5 Ways to Create a Great Video Podcast.
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Although Apple had nothing to do with the podcasting technology, the iPod and podcasting quickly became linked. With the advent of the iPod Video, podcasting entered a whole new level. Now, more than the usual audio broadcasts, aspiring film makers can also share their work with the world.
Creating a video podcast is an ideal, personal way to reach your company’s clients (or potential clients). To learn how to create effective and entertaining podcasts, we spoke with Steve Mack, author of The Podcasting Bible and the owner of LUX Media.
Video podcasting has a lot going for it that streaming video lacks, Mack notes.
So how do you go about making your own video podcast? To make it easier on you, use a digital video camera. If you have an analog video camera, it is still possible to convert the footage to digital format but it adds another step to the process. So assuming you have a digital video camera, what do you do?
Your viewers can automatically download fresh content and watch it whenever they want. Best of all, they can take it with them on an iPod or another portable player.
The challenge for video podcasters, Mack says, is the same challenge any video creator faces: creating compelling content. Don’t try to surprise viewers with hidden marketing messages or they’ll unsubscribe in a heartbeat.
First, take great footage. Of course, making a film is not simply shooting. Create a concept and make it good. When you have finalized your ideas, it is time to shoot. When taking your shots, bear in mind your target media – the iPod. The small screen will not be able to display too many details so it is a good idea to get close when shooting. Do not use the wide-screen mode but use the standard mode instead. Optimize bandwidth and battery power by shooting several short segments instead of one full-length film. Edit! Small screen viewing will not show text clearly unless they are large enough. Also bear in mind that fast motion and high contrast might not show very clearly on the small screen.
It’s an informal genre, allowing you to focus on your message and not your production. That’s one of the factors driving the rise of video podcasting, Mack says. “It’s so refreshing to hear people talking honestly.”
Here’s Steve Mack’s advice for creating a winning video podcast:
- Have a Strong Story to Tell. It’s better to create fewer podcasts with important content than to do a daily podcast with nothing new to say. Focus on delivering value, not sticking to a schedule.
- Be Relaxed and Honest. “People can smell a rat,” says Mack, “and if people can see through you and see that you’re not being honest, that will do more harm then good.” Be honest about the content and the message of your video podcast, rather than trying to hide a promotional pitch behind a fake setup.
- Buy a Good Microphone. “If you’re recording into a crappy plastic microphone,” Mack says, “it’s going to sound like a crappy plastic podcast.” It might seem odd to emphasize audio in a video podcast, but Mack says that people will watch sub-par video if the audio is good, but they won’t sit through high-quality video with poor audio. A good quality mic will cost over $100, Mack says, and you can get a fantastic quality mic for $500.
- Buy a Decent Microphone Preamp. A microphone isn’t the only thing you need to get good audio, and Mack stresses that plugging directly to your computer’s internal soundcard will add noise to your recording. Spend between $150 to $700 for a good preamp.
- Choose the Right Location and Light it Properly. You want your shooting location to look cozy, Mack says, so skip the conference room with the echoing walls and the fluorescent lights. Think of your location as your studio, and put your speaker in front of something interesting, like a bookcase with a plant nearby, to create visual interest. If you have the money, create a full three-point lighting setup. If you’re on a budget, invest in a softbox, which creates a soft, rosy light.
- Edit! Once you’re done shooting, you might think you’ve got a great 10 minutes, Mack says, but more likely you’ve only got a solid 3 to 5. Remember that that’s what your viewers want; keep the video brief and tight. If you’re talking off the cuff, limit yourself to 3 to 5 bullet points and tighten up the results with editing.
Now that you have your video, it’s time to compress it. This needs to be done so that the video will be optimized for web and iPod viewing. There are different ways you can do this. If you have a MAC, it’s no big deal. You can compress and export your video using iMovie HD6 simply by clicking the following: FILE>Export>iPod>Share. It’s as easy as that – the software automatically converts the file and shares it on iTunes. For PC users, you can also use QuickTime Pro, version 7.0.3 or higher. Again, simply click Export > Using Quick Time Conversion. The resulting *.m4v file is the one you will upload to your web server. Other options are Sorenson Squeeze and Spasm Software’s Podner.
Describe or tag your movie. This is very important as all the information you supply will be the basis of searching later on. This is how your movie can be found and singled out, out of all the video podcasts out there. If you’re using the latest iMovie version, all you need to do is drag the file onto iTunes and click the Info Tab. Then enter the necessary information. You can also change the filename. For PC users, create an XML document. You can find a sample XML file at … Just change the details to suit your movie. When this is done, all you need to do it upload your file to your web server.
Now what? Distribute! Let people know that your video podcast exists. You can do this in a variety of ways. To reach as many people as possible, submit your podcast to iTunes. You can also provide a URL for your podcast by including it in your blog.
Follow these tips and you’ll have an entertaining, great-looking podcast, and high subscriber numbers, too.
Source: www.itmanagement.earthweb.com
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