I finally got a blog of myself and MisterEducated in the car and asked him about our upcoming puppy. I still need to work a lot of kinks out for instance our in-car station doesn’t fit our new phones so I had to hold it awkwardly. Boo! Next time the video will be less jumpy.
I’ve been vlogging. That’s right. I said it. My vlogs are also pretty chill and probably not to entertaining.. for now.. but I’m learning. I’m pretty much forcing myself to do it regardless of whether I have a purpose or not because I feel like it’s useful in my personal life (get used to talking to strangers!) and I feel it removes the ‘behind-the-screen’ illusion that stands between you and I (no hiding that awkward laugh anymore!). So bear with my while I learn the INS and OUTS of vlogging, the YouTube community and how to communicate with you in all sorts of exciting ways.
I figured adding some useful vlog research I scrounged up could be beneficial if you’d like to 1. join me on this adventure; 2. make a response video so I can get to know you more dearly or 3. consider vlogging at least in the future.
As I am a YouNEWB and I have little to no views, subscribers or fellow vloggers to frolic with in the land of unforeseen videos… please comment or subscribe to my channel (MiseducatedTV) and I’ll do the same so we can bask in the glory of having an ally.
1. Be Vocal in The YouTube Vlogging Community
Find other vloggers, leave comments, be friendly. You see on some of your favorite YouTubers videos the same people leaving comments and communicating with other viewers? Do that. Those people make friends in the community. It’s a lot like blogging.. to get new friends and comments you have to be friendly and give comments. NOTE: Do not shamelessly self-promote in comments, post genuine comments related to their videos.
2. Collaboration
YouTube even pushes collaboration in their Playbook. Why? 1. You get exposed to an audience who may never have seen you before and 2. By being associated with a YouTuber others’ watch you are given credibility in the eyes of their audience.
Ready to collaborate? Just ask someone. I was once told as a young designer if I wanted something (like an opportunity, a project or a job) to ask for it. Sometimes it fails but more often than not it works. Don’t hold yourself back, just ask! Hell, you can even ask me. I might just say yes.
3. Join an Online Forum/Group
There are several. I joined YTalk because it’s a pretty large one. Forums don’t get the same attention they once did due to social media (Google+ YouTube Group) but they are still prime places for certain topics and YouTube is one of those topics.
4. Make Trend-Friendly Content
Find bloggers you like with popular videos and reply with video responses using similar keywords so they can find you, use trendy tags in your vlogs (I recently noticed the ‘Boyfriend’ tag as well as the ‘Draw my Life’ tag) and stay on top of news, current events/trends and pop culture that could land you a top video when people are searching for information about said topics.
5. Be Optimized for Traffic
Similar to blogging again but quite unique as well. Always be optimized for search-engine traffic just in case your video is meant to go viral.
I reworked this article from a couple of past articles because I decided to give “vlogging” another try!
There have been quite few awesome recommendations for the DO IT OURSELVES feature on Miseducated (suggest to us what you’d like us to both make and share the process of making) and so I decided I would try something I was asked about years ago.. mostly because I’m a bit shy/critical of myself and it’s VERY hard for me to force myself to make a video blog. I’ve done a couple through the years but I’ve deleted or never published most of them.
What I’ve been trying to do is to be as relaxed as I am when I’m writing.. as though I’m just hanging out with my friends and you’re coming along on the sugar trolly.
This first try is my new vlog introduction. It’s not perfect, it’s not even that great but I did check off my long list of basics such as finding a setting (key!), making the intro using an image and the custom theme (I got tired of the animation — maybe later) and having an idea of what I might say (but not scripted and slow!). I tried to put forth the basic tips I’ve collected throughout the internet years when creating this quick and dirty video show introduction. Stay tuned for both my notes and steps to try it yourself!
1. Theme Visual & Theme Song (or voiceover)
2. Introduction
3. Video Blog
4. End / Bloopers / Goodbye / Theme Close (with a cute animation??)
5. Credits (if needed)
What do you need to do this? Do you have any friends that compose original music? Can you use music that is free for public use? The possibilities are endless.
Again you can use and get creative with videos of public domain or grab your webcam and record some. You can settle for Quicktime Pro for quick and easy editing such as cutting, copying and pasting clips. If you’re interested in more advanced video editing software you should try Final Cut Pro~ for quick and easy editing I used iMovie.
Of course this depends on what kind of video blog you’re making — if you’re interviewing a guest or featuring an event then obviously you would prepare questions and feature them as much as, if not more than, yourself.
AND if Miseducated has taught you anything it’s to pay attention to your mise-en-scene. Actually pay attention to what’s in the frame. If you’re filming in front of a pile of dirty laundry it probably wont have the same effect as in your local soda-shop or your cute office.
So if you want to start, read the following steps and join me in this fun medium of communication.
Check out your friend’s blogs, their friend’s blogs, you favorite model’s blog and more. Surf around Flickr and Youtube and see how other’s carry out their video blogs. Pay attention to the content, length and format. Note what you like and don’t like about them.
Write down what you plan to talk about, keep it short and to the point so you can freely elaborate on video. Make sure you don’t look like you’re actually reading the notes to yourself; make it spontaneous but don’t get too lengthy. I think the best videos are short and sweet.
Practice in front of the camera. Take long videos, short videos, videos of you talking with your best friend, whatever video ideas you have practice them. Pay attention to how you present yourself in front of the camera and take notes. Re-record re-record re-record.
After following all the above steps you may or may not be ready to post your video. Post it anyway. We all have to start somewhere and that only leaves room for improvement.
“Don’t worry about getting it right your first video. It will probably be too long, you’ll look like a huge dork, and the guys building a hotel next door will probably take the exact moment you’re recording to use their jackhammer. Whatever.” – Kontrary
Have you given it a try? Are you considering it now? Do you think we should further investigate this form of blogging?
Cupcakes? Check!
Kitschy Animals? Check!
Sugar Junkie, Miseducated and Siren London? Check!
I can’t wait! Jamie and I have each been collecting cute stuff for this like little hoarders for years. It’s been a long time coming! I can’t wait to show you the photos when we get them finished. I’ve needed a lookbook for so long. Too bad I recently even sent off a bunch of my jewelry for another artist’s lookbook shoot so I only have a few items for ours. Boo! And if you have or haven’t seen Jamie’s stuff yet let me tell you it’s an absolute treat. I can’t get enough of her work.
Because I am so impatient for material I practiced a little bit of movie editing and made a test commercial (ha ha ha)…
I was smoking hookah after a long day at the zoo. My mother-in-law invited us to go — it was yet another beautiful day. I got some good photos and videos of Coco being enamored by the animals. She doesn’t really talk around other people though so she doesn’t talk much in them. When we’re at home she tries to mimic every word we say, tells us stories and sings us songs. She’s shy! So cute.
