Power up that video camera and get ready to participate in the March video blogging challenge! Here’s an opportunity to get the support and accountability you want or need!
Let’s talk about what it entails so you can decide if you want to participate! Here are some basic questions that are bound to pop up.
How often do I record a video?
I want to make this easy. That’s why I think it’s best if we devote our video blogging challenge to a Monday through Friday schedule and take the weekends off.
We will start the challenge on March 3, 2014 and end it on April 11, 2014. Your recording schedule will be as follows:
- March 3-7
- March 10-14
- March 17-21
- March 24-28
- March 31-April 4
- April 7-11
How long does the video need to be?
I don’t feel the time frame is an issue until you go over the 10-minute mark. I like to keep my videos short because I respect the viewer’s schedule.
When I participated in my first video blogging challenge, my first video was less than two minutes in length. As I grew comfortable, some were a bit longer.
How professional does it need to be?
Look at my first video blog entry – it wasn’t the greatest, but I still shared it. You are not doing this challenge to make a television-quality video. You are learning how to get comfortable in front of a video camera so you can bond with an audience!
This is about being “YOU” and not trying to be something you are not. Video has always been popular with the masses, and it’s time to share your personality with the world! If you want to build a community around your online business – video can help make that happen!
How will you record?
This is totally up to you. You can use a small camera, such as the Kodak PlayFull HD Video Camera
If you’re too nervous to sit in front of the camera the first few days, you could create a screen capture video with Camtasia or similar screen-capturing software. As long as you record a video every day for the entire challenge, it doesn’t matter how you get it done.
What will you vlog about?
This is an opportunity to video capture anything you want. Reveal your personality, shoot a video while you are out walking for exercise – the sky is the limit!
Record an interesting tidbit that happened to you during the day. Shoot a video of your dog being rambunctious or the cat scratching your curtains and explain why this bothers you.
Create videos that inspire followers, help consumers who buy your products and engage people to grow a special community around YOU!
Consider your niche. If you’re a painter, you could create short videos showing people how to get started in painting, such as choosing the right canvas or paint brush, etc.
Where should you place the video?
You can create a Vimeo or YouTube account and add the videos, or you can add them to Amazon S3. Whatever you want to do is fine. It would be nice if you shared the videos with the rest of the challengers, but if you’re shy – you can choose to keep them hidden.
The whole point of the challenge is to get comfortable in front of the video camera and gain support from the others in the same boat as you – getting over the fear of doing video. So, I would like to suggest that you consider sharing them with us. 🙂
Bear in mind, YouTube has the ability to keep your videos unlisted. This means you can control who gets to view them based on where you share the video link. For this purpose, I created a private Google Plus community to allow you to share unlisted videos.
What should you do next?
Write a comment below and let me know if you are going to join me during this video blogging challenge. Head over to Google Plus and join the VBC community.
Video Blogging Challenge Community
https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities/106607738627614514439
I had so much fun when I participated in Tiffany Lambert’s video blogging challenge last year, and if you keep saying you really need to create videos – now is a good time as any to get started!
Will you be joining us for the video blogging challenge? Leave a comment below and let me know!
Thanks for reading,
– Bonnie
P.S. Did you enjoy this message? If so, please share it with your friends so they can benefit from schmoozing. Then, if you want to get more messages like this one, connect with me via my social links below or hop aboard my notification list. I would like to keep in touch.
Fun post with great directions – funny that I am in a Video Course now – and getting ready to do video blogging! 🙂
That’s wonderful news, Donna! If you want more faces to visit your videos, be sure to hop aboard this challenge and have some fun! I would love to help support your video blogging efforts!
I LOVE this idea! Are you going to run a Facebook group? I don’t do Google+
With Google Plus, we can get better search engine results than through Facebook, simply because Google will throw link juice at their own properties before they do it for other websites. Why don’t you do Google, Kimberly?
If it’s because you’re not familiar how to use it, I am currently doing a review of “The Power of Plus” – a product that shows people how to gain the best outcome from using Google Plus. This might be a product you can relate to. See it here: http://www.bonniegean.com/the-power-of-plus-review-part-1/
As far as Facebook, I haven’t decided yet to create a Video Blogging Group over there (yet) because people who don’t want to use the Google Plus community can leave their video links in the CommentLuv section of this blog. If I change my mind about a FB group, I will certainly write about it. 🙂
I WOULD LOVE it if you decided to hop aboard the video challenge. I had so much fun during the first challenge I participated in and I am certain you would too!
Thanks for all the updates, Bonnie. You really make a strong case for Google+. One of the MAJOR reasons why I don’t use it is because my tribe is already ON Facebook. I understand search engine optimization BUT my clients don’t come from search engines. The other side is that I’m just too busy to participate in more than one social media platform.
I would like to do the challenge with you, however! Sounds like fun!
That certainly makes sense, Kimberly. Be where your tribe is. I would do the same thing! Oh btw, here’s a great website to help you learn where else your tribe may be: https://tagboard.com/
Simply type in your keyword and the website will tell you where your customers/prospects are hanging out – other than Facebook. 🙂
Trust me, girlfriend – BUSY is my middle name. That’s one of the reasons I don’t Twitter or do LinkedIN as much as I do FB and Google Plus. No time left at the end of the day!
Love the idea that you’re considering the challenge, too!
you are much braver than me. I hate to hear my voice so vlogging is out!!! I do however enjoy others.
It’s not about being brave, Jackie – it’s about coming to terms with the idea that you can endear people to you (and your brand) if you’re willing to put yourself out there to engage with them.
