Make Your Talking Head Videos More Engaging

If you’re using videos on your blog, you’re probably making what’s known as “talking head videos.” These are simple to make – after all, it’s just you and a camera – but they can be difficult in terms of engagement. If you think about it, that makes sense. No one wants to watch you chat for 5 minutes. There are some things you can do to make them more interesting, though. Since most people find it easier to learn when visual is combined with audio, video is a natural choice. And by using a concept called picture in a picture and green-screen technology, you can create a better talking head video that gets the results you want without boring your viewer.

Use Picture-In-Picture Technology to Add Interest to PowerPoint

This is easy to do using presentation software such as PowerPoint or Keynote. First, create your presentation as you want it. You don't want your face to block your text so be sure to leave space (generally in the lower right or left corner) for your video. You will get to choose where you want your face using software like Camtasia with the add-in for PowerPoint enabled. Then simply record the presentation by enabling both audio and web cam video to create the picture-in-picture recording. You can preview it the entire time so that you can see exactly how it will look.

Green Screens Allow for Endless Background Options

Want to have fun with your background? Green screen recording makes it easy. Making a green screen is simple, too. Just buy some bright florescent green poster boards to make the screen as big as you want it, then buy some florescent green duct tape, then simply tape it all together as neatly as possible onto a wall.  Alternatively, you can paint a section of wall florescent green. You can also make a pure white background. Make a white background by using just a white wall, or you can cover the wall with a movie screen, or white bed sheet, or white paper. You can spread the green or white color onto the floor a bit for a better effect.

When you make your recording of your face giving your presentation, be sure to try different lighting options. You’ll want to make sure there is enough light – and coming from enough different directions – to eliminate unwanted shadows. Check out some of the professional photography lighting setups on Amazon. You can buy an entire lighting kit for less than $200, and it will make all the difference in your video quality. 
 
When you’re finished recording, just use editing software to put your PowerPoint file inside the recorded presentation as the background by using the chroma key setting within your editing software. It will look beautiful and seamless.

If all this sounds like a lot of work, another option is to simply choose an interesting background to record against. Bookshelves with a few plants and knick-knacks are a popular choice, as is a nice outdoor scene. Avoid blank walls, and be sure to watch for troublesome details such as plants that appear to be growing out of your head.

Don’t ignore talking head videos. They are still a fantastic way to create more engagement with your audience. After all, nothing creates more trust than seeing you as a real person. But do make an effort to create interesting videos that keep your viewer’s attention.

Insider Reviews

You are considering getting involved with a network marketing company and are doing your due diligence.  You think you have found the perfect opportunity.  The program looks good.

Then you start to notice a lot of "company" review results on the search sites. Should you be anxious? Is this company on the up-and-up or should you avoid it?      

Your research shows that you company has been around for several years.  They offer a range of top quality products, focusing on the beauty and fitness product market. Their distribution system is Web based, and products are sold using a net of distributors. Their up to the minute facilities have shipped over three million dollars-worth of product, and the company has international facilities in several countries.

Negative Reviews

Based totally on this proof alone, it becomes pretty obvious those posting a negative review must have a secret agenda for making such a claim.

In numerous cases, these sorts of articles are nothing less than an honest to goodness review deftly disguised with a worrying title designed to con you to take a closer look.

The author then quickly changes course and assures you the  opportunity has been proven to improve your financial position, but if you join the author's team you will be even that much nearer to success.      

You can see this business is a good company to join. Distributors have been paid millions in commissions over the period of the business. Naturally, it doesn't mean that everyone who joins attains success. As with any network marketing opportunity, what you get out of your business is the same as what you put in. So those few negative reviews that you do encounter online from failed distributors, you can pay no heed to.

In order to qualify your business to get commissions, like most network marketing opportunities, this company has a minimum purchase obligation. You've got to purchase a certain amount of product to receive your full share of commission. You'll earn commissions on all the products you sell, and also a bonus commission for sales that your team have made. The compensation plan is easy. You recruit four people, and they in turn recruit four others and so on.  You've definitely found your company!

 Business Means Work

But hold on one minute.  Yes, this is definitely a legitimate a successful company that offers evergreen products, with a straightforward compensation plan with worldwide distribution. The proviso is that although this company's opportunity may look right for you and your family, there are specific things you must understand.

It doesn't matter what the sponsor tells you about this opportunity, any network marketing business involves marketing not only product, but building a downline and presenting the chance to many people. If you do not go out and pitch the products, nobody makes any money. These products have to be marketed to the overall public. Unless you are successful, nobody will have an interest in joining your business until you are literally capable of marketing it efficiently.

So what are your plans for advertising, marketing and promotion? Once you have run out of friends, family and co-workers to market and introduce the product to, what are you intending to do afterwards? Do you know anything about marketing or sales? Have you any idea how you would effectively market the company-replicated site? Do you know anything about driving prequalified and possible clients to an online web site? These are all sides of any network marketing business that you must address, even before joining.  It may look like the best opportunity for starting your network marketing business, but without a marketing plan, you are setting yourself up for failure.

