Congratulations on
making the decision to start video blogging, also known as vlogging. It's an
excellent way for you to share your expertise in your niche and to provide your
audience with a new way to consume your information as well as a way for them
to connect with you on a more personal level.
With the advance of
technology and all the different geeky gadgets out there including webcams,
vlogging is easier than ever. This article is going to give you some tips on
how to use your webcam to create some video blog content.
If you're using a
laptop, it probably already has a webcam built right into it. Be
sure to check that out first before going out and purchasing one. If you do
need to buy one, you don't have to spend a lot of money. You can pick up an
inexpensive one for around $20.
The biggest
challenge you're going to have to deal with using a webcam is finding a way to
make yourself look good. If you don't have it angled properly, or it's too
high/too low, you're not going to look your best. If you're using a laptop
webcam, you may need to put a few books underneath it so that you can raise it
up and be eye level with your camera. If it's too low and you have to look
down, or it's too high and you have to look up, you’re not going to be happy
with the quality.
Another tip for
vlogging with your webcam is to use a headset if possible. This will help keep
out any background noise that your computer’s built-in microphone will pick up.
You'll also want to
take into consideration anything in the background that may show up when you
start recording. If you have a busy background (such as your kitchen or living
room) it's going to distract your viewers and they'll lose focus on what you're
saying. Besides, do you really want people to see piles of laundry or
kid’s toys in the background? Try to find the 'perfect' spot in your home or office for creating videos. Set up a background (something as simple as hanging a sheet up will suffice) and add any additional lighting elements you'll need. Keep this space specifically for videos so that there isn't a lot of preparation you'll have to do the next time you want to create a one.
Once you have all
the preparation done and you're ready to start recording, it's best to make a
trial run. This will help you figure out if the lighting is right, the angle is
right, etc. After your trial run, you can then record the real thing.
Remember to keep
your video as short as possible so you don't lose the interest of your viewer.
Don't get discouraged if you find yourself stumbling over your words - this is
normal especially if you're a newbie. It takes time to get used to seeing
yourself on camera. To help prevent stumbling over words or forgetting what you
want to share, make a short outline that you can glance at during the recording
process to help stay on track.
Remember, too, that
all those glaring mistakes will likely not even be noticed by your viewers. We
are, after all, our own worst critic!Once you have your content all recorded it's just a matter of editing it and publishing. There are plenty of video editing options out there. It's just a matter of finding one that you can work with easily. Or, if you aren't comfortable with doing it, you can always outsource it. After it's edited and ready to go, you just have to upload the file to YouTube, Vimeo, etc.
And there you go, the quick and easy way to use your webcam to
create video blogs. It doesn't have to be overly difficult and once
you get the hang of it, it'll get quicker and easier.
