Places everybody. Ten Seconds Until We Go Live….. 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…. Lights, Camera, Action!!
This is a funny routine that I sometimes go through to amuse myself as “director” of my own private video studio at home! Yes, this is a far cry from 20th Century Fox, but for myself and our team at VAClassroom, Online Video is one of the most important components to our web marketing strategy!
For us and many other businesses, Online Video has quickly become one of the most portable, practical, profitable and not to mention personable avenues for building your business brand and visibility here in 2010. Why?
Businesses recognize that waves of people online are regularly watching videos as their preferred medium of choice and see huge potential in connecting with the right audience using compelling and interesting videos. Check out these stats:
The Pew Research Center reports that “69% of adult internet users, or roughly half of all U.S. adults (52%), have used the internet to watch or download video”. That is a staggering number, and it is growing exponentially every day.
So, I can’t emphasize the importance of creating your own promotional marketing videos to build brand visibility with your prospective client audience.
But where do you start?
We all have heard the expression “A Picture Speaks a Thousand Words”. Well, this also really applies to video! If you put together a fuzzy, low-quality video right from your home office as a promotional tool for your business, it could reflect poorly on you and your brand! So, if you are interested in using video for your business marketing efforts, it is important to do it the right way.
Here are a few simple steps to get started:
1. Purchase a Digital Mini Camcorder and Tripod (if you don’t have one already) – Average price $150
My recommendations are the Kodak Zi8 or the Flip Mino. Both offer the option to produce high-quality high-definition videos. Here is an example of an HD video we produced for our recent VAClassroom Summer Skill Camp.
Also, if you are going to purchase the Kodak Zi8, then I would recommend spending an extra 10 bucks and picking up the Kodak Zi8 Remote Control so you can manage the record and stop features independently.
2. Purchase a Lapel Microphone or standing microphone. (Average Price – $30)
While the Kodak Zi8 does have an external microphone, I would recommend picking up a lapel mic or a stationary mic that you can place close to where you are sitting or standing as it will significantly improve the audio quality and make your video that much more professional.
There are many options to choose from so I would suggest going to eBay, Best Buy or Amazon and picking up a quality mic for less than $30.
3. Purchase a Professional “Soft Box” Camera Lighting Kit (Average price – $199 on eBay)
Lighting is EVERYTHING to producing a high-quality video, so it is important to spend a few bucks to get the professional lighting that will display you in a positive light:-) I would recommend searching on eBay for a 2000 watt Soft Box lighting kit. You will be amazed at the difference between videos that have professional lighting and the ones that don’t – miles apart!
4. Purchase a Green Screen and Stand. (Average Price – $149)
A Green Screen is an essential component of your video studio as you will want be able to do Chroma key and mix up your backgrounds. With the green screen and the right software or outsourced professional (i.e. Elance), you can put yourself in literally any background, from a cafe in Paris to a U2 concert – cool stuff! I would recommend checking out eBay or TubeTape.
5. Pick up some cool props.
Now, each video studio will vary in look and feel, but some general props will typically apply. I would look at picking up a couple bar tools and a circular bar table. If you are NOT using a Green Screen, then you might choose a nice plant, pictures and a light colored wall for your studio.
6. Purchase a teleprompter software. (Average Price – $59)
If you are not interested in memorizing your script, you might place a laptop strategically below your camcorder and use a teleprompter tool like PromptDog.com. This will help you stay on track with your script!
So, for approximately $600, you could fully outfit your own at-home video studio and be ready to start producing some top-notch video content for your business.
But, the next question you may have is…. How do I create some quality videos? What do they look like? Well, we are actually running a Live Online Video Skills Clinic that will provide a simple system for creating, editing, producing and distributing online videos for you and your clients.
I hope this has been helpful in giving you a starting point for creating your own online video studio. As they say in the movie biz….
That’s a Wrap!