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YouTube Thursdays - Happy Thanksgiving from Mac and Me (Animoto)

By Debb Janes

Industry Observer with Nature As Neighbors

November 24, 2011 02:07 AM

YouTube Thursdays is taking a hiatus this week to celebrate Thanksgiving. However, if you aren't a member of a small, cutting edge and growing group, please take a moment to join. ( Hit icon to go to group page.)

YouTube Thursdays is all about promoting the use of videos and our
YouTube channels.

This week, I am leaving you with some thoughts regarding Animoto. I have the $30 a year membership which gives me a few extra options. I think it works okay, IF you really don't want to edit and work with your own video. Personally, I like the "hands on" approach much better.

Animoto gives you the option to upload small snippets of video and stills, pick a theme and select music. Once you make those decisions, you leave it up to their software to create the end product. It's a good way for the "I don't have time to do it" folks to create some videos.

With that said, perhaps, if I upgraded to the Pro ($249 year) or the Reseller ($499 year), Animoto might be more impressive. This is a video using one of their holiday themes - I tried to use as much video, since Animoto often looks like a glorified slide show.

Forgive the indulgence, this Animoto video is all about me, me and Mac & Me. (Never a good idea - videos should always be about something interesting or a property) We did, however, take a moment to wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving and official start to the holiday season. I also think the new Animoto HD holiday theme is quite nice. What do you think?

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Sharon Lee

Sharon Lee's Virtual Assistance - Jonesborough, TN

Retired and loving life

Debb-love your video. Mac is a beautiful dog. Hope you had a great Thanksgiving.

Nov 24, 2011 09:35 AM

Gary Woltal

Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX

Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Anything with Mac as the star of the show is SUPER... Happy Thanksgiving Debb.

Nov 24, 2011 11:18 AM

Roy Kelley

Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Happy Thanksgiving!

Enjoy the Holiday Season.

Kentlands Flower photograph by Roy Kelley.

Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs

Nov 24, 2011 01:29 PM

Cindy Westfall

Premiere Property Group,LLC Portland Metro & Suburbs Oregon - Tualatin, OR

ABR,GRI Your Tualatin & Portland Metro Real Estate

Hi Debb, I thought the video came out great! Your videos are truly ones to emulate as you do a really really great job with them! This Animoto one worked well because you used lots of video and not bad for the $30 yearly fee. I still have my issue with shaky hands when taking video..so I'll have to pick your brain on how you do it so steadily. Hope you're having a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Nov 24, 2011 03:05 PM

Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP

DFW FINE PROPERTIES - Flower Mound, TX

Selling Homes Changing Lives

Believe me, this is a great way to introduce yourself or share a part of your life with family and friends. It's a WONDERFUL video of you and Mac. It's personal and shows the human side without being egotistic.

I am so impressed! As I watched it, I was reminded of my father who brought out the old home movies when I was a kid. There was no sound or music, just snippets of our lives growing up together as a family. I wish with my whole heart and soul I had a copy of it, but it's gone... yet the memories live on.

I think you should continue making video's like this. Debb, thank you for introducing me to your world with Mac. What a beautiful dog and companion. I especially liked the ones of you and your dog in the water. You look like you're both having so much fun.

I hope you enjoyed your Thanksgiving Day with Mac.

Patricia

Nov 24, 2011 04:23 PM

Marge Piwowarski

Phoenix AZ Horse Property - Phoenix, AZ

Phoenix AZ Horse Property, LLC

The two of you were made for the camera! Delightful stars of anything you do, thanks for the snowy delight.

Nov 24, 2011 04:27 PM

Joan Cox

House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO

Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Debb, great video you have created. I tried Animoto, so need to get back over there and keep playing around till I get it right! This was GREAT!

Nov 25, 2011 02:20 AM

Rebekah Radice

Imagine WOW! Digital Marketing Agency - Burbank, CA

Social Media Marketing, Coaching & Training

What a great video Debb! I hope you had a very Happy Thanksgiving and are enjoying a relaxing long weekend!

Nov 25, 2011 07:53 AM

Robert Bob Gilbert

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Anderson Properties - Katy, TX

Your Katy TX ( West of Houston) Real Estate Expert

Debb,

Thzanks for the E-mail about the video editing software. I hope I can make a new video this weekend but time always is against me. have a great weekend and don't work too hard.

Nov 25, 2011 08:26 AM

Craig Rutman

Helping people in transition - Cary, NC

Raleigh, Cary, Apex area Realtor

A day or so late, but here's hoping that you and Mac had a wonderful Thanksgiving. All the best to you this holiday season... and always.

Nov 25, 2011 11:41 PM

ASHEVILLE REALTY REFERRAL RESOURCE 828-776-0779

REAL ESTATE REFERRAL NETWORK - Asheville, NC

CONTACT janeAnne365@gmail.com

Hi Debb!

