Lets face it television is no longer what it once was. You no longer have to turn the dial or play with the bunny ears to get a decent signal. Most of these are improvements for the better, but advertising has become more difficult via the television. There is good news though; the Internet has now made it easier for you to promote your business in a video format. YouTube is the answer to spreading your business all over the world. These video promotions or 2 minutes bytes are considered Vlods, or video blogs. This is simply another way for you to promote your business. More content is always better when it comes to the web. Remember that the more media channels you can spread the word about your business will help you find more potential customers. One more thing, this isn’t the only way to spread video…

YouTube – This site has millions of users come to it everyday. In fact, about 6.1 million viewers flock to this site on a daily basis. The best part about this site is that you can stream the video posted on YouTube on your Facebook account or send a unique link to anyone interested. The fact that this is the most popular video site on the Internet reinforces the idea that a video about your business should be on the site.

Utterz – This site is in the beta form, but it lets your message be “Herd” all over to your followers in a video format. You can upload videos from your phone or computer. You can be a part of the new revolution! Spread your word easily to people that want to hear about your business.

TubeMogul – A site that has been around for a little while, but it has excellent utility. TubeMogul gives you an avenue to launch your video to all the popular video sites in one quick swoop. By far this site is the most useful way to spread your video all over the web. There is no cost to this feature and it’s as simple as writing a daily blog.

Video is taking over what audio use to be on the Internet and in order to keep up with your competition you need to stay ahead of the pack. Getting your business on these three sites will help you drive traffic back to your site and create more links back to your site. This can help you improve your rankings over the web and make it easier for web surfers to find you. Forget about running a commercial on TV and join the free empire of free video submissions.

If you have any questions or need advice on getting a consultant please email us at questions@businessonthemound.com

I am in my last year of Accounting and Economics & Finance. I have worked for any industry out there from farming, fast food, retail, cold calling, personal lending, and consulting. I am young in age, but experienced well beyond my years. I now own three companies and I host my own radio show while wearing many other hats throughout the community. If you have any questions or would like help with your small business please check out my site or email me at Business on the Mound If you are an entrepreneur please Come & Pitch Your Business or give suggestions to other small business owners in the business world.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bryan_Kress

http://EzineArticles.com/?3-Places-to-Vlog-for-Your-Small-Business,-The-New-Boob-Tube-is-YouTube&id=1143746

A few success stories had a remarkable affect on blogs (weblogs). Ever since people realized that they can make money from blogging the popularity and the vast number of blogs on the internet rose dramatically. People hear that they can make money by writing on their home computer and and publishing it on their blogs, and all of a sudden there are over 50 million blogs on the internet. Now, not all 50 million bloggers are making any money. Only a handful of the leaders are. Most of the leaders have been blogging for years and were the early adopters and that’s why they have become popular.

That’s usually what happens – people hear that there is money to be made and then saturate the market. They follow. By that time it’s almost too late and you’d have to be really lucky or really innovative to make a name for yourself. It would have been much easier had you started blogging before the craze became so publicized.

What does that mean for vlogs or videoblogs? Vlogging will become very popular and many people will be making money with vlogs in the near future. It won’t be as popular as blogs because it is more time consuming, more expensive, and requires a different set of skills. Not everybody is good in front of the camera and not everybody can afford a digital camera. However, if you already own a digital camera and want to start a videoblog, you can publish it for free by visiting freevlog.org.

Vlogging has only been around for just over a year now and there are a few popular vlogs, most notably rocketboom.com. But the vlog market is nowhere near the size of the blogosphere. So if you want to be a first mover on the internet vlogging is a good bet.

Check out the lotto winners blog. It features cool stories about real people from all around the world that have won big money in lotto jackpots.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tino_Toskala

http://EzineArticles.com/?Vlogging—Making-Money-With-Vlogs,-Videoblogs,-Or-Video-Weblogs-On-The-Internet—For-Free&id=381992

Vlogs, the younger and wackier baby sister of blogs, create an interactive online video environment for viewers to watch programming, much like television, only shorter, without large budgets and no TV Guide. The vlog’s added feature that makes it different from tried-and-true television watching is that vlogging is interactive. The viewer can respond to the shows instantly, like reading a blog, through commentary and links to other sites. Vlogging software is not quite as user-friendly as blogging software but does not require much more technological skill to get a vlog site up and running. What’s required is a camera, a laptop or computer, broadband connectivity, video editing software, a host server, imagination and inspiration. Blog sites are numbering in the 70 millions and the ‘citizen’s journalism’ boom is thriving with the advent of the Video blog. At today’s count, http://Mefeedia.com tracks the vlogging revolution at 2,174,090 episodes from 22,744 video feeds from 13,561 websites. And counting.

