I finally joined the You Tube generation when I edited my first video and uploaded it yesterday. Before launching my first video, I realized that a little research could go a long way to help create a video that people would want to watch from beginning to end. I thought, “Which videos get the most views? I should follow their lead because you can’t argue with success.”
The answer was a nanosecond away:
Cat videos.
I looked at a zillion videos of cats doing tricks, playing music, reading the encyclopedia, teaching college classes and walking on the moon.
Based on this extensive research, I discovered five ways to not only improve cat videos, but human videos as well.
Five Tips for Better Video
- Clean the cat box. No matter how good your video is, people won’t watch you if you have a dirty cat box in the corner. Make sure your room is clean.
- Check the background. A cluttered room will distract the viewer from seeing the best cat trick. Make sure your room is not cluttered. I’m playing with camera angles to see if the camera can get a shot of my computer (work), my guitar (personality) and my artwork (taste). I know people who use green screens to make it look like their office overlooks Central Park! They really work out of a spare bedroom!
- Keep it short. A cute trick can get boring real fast. A cat doing a trick once is amazing. A cat doing the same trick 10 times is boring. Make sure you make your point, but don’t belabor it. People have very short attention spans.
- Add music. Even the dullest video can be cool if you have music. Music can set the mood and affect howpeople think of you. There’s lots of royalty free music on the web. Pick audio that fits your image and your audience’s values. If you’re selling mutual funds to seniors, don’t pick your favorite heavy metal band. Make sure the music is softer than your spoken voice.
- Lighting matters. If lighting is good, you won’t notice it at all. If lighting is dark, you’ll notice it right away. Digital cameras have come a long way in recent years and some don’t need much more additional light, if any. Check your equipment, because if you do need light, it will make a big difference.
If you follow these tips, you’ll have better quality video that people are more likely to watch from beginning to end.
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