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The first step in content creation is making sure you have reliable hardware. It doesn't have to be fancy or expensive, you can do an awful lot with very little when it comes to content creation on the go.
This video takes you through the basic kit you need for video and podcast creation. There are also links to examples listed in the resources.
The point of simple content creation is to make everything as easy as possible. The easier it is to make quality content, the more you are going to do it!
A big part of this is minimising what we need to do after the recording finishes. Editing can be fun but the less you have to fix the niggly little performance issues the better.
One of the most popular video styles is "talking head" presented straight to camera. Many vloggers on youtube favour this style and it's a great way to hold your audiences attention. So what are the basics you need to know?
Straight to camera exercises
If you're not keen to be on camera yourself or you don't have the right expertise for the piece - interviewing is a great option. Practicing being on camera is a no brainer but often we also forget that interviewing is a particular skill that needs practice too.
Top tips:
- Make sure the interviewee can see your face and knows where you want them to be looking
- Smile, use your face to help them feel and look more comfortable
- Start recording early, keep chatting and then start the interview. Stopping the conversation to click "record" can be distracting and cause your subject to freeze up.
- Let them mess up and encourage them to start their answer over.
Interviewing: The essentials
Google Plus hangouts are a fantastic way to create video content and include your audience in the process. If you already have a YouTube or a Gmail account, you already have access. This video takes you step by step through your first Google Plus hangout on air. These are recorded and available live for viewing on YouTube while they're happening.
Post hangout you can also download the file and edit it into shorter videos to use for content on other platforms.
Make sure your camera and microphone are working and that you have strong reliable internet to ensure no problems with the stream. Practice with friends and colleagues on a dummy channel first if you're not confident in your technology. As with everything here - get on and do it! Every one will be better than the one before.
Create simple animation on the go using Instagram. This is great for longer pieces of content that you want to draw attention to in the newsfeed. By creating a colourful short clip that will load and start playing, you draw the eye exactly where you want it.
Colourful post its and a nice clean white background go a long way!
Recording your computer screen while you demonstrate a process is a great way to create "how to" video content. Depending on the type of computer you're using, there are many options for software. This video takes you through Screenflow for Mac. There are other options in the Resources tab for PC.
Before you go and shell out for expensive premium video editing software, here are a couple of free online options to get you started. I've also included mobile only and premium services in the resources.
Where should you host your video? Video files can be very large and will slow down your website if they're not hosted properly. You also need to think about where you will get the most exposure for your video - so what are your options?
Podcasting is not a new format, it's been around for a really long time. It's also seeing a steady growth in popularity. If you couple that with the growth of platforms like Audible from amazon for audiobooks, there's clear evidence that the audio audience is a thriving one.
Even popular YouTube personalities have started podcasts as a way of engaging new audiences and many, many business leaders and public figures have popular podcast programming.
Do you publish White Papers or large research pieces? Why not offer them as an audio file too?
People don't always have time to read large detailed reports and you can really widen access to your content by providing alternatives. I can't read a document while walking down the street or while on the treadmill, but I can listen to one.
The more you practice your audio recording the less editing you're going to need to do. However, there is alway a bit of polishing. This guide takes you through the basics for using free software (Audacity) to edit your clip.
Multiply the ways your audience can consume your content without doubling up on content creation. Why not build on your video and podcast content by getting a transcription and publishing a text version of the post.
This can be the most challenging aspect of any content plan - how do I come up with ideas?
Following this short intro, I take you through a few exercises to get you started including research, repurposing and starting from scratch.
If you're not sure where to start, here are a few exercises to get you started.
No matter how interesting or compelling your content, you can be the victim of a short attention span. Use the exercises in the following lecture to format your blog post in the best way possible and maximise the opportunities for your audience to interact and share.
Follow these tips and next steps to get the most out of every post on your blog.
If you haven't already created a blog for your business, using LinkedIn Pulse as an alternative publishing platform is a great way to test out content and build an engaged following.
Great imagery goes a very long way. You need strong images for written posts as well as for stand alone social media shares. This section takes you through the many options you have for creating great images.
Using Power Point for simple image editing
Storify is one of my favourite tools for collating social media conversations and sharing with context. It's a free platform and works particularly well for conference or event summaries.
Don't just think about Pinterest as a community (although it is a great one!), use it to create compelling content you can share elsewhere.
Yes, YouTube is perfect for your own content but there is plenty on there already that you can use to benefit your audience and build their confidence in you and your expertise.
Feedly is a simple tool at its core. It's just an RSS reader which brings all your news updates into one place for you. I use it to find interesting things to share but also for idea generation and to keep on top of new developments in my industry.
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