This onslaught of new media and technology is burgeoning fast at the public on the personal consumptive level. Corporate America is shaking its head over the vlog and copyright conundrum faster than anyone can figure out what to do about all the potential red tape. Vlogging is free, it’s public, it doesn’t pass through (much) censorship, it isn’t edited by anyone other than the owners and authors who broadcast the information. Whether it’s aggregated news or videos of tweenies who make their own cooking shows complete with superheros being grounded, the only barrier, it seems, is imagination.

This is a time of great change and progress within Internet based technologies. A strange, scary place where vast technology has crept into user’s pocket and he or she is unsure of what will be pulled out, lint, loot or a lawsuit.

“The technology to capture what’s around you is becoming so prevalent,” Chuck Olsen, a documentary and filmmaker from Minnesota said. “It’s completely clashing with existing laws. I just think we’re in this weird growing-pains stage where it has to be worked out.” Youtube and other online video-sharing sites, have slack attitudes regarding copyrighted material, owing that the use of the material falls under fair use. One way to get around this safely is to use Creative Commons-licensed music to avoid the worry of whether copyrights are being infringed upon.

Vlogger, Randolfe (Randy) Wicker from Hoboken, NJ writes in a comment response about copyright laws and vlogging, “We are in the “Wild West Days” of Internet video. Wait and see! The “Status Quo” folks will soon have your videos deleted for having a few bars of copyrighted music ‘intruding’ on a scene and/or for your refusal/inability to produce signed releases from people walking by in the background. I think we are media pioneers, people in the street documenting all kinds of things “without a permit”". Writes a 69 year old vlogger, Randolfe (Randy) Wicker from Hoboken, NJ.

About the Author

Eric Hartwell oversees “The World’s Best Homepage” – visit and share at computers and internet.

(ArticlesBase SC #128029)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ – The Brave New World Of Vlogging

A Vlog, or video blog, is a unique spin on the popular blogging concept.  Rather than posting entries to your blog, a vlog is a video entry – much like the popular videos shown on YouTube and MySpace video.

But before you think posting video blogs is just something teenagers do – think again.  There’s a huge audience out there watching video clips right now – and if yours is catchy or unique enough – you’ll see a stampede of traffic to your website in a very short time.

But how do you make a video people will want to watch? And how do you add it to your website and to video sharing sites?  Here’s how:

1. Don’t make it into a sales pitch – No one wants to hear about how great your product is: unless you can show it in a way that puts a twist on the normal marketing campaign.  For example, you could showcase the amazing stories of some of your clients who have experienced spectacular results with your product or service.    Come up with unique and creative ways to get the word out in a way that will make other people want to share your video with their friends.

2. Let them create the video for you – Some companies encourage budding video producers to make a clip for them – and then let people vote on the winner(s).  Some notable brands that have done this include Doritos and Coca-Cola.  The good news is, you don’t have to have a huge budget to get some creative inspiration from your product buyers.  Plus, allowing other people to vote on the winner helps spread the word like wildfire.

3.  Make them take action – and evaluate it.  To see if your new vlog campaign is working for your business, be sure to tie your video in to a measurable action such as signing up to get a free trial.  Each person who views your vlog may not ultimately turn into a sale, but you can use the information you’ve captured to help market to this fresh new audience.

4. Get the word out – The last step is to post it on popular video sharing sites.  Most notably, YouTube, Revver, Google Video and MetaCafe.

That will help make sure that word is spread as quickly as possible – and you get the kind of results (and buzz) you’re looking for!

