blogging

Is Video Blogging Worth Trying?

By / Blogging

Video blogs, or vlogs, are not new on the Internet. Long before YouTube, people shared their news and opinions in the form of a video. Still 10 years ago it was rather expensive. Today, with cheap web cameras, camcorders, free video capturing and editing software, and numerous platforms to share video posts, video blogging should be flourishing. However, this is not true. Most bloggers are wary of getting into video blogging and the reasons are well understandable. Let’s explore the main of them and try to figure out if video blogging is worth time and effort.

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Topic for Video Blogging

The first thing you have to decide after the blogging format is the theme of your video Blog: traveling, cooking, tech tips, politics, social media optimization, or any other of the kind. Note that the topic should be captivating and you must feel an expert in it. Try to record a trial video post and estimate if you sound convincing enough to speak upon this topic all the time.

Self-presentation

Those who are not afraid of cameras and confident enough to speak in public, may benefit from the so-called “talking head” posts. However, not all people are “videogenic” and feel comfortable in front of a camera. If you belong to that group, it’s better not to start, or at least think about some alternative way of video presentation. E.g., you may make software reviews or how-to’s by capturing your desktop, use free video tools to produce slideshows, cartoons, short clips, etc. Here is the list of helpful resources:

  • – Snaggit to capture video screen;
  • – YouTube video creating tools to make cartoons, funny animations, etc.
  • – Animoto to make slideshow with music.

Hosting

If you’d like to store videos on your website, you should consider hosting expenses. To convert video into web format and get ready embed code, use Freemake Video Converter, it’s free and easy to operate. Alternatively, you may keep your videos on YouTube, Vimeo or other video hosting site. Thus, your videos would be easily found on YouTube and Google and you’ll get additional traffic to your resource. The drawback is that your videos could be ripped and used on other sites, and you’ll be always dependable on YouTube broad width capabilities.

Video making skills

Though you may find a good video making and editing software, you have to skilled enough to use it. Nobody speaks of Adobe Premier or AE mastery, still a good knowledge of at least Windows Movie Maker is a great bonus.

Video marketing

Don’t think that you’re done as soon as you published a video post. What differs video content from a regular text post is that all you’re going to say will remain only as video frames. This is in terms of search engine optimization isn’t good, because an HTML page should contain text. One workaround is to publish a script of your video. Another is to combine the video with a short text description highlighting the key posts of your post.

It’s also advisable to add each new post into video sitemap. This will guarantee better search engine results for your videos. Take care of creating a SEO-friendly title and description and add social sharing buttons under the video.

Bottom line

In total, you should try video blogging if you:

  • are 100% sure in your knowledge of the chosen theme;

  • feel comfortable in front of a camera;

  • can afford video hosting or trust YouTube to host your videos;

  • are capable of video editing or at least can pay for it;

  • know how to market your video posts.

These are 5 components of a successful video blog start. However, a good beginning isn’t even a half battle. Content is the king, so the key point here is to be interesting to your readers and find inspiration for new creative posts. Good luck! :)

3 Best Tips To Know If Blogging Is Right For You

By / Blogging Tips

peopleWith the growing field of technology, internet is getting popular day by day. There are many people who are making their livings by doing some kind of work on the internet. One of the best and popular ways to make money from the internet is by blogging. Blogging is one of the most popular ways to earn as well as to get famous. Blogging is not an easy task and it requires lot of passion and hard work to make money with the blog. The blogging is not for every one as well. Many people start the blogging and either due to the lack of interest or passion, they leave it after some time. Well, leaving the blogging from in between can put you into pressure and upset from the life. So you must know that whether the Blogging Is Right For You?? Well, there is not any person who is going to guide you. You will have to take decision yourself. Well, I am going to post some tips, by which you can easily make the decision that whether the blogging is right for you or not.

1. Do You Enjoy Communicating With Others?

Well, as you know you come across the different people from all over the world via the blogging. You must ask yourself that whether you like the communication with other people or not? If Yes, is the answer, then blogging is for you by which you can communicate with people from all over the globe. And if No is the answer then there is not any bigger enemy of your than the Blogging.

2. Do You Interest Falls Under Any Topic?

The second question needs to be asked is that whether your interest falls in any particular topic. The interest is the only thing that will create new ideas in your mind. Blogging about the topics, that you do not know about will not help you at all. Such topics can allow you to taste the success for short period of time, but not for the whole life.

3. Do You Like Spending Time On Internet?

I know your answer will be Yes for sure. But wait, I am not talking about spending time on Facebook or any other social networking site. I am talking about surfing the internet to find new blog post ideas. Well, this is not as simple as sounds. Finding the right stuff and then creating links by visiting other blogs requires lots of time to be spent in the front of internet. And only those people can survive in this environment, who love to surf the internet.

Rajkumar is an enthusiatic blogger from Andhra Pradesh, who works on Andhra Pradesh exam results website by providing the information of ap 10th class results and AP Intermediate 2nd year results 2012.

Creating a Classroom Blog

By / Blogging, Blogging Tips

Creating a classroom blog is an excellent way to foster interactions among your students through online teaching. As your students read and react to the blog, their reading and writing skills will improve. They will also gain experience in communicating with one another, formulating opinions, and defending them. In addition, requiring your students to participate in a blog helps them learn about using the Internet for social interaction and networking.blogging

Setting up the Blog

There are several platforms teachers can use to create blogs, many of which are free. Some of the most popular free blogging platforms include WordPress, Blogger, and Edublogs. Make sure that the platform you choose is simple for your students to use. After you choose a platform, you can create and customize a profile for your classroom’s blog. You can also use a platform to create accounts for each student, or you can allow students to create their own accounts.

After your blog is complete, you can begin making live posts for your students to read. If you allow your students to comment on your posts, make sure that you choose options on the blogging platform that allow you to read students’ posts before they go live. Taking this precaution will help prevent inappropriate comments. In addition, instruct your students to use only their first initial and last name when making their posts. Students should never give out personally identifiable information on the Internet.

Technical Concerns

Because you are making posts for students to read, you need to make them as easy to follow as possible. Align all of your writing to the left of the page. Left-aligned text is easier to read than centered text. You should also use paragraphs and subheadings whenever possible. Subheadings and paragraphs break up your text so that students can easily digest it.

Keeping Interest

When your blog is up and running, make sure that you post often enough to keep your students coming back. However, you should not post so often that your students can’t keep up with reading and commenting. Most teachers find that posting two to three times per week is sufficient. Allow students to subscribe to your blog via email so that they know immediately about new posts.

To keep your students interested in your blog, change your themes regularly. Add some fun widgets, but try not to add so many that your students lose track of the blog’s purpose. To help students find past blog content, add a search box to your blog and teach them how to use it. End each post with a question so that students will be inspired to respond with comments. You should also make sure that you reply to the comments students make on your posts. Interacting with your students is the best way to foster their communication skills.

Blogging for Success

Creating an effective classroom blog takes time and dedication. Don’t give up if the blog doesn’t seem immediately successful, especially if your students are inexperienced in the blogging world. Continue to make your posts and encourage communication, and your classroom blog will become a valuable tool that your students can use to share and defend their ideas.

 

Lindsey Harper Mac is a professional writer living in the Indianapolis area. She specializes in writing guest posts on social media and education and writes on behalf of Colorado Technical University. Currently, Lindsey is completing work on her master’s degree.