Planning, Building,
and Launching
a Video Blog!
(attacking the camera guy is optional)

plan-build-launch
a video blog
Oct 14th
thinkjose.com 2009

Who are you?
Why are you here?
Expectations?

Write down 1 thing
you want to take
away with you today.

Who the heck am I?
geek

What is a video blog?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vlog
vlog, video blog, vidcast, show,
vodcast, video podcast, TV, etc.

key ingredients:
-regular videos
-syndication
-metadata
-platform

Why video?
http://blog.nielsen.com

Examples:
http://stevegarfield.blogs.com
http://tv.winelibrary.com/
http://tv.boingboing.net/
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks

Do it, do it…
(quick & dirty example)

How do we do it?:
Plan
Learn - Do - Q&A
Build
Learn - Do - Q&A
Launch
Learn - Do - Q&A

Todays Goal:
We (that means YOU will get involved) will
Plan - Build - Launch
a podcast

Plan - Learn

Why are we doing
this?

increase visibility,
revenue, marketing,
because we can, etc.

Identify a niche

What can you offer
this niche?

How do you want
them to respond?

buy more product,
increase brand
awareness, etc.

Who is involved?

What is the content-
length-etc.

How many episodes?

Where?
Who is our audience?
How will they find us?

How do we measure
the win?

viewers, more
product sold, brand
awareness,
impressions, hits, etc.

What is the business
case for my 57 year
old boss who still has
his secretary print out
his emails?

Agree to mini-bizplan

Set team-tasks-roles-
responsbilities

What equipment do I
need?

Plan-Do

Volunteers?

Why - Who - Where
How - What

mini-bizplan
(write it down!)

Host-
Interviewee-
Engineer-
Geek-
Marketer/Writer-

Plan-Q&A

Build-Learn

Agree and Review
Document

Workflow

Content -
Write a script
(or at least pretend on
a napkin)

short - sweet
funny - interesting
weird - entertaining
shocking - scary
be dramatically
different

remember the
audience
why should they
care?

Capture
rubber + road

Keep it simple
video blog ≠ studio production

The power of a video
blog is not in the
production value...
it’s the speed of
delivery, relevance of
the story, & value
added to the
conversation!

Edit

slash & burn

Tell a concise story.
Make others look
good.
Truth is stranger than
fiction.

bumpers
(watched TV lately)

format?
iTunes
http://www.apple.com/itunes/whatson/podcasts/specs.html
YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/t/howto_makevideo
blip.tv
http://blip.tv/learning/export/

web ready format?

Post

Platform
free vs. paid
http://youtube.com
http://blip.tv
http://seesmic.com
http://viddler.com
http://vimeo.com

blog format
comments,
interaction, actual
conversations

What is an RSS feed?
Most video platforms automatically
create RSS feeds but...
http://feedburner.com

Market

submit to iTunes,
Podcast Alley, Yahoo,
etc.

digital marketing tools

show your best stuff!
not everything

free, cheap, cool

get others to market
for you - chicklets,
badges, user
submitted content,
etc.

Hardware

Basic
direct to digital!
(computer, digital
video camera, Flip,
digital still camera,
webcam,
mobile device)

Intermediate
digital tape
(MiniDV camera,
pro-sumer level)

Pro
Hire a production
company :)

My Tools:
Canon SD-750 Panasonic
PV-GS70
MacbookPro w iSight
Sony HDR FX1
Aiptek HD GVS

digital vs. tape

a word about lighting
use it!

a word about audio
people will tolerate
crappy video, but not
crappy audio!

wireless mic, usb plug
in mic, shotgun mic,
etc.

the simpler system
the better

dedicated hard drive
(and back it up)

accessories
stands, lighting,
tripod, cables,
adapters, racks,
power strips, etc.

Software

offline tools
iMovie, Quicktime,
Final Cut (Pro), Adobe
Premier, Windows
Movie Maker, etc.

online tools
livestream.com,
jumpcut.com,
motionbox.com
eyespot.com,

Live video tools
• blogTV
• Justin.tv
• Kyte
• LiveCast
• Livestream
• make.tv
• Stickam
• Twitcam
• ubroadcast
• Ustream

More video tools
flixwagon.com
qik.com
livevideo.com
veetle.com
twitvid.com
12seconds.tv
glomera.com
mobatalk.com
yfrog.com

iTunes
(you need this... trust
me)

blog
wordpress, movable
type, blogger,
custom, and
enterprise level

RSS
feedburner.com
sourceforge.com

Build - Do

switch to macbook
(not a subliminal ad -
just a note for me)

Build - Q&A

Launch - Learn

small is the new big

passion is key
personality matters

set clear start and
stop points

do what you say you
are going to do!

look back to the
mini-bizplan

keep it fresh and fun

Marketing

get others to talk
about you

do cool stuff
(dramatically different)

Launch - Do

Yay
We just did it!

Thank You!
please contact me
jose@thinkjose.com
twitter.com/thinkjose
423.943.5262

(5 Bonus Tips)
How not to be lame:

1.
know your audience

askaninja ≠ pirates

learn spanish ≠
latinos

TWiT ≠ noobs

2-way interaction.

2.
good equipment is
cool (and cheap).

$99

digital camera
video camera

firewire and usb
rock

3.
Be prepared.

You don’t
have to be an expert -
but it helps.

do your homework.

Passion is key.

4.
um, like... edit.

Be kind to your
guests.

Edit for flow.

lean & mean

5.
do like the pros do

intro/outro

theme songs rock

don’t steal music

pre-announce

wrap it up

5.5
have fun

successful video
blogs mix passion,
fun, and interactivity.

It’s really over…
I promise.