I created a video today just after getting over a sinus cold. My voice still isn’t up to par, but I don’t let that stop me from connecting with an audience. 🙂 I look at it this way – if they don’t like how I sound, they don’t listen. If I cheat people from being able to listen to my voice (however nasty it may sound), I am shooting myself in the foot.
Being in business is about connecting with others and you can only do that so well with an article or blog post. Sometimes, you have to throw the gauntlet down and go for the brass ring. I wish you would reconsider. It’s much easier to get over your fears if you do this with a group of people, rather than by yourself.
I could see doing a video a week. However, I am not sure I could commit to a video a day. Just don’t think I am brave enough to do it that often.
I wouldn’t hold you back from doing what is comfortable to you, Cindy. A video a week is a great start, and I invite you to join me in this challenge to get the bravery you need to continue onward.
Join me in this challenge. You’ll love it!
This sounds like a great idea Bonnie … Video blogging is something I have been planning on doing for awhile now. As I have a couple of product launches in March I think like one of your other comments that a video a week in March would work best for me.
Thanks for kicking me into action with the idea though and great post
Nice to hear that you are planning to join us! Don’t forget to add your name to the Google + private community so others can give you accountability and support, too!
Sign up here:
https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities/106607738627614514439
March 3rd is approaching fast and I can’t wait to start the fun!
Today marks the last day in week #4 of the challenge, Rod. We have two more weeks to go (the first two in April) and I was wondering when I might get a chance to see your first video?
I’m going to give it a try as I’ve been wanting to step up to the plate for a while. It looks like my cellphone doesn’t have video, but we’ve talked about me getting a new one. So, in the next day or two I will either have a new cell phone or purchase one of those items you suggested. I’ll try to get everything together by the time you start, and hopefully can complete the full month. Thanks for taking the time to lead us (or push us) into the unknown!
You’re going to have fun, Edie. There are several of us already on the Google + private group. Join here: https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities/106607738627614514439
Once you get the video stuff in place (even if it’s after we start), you can jump in any time.
I look forward to supporting your efforts!
Hi Bonnie,
Your video blogging challenge is a really great idea, although like a few others, I’m not very comfortable around a video camera, so I will probably try the other options you have suggested such as of filming something and doing a voice over, or a tutorial, but yep count me in!
Kind regards
Sky
Sounds great, Sky. Don’t forget to join the challenge community over on Google +
That URL is:
https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities/106607738627614514439
See you there!
I don’t think I can keep to a video per day schedule, but definately up for a couple per week. Not sure what to natter about yet, although I am sure you’ll be giving us some tips!
Like I told Misty, do what you can!
I’m sure you have more to talk about than you think, Jan! And yes… I’ll be giving you some tips on what to create!
I’m gonna try it out. I can already see myself falling short of doing it every day…I’m just not that interesting LOL But I’m definitely joining in!
Don’t succumb to pressure before the challenge gets underway, Misty. Do the best you can. If you can’t create a video every day, do them as you can get them done.
BTW: You don’t have to be interesting on the video to be endearing to your friends. 🙂
This will actually work really well with the Facebook project I’m working on right now. I was going to blog about some of the topics but I can just vlog about them instead!
Glad to hear you are coming aboard! I love the idea of having you there, Amanda!
I can’t wait to see what you are working on!
This is interesting Bonnie! I was giving this some thought and I will give this a whirl! Would love to learn more as we come closer to March 1st!
Awesome, Nate! Don’t forget to sign up to the private Google community to share your videos there, too!
https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities/106607738627614514439
I’ll be there – it won’t be everyday – I’ll just add it to my blog posting schedule ……….. that’s more than enough for me to handle!!
Even small contributions are better than none, Tamsin. 🙂
Sounds like a great little experiment for me, Bonnie Gean. I’m in!
Wonderful news, Tracie!
Have you signed up to the Google Plus community for this challenge? If not, you could do it quickly at this link:
https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities/106607738627614514439
Looking forward to watching your videos!
Hi Bonnie, you’ve done it again!
You’ve set a great challenge, but I am going to pass this time. No brave enough, soon I will have to be, I know 🙂
My limiting factor is that I speak English with a Spanish accent even after 35 years in England. What I need is to start videoing with a board first and then I will dare do your challenge.
Great resource you’ve found in tagboard.
Thank you Bonnie
You cannot use that excuse, Liliana. People would love your accent and it would definitely provide the “appeal” factor for many more. You just need to sit down and “do it” so you can get over the fear of video!
Start with a whiteboard or a screen tutorial but PUSH yourself outside of that comfort zone. You’ll be amazed at the difference video can make for your online business.
I’m up for the challenge Bonnie! I definitely need to use more video in my business.
That’s awesome Karen! If you missed today’s video, just start off tomorrow. It’s okay if you hop aboard late!
Hi Bonnie – I got on late…
That’s wonderful Jonathan! If you want to join us over on the Google+ community, feel free to do so. Or just stop in here on a daily basis and share your video link in the comment luv box! Either way is good.
I look forwarding to supporting your video blogging efforts!
Hey-is it still possible for me to join this challenge. I know I’m super late. I just requested to become a part of the google+ group. Thanks so much.
It’s never too late to hop aboard a challenge, regardless of when it started. I WOULD LOVE to see your videos, Brenda! Welcome aboard!
I have two questions I just found the challenge is it to late to join and is it OK if I create the video using Google Hangouts?
Hi there Glenda! No, it’s not too late to join the video blogging challenge; and yes, you most certainly can use Google hangouts to create your video!
Sign up for the challenge over on http://www.bonniegean.com/vbc/
I’ll be looking for you!