Before I dive into this, it’s important to understand what ‘real-time’ video blogging actually is. Placing videos on your blog is not considered real-time video blogging. In short, the idea of real-time video blogging is the idea of blogging in video format in a live setting. To do this, most real-time bloggers will use free services such as UStream.tv or Justin.tv. In other words, you can consider this idea of video blogging more like video streaming that is being recorded.
Real-time video blogging has been constantly growing in popularity in all sorts of niches and has actually been some people’s claim to fame in their industry. So, if you are interested in taking part in this innovative content delivery medium, here are 5 tips to get you started on the right track.
1. It’s all about the timing
Many people assume that to make a popular video, is has to be of quality. Well, if you have been following my ‘Viral Video Friday’ segments, you will know that this is a fallacy. The same is true with real-time video blogging.
If you are constantly concerned about the quality of your video, chances are more than likely you will never complete a video in the first place. If you actually take some time to view some real-time video blogs, you will notice the majority of them are completely amateur, homemade videos using traditional video cameras that can be picked up at any consumer electronics store.
With real-time video blogs, it is all about timing and opportunity. This communication medium can be a tremendous way for you to distribute breaking news and exclusive coverage, as that is a popular reason why people views real-time video blogs in the first place.
2. Always be prepared with the right equipment
Breaking news or exclusive coverage in your are can come at any time, in any place. To make sure you are the first one to present the information, make sure you have the right equipment to do so. This can include things such as cameras, mics, computers, phones, and wireless access. If your news coverage requires mobile capabilities, you might also consider thinking about mobile video equipment such as an iPhone or a Flip Video Camera.
3. Try to promote it before you create it
If you know you are going to be creating a real-time video blog in advance, try to promote it as much as possible. You can do this by taking advantage of your email contact lists, social media networks, and anything else you may use to keep in contact with your clients. This will help you build anticipation and an audience for when you create your real-time video. By giving people advanced notice, they will be able to set the time aside and know when and where your live broadcast will take place.
4. Be consistent with your content
Just like a traditional blog, all of your real-time video blogs should specifically focus on a target niche. For real estate professionals, this can be anything from your local community, to the real estate industry in general, to mortgages and foreclosures. Whatever it is, just make sure it is a topic your audience will be interested in continuously staying informed about. If you decide to create real-time video blogs on completely random topics, it will make it very difficult to create and maintain a loyal audience.
5. Keep it short
As with pretty much any type of content, people usually have short attention spans. The same applies with real-time video blogging. As a video blogger, your objective should be to get right to the point and avoid all the fluff. The longer your video blog goes, the higher the chances that people will abandon your video stream.
The whole idea of real-time video blogging can have a significant impact on your brand and I welcome you to give it a shot. Just like with everything else, make sure to track your results and think about how you can continuously improve your material and presentation. If you use or have used real-time video blogging, I would encourage you to share your experiences here for everyone else to read.
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