Welcome to our fifth video in our Social Networking Traffic series.  Enjoy Ning – Part 1.

Video blogging is the next generation of posting ideas and products over the internet.  Everybody knows about text blogging. Now they use videos for a better way of expression. This form of communication may entail a lot of resources, but it is all worth it. If pictures say a thousand words, video blogging exceeds that by far.

A video blog requires larger disk spaces on websites, a faster server, and a whole new set of programs to support it.  Video blogs can be fed through RSS. This is technology of syndicating your website to other RSS aggregators.

Video blogging works with people on the internet expressing their selves. Now if you put this on a business prospective, you are up to a lot of benefits. Think of it as a powerful tool in making showing your prospective customers your line of products or your services. It’s just like showing a commercial all for free. And if you video blog through RSS, then most probably you are getting your target market.

People like to see what they are going to buy. Some would like to see proof and be sure that they are getting their money’s worth before shelving their dimes on it.  All of us know the influence of a thirty second commercial. The effect of video blogging is similar to that. You show your product, people watch it. If they like it, they buy it. If you present it good enough, they’ll buy the product even if they don’t need it.

Now on the web, things are pretty much static, unlike in television in which all are moving. If you post something that is mobile, it would most likely catch attention. Now imaging your product parading in all it’s royalty through video blog.  You’ll get phone call orders in no time.

If your business is just starting up, you can create a video blog right at your own home. All you need is your web camera, microphone, video software, and lights. For as long as you know how to use your camera, then you can create a video blog.

Invest in a good web camera. The higher its resolution is the better the output. And you like to present your goods in the optimum way so get the best one possible. Make a short story, or just capture your goods in one go. Just make sure you are getting the best profile for each. Get those creativity juices flowing.

Lights are important in a production. Make sure you illuminate entirely the area you are going to use to create video blog. The brighter the area, the crispier the images will be. You can also use lighting effects for added appeal to the presentation.

Should you require sounds for your video blog, you need a microphone. Record you voice as a voice over for promoting the product and its benefit to consumers. Sounds are as important as videos on a video blog.  It is advisable to make your sound effects as enticing as the video.

Your video editing software can be any program. You need this to finalize your work. You can add sounds, delete some bad angles, or insert some still pictures in there too. Some programs are user-friendly and can be used even with zero knowledge on video editing. Even simple video editing programs should do the trick. Select your background carefully too. The light affects the presentation so make sure that the background and the light complements each other.

Video blogging is a great tool but it also has it downside.  It may slow down the computer so other may steer clear of it.  Download time may also be time consuming especially if customer is still on a dial- up connection.

But don’t let those stop you. Let video blogging be an alternative for you, though it is best to still keep the text and pictures present in your presentation to accommodate all possible viewers of your site.

Nowadays, the more creative you are in presenting your product to the market, they more you are likely to succeed. Video blogging offers an interactive way of selling. You involve the customers. You instill in them the advantage of your goods.  And at times, those are enough to make a sale.

To Register , go to Digital Strategy Primer 2.

The purpose of this 4 week virtual class series is to introduce and educate yourself on digital strategies and how they impact your business in a cost-effective way.

In this virtual class series, participants will learn:

• What is a Digital Strategy?
• Why do you need a Digital Strategy?
• Digital Demographics
• What is Social Media?
• How do use Social Media?
• What is a Virtual World?
• How do we use mobile phones to get our message out?
• How do we use blogs?
• How do these elements apply to our business?
• How do we set digital goals?
• How do we use video in our business?
• How do we connect all of these technologies together?

After the virtual class series, you will have some practical information on how to start using digital strategies for your company.

Class Structure:

We offer a 4-week virtual telephone class on digital strategy and how it applies to your business. Here’s what’s included:

• Four live telephone classes taught by Barbara Bickham.
• Support in defining clear digital goals that you’ll do through the class.
• Between class assignments and worksheets.
• A planning session that will help you find out your next steps after the class ends.
• Bonus: A 60-minute one-on-one session with Barbara to discuss your specific digital needs and get practical customized recommendations.

