Successful Blog

Video Blogging – Try Something New

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Do you ever want to try something new with your blog? How about video blogging or vlogging? I’ve been thinking about it for a while. Every time I visit a blog where there are video posts my first reaction is always, “Wow that took courage.” There’s something very inviting, very personal that I like about it. It’s like a welcoming invitation to get to know someone a little better. Not unlike that message on Twitter that turns into a DM, then to an email exchange. And sometimes a phone call and, if you’re lucky, a face-to-face conversation.

The film person in me screams, “You need good lighting, you don’t have the right camera, etc. etc.” The vain part of me screams, “You don’t look on camera – you sound okay, but you look funny.” Truth be told, some people just do look better in front of the camera than others, but I when I settle into watching a good video post, it’s like good writing: I become engaged – I’m listening. Processing and thinking. So, having said that, here are a few hints that will help your video look better:

– First and foremost, be you. Don’t change the way you communicate just because there’s a camera on. For instance, if you need to laugh, use your hands when you talk, use a certain turn of phrase, do it. Be you.

– Think background – it matters. Point your camera at where you’ll be talking from, then stand behind the camera and have a look. It’s called setting the frame. Anything distracting there? It could be as simple as a picture on the wall, bulletin board with something flashy pinned on it, a mirror (always a definite no) or anything that causes your eye to drift from where you’ll be talking.

– Think lighting – it matters. If you’re using natural light streaming in from outside, uncover all those windows and let in as much as you can. Shoot a little test and see how it looks. You may have to change to get the best positioning for the optimum lighting advantage — lighting that makes you look good. If you need to add light, move some lamps, etc. around to get the best effect. Lighting from behind usually does not look the best. Light your face from the front, point a lamp at your face from beside the camera or on the floor in front of you. Move things around, experiment and play with it – have fun.

–Think sound – You really do need to have it quiet when you record. You can have a bad background and poor quality lighting and still have an ok post. If you have poor quality sound you have nothing. Viewers automatically disengage when they can’t hear. You can look like a rockstar but if they can’t hear you it doesn’t count for anything!

– Think timing – Most people watch videos that are between 3:00 and 4:00 long. After that, unless you’re giving an informational talk or doing an exercise video you lose people’s attention, sad, but it’s true. Think about a regular post you would write and how long it would take to read it. Maybe you’re doing a vlog as something special or just for fun. Stick to what you’re hoping to convey.

– Think articulation – If you’re nervous, you may have a tendency to rush your speech. Think about being clear and delivering your words effectively so others can make them out. This doesn’t mean drone on in a monotone. It just refers to being aware of how you are talking. Sometimes when speaking in public or on camera it’s helpful to think of reading a story to a child out loud . It helps to slow you down a bit.

Last but not least, have fun!

Have you tried a video blog? If you have, please leave a link — I’d love to check it out. I need inspiration too! If you haven’t, what’s stopping you?

from Kathryn Jennex aka @northernchick

6:00 – Vicky H on Writing for the Web

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The theme of SOBCon09 is the ROI of Relationships. Relationships with customers, employees, colleagues, coworkers, builders, contractors, developers, and CUSTOMERS — in the form of readers, buyers, clients, and others — are the success of any business.

How do we form the best relationships; bring our best to them; build environments that nurture them; and measure our success?

Join the Comment Box Conference. Ask questions. Discuss answers. Meet people in the comment box. Find out.

Vicky H

Vicky H explains the role of technology in parenting this way at her site, Remarkable Parents :
Our site will help you make better use of your precious time. We will help you become more organized and productive. This will enable you to be part of the conversation, instead of fighting it.

“Because … technology tools aren’t just for teens. Adults are using them to connect with each other, to learn new things, and to be more productive at home and at work!”

Technology is not going away and the web is not going anywhere. … Our kids, in this era, have never experienced life without computers. We have some catching up to do, and this is where Remarkable Parents comes in.