About the Author

P.S. If you enjoyed reading this article, you can find even more web design tips at http://www.iElectrify.com/resources/

Sherice Jacob holds an M.A. in Media Studies and has played an integral role in creating several successful web businesses – for herself and others. She currently manages a full service web design and internet marketing firm at http://www.iElectrify.com

iElectrify specializes in creating professional, affordable and creative websites that get results. With a strong background in internet marketing and niche marketing, iElectrify.com works with small to medium-sized businesses to help them easily create and manage their own websites.

(ArticlesBase SC #470623)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ – What’s a Vlog, and How Can it Help Your Web Promotion?

Web logs, commonly referred to as “blogs,” came into the mainstream about 2 years ago.

Not really a newsletter or traditional html page publishing, blogs resemble more of a web-based diary where the creator records their thoughts, posts links, or responds to questions.

Initially, blogs contained only text and pictures, but then came “audio blogging,” which entails the use of audio on a blog.

Audio blogging also gets referred to as “Podcasting” because of the ability to let people with iPods and other portable MP3 players download your MP3 audio.

The simplest form of video blogging, or “vlogging,” means putting a video file online, linking to it from your blog, and anyone subscribing to your rss feed (automatically created by your blogging software) will get notified about your new video.

They can then open up your latest blog post in their “feed reader” and view your video by clicking the link.

More advanced forms of video blogging include getting your “vlog” accepted by Apple’s iTunes so their subscribers can find and subscribe to your vlog (which gives you access to 19 million users at last count).

Vloggers use a variety of video file types (like Windows Media, Quicktime, Real Media, and MPEG) and there’s no restriction on which file type you use to be considered a “vlog.”

However, two file types stand above the rest if you want to reach the widest possible audience.

For video Podcasting, you must publish in either the FLV (Flash Video) or SWF (Shockwave Flash) file formats if you want people on both MAC and PC to view your video files.

FLV is better suited for full motion video, but they both work on smaller length video files.

For Video PodCasting, you must publish in the MPEG4 file format or Apple’s proprietary version of that format known as M4V.

Apple’s QuickTime Pro software rates the simplest and easiest way to convert your video files to the proper video PodCasting format.

To create a basic “vlog,” you need the following list of equipment and software: a web cam or digital camcorder; a microphone, production software; a blog; an rss feed to “syndicate” your content.

A webcam will work for a basic vlog, though a digital video camera will create much better results because they contain better optics.

Using a separate microphone instead of the microphone built into your web cam or camcorder will also produce a much better sound quality.

Once you shoot your video you need to produce it to display on the Web. At a minimum, if your computer operates with Windows XP, you can use the Windows Movie Maker software that comes free with XP.

Though you can’t save as an FLV or SWF, you can save as a Windows Media file (wmv) to get you started.

For a blog, you can use the free Blogger.com service. To create a feed to syndicate your site, you can use the free service at FeedBurner.com.

Though audio blogging received mediocre acceptance from the mainstream Internet audience, “vlogging” should do extremely well simply because of our fascination with moving pictures.

If you’re looking for a precedent, look how far TV has come in the last 50 years compared to radio.

Copyright 2005 Jim Edwards

Jim Edwards operates a Video Newsletter at http://www.IGottaTellYou.com – He specializes in helping non-technical people get the most out of the Web! Check out his Cutting-Edge “I Gotta Tell You” FREE newsletter now

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jim_Edwards

http://EzineArticles.com/?How-To-Start-A-Video-Blog&id=108563

While you read this message a secret underground group of insiders quietly make a small financial killing.

They use a simple method of marketing most online marketers have seen recently – but know little about.

It is called Video Blog Marketing. What is Video Blog Marketing? I am glad you asked.

A video blog is a blog or Vblog that uses video as the central communication vehicle. The video can also include supporting text and other images.

Video Blog Marketing – is the act of using video blogs to market your products, services or messages to your target market.

Video Blog Marketing is a new trend on the Internet whose time has come. The best time to learn about Vblog Marketing is now, while the technology and techniques are easy to learn.

As this technology grows it will quickly grow difficult for the average person to learn and master.

Delay in learning this form of marketing could cost you a steep price. Leaving you no choice but to pay others small fortunes to do it for you. Or teach you how to do it effectively.

As the technology grows so will the price of not knowing how to do it.