Class Details:

If you would like to reach more people and make more money for your business, you’re ready for a digital strategy.

Class Dates and Times:

The class starts September 10th, 2009 and meets weekly on Thursdays at 9:00am Pacific / 12:00 pm Eastern for one hour.

The class ends October 1st, 2009.

Class size: The maximum class size is 25 participants so you get most air time and support.

Between-class assignments: You’ll have assignments between classes take up to 90 minutes per week and help expand the material you learned in our virtual class session.

Costs: $175.00

Today anyone who has writing ability or is dreaming of being a writer has written a blog on the internet. There is blog software that is simple and easy to use so both the technically inclined and challenged individual can easily make a blog online.

For some individuals, blogs are their projects of everyday living, as they talk about their daily episodes as well as make tribute to friends and family. Further, blogs comprise and assemble political statements, supply information on products and services, and even offer tutorials. Any subject that is of interest, you can be sure that someone has written a blog about it.

Musicians, politicians, sports figures, novelists, newscasters, professional bloggers as well as other known figures write blogs. It is this blog fever that has raised controversy. Since anyone can write on any subject matter under the sun, complaints about certain write-ups are an issue. Names are mentioned in blogs. Bear in mind that although you can write anything that interests you in a blog, be careful and take responsibility about what you post. Do not make any statements which can become controversial; or else, be prepared.

Why a Blog?

1. For personal acquaintances, relationships and hobby.A person can write a blog about their daily life. Likewise, one may write a blog just so they can express what they feel about themselves, or about a certain subject matter that is of interest.

2. Topical.These blogs are committed to specific topics and often read like magazines.

3. For marketing. Corporations are blogging. When well written and implemented, it can be a powerful instrument for business communications. It can form eagerness and anticipation about the products and services offered, or used as tool within the company, keeping employees well-informed about company issues and news.

Why someone else’s software?

Many Web designer and creators will laugh at the belief and idea of using the software of someone else. This is can be correct especially when each software differs from the particular needs that a client may have. When referring to blog software, there is no reason for apprehension in the use of a package that is prewritten. Most blog packages were developed through years of study; not just knocked together over a couple of days.

In addition, one may study its feature set. For a developer, it would take time and effort to write and compose from “nothing at all” every single feature in the blog software packages of today. For most people, a blog is there for the main reason that chooses to publish or make known your literature and texts on the Web, so you want to spend your time more on writing than coding.

Many blogs are text based, but can include pictures, music, podcasts and videos. This can enrich the blog reader’s experience. Since blogs can be as complex as you would like, the features that you would like to have for your blog should help you decide which blog software and blog hosting to select. Create a feature list to help you select the correct blogging software for your needs.

Hosted Services

If you wish to start broadcasting on the Web, and does not have web hosting, consider looking into a hosted service, which includes Blogger, TypePad, Live Journal, Wordpress.com, and more.

These services are handled for an individual, so there is no need to worry about technical upkeep of the blog. Instead, you can concentrate on the blog’s appearance and content. In just minutes, after signing for an account, you can readily start blogging. Many such services are offered free, such as blogger. TypePad charges a small amount for monthly service fee.

Hosted blogs may allow for a fast start and easy maintenance. The downside is that you may lose flexibility in design and types of content the blog can have.

Self-Hosted

When you have web hosting, then you may want to consider a package that is self-hosted, which includes Movable Type, Textpattern and WordPress.org.

Some hosting companies permit blog installation with just a click from a control panel that is browser-based. It is important that you check with a hosting company to see if this feature is offered. Similar to hosted services, some self hosted packages are made available either free or for a certain fee. This depends on the package that you choose as well as the basis why you are using it.

Self-hosted blogs may allow for greater flexibility in design and types of content the blog can have. The downside is that you must maintain the blogging software.