to compress the
video into a small file size. This is necessary to ensure fast loading and easy viewing of
your video. In addition to helping your visitors some websites only allow videos of a
certain size to be uploaded so the smaller you compress your video the better.
Remember, compressing a video will affect its quality so only compress your video as
much as needed and not more.
Uploading a Video to Your Blog
There are two easy ways that you can use to upload your videos to your video blog.
The first way is to upload your video to your own channel on YouTube or a similar site
that is free and easy to use. These websites will help your own site get traffic and will
also let you easily embed your video onto your own vlog. This is perfect for those using
free blogging platforms like Blogger.com. If you have invested in your own Wordpress
blog and domain as suggested then you have the option of uploading your video the
same method or upload your video to a folder in on your domain and use a video plugin
to show the video on your blog. A few plugins that can be used are:
- XHTML Video Embed
- FLV Embed
- Embedded Video With Link
When you have created your video clip and posted it on your vlog you have successful
created your first post! Now your video blog is up, running, and ready to be viewed it is
time to start making your money.
Content Recap
- Create your vlog using a blogging platform such Wordpress.
- Invest in a domain name and web hosting account with one click Wordpress install such as Dreamhost.com or Hostgator.com
- Acquire a camera for creating videos, video editing software, a microphone, and a tripod for creating your video posts.
- Discounted equipment can be found at Wal-Mart and Best Buy in the form of customer returned items or previous display items.
- Edit your videos to include your domain name, special effects, and/or music.
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