Time to Get Serious About Video EveryJoe

For some months now I’ve been hearing plenty of people going on about the importance of video for online communication and marketing. But up till now it’s frankly not been on my high priority list to get into.

Google’s announcement last week on its move to a universal search model “that will offer users a more integrated and comprehensive way to search for and view information online” suggests that I, and anyone involved in business blogging or other aspects of online business, need to give video a lot more attention, and now:

Google’s bloggers say that the first iteration of universal search right now centers on video, news, local, and books. Searches with video results showcase the most dramatic changes. For instance, for a search on coke mentos, Google includes three videos in the results, two from Google Video and one from YouTube. Each of the video results has a thumbnail image from the video, along with a “watch video” link which, when clicked, opens the video right in the body of the results. All three of those videos can be played at the same time. The purity of text-only search results is waning at last.

I know that I can make a video right now, just using the webcam built into my notebook computer and Windows Movie Maker which came installed. In fact, last night I started experimenting – results not of a standard to be shared!

For anyone wanting to get seriously into video production without taking out a second mortgage, Jim Kukral shares his video production kit building decisions, with the cost of each item. Total just over $3,000, the biggest cost item being the camera at $2,216.29.

I appreciate that Jim wants to make high quality videos. As he says,

The goal of this setup is flexibility. I wanted to be able to shoot inside and outside, and in low light and in bright sunlight. I also wanted to be able to get good sound.

But for some small businesses, outlaying over $3,000 to get into making videos might be a serious ask. I’m just wondering is there an intermediate stage, with more modest initial ambition and at a lower entry price?

Even so, Jim’s list of purchases makes a handy reference document.

http://symbiancorner.blogspot.com William

People often try to use their mobile phones to capture video. It can be done on the phone or like webcam on PC via appplications like Mobiola Web Camera. The quality is enough to share or publish. They can do this very simple via YouTube or other sites feature “Quick Capture”
http://www.jimkukral.com Jim Kukral

Yes, you can do it cheaper, and I’m going to write up something to show that as well. Thanks for link!
http://solobusinessmarketing.com/blog/nfblog Solo Business Marketing

I’ve begun adding videos to one of my new sites and a blog.

I’m doing so using a camcorder with remote control and my own list of ideas to make the content relevant and interesting to each site’s visitors.

So far, the videos have been well received. For me, sharing ideas and information through the videos is more important than a Hollywood production. Plus, if I wait to invest in an expensive product, I’d never have videos online now.

My hat’s off to Jim’s investment. Meanwhile, my $450 camcorder works just fine.
http://www.perceptric.com Chris Gilbey

I should point out in making this comment that I am an investor in two companies in the online video space. So definitely a believer! And it isnt about what you spend, its always about what you achieve in terms of the richness of the communication. And that may just mean that you get people to pay attention. But frankly the $3k that Des mentions in the post is actually just the beginning. Just like in the movies the marketing budget is normally about a third of the production budget again. Same for this. You have to invest time and effort in getting people to view what you have to say. So when you say it make sure it is snappy, to the point…. elevator pitch on video is the target.
Pingback: Videos for Home Business Promotion & Marketing
Pingback: Is it Time to Take Video Seriously? : HomeOfficeVoice
Pingback: Plain English, Well Linked Explanation of Google Universal Search
Pingback: Cool New Tool for Embedding Video Sequences in Blogs