Vicky H will be talking about

Writing for the Web

  • Blogging: It’s More than Writing.
  • They Don’t Read, They Skim
  • Monitoring the Conversation?
  • Why Is the Web different?
  • What’s so great about URLs?

Ask this remarkable mom your questions.

Vicky has worked in higher education field for more than 10 years experienced on both the academic side and the Information Technology/administrative side of the college. Vicky writes at Remarkable Parents where she shows parents how to keep with the technology that is part of their children’s world.
Follow @eeUS at Twitter.

5 Things We Learned Blogging in College — When No One Even Knew They Were Talking About It

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A Guest Post by Holly McCarthy

The blogging phenomenon has been growing exponentially over the last several years and has become one of the primary modes of information dissemination in the process. Besides information, people are able to analyze, express opinions, and target specific audiences with which to share their thoughts and feelings.

There are many people out there who have been blogging for far longer than you might think. Many things we consider standards of blogging seemed to have developed out of the ether, so to speak, but they started with these first pioneers of the blogosphere. The thing is, most bloggers did these things and helped to pave the way without even doing it consciously.

Some things we learned blogging in college, when no one even knew they were talking about it:

  • Voice
    The importance of voice in writing is something we learn along the way as writers. It distinguishes us from the others and demonstrates our ability to express ourselves. In some cases, blogs have adopted a unified voice that gives them both authority and credibility, while in others the uniqueness shines through. In both cases, the voice of the author is important and relevant to readers.
  • Relevancy
    As blogging started to grow, young bloggers realized that you had to keep things relevant in order to attract readers. What is the point of writing and putting yourself out there if nobody is reading what you have to say? Common sense dictated that if you wanted to be read, you had to write about what was going on. This helped in the development of niche blogging.
  • Carving out your niche
    Niche blogging came about as a response to demands from the readership. As blogs became more prevalent, the need to get more specific began to arise. Your blog couldn’t just talk about anything and everything; you risked losing your readers if you didn’t maintain some sort of focus. Finding and developing a niche was simply a natural progression toward the blogosphere we now know.
  • Networking
    Another thing that happened along the way was the realization of the importance of networking. Long before all of the social networking and Web 2.0 developments, people had to promote themselves, and this involved developing a network of people with which you shared your posts. Emails were the preferred mode of dissemination, and we tried hard to get our content read. It was the only way to make sure that what we were doing was getting read — and it allowed for feedback as well.
  • Determination
    In the beginning, all things are a labor of love. With goals in mind and finding new and improved ways to get things written and published, the blogosphere has grown to its current incarnation. The determination of those who’ve worked so hard over the years has paid off, and we are now able to write, publish, develop content, and spread the word with more ease than ever.

We learned standards and quality goals just by doing it. Go figure.

Holly McCarthy writes on the subject of continuing education online. You can reach her at hollymccarthy12 at gmail dot com

Thanks, Holly!

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!

The Travellers Three

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It’s that time of year when people are planning events, gathering together, sharing in laughter, food and friendship. Many stories will be told, old and new. As people come together with family and loved ones, many will be thinking of the infamous event many years ago, which led to the celebrations, most of us are now having.

 

I like to think about all the stories being told at that time in history, long, long ago. My favorite story goes something like this: It was dusk in the desert. Three travelers from different parts and backgrounds gathered together to share food, fire and companionship. They began to tell stories and someone mentioned the divine birth of a mysterious child, a miracle, which was intriguing and spoke of hope. The night goes on and many more stories are shared and passed on. In the morning the strangers part ways leaving for their respective lands and taking with them memories. These stories travel and get re-told, passed on for years to come. The story changes as each teller recounts the memory of that night around the fire, just as the stories you share change with time. Remember to make sure your message is clear so even if the details change and subtle nuances are added, the central message or theme remains true to your intent.

I like to think that the story told that night about a mysterious child, a story of hope, remains clear through whatever lens you choose to view it.

Thanks to you all for sharing your stories and for the ones I know you will. A sincere thank you to @iamkhayyam for helping me understand my story.

