Internet Video: Quick Start Guide

Imagine you want to make a short video to post on free video sharing sites to attract traffic to your website and that you have never made a video before. What is the basic equipment and knowledge that you need to get started.

I recommend a mini DV camera. They are the most widely used and supported. Over the last 18 months there has a lot of camcorders in other formats, such as DVD and HDD but miniDV is still the one to beat.

Mini DV makes editing a breeze as long as you have a FireWire cable and a software editing program. Windows Movie Maker is a good and free program to get started with.

You can also make good videos using the video on your digital camera. My $199 Casio camera with 2GB memory card can store up to 1 hour of video, and the quality of the video is surprisingly good. There can be a problem with the sound quality so make some test videos to see what the quality is like before committing yourself.

Now first up, get to know your camera. Get intimate with it. Ensure you have read the manual. I know you may think its not necessary and all you need to know is where the big red record button is for “record”, but it really is better to read your manual! Get to know your camera’s advantages and its limitations.

Let’s assume that you are using a miniDV camcorder, what else do you need. A tripod is essential, you could get by without a tripod but they really do make a massive difference and considering they are just a few dollars it is silly not to buy one.

One other piece of equipment that will improve the quality of your videos is and external microphone. A lavalier mic clipped on your lapel or shirt front will make a big improvement in your sound quality. This is not essential but is top of the list along with a tripod for additional equipment.

Don’t really consider using a webcam or your mobile phone as the quality of the video will not be good enough to attract visitors to your website.

I have already mentioned Windows Movie Maker for editing your video but there are many other applications that you can use including Ulead VideoStudio and Sony Vegas Pro which are both easy to use once you become familiar with them. You can even edit your video online using the services of a company like Jumpcut or Gotoit.

How should you go about planning your video.

1. What is the desired outcome of your video? Always try and work backwards from your desired outcome to the start …
2. What is your story? Ensure your story has a clear beginning, middle and end. Every good story has all of those components, ensure your story is no different!
3. How will you tell it? Will you be in front of the camera? Will you be behind it and present it like a documentary.

Ensure that you answer all of the above questions in relation to your forthcoming Internet blockbuster. If you can do that you might have a winner on your hands.

Okay, your video shooting is complete, yes I know that I have jumped a lot but this is only a brief guide. Which ever application you are using for editing it’s essentially the same process, You need to connect your Mini Dv camcorder with a Firewire cable to your computer, and use your editing software to capture your footage.

If you are using Windows Movie Maker then take a look at the following video which is a great introduction to using the application.

If you plan on using Sony Vegas Pro, watch this video which is very useful and informative and really could help you perform those sharp edits that will produce a great video.

What tricks do you need to know to improve the quality of your video.
I checked YouTube and found a lots of video’s to improve the quality of your videos and to make them more exciting. Some were boring and some too complicated but this video is good and so is this one.

Ok after you have edited your video and it is in the can, then what? Its time to hit the export button in what ever application you are using. This should be quite straight forward, anyway I managed to find a video tutorial for Sony Vegas Pro. This video tutorial is useful even if you don’t use Sony Vegas Pro as other programs like Ulead VideoStudio and Windows Movie Maker follow a similar process. Watch the video here.

Once your masterpiece is complete then it is time to upload it to the internet and one of the easiest ways to do this is to subscribe to TubeMogul and use their services which will upload your video to the major video sharing sites like Google Video and [tag-self]YouTube[/tag-self]. Watch the following video to see how easy it is to do.

Who knows, you might be producing videos regularly and have the need of a service such as Traffic Geyser which can make your video distibution and submission to many sites so much easier, quicker and time saving with great results.