Lights, Camera………….ACTION!

If you’re keen to be seen on the internet to market your products and websites (unlike me),
then there a few things you should consider before making your first movie.  After all, you
don’t want your video appearing on YouTube or Viddler and frightening people AWAY from you
site! The name of the game is ATTRACTING visitors to your website, right? Without traffic to your site, you simply don’t have a business.

There are several common mistakes that people new to video marketing make and they can
easily be costly AND lose you web traffic.  For example, make sure you have the right
camera.  Sounds trite I know, but if you don’t use a camera with a high-enough resolution,
you’ll fail from the outset.  Don’t do what a lot of people do and use your cell-phone to
shoot footage.

Don’t use the wrong person (like me for example) in the movie.  I don’t have a great voice
I’m going bald and I COULD do with losing a few pounds.  You think it doesn’t matter?  Well
people are NATURALLY drawn to good-looking and nice-sounding people. This is one of those
sad facts of life.  If you don’t fit the bill, get one of your friends to be in the movie.

If you don’t know if you look and sound good enough, film yourself and let your friends (who won’t be truthful because they won’t want to hurt your feelings) show the movie to THEIR friends (who WILL tell the truth).

Market the video properly.  Write a catchy title (’How To’ titles are always good) and make
sure that you use keywords that you KNOW are being searched for.

Edit the footage.  You think you can make one shoot and it’ll be perfect?  This almost never
happens.  When editing you can add music during the introduction and ad text where needed
(you could add some text showing your website address).

Choose a good location.  If outside, shoot on a sunny day, unless you’re trying to make apoint about how miserable something might be, in which case make sure it’s gray and rainy.
If filming inside, use a white background or something like a comfortable looking sitting-
room.  Don’t use your garage or wash-room!

Write a script ahead of time and PRACTICE.  Don’t just wing it.  Very few people can just
get on camera and do a good job.  These are the TV anchor types who are paid VERY well to do
this, and even THEY practice.

Oh, and NEVER pick your nose!

Luke.