Why use Video – And How?

Image by danperry.com via Flickr

Not everybody likes to write, and if that sounds like you, using a Vlog (Video log) rather then a Blog might be an easy way to put new content out on a regular basis without a great deal of difficulty.Or you might choose to pariticpate in the new media conversation through sites like Seesmic, Ustream, Oovoo, or 12secondstv, Though these are not specifically vlogs, they are posts with your profile attached helping you to share your thoughts with the blogiverse.

There are a couple of ways you can approach the problem of creating a Vlog. You can use a laptop with a built-in camera and microphone. Or, if you already have a computer that is not that well equipped, you can invest $50 to $80 in an add on camera/microphone combo that plugs into the USB port of your computer. Or, if you are willing to invest a little more,($150-$180) you can buy a Flip camera, which can record an hour of video and plugs right into that handy little USB port as well.

Whatever your choice, all you then need to do is to pick a topic, and looking directly at your camera, talk to the camera as if you were talking directly to a potential client. Be sincere, and be ready to discard a number of your efforts until you’re comfortable with your camera.

If you choose to buy a camera like the Flip, the world becomes your background. You can showcase neighborhoods, interview clients, video your listings, send clients information on repairs required, or show off your staff. The possibilities are endless. But if you are more comfortable in your office talking to the camera attached to your computer, then that’s still a great way to communicate to a large group of people in the same manner you communicate to reach of your customers or clients. And the videos need not be long. While certain sites allow for longer video uploads, there are others where a more “Twitter-ed” approach to Vlogging is taken – videos must adhere to a specific length, often giving enough time for little more than a single thought, opinion or piece of information.

Whatever the length or topic of your video, this powerful medium of communication is just another useful tool to consider when reaching out to your network.

Tags: Arts and Entertainment, blogging, Business, Camera, Communicating, Flip, Shopping, Universal Serial Bus, Video, Video camera, Video clip