Video Blogs Where Are They?
I spend a lot of time online every day. Between my freelance writing work and blogging I also read a lot of blogs online. A year ago I firmly believed that video blogging would become the next thing for bloggers on the net but now I have to say that perhaps I had it all wrong.
As far as I know, there are hardly any video bloggers out there and yet video sites like video.google and youtube are growing like mad with people submitting their videos as if they were paid to do so.
So what happened? Why hasn’t video blogging taken off? Don’t we love recording our life for the world to see – judging by the success of formerly mentioned sites and reality programs we do. So how come bloggers don’t bother with having a purely video content blog were they record a span of their life for others to see?
I don’t know these answers and can only speculate. Personally I don’t like to have every person in the world taking a seat on my couch to see what’s happening in the Mundell household. Privacy levels differ between blogging and video blogging. When we record a video we also show every emotion we feel at the time.
But by blogging we can be madly upset, stark naked, happy as chum or silly and nobody would ever know.
So, why have you not considered video blogging?
Related posts:
- Traffic Geyser – Automate Your Video Submissions
- How to Add Audio and Video to Your Blog
- Inbox Zero Video From Merlin Mann
- Manage Videos on Your Blog with Viper Video Quicktags
- Ergonomically Sound Video Blogging
No Responses to “Video Blogs Where Are They?”
Got something to say?
I’ve not been impressed with most of the video pieces that I’ve seen on a blog and, in fact, have left a couple of blogs that transitioned to video. There are two reason that I left.
1) the quality wasn’t very good. I don’t care to watch and listen to someone rambling on about whatever the blog post is supposed to be on.
2) it’s kind of hard to skim a video for the meat of the material to see if it’s something you want to “watch in depth.” In a written blog, I can make a choice to read a post more in depth.
I’ve never really considered a video blog. However the reasons that I would not use video as a blogging medium would be the same reasons I would not use a video to present most training.
I’ve got over 25 years experience as an instructor and have created several training videos. To produce quality video that is interesting takes a lot more work than writing a blog post, even if all you’re going to publish is a “talking head” video. I don’t think many people will watch a video blog unless it has consistently decent quality in the content AND the presentation of that content.
Your post is ironic to me.
First thing this morning I posted my first video blog (http://whatsomewouldcalllies.com/this-is-the-one-about-american-idol.html). I’ve been thinking about it for a while, and decided to jump in.
After posting the video blog I opened up my RSS reader and saw this post. Hahahahaha.
I like the idea of video blogging, but I hate the sound of my voice and I’m a less-than-perfect videographer.
You may want to check out some of the best video blogs: http://2007.weblogawards.org/polls/best-video-blog-1.php
Among the lot, each video blogger does their own stuff rather differently. Some post just videos and other as give an introduction etc in plain text.
Hi Mike,
You have made some interesting observations and I especially think that point number 2 makes a lot of sense.
I’m a major “skimmer” and with most of us being extremely busy most people do the same. Like you said, skimming a video is impossible and it will take a lot longer to watch a video than reading a blog post.
What you said actually makes perfect sense to me too. I have refrained from using video for training for exactly that reasons since I belief it has to be done properly which is very time consuming.
Haha..Mike,
That is too funny. I did watch your video and your voice sounds kind of like Mikey Mouse (no offense). It is probably due to bad sound quality but at the same time I do realize you are driving (did you drive hand handed while holding that camera?….naughty…naughty
).
I commend you for putting this video up since it is very personal and because of this it has appeal (I feel like a fly sitting in your car listening to your talking if you know what I mean).
Good writers aren’t necessarily good presenters.
Aside from that, I read blogs during small breaks at work and while sitting in the lounge room with the family. Text works well in this scenario, video/audio does not.
Videoblogging is alive and well, here’s a favorite of mine. http://ryanishungry.com/
Like many people, I like to skim through articles to see if there is anything of interest. I have gigabytes of video’s and mp3’s on my computer and the chances are that I will never look or hear them.
On a slightly different note, I don’t think I have the looks or voice that would encourage people to hang about for more. That ex weatherman Todd is on stacks of videos but in the UK it appears he looks smarmy and cheesy so people switch off on sight. I personally cannot handle listening or looking at him and this is someone who is used to being in front of a camera. I am beginning to think that the video and audio revolution is going to end up being a passing fad as people just do not have the time to sit down waiting for something that they have interest in whereas the written word is great for it.
A final note, I believe most people use Camtasia for their videos but there appears to be a problem with the speech element when used with Vista which is very noticeable on playback. Another reason not to “upgrade” ?
I just started my “video blog” and not every post I write have videos. Some are polls, my thoughts, rants and “my online adventures”.
The reasons why I think people do not maintain a video blog are:
1. they do not know how to convert avis to flvs or swfs for faster loading, and it’s much easier to just upload an avi without conversion of any kind. (Or they do not want to bother with the conversion, not that they don’t know how to do it.)
2. With a fulltime job, maintaining a public diary is hard enough, let alone a “public video diary”.
3. Many have no idea what videos to show and think videos are only made by “pros”.
4. Many can’t be bothered with lookng for webhosting, let alone a vlogging solution/script.
5. Many have no idea how to set up and install wordpress cos many of them HATE reading.
6. Video blogs may not have the type of videos people want to see.
Okie…end of my composition! lol
I think it all depends. I think a combo of video and text blogging work hand in hand if done correctly. If the video content is very interesting and is tightly themed with with the text content and if the video doesn’t drone on and on and gets to the point quickly, then I think it makes a perfect match.