If you invest the time to learn it now (not later) you can grow as the technology and techniques grow. And you can be the one others are paying small fortunes to do it for them or teach them. Which side would you want to be on?

Email Marketing is Ho-Hum and A Hard Sell To Most People Now.

Think about it, most people are in the habit of deleting their email messages before they read them more and more now.

People fear or at best is cautious of most email because of the growing number of scary virus programs. For example, spy ware, Trojan horses and other foreign programs.

The number of destructive programs that can unleash themselves on your computer when you click on an email message is staggering.

Not to mention the flood of email filtering/blocking programs. These programs torch your sales messages before they get near your target prospects computer.

Is it any wonder why email marketing is the toughest form of marketing – and getting harder everyday.

If you depend on email marketing in anyway you need to read this article and start taking action now.

You can send Video Blog Marketing messages directly to your target market and bypass the most vigilant spam filters.

Learn and master Video Blog Marketing as fast as you can. You will never find a smaller learning curve (from introduction to mastery) than now.

Although video blogging is not new. The marketing techniques of video blogging or Video Blog Marketing is new. And new methods and techniques are developing at warp speed everyday.

The best time to start learning about Video Blog Marketing is now. If you stand around with your thumb up your nose shame on you.

Why you should take action today.

1. Few people know how to use Video Blog Marketing to sell products or services. So now is your chance to get a step up on your competition.

Learning Video Blog Marketing can quickly level the playing field if over your larger competition – and the risk is minimal to test if can work for you.

Do this simple test. Go to Google Search now and type in Video Blogs or Video Blogging. You will find tons of websites and people who are doing it.

And millions more are video blogging everyday. People are using this technology, watching it and purchasing products and services because of it.

But if you Google Search Video Blog Marketing or How to Video Blog Market, guess what? You will find few if any who know it yet or how to explain it to others. And those who do know is keeping it hush hush for obvious (money-making) reasons – until now!

A Ka-ching should be ringing in your ears and dollars signs should be swirling around your head at this small demonstration.

2. Because Video Blog Marketing is so new you stand on a level playing field with everyone, even the so-called experts.

Yes, a small group of people are making huge profits using Video Blog Marketing. But guess what?

It is still plenty of room for the average Joe (or Josephine) to come in ahead of the crowd.

You can experience little or no competition. Because as you know with most opportunities, by the time the crowd finds out it is usually too late.

3. You can turn yourself into an expert quickly before your competition can! The quicker you start learning the quicker you can start earning.

Because Video Blog Marketing is such a new technology you can quickly turn yourself into an expert (ahead of the coming crowd ).

Imagine the opportunities this could bring you.

A. You could teach this technology to others and rake in huge profits.

B. You could sell information to others or command huge consulting fees others would wait in line to give you.

C. Or you could simply use your knowledge to distance yourself from your competition.

Or do them all. Either way you win. But first you must take the time to learn the how to.

Think about it, would you rather read a message – or watch a video with a message in it? It is much easier and entertaining to watch a video with a message in it.

If you market online you know the biggest hurdle is to get your prospects attention.

If you fail to harness your target prospects attention the rest of your efforts, money and time blows up.

Video Blog Marketing is your fresh, new and effective attention getting tool. Learn about it, do it and profit from it.

Why Use Videos?

If audio has more impact over text, visual takes it all. Visuals have a cutting edge as far as conversions are concerned. It leads to more personalization hence greater customer involvement.
Some examples of business videos are:

o Showing a demo of a product
o A presentation of services
o A CEO giving a speech
o An explanation of a procedure
o Showing different uses of a product
o Fun videos
o Create interaction
o peer-to-peer knowledge sharing and acquisition

Earlier videos were used sparingly because of bandwidth considerations and the increases of loading time. Moreover content was needed for optimization. However with the introduction of Video Sitemap Protocol optimization of videos has been made possible. Moreover now there are dedicated media servers to take care of vlogging and podcasting

Requirements:

o A Microphone compatible with your PC
o A Webcam that allows you to record video and save it on your computer hard drive.
OR
o A camcorder
o Video editing software

How does it work?

