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We’re here at the Contemporary Resort at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida for the 2016 Type-A Parent Conference East, and the first session I’m attending is a video/livestreaming intensive session – 3 Big Excuses for Not Producing Video Content (and how to overcome them) – with Valerie Deneen and Daphne F. Leblanc. My reason for choosing this session is to learn how to be better with video before I launch my video course for employers who hire neurodivergent employees. My liveblogging coverage will likely reflect that goal, as there’s no way to cover everything we learn in this room in a simple blog post.
The Lazy Person’s Guide to Creating Video Content
“Mom, never lose an opportunity to be fabulous!” – Valerie’s daughter
The Three Big Excuses
- Camera Shyness
- Short on Time
- Low on Budget
Camera Shy?
- tabletop demo videos (no faces on camera!)
- desktop screen casting
- animations
- photo slideshow
- pre-recorded intro & outro
- record 3 versions and pick the best one
- produce content in batches
- focus on sound quality (people will suffer through poor video quality, but not poor audio)
- practice! toastmasters, etc.
- make it fun!
Short on Time?
- record, edit, and upload on the go on your phone
- schedule a regular time
- outsource editing
- hire a camera person
- intro & outro – reuse footage
Short on Money?
- Equipment: smartphone + tripod
- Quality Sound: record voice overs in your closet because of the acoustics of the clothes all around
- Lighting: foam board backdrop, outdoors in a shady spot works well, use natural light when possible, or invest in a fill light kit when ready
Now What?
- blog posts (have an assistant transcribe your video!)
- podcasts (extract the audio from your video!)
- pins
- photos for Instagram
- series for email subscribers
- video courses
- Vines/FB updates
Livestreaming to Grow Your Blog & Business
Where to Hang Out
- Facebook Live
- Periscope
- Huzza (blab.im replacement)
- YouTube Live
Lighting Options
- softbox lighting kit
- diva lighting kit
- LED lighting kit
Audio Options
- lavalier microphone
- blue microphone
- earbuds
Background Options
- outdoors
- tapestries
- bookshelf
- soda
- flowers
- plain wall
- use camera settings to focus on you while blurring the background
Equipment
- YOUR SMARTPHONE DOES EVERYTHING
- webcam
- tripod stand/desk stand
- pile of books to put everything on and hide your pajama pants
Software
- OBS – free
- Wirecast – starting at $495
- Camtasia – starting at $199
Facebook Live
- Business page
- Personal page (can’t be boosted)
- Facebook groups
Editing Facebook Live
- Add descriptions to your Live Video
- Add a call to action
- Boost your post
- Consider transcriptions services
- (download your FB Live video, upload to YouTube and check your settings to get them to transcribe it for you)
YouTube Live
- Creator Studio
- Live Stream
Periscope
- have a schedule
- stick to it
- have a call to action at the end
- find a community (I love the PeriGirls)
Huzza
- Huzza.io
- Similar to Blab.im
Repurpose
- embed videos to blog posts
- upload directly to YouTube
- upload directly Twitter (<15 minutes)
- transcribe into a blog posts
- create quotables to make images
- create an opt-in
- video series
Video Workflow
- Why am I on this?
- Where? Do I have a larger audience on Facebook (FB Live) or Twitter (Periscope)?
- How often? Shouldn’t be the same as your blogging schedule.
Where Do You Begin?
- tell people who you are
- what you do
- where you work
- welcome replays
- tell them what you’re going to tell them
- then tell them
- close with a call to action
Simple Reminders
- don’t use unlicensed music
- don’t video people without permission, particularly other people’s children
- no rambling
- just do it; start where you are at
- practice, practice, practice
That’s me: Christina Gleason. I’m a writer, editor, and disability advocate. I'm a multiply disabled autistic lady doing my best in this world built for abled people. I’m a geek for grammar, fantasy, and casual gaming. I hate vegetables. I cannot reliably speak, so I’ll happily conduct business over email or messaging instead.
