Confession: Over two years ago, when I first heard that we were all going to have to add video to our blogs in order to stay on the “cutting edge” of the blogging scene, I thought,
Nope. No way. Not doing it. Not. Ever. Gonna. Happen.
Famous last words.
But do you feel me?
I mean, don’t we all already have enough to do?
As bloggers, we promote our posts and tweet our hearts out and we’ve learned photography and hashtags and some of us have even attempted a little web design.
Plus somehow, we find time to actually write our blog posts.
Who has time for video?
That’s like a whole other level.
And then last year I was negotiating contracts with two different companies and they both included video on the list of media coverage that would be required of me in the deal.
And so, not for the first time in my blogging career, I committed to do something I was not entirely sure how I would pull off.
I thought:
How hard can it be? I’ll figure it out somehow.
They just said I had to provide video. They didn’t say it had to be good.
My first attempt into the world of online video was to sign up for a Vine account. I know it seems counter-intuitive to start a new social media platform with zero followers but I did not want to start badgering my Instagram and Facebook followers with my first attempts at video.
I started playing with Vine around my house, taking videos of rooms. A Vine is six seconds long, so it was so easy! It takes me longer to edit a photo for Instagram than it does to shoot six seconds of video.
I started taking Vines of hotel rooms when I traveled or even when I went for a walk. It was actually kind of fun to have a new platform to experiment with where I was not worried about the audience. Because there wasn’t one.
But if I really wanted to share a certain Vine, I could push it to another platform. (In fact, Twitter owns Vine, so if you share a Vine with your Twitter followers, the video comes up in your feed. Fancy!) I could also embed a Vine into my blog post, and voila! Mini vlogging!
My next foray into the world on online video was to start shooting Hyperlapse videos for a travel company’s Instagram feed. Here’s how that came about:
Company Rep: Hi Alison, do you think you could use the new Hyperlapse app to post videos of your next walk on our Instagram feed.
Me: Of course. I would love to do that! (Googles “Hyperlapse app.” Googles “How to use Hyperlapse app.”)
I actually found this app super easy to use and I had lots of fun thinking up things that would be more fun when sped up. (Sheep and cartwheels come to mind)
Then, when I went on my long walk with my friend Diane, my Grand Adventure of 2014, the company said they really enjoyed the video footage of the scenery but could I do a little more where I actually narrate. Maybe even talk in front of the camera.
Me: I’m sorry. Did you say in front of the camera?
Company Rep: Yes. We’d love for you to add your voice to the video.
Me: Well, we’ll see.
And so with that small request in my brain, on day 2 of the Coast to Coast Walk, I launched my YouTube channel with 40 seconds of sheer ridiculousness.
I believe that it was about ninety percent delirium that contributed to the posting of the daily videos that followed on the rest of our walk, but Diane and I had loads of fun with making our video updates, and as the walk went on, we found that folks loved the daily updates.
I stumbled upon something that I later heard described as “the power of live.”
There is something urgent about consuming content that is happening right now.
There’s a reason my son HAS to be online at 8pm for the moment something is going live:
MOM! It’s only streaming from 8-10pm and after that you can’t see it anymore. Ever.
The power of live is the reason Snapchat is the fastest growing social media platform.
But that’s a topic for another blog post.
Besides, who over the age of fifteen is getting Snapchat?
Not me. No way. Not. Ever. Gonna…
Oh wait. Does that sound familiar?
Yeah. I have to stop saying that. (Of course I already have Snapchat.)
Now over to you, are you using online video? Did you fall into it like me or did you set out to learn it intentionally? I’m so curious to hear more stories of forays into vlogging?
I think so many of us native Arkansan gals are a little sheepish when our lilting accents are recorded. I certainly don’t sound the way it seems in my head. We are always asking “DO I really sound like that?!” Hence my theatre schooling led me to imitating a Canadian accent to tone it all down. I did venture into a video demonstration of folding one of my seed packets but I did not utter a direction. It was more show than tell. But I’m considering it. Just for the aspect of learning to edit and slice videos. But I’ve no idea what I would vlog about.
Gardening, of course! You’d do a great job.
Thanks Debbie. Better start practicing saying “ah-boot” again and “soarry”. AH?
YES! I would love some gardening vlogs! And FRIENDS, folks outside of the South really love a Southern accent. Just one more way to embrace our roots!! 🙂
Nope. No way. Not doing it. Not. Ever. Gonna. Happen.
Heh heh. Actually I always thought it would be good for my site, but always thought I’d not do a good job and thereby destroy any possible good opinions someone might have of me.
I should pay attention, here.
I totally know what you mean Katharine. I don’t like doing things unless I can already be proficient but the internet is always evolving and forcing us into a constant state of experimentation. 🙂 Besides, I’m sure you’d be better than you think. 🙂
I do feel you, Alison. And I feel the need to branch out, especially now that I “hang out” with all the blogger friends I’ve made in the past year.
Your post reinforces my resolve to continue trying new things.
Jeanetta, my voice is one of my hang-ups, too. I started life in California and moved to Arkansas, then back there, then back here. (I call myself a Califarkansan – don’t say that too fast.) My accent is a weird combination, and I’m always wondering what people think of it. I need to get over that – it’s not like I’m auditioning for the 6 o’clock anchor spot.
Alison, thanks very much for another helpful set of tips and motivation to step outside my comfort zone.
Now if the Lord would only make the days about 10 hours longer…
I totally feel you on the number of hours in the day! Every hour I work on my blog seems to yield the TINIEST results!! ERGH.
I think your accent is lovely BTW!! 🙂
If you get all of that resolved, would you come take care of it for me?
Well I don’t yet but have started thinking about it but not sure when I will start. I’m barely getting the writing and everything else done as it is haha. Next stop though is vlogs 🙂