A topic that frequently comes up on #blogchat – especially recently – is whether or not people should be using video blogging. Some are using it to replace their blogging efforts completely, and some are mixing it up with video blogs and regular blogs together depending on the content.
Proponents of video blogging felt like it added more personality to their posts and also that it allowed them to engage with their audience on a deeper level.
One of the important conversations was how to maintain SEO ranking while including video. There were several ideas — providing transcripts as part of the blog, adding comments and annotations, and doing a recap of the blog in addition to the video.
In addition to the discussion about why video blogging is important, there were also tips shared on tools people are using to make video blogging work.
Here are the tweets from the conversation:
- danperezfilms: @MackCollier Just launched a video blog this past week http://bit.ly/97PD5I any advice on unique avenues of promotion? #blogchat
- jenvargas: @danperezfilms Video blogs are cool but I like websites more. Allows you to switch it up more often. #blogchat
- danperezfilms: @theodorefisher Thanks Ted. I took the youtube approach: more video eye-candy to peruse
I do write a bit on each post. #blogchat - chrisyates11: When doing video post write short lead description RT @sherrylowry: i’d like to hear more about what should accompany video posts #blogchat
- jesseluna: @BeckyMcCray I recently started adding captions to my video tutorials. #blogchat #accessible
- Sue_Anne: The Man on the Go blog by @Chrisbrogan seems to be doing a really good job at defining video but making you want to watch. #blogchat
- OrganicSpider: @jesseluna I have a Nikon D90, but my little Canon point and shoot does better video (HD). #blogchatCamera isn’t the issue though
- trainingfactor: @greenlandlady here you go http://www.youtube.com/user/TheTrainingFactor #blogchat
- danperezfilms: @TheLoneOlive Hey, I write a little “backstory” about each video (not to mention the importance of video as a marketing tool!) #blogchat
- jesseluna: @GreenLandlady I’ve been doing a ton of video posts, mostly tutorials. #blogchat
- ketelsen: @danperezfilms LOVE video! really sells a picture if you need it to. #blogchat
- JDEbberly: @danperezfilms Using multimedia on your blog is a surefire way to gain lots of new readers and in time, RAVING FANS #Blogchat
- djwaldow: @danperezfilms Great question. I try to drop a vid in as often as possible, but … not enough! #blogchat
- danperezfilms: How many of you are incorporating video posts instead of written posts on your blogs? #blogchat
- jesseluna: @MissVersatile The editing features sound like a good idea. Do you use the video for your blog? #blogchat
- BillBoorman: my most succesful carnival was a video carnival. i featured 10 videos a day and made uploading easy #blogchat
- BillBoorman: My new blog is incorporating a twiiter chat page for my weekly chat and a video jukebox that anyone can post on #blogchat
- joshuadfishman: @missversatile do you do video tweets also? haven’t yet and sorta thinking about it #blogchat
- missversatile: @joshuadfishman not yet but we soon will be integrating that into blog. Think video is important media format #blogchat
- danperezfilms: @djwaldow @ketelsen @JDEbberly Have you noticed better reception/comments on video posts compared to written? #blogchat
- chrisyates11: Video is best 4 me because dont have 2 worry about comas RT @sueyoungmedia Don’t forget video blogs-not just written copy #blogchat
- ketelsen: @danperezfilms @djwaldow @JDEbberly not sure if I see more reception w/video. just know that it’s easier to convey mess somtimes #blogchat
- BillBoorman: video impacts on bounce rate mostly #blogchat
- tyippie: @BillBoorman I must say I do enjoy video posts a lot. Feels much more engaging than regular posts. #blogchat
- jesseluna: @BeckyMcCray @GlendaWH This post has a video with Captions + a Transcript. http://bit.ly/cahQD6#blogchat #accessibility
- GlendaWH: @jesseluna Good on ya! Great start to making your content more accessible. #blogchat
- chrisyates11: Keep videos under 2 minutes 53% of viewers gone past that worse at 5 minutes 90% gone RT @jesseluna: Nice video @danperezfilms #blogchat
- sueyoungmedia: Don’t forget blogging includes video blogs-not just written copy. Engage all readers & connect w/nonreaders. #blogchat #GIFB
- joeyfortman: Never intended to make $ till I started getting approached about my videoblogs. http://bit.ly/9Z5ux8#blogchat
- joshuadfishman: @missversatile agreed. let me know when you post some videos. get at me on twitter and Ill love to check it out #blogchat
- jesseluna: If you do video posts, you can market your content via your blog and via channels like YouTube. #blogchat #doubledipping
- OrganicSpider: @jesseluna #blogchat #vlogchat I tried talking myself into doing a video this week – just didn’t happen. #wuss
- juleszunich: I like the idea of video, but if you knew what I am wearing you wouldn’t! Video seems to up the ante too much for me #blogchat
- hchybinski: @sueyoungmedia I’m starting to love Vlogging…but I need to primp first #blogchat
- superdumb: @SusieKline amen, sister! I know vlogging is supposedly the future but there’s a reason I did radio in college… #blogchat
- BillBoorman: vlogs are better recieved if they are a bit amateur #blogchat
- jesseluna: Nice use of video on a blog site, by @@danperezfilms http://bit.ly/97PD5I #blogchat #vlogchat
- jesseluna: @chrisyates11 I usually shoot for under 3 minutes per video, then edit till it hurts. #blogchat#vlogchat
- chrisyates11: I try & be around 90 secs or less RT @jesseluna usually shoot for under 3 minutes per video, then edit till it hurts. #blogchat #vlogchat