1. Get a microphone: To record a video, you need to have a microphone that is compatible with your computer.
2. Get a webcam.: You need to get a webcam that allows you to record video and save it on your computer’s hard drive.
3. Take time to Prepare your vlog content: Take some time to think about what you’re going to say or do during your vlog.
4. Record your vlog: Turn on your microphone, start your webcam and begin recording. Save the file when you’re done.
5. Upload your vlog file to YouTube or Google Video:
6. Get the embedding code of your uploaded vlog file. Alternately if your server supports these type of media, upload it to your website.
7. Copy the embedding code: Once you upload your vlog file to YouTube or Google Video, copy the embedding code and keep it handy.
8. Create a new blog post: Give it a relevant title and add content to introduce your vlog.
9. Paste the embedding code for your vlog file into your new blog post. Using the embedding code you copied earlier for your uploaded vlog file, paste that information into the code of your new blog post.
10. Publish your new blog post. Select the publish button in your blogging application to send your new blog post with your vlog in it live online.

Deciding on a video host: Check the following

Check out the other videos on the site. Are they high quality and in good taste, or a little raunchy and inappropriate? Choose a site you feel comfortable about.

Check the File Size Limits: Web video hosting sites have varying limits in the size of the video files they allow you to upload. Generally you’ll have to compress your video before uploading so it meets the file size requirements of the video hosting site. If you have to compress it too much, your video may not look very good by the time it’s playing on the web.

Storage Space Offered: Is there a limit to how many videos you can upload to your account, or how much storage space you can use?

Uploading Formats: What video formats does the site accept? Most web video hosting sites accept multiple video formats, such as Quicktime, Windows Media, MPEG etc. You can even find sites that allow you to upload directly from your camcorder or cell phone. If this is important to you, make sure that the web video hosting service you choose to use offers these features.

Viewing Formats: What format do the videos on the site play in? Flash is the standard for most web video hosting sites, because it is installed on most computers and plays quickly and easily. However, some sites offer other video formats, in case you want to share your video on a site that doesn’t use Flash, such as iTunes.

Compression Quality: Web video hosting sites will recompress your video before publishing it. Some sites do this better than others.

Video Downloads: Because of copyright issues, many web video hosting sites do not allow users to download copies of the videos on the site. There are some sites though, such as Google Video, that allow users to save copies of videos to their desktop or portable video player.

Editing Capabilities: Many web video hosting sites now offer editing features. JumpCut offers extensive online nonlinear editing, and other sites give you the ability to remix your video or add titles, narration or photos.

Audience: Different sites have different audiences. If your video focuses on a niche topic, choose a web video hosting service that serves that niche, else YouTube.

Video Sharing: Most web video hosting services allow you to embed your videos in blogs, on personal web pages, and on sites such as Facebook and MySpace.

Video Player: Some sites will include advertisements next to the video player, or will place a watermark of their logo over part of your video. This may be fine, but it doesn’t look so professional if you’re sending the video to clients and it has a big “YouTube” logo on it.

Tips

o Decide on the purpose of your video. If it’s to attract traffic to your website, host is there. Else you can go in for third part hosting. like http://www.youtube.com.
o Use keyword rich title for your videos.
o Add a video sitemap on your website. Sign into Google webmasters to create a Video Sitemap
o Get your video transcribed. Either use an automatic transcriber or use an affordable cheap transcription service vendor.
o Keep your video duration around 5 minutes, not more for bandwidth considerations and to keep it effective.
o Add a call to action.
o Test your vlog after publishing to ensure it’s working smoothly.
o Some popular Download-First video formats are AVI, MPEG1, MPEG2, and MPEG4. Here are some popular Streaming Video formats: WMV (Windows Media Video), QT (QuickTime), and RealVideo (RM).