This site is a good example.
http://www.fungusnail.net
Remember when everyone thought the “video phone” was going to be the next big thing?
1. People are self conscious. Most people abhor the thought of having a video of themselves “out there.”
2. It takes too much time to produce a video. It’s much quicker to write.
3. We live in a fast paced world. I can read a half dozen different blogs in the time it takes me to watch one video blog.
4. As stated earlier, you can “skim” a traditional blog post.
5. It’s hard to covertly browse video blogs while at the office. Sound carries.
Making a video takes longer preparation I believe. You can always write halfway and continue later.
The “video phone” isn’t too far from reality I think! I have friends who talk and video using their mobile 3G phones.
Except for smut porn, not only do vidoes take longer preparation, many good videos were achieved by….LIVING AND WAITING. Ask those who film wild life! And then you may want to prepare a script for voice overs and to cut down background sound.
But the pre and post production of video now, is much simpler. You don’t need bug video editing machines to edit videos now. Windows Movie Maker is a free software that you can use to edit videos.
Er…are we off-topic?
Paul, that is a good point you raised there. Especially when people surf their feeds at work, they would need to be quite smart to get away listening to video blogs.
That is a great blog, I like the way it is designed and presented and obviously they must do quite well judging by their page rank.
Hi John,
I thinking along the same lines as you, simply for the fact that there are hardly any video bloggers around compared to all those who write.
Maybe I’m also not looking in the right place to see them all. I would have thought that most writer bloggers will adapt video occasionally, but it doesn’t look like it and what you said about the time issue makes perfect sense.
Kelly,
It’s funny you mention the conversion. I’m afraid that is were I also struggle. I tried to find the best way to convert a .mov video into a flv but no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn’t figure it out.
There goes my technical side.
Hi Monika, there are many free software (or free trial) that converts avi files directly to flv files. If you find another free software that can convert mov files to avi files, you may get your flv.
Mov –> Avi –> Flv
Otherwise you may have to settle for a commercial software that converts Mov file to FLV in one step.
Flv files are good if you have a swf “move theatre” that calls up a “playlist” of FLV files from an XML file.
Otherwise most people find it easier to upload to sites like Revver and Youtube, and then you just grab your video code (not sure if they accept mov files though). You “save” on hosting your video.
Kelly,
Thanks for the helpful comment. I actually found a free software but couldn’t figure out how to use it. Duh… and all I wanted was to chop up a huge video I recorded with my digital camera the other day. I use SD cards and when I tried to open it in Windows Movie Maker it didn’t recognize it because it was a .mov file.
Beats me why they can’t make those things compatible automatically anyway. Trouble with Youtube is that you can only upload 100 MB at the most and my movie was 286.
Never mind, next time I’ll just have to chop the movie while I record so that the files are smaller.
Hi Monika, although .Mov (quicktime) movies are made for both the pc and MAC, Windows Movie Maker wants to only play movie formats they made – .wrm. Like a naughty brat! lol
Here’s what you can do:
METHOD A
#1. Re-record your mov files with this free software (info here in my article –> http://articles.chris-rudolph.com/how-to-get-a-free-fullversion-software-without-malware-spyware-nor-breaking-the-law/ ), follow the instructios in the article, and you’ll automatically get your movie in .avi
#2. Then you grab a free Xilisoft video chopper but this software can only chop up to 1 minute of your video (unless you pay for a commercial “key”). What you can do is “chapter” your videos. Or any other video chopper, not necessarily Xilisoft
METHOD B:
#1. Download the free toolbar from MXPLAY.cm (just untick the box which disallows the toolbar to send back statitical data to the software-maker) Within this toolabr, there’s a VIDEO & AUDIO recorder. Use it and your mov automatically saves as .avi. (No, I do not own MxPlay.com )
#2. Do step 2 in METHOD A.
Tada! All your problems solved with using just FREE SOFTWARE!
Let me know if it works?
If anyone wants more video-making resources, check out my blog
Mike, I don’t think you’d have any worries about your voice! Yours can’t be as “bad” as Mririan’s voice (Youtube’s famous big-eyed gal who was famous for just staring into the web cam for at least 36 seconds!!)
Yeah, many people are saying she had like 2 million visits cos of her famous non-talking videos….and her talking ones! lol (Can’t please everyone, can we?)
If her videos can be this famous, I don’t see why your video can’t be “better”.
If anyone wants suggestions/advise to do up your video blog (or if you can tell me how I can improve mine), please write or leave an audio comment in my blog. 10Q!
Hi Monika, I left you a private Loooong Message revealing 2 two methods of overcoming your video-making and uploading problems.
1. You’d be able to get all your movies in avi format.
2. You’d be able to chop up your avi files to 100mb or lesser for uploading to Youtube or anywhere else.
All with just using free software. Check out your privy message.
Ooops I think I’ve posted my privy message to Monika here by mistake. But that’s ok. I hope people find the tips useful!
Hey Kelly,
Don’t worry, it’s great that everybody can see this as it will help others like you said. I appreciate your tutorial on this as it will help me next time round.
Thanks
My pleasure Monika! My tips may not be the best way to do things but I’ve tried them and it works for me.
Gobala,
I have been blogging for quite some time now. Have started a funny video blog. I think this has lot of potential. The only problem with video blogs is the bandwith in various countries. I hope this will get better from time to time.