- jesseluna: More cool use of video on a blog, @@chrisyates11: http://bit.ly/aoGu0 #blogchat #vlogchat
- chrisyates11: I don’t blog or tweet 4 my clients I interview & video their story. I just know how 2 tell their story using their words #blogchat
- greenlandlady: Yes. RT @jesseluna: If you do video posts, you can market your content via your blog and via channels like YouTube. #blogchat #doubledipping
- danperezfilms: Wonder if other video producers/filmmakers/wed designers use a blog to promote their works. . .anyone? #blogchat
- chrisyates11: Video helps people relate with ya RT @juleszunich: I like the idea of video, but if you knew what I am wearing you wouldn’t! #blogchat
- trainingfactor: @greenlandlady we do have youtube channel..other than my video blogs we have internal production team #blogchat
- chrisyates11: I like video best because none of my blogs have gone viral I’m not that great of a writer but I can edit some pretty good crap #blogchat
- greenlandlady: @trainingfactor well, your in the video biz in a way, right? #blogchat
- SusieKline: Does anyone worry about not being photogenic? I’m shying away from video posts! lol #blogchat
- riyaznet: @jesseluna whats the best tool to record videos for web? havent done video blogging yet #blogchat
- carrieactually: @SusieKline i lost my hair to chemotherapy so no pics/videos until it grows back #blogchat
- juleszunich: @SusieKline ~I would do a video post of a work or client presentation, but most of the time when I am writing it’s in PJs #blogchat
- ridgelyjohnson: just a thought for video bloggers – rarely do I watch them- usually in places where i am muted #blogchat
- kelliawise: @carrieactually You should wear a cap with your URL or log on it in your video! Lemons -> Lemonade. #blogchat
- tinkhanson: @SusieKline Ok so maybe video can be of the garden, the cat, a video cap of the computer screen – with ur voiceover! #blogchat
- SusieKline: @tinkhanson Excellent ideas! Now to put that video camera I HAD to have to use! #blogchat
- OrganicSpider: @jesseluna I’ve done that too – but you’re right, the key is to get video thats interesting, it doesnt have to be a face to screen #blogchat
- jesseluna: @riyaznet I use my iPhone a lot for on location videos and use Camtasia & Screenr for screen recording. #blogchat
- tinkhanson: @SusieKline I know what you mean, I HAVE to have a video camera too! (So guess I’d better use it when I get it) #blogchat
- BillBoorman: i use xtranormal for extra video content. its easy to produce somthing funny and good. Goes viral quickly #blogchat
- danperezfilms: OK, Sorry for the un-shameless un-self-promotion but I’d love feedback: http://bit.ly/97PD5I Video blog or website? Thoughts? #blogchat
- nickelnm: @ridgelyjohnson I think all video bloggers should also give transcripts of video; I keep my sound muted. #blogchat
- 4byoung: @BillBoorman How do you use xtranormal? Do you work from your blog post? or make something original? #blogchat
- chrisyates11: Yes RT @Foxontheroad: RT @danperezfilms: Do other video producers use a blog to promote their works? #blogchat I do http://bit.ly/ciVEYM
- crystalcattle: @jenvargas I agree, I post videos on my blog only once in awhile #blogchat
- danperezfilms: @TheLoneOlive I thought of it as more of a video blog but it also serves as a nice website. I might just keep that one as my only. #blogchat
- BillBoorman: by amateur video, i dont mean rubbish. i mean things like walk and talk etc #blogchat
- BeckyMcCray: @jesseluna Captions on videos are a great step for accessibility! cc: @GlendaWH #blogchat#accessible
- chrisyates11: Thx just my background in TV like online better RT @danperezfilms: Love how you incorporate video into your blog – nice work! #blogchat
- BillBoorman: @danperezfilms there is some youTube research. Will dig it out for you #blogchat
- BillBoorman: @4byoung I write somthing original and post to the blog. you type the script, it animates, films and posts to youtube #blogchat
- JDEbberly: @greenlandlady When you figure YouTube out, develop a howto ebook about it and we’ll Twitter it EVERYWHERE Kimberly! #Blogchat
- greenlandlady: @trainingfactor Sadly, my kids haveyet to walk me thru youtube. I’ve tried several time to look at your stuff there
#blogchat - firebelly: @riyaznet flip and YouTube #blogchat
- chrisyates11: YouTube is Best! RT @MackCollier other than using your existing social networks what other promo others for new blog? #blogchat
- tyippie: @riyaznet I would just use my mac but the flip is pretty popular with bloggers #blogchat
Great recap Sue Ann! There's definitely a group of Blogchatters who are into video. I think that video is an important part of a balanced blogger diet.
Also, there was a nice post on video SEO by Yoast, http://yoast.com/video-seo/. The post is a nice complement to the discussions we had about transcripts/captioning and commenting.
I've been using the “#vlogchat” tag after the official #blogchat hour for those that want to chat specifically about video.
Sue Ann,
I think Vlogging is a great addition to your content creation process. You have do more work to create searchable posts with videos, but people are attracted to video much more than audio. And I agree to keep it fairly short. People have YouTube attention spans these days.
I agree that video blogging is great for some audiences. It's definitely worthwhile for bloggers to test and see what type of reaction they get. I'm not sure that I'm headed there anytime soon, but I know some people that have been really successful with it.
Thanks for the comment. I think the #vlogchat is a great idea, because it's definitely something that people are interested in. I'm personally not going to be doing any videos, but for some niches it's a really great idea.