Video Editing Software

o iMovie: iMovie comes free with new Macs. iMovie offers many options for editing video and audio, and adding photos, music and narration to your movies.
o Movie Maker: Movie Maker is Window’s free video editing software, which comes installed on new PCs. Use the program to create and share high-quality
o Avid Free DV: Free DV is Avid’s free video editing software, and it works with both Macs and PCs. It’s a stripped down version of Avid’s professional software, and gives users limited video and audio editing capabilities.
o Jump Cut: An online entry, Jump Cut’s free video editing software allows you to cut video, and add audio, photos, effects and titles right on the web.
o Virtual Dub: Virtual Dub offers simple editing capabilities. You can’t get too creative with the software, but you can use it to make simple, clean edits in your video footage. Virtual Dub works with Windows only.
Places to Host Your Vlog

o Free Vlog
o Internet Archive

Some Video Sharing Sites

o YouTube: YouTube is the biggest and best known, and it offers many features if you want to share your video and get it seen by a large audience.

o Revver : Revver is a revenue sharing, as well as video sharing, web site. Ads embedded at the end of videos can earn producers real money.

o Google Video : Google purchased YouTube, but it still maintains its own video sharing and search tools.

o Blip.tv : Use Blip.tv to start your own online television program.

o Jump Cut : Yahoo!’s entry into the world of social video sharing, Jump Cut offers a sleek online video editing tool, as well as all the bells and whistles for uploading and sharing your videos.

o Yahoo! Video: Yahoo! Video has all the features available on other large video-sharing sites. It also gives you the ability to upload a transcript for your video, which makes it easier to find in web searches.

o My Space: If you have a My Space page, you have a forum for easily sharing your videos online.

o Video Egg: Upload your video, share it and, possibly, make money off of it.

A Vlog, or video blog, is a unique spin on the popular blogging concept.  Rather than posting entries to your blog, a vlog is a video entry – much like the popular videos shown on YouTube and MySpace video.

But before you think posting video blogs is just something teenagers do – think again.  There’s a huge audience out there watching video clips right now – and if yours is catchy or unique enough – you’ll see a stampede of traffic to your website in a very short time.

But how do you make a video people will want to watch? And how do you add it to your website and to video sharing sites?  Here’s how:

1. Don’t make it into a sales pitch – No one wants to hear about how great your product is: unless you can show it in a way that puts a twist on the normal marketing campaign.  For example, you could showcase the amazing stories of some of your clients who have experienced spectacular results with your product or service.    Come up with unique and creative ways to get the word out in a way that will make other people want to share your video with their friends.

2. Let them create the video for you – Some companies encourage budding video producers to make a clip for them – and then let people vote on the winner(s).  Some notable brands that have done this include Doritos and Coca-Cola.  The good news is, you don’t have to have a huge budget to get some creative inspiration from your product buyers.  Plus, allowing other people to vote on the winner helps spread the word like wildfire.

3.  Make them take action – and evaluate it.  To see if your new vlog campaign is working for your business, be sure to tie your video in to a measurable action such as signing up to get a free trial.  Each person who views your vlog may not ultimately turn into a sale, but you can use the information you’ve captured to help market to this fresh new audience.

4. Get the word out – The last step is to post it on popular video sharing sites.  Most notably, YouTube, Revver, Google Video and MetaCafe.

That will help make sure that word is spread as quickly as possible – and you get the kind of results (and buzz) you’re looking for!

About the Author

P.S. If you enjoyed reading this article, you can find even more web design tips at http://www.iElectrify.com/resources/

Sherice Jacob holds an M.A. in Media Studies and has played an integral role in creating several successful web businesses – for herself and others. She currently manages a full service web design and internet marketing firm at http://www.iElectrify.com

iElectrify specializes in creating professional, affordable and creative websites that get results. With a strong background in internet marketing and niche marketing, iElectrify.com works with small to medium-sized businesses to help them easily create and manage their own websites.

(ArticlesBase SC #470623)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ – What’s a Vlog, and How Can it Help Your Web Promotion?

Want to have your own TV show? Do you have the need to spread your wisdom to each and every member of the Internet-connected community? Do you just want to stay in touch with friends and family? Now you can. Vlogging, a social, personal/amateur/professional broadcasting opportunity is the latest in online interactive technology with a community. Have a good idea? Put it on the web, talk about yourself and join the revolution.

To get started you must have an idea or, a spark of an idea or, a little bit of curiosity. It doesn’t take much. Produce a few minutes of video by using a digital camera or a still camera with ‘movie’ feature, edit it or don’t and post it online and see what happens is more the rule of thumb. Sure, it can be grandiose with corporate advertising, field reporters, proper credits and a script. Your vlog can also be ‘home-video’ style entertainment of you sitting in your bedroom eating a bowl of cereal. The numbers don’t lie- people want to see the intimate details of other people’s lives. As we get farther and further removed in our own worlds with little reason to leave the laptop, people are coming forward with their lives published and broadcasted for all the world to see.