Peace to you all.

Kathryn aka@northernchick

 

A Metaphor: When a Brand New Blog Flowers

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Guest Post by Stefan Knapen

I hope that while so many people are out smelling the flowers, someone is taking the time to plant some. – Herbert Rappaport

I was thinking, is the opposite happening to blogging? So many blog planters, but are there enough people to smell the blog flowers?

The problem is that readers don’t know where the great flower beds are. In the great field of flowers, it is getting harder and harder to find the unique and thriving flowers, those that keep growing, and keep showing more and more unique and compelling content.

See your blog as a flower — a single forget me not. Give it water, new posts, frequently. Make sure it grows and grows. Don’t be shy to invite people see it. And after waiting, the one who finds it will tell other people to come smell that flower. And the scent of that flower will become known. Your blog is being read more.

The conversation is like seeds and spores on the wind. Given to each other, everywhere. But it isn’t the beginning of a new flower, but it can be the beginning of a new post. So it can be fruitful.

Are there enough people to smell the flowers? Maybe yes, maybe no.

But there are too many small flowers. So for flower to be found in the big field, you have to wait and make it noticeable. Make sure your flower will be seen.

Do something with every seed and spore of conversation you get. Use those words to inspire you to grow your blog even bigger, even better. And after that your blog will be the prettiest flower field of flowers because you used what you had.


Stefan writes as The Dutch SchoolKid

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Stefan,
Your comments on this blog have often inspired thoughts that are like flowers to me.
Thank you for this.

How do you keep your flowers growing, thriving, and blooming?

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Images: sxc.hu
Work with Liz!!

STORY TELLING

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Usually I’m the one telling stories here, but when I find someone who’s better than I am, I stand aside. Today is one of those days. I’m pleased and delighted to announce that a woman I admire has agreed to write with me on Successful-Blog. I won’t say more. Her words introduce her better than I ever could, which you know is saying something … meet Kathryn Jennex, who’ll be writing a column called, Practical Communication, every week (and more when I convince her she must.) — Liz Strauss

Story Telling

by Kathryn Jennex

There have been great societies that did not use the wheel, but there have been no societies that did not tell stories.” ~ Ursula Le Guin

We are all storytellers, each and every one of us. Studying public relations and sociology led me to an understanding of how to tell stories for business and to study people and gain an insight and understanding of the human story itself. I have been a closet writer for years telling fictional stories and in the last few years a very part-time filmmaker creating visual stories. My work as a project manager for an online web space provides me the opportunity to gather stories and share them, inviting people to participate.  

 

Whether we’re talking among our friends, writing a social media strategy for a non-profit, taking a photo, or designing a marketing strategy we’re all telling stories. The best stories are the ones you can relate to, that remind you of something similar in your experience and cause you to engage and hopefully, take part. Good storytellers rely on audience participation and make the experience shared.  

When I hear your story, I want to be able to tell you are PASSIONATE about it. I want to sense and feel you believe in what you’re saying. Beth Kanter does this so well. When I read what she writes I believe her, I hear passion, concern, and I hear her knowledge about the story she is telling. How to do this?

  • be clear and direct in what you are saying
  • say what you mean and mean what you say
  • provide value – be it information, facts on a topic, points of interest that encourage others to look further
  • share – offer tips on technology, services, and resources; offer help
  • engage, don’t state – provide, ask if the information was helpful? (use a survey or just a question) and ask if there is something you could provide what would be meaningful

By all means be real. If you’re going to take the time to tell the story, make sure you do it honestly and be prepared to engage in the response.

I listen now to lots and lots of stories every day and I love it. My work in social media fits in perfectly with all this and gives me exposure to many, many stories. The best stories, make me want to reach out and somehow respond or comment back, whether that is a post on SEO, a really cool product or service. ROI, or mentoring.

Are you telling good stories? Please share one way you tell your story.

Kathryn aka @northernchick