If you didn't know it for sure before...now I promise you, I am a sentimental sap because I am sitting here all weepy with delight just watching this video. If I were a potential client moving to your area and I saw this video, I would call you right THAT very minute! Many Blessings to you, your family and MAC! and a Big WOOOOOF! my my fur-pals here in Asheville

Nov 26, 2011 01:55 AM

Debb Janes

Nature As Neighbors - Camas, WA

Put My Love of Nature At Work for You

Mimi - how are you? I should give you a buzz next week and catch up a bit. I'm hoping you had a perfect Thanksgiving and that you've been writing. Talk to you soon. me

Alexandra - had a great one - and even took yesterday off to haul out some Christmas decor. I'm ready!

Sharon - he's very sweet too - in spite of his good looks. :) Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving too.

Gary - ain't it the truth? He's just a wonderful dog.

Nov 26, 2011 02:18 AM

Cathy Criado

Criado Realty - San Antonio, TX

Making Real Estate Profitable

What do I think of it? I love it! I took a few days off but I'm back!

I will have to check that out. I was planning on making something to send to clients via email in addition to my holiday cards. I may use that, thanks!

You are so sweet and your dog too. Enjoyed it thoroughly, and the magik music.

Love, Cathy

I'll follow suit here..

Nov 26, 2011 02:22 AM

Debb Janes

Nature As Neighbors - Camas, WA

Put My Love of Nature At Work for You

Hi Roy - hope you and Dolores had a fabulous Thanksgiving.

Cindy - one word, tripod. It changes everything - :)

Patricia - that's lovely. Thanks so much. I was worried that it was too much me, Mac and me, me, me. Therefore, I'm happy that you enjoyed it. :)

Marge - I know Mac is...the jury's still about about me. Thanks so much for the vote of confidence.

Joan, I think Animoto is a great way to get started with video - you should play with it more ( I know time is an issue.)

Rebekah, it looks like you had a fun time with your family...saw the photos on you Facebook page.;)

Nov 26, 2011 03:19 AM

Brenda Mullen

RE/MAX Associates - San Antonio, TX

Your San Antonio TX Real Estate Agent!!

I love your video Debb. I have to learn to use my Mac (not your dog, the actual computer lol!), for video. I am the type that needs some step by step for this :)!

Nov 26, 2011 03:50 AM

Debb Janes

Nature As Neighbors - Camas, WA

Put My Love of Nature At Work for You

Bob - you are more than welcome, I see you used a bit of video in your blog today. Good!

Craig - no problem. We did have a great Thanksgiving.

Aw janeAnne - I just love you. :)

Cathy - good, I hope it does give you ideas. Love ya too - you and janeAnne and Judi, my green girl besties. :)

Brenda, thank you so much. Generally, I prefer iMovie, but Animoto is fun for certain situations.

Nov 26, 2011 03:55 AM

Jerry Newman

Brown Realty, 210-789-4216, - San Antonio, TX

Texas REALTOR, San Antonio Military Relocation

Hi Debb, I saw a post earlier today from Richard Yates that he made featuring Kathleen Daniels with that Animoto software. This is something worth looking into. I will check it out and see what I can do with it. Thanks.

Enjoy the Rest of your Day!

Nov 26, 2011 04:39 AM

Debb Janes

Nature As Neighbors - Camas, WA

Put My Love of Nature At Work for You

Jerry, I did see Richard's post and he used the same template from Animoto. You should investigate it a bit Jerry - you might like some of the options. I would still consider regular editing software as your main resource - but that' me. :)

Yeah David, I've been experimenting with it a bit -- I think it can be useful in certain applications. By the way, good to see you.

Nov 27, 2011 01:28 AM

Debb Janes

Nature As Neighbors - Camas, WA

Put My Love of Nature At Work for You

Richard,

Hi there, i appreciate the visit and your kind words regarding my "art." :) I agree with you about it giving us another tool to work with - and if some agents are not going to do videos without this type of software, then it's perfect for them.

I don't know about you, but I have to export all my clips from iMovie using Quicktime, and then upload them into Animoto - it's kind of time consuming. In some ways, it's easier to stay in iMovie - but then I don't have all the cool options that some of the templates offer. Therefore, I will likely use Animoto about 10 - 15% of the time...and that's okay because it really is "a fun option for certain situations."

Nov 27, 2011 01:34 AM

Debb Janes

Nature As Neighbors - Camas, WA

Put My Love of Nature At Work for You

Richard - Ha! Actually, my sis cooked Thanksgiving and she is not as "Organic Smorganic" as her sister. Therefore, I wisely kept my mouth shut - except when graciously eating. Ignorance is bliss. However, I did roast a small Organic Turkey yesterday - (needed our own leftovers) and it was great. (Sorry to hear claim Jumpers let you down a bit...)

As for Animoto - that's a good idea...limit them in length when you know it's for that application. Yeah, wish I didn't have to export them first...I may have to see if there's a simpler way of doing it...there must be.

It was fun talking "Turkey" with you. D :)

Nov 27, 2011 04:27 AM