Here are some suggested resources for videophiles who want to start vlogging:

For tools, training and tutorials: Freevlog.org and Node101 are excellent examples. Freevlog/ Blogger is the leading weblog tool on the Internet. Anyone can view your site, whether they are registered or not (unlike MySpace). You are able to completely design your own blog. There are free tutorials and immense amounts of help to assist you in getting started. Freevlog wants you to join the community of vloggers, making it easier for you to get your skills together on the technical side. Recommended: how to hack your own blog and a basic HTML guide.

Blip.tv for free hosting, support, advertising options and promotion. This site features hundreds of channels to give you an example of what is out there in the Vlogosphere.

WordPress – WordPress is a free blog software that has more features than Blogger. It has the ability to label your postings using categories, making it easier for viewers to search around your site. WordPress has the advantage over Blogger if you are more technically oriented. If you know xHTML/CSS/PHP, the software can be customized and encourages creativity. WordPress requires a mySQL database space on a server. Adding links is simpler than on Blogger and published faster.

Feedburner – provides media distribution and gets your media out there in the Vlogosphere to audiences for blogs and RSS feeds. The services Feedburner provides helps bloggers, vloggers and podcasters promote, deliver and profit from the content you upload onto the web.

FireAnt is an application website you can use to list your vlog, attract viewers and subscribe to channels. It unifies content for easy viewing, transforming all formats (Quicktime, Windows Media, Real, Flash, MP3, and more) for hassle-free video watching on your computer.

“Clearly, given easier solutions, consumers will be far more likely to edit their videos,” said Sharpe Partners interactive agency’s CEO Kathy Sharpe. “And those who edit their video are presumably more likely to share it with others, which will expand this market even further.”

Mark Clayson is an expert author and owner of Start Work at Home home business site.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr._Mark_Clayson

http://EzineArticles.com/?Vlogging—Getting-Started&id=507512

A Vlog, or video blog, is a unique spin on the popular blogging concept. Rather than posting entries to your blog, a vlog is a video entry – much like the popular videos shown on YouTube and MySpace video.

But before you think posting video blogs is just something teenagers do – think again. There’s a huge audience out there watching video clips right now – and if yours is catchy or unique enough – you’ll see a stampede of traffic to your website in a very short time.

But how do you make a video people will want to watch? And how do you add it to your website and to video sharing sites? Here’s how:

1. Don’t make it into a sales pitch – No one wants to hear about how great your product is: unless you can show it in a way that puts a twist on the normal marketing campaign. For example, you could showcase the amazing stories of some of your clients who have experienced spectacular results with your product or service. Come up with unique and creative ways to get the word out in a way that will make other people want to share your video with their friends.

2. Let them create the video for you – Some companies encourage budding video producers to make a clip for them – and then let people vote on the winner(s). Some notable brands that have done this include Doritos and Coca-Cola. The good news is, you don’t have to have a huge budget to get some creative inspiration from your product buyers. Plus, allowing other people to vote on the winner helps spread the word like wildfire.

3. Make them take action – and evaluate it. To see if your new vlog campaign is working for your business, be sure to tie your video in to a measurable action such as signing up to get a free trial. Each person who views your vlog may not ultimately turn into a sale, but you can use the information you’ve captured to help market to this fresh new audience.

4. Get the word out - The last step is to post it on popular video sharing sites. Most notably, add your video to a site like tubemogul.com which submits to several video-sharing sites for free.

P.S. If you enjoyed reading this article, you can find even more web design tips at http://www.iElectrify.com/resources/

Sherice Jacob holds an M.A. in Media Studies and has played an integral role in creating several successful web businesses – for herself and others. She currently manages a full service web design and internet marketing firm at http://www.iElectrify.com

iElectrify specializes in creating professional, affordable and creative websites that get results. With a strong background in internet marketing and niche marketing, iElectrify.com works with small to medium businesses to help them easily create and manage their own websites.

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