 

6 Steps to Turn Your PowerPoint Into a Powerful Video Blog

If you’ve ever attended a live presentation, then you know PowerPoint slides can be very powerful, or really boring. But if you want to have a truly great presentation online, you'll need to learn how to make your PowerPoint video blog both engaging and entertaining, as well as informative. It’s not hard if you keep these steps in mind.

1) Have a Story to Tell

Everyone loves a good story, and your blog’s audience is no exception. When creating a PowerPoint presentation you plan to use in video, be sure it tells a story complete with a beginning, middle and end. If it doesn't, your audience will fast become bored and lose the point. No matter what you're teaching, chances are there is a solid story behind it. Find your story, and you won’t have to worry about boring your audience.

2) Use Images and Text Sparingly

Don't just do an old fashioned PowerPoint with tons of bullets, silly clip art, and blocks of text. Remember, your PowerPoint is there to enhance your presentation, not to be the entirety of it. Every word and image must serve its purpose, not just take up space.

3) Less is More

Letting each slide have only one point will go far in getting your message across. When it comes to PowerPoint presentation, less is always more. No one can read all those bullet points and pay attention to what you're saying during the presentation. Keep in mind that images, less text, the right font, and charts will help the viewer understand your story better.

4) Use Quotes

Try using famous quotes to get each of your points started. They'll jog your memory but also intrigue your audience.  A good quote can get you started on your point and even make your point for you. If all they remember when they watch your presentation is the quotes, they'll retain a lot more than normal.

5) Limit Fancy Effects

Flashy transitions, text that bounces onto the screen, and other eye-catching effects have their place, but too much will only distract your audience. Limit their use to those places where you really need the emphasis. In addition, mixing and matching effects will lead to a chaotic-looking presentation, so be consistent in your choices.

6) Practice, Practice, Practice

You don't need to be perfect, but practicing ensures that the sound and appearance of your PowerPoint video is understandable and as professional as possible. If you use the right tools, such as PowerPoint with Camtasia add-ons you'll be able to make excellent, professional PowerPoint videos.

Finally, try using PowerPoint as a starting point, then combine other technology to help you make your video more interesting. For example, it's easy to use green screen technology to put your image inside your PowerPoint slide. You can also use a huge TV screen as your monitor while standing beside the presentation. You'll need to have the right kind of camera settings in order to record the screen correctly, but the results can be fantastic.

Today Is The Day!

Today is the day! Do something today that will take you a step closer to your dreams.  Each day we have 86,400 seconds, no more, no less. We use them or we lose them.  If I gave you $86,400 and told you to either spend it or lose it, you would make an effort to spend every penny, wouldn't you?  And hopefully you wouldn't spend it on junk just to keep from losing it.  So why would you waste what time you have on junk instead of activities that will take you closer to your goals?

 

Not sure how to start?  Here are some suggestions!

 

Want to lose weight? Learn about our Slenderiix products. Go for a walk. Trade that soda for some pure, fresh water (filtered through your Puritii water bottle, of course!)  Clean the junk food out of your kitchen and replace it with healthy, nutritious choices.

 

Want to improve your health? Learn about proper nutrition and make the necessary changes to your diet. Get more sleep. Drink more water. Exercise. And learn about our complete line of nutritional supplements and how they can help.

 

Trying to grow your business? Head over to my website and check out the resources. Be sure you are on my mailing list. Get a copy of my book. Attend a webinar or teleseminar. And then, most importantly, put what you learn into action!

 

Looking for a way to start a business? Check out all the info at www.melodieann.exploreariix.com. Then contact me!

 

Today is the day! Let's do this!

Drop Everything And Read

It's D.A.R.E (Drop Everything and Read) Day.  Today is the day to skip the chores, forgo the errands, ignore the pile of paperwork on your desk and turn off the cell phone, TV, and computer.  Instead, settle in with a good cup of tea - or beverage of your choice - and a good book.




If you're not sure what to read, as always, I have some suggestions.  Yes, this is a network marketing and business blog.  But I am not only recommending business books.  This time I have a bit of a variety for you.  However, the authors ARE all connections I have made through my business networking, so maybe there is a business tip in there somewhere! 


Here's my list!


1.  Testimony: A Second Chance: Crossroads: Make the Next Time the Best Time - Sheree Darien:  This book is about healing, emotional intelligence and breaking through, opening doors and creating second chances.  It is never too late for a second chance!


2.   Back to the Kitchen with My Country Kitchen - Betty Reed Lynch:  Yes, it's a cookbook.  And yes, I do read cookbooks.  This has become one of my go-to cookbooks when I'm looking for a simple satisfying meal.  The Chicken Pot Pie and the Southern Style Pot Roast are two of my husband's favorites!


3.  Billion-Dollar Branding: Brand Your Small Business Like a Big Business and Make Great Things Happen - Honey and Blaine Parker:  Okay, so I had to include at least one business book.  If you are a business owner trying to build your brand, this book offers clear, practical suggestions and ideas that you can start using today.


4.   Like You Own It: Breakthrough Strategies for Confident Living - Carrie Perrien Smith:  Learning each technique in this book will transform your ability to communicate with others and address challenges. When you feel more confident about your abilities, it will change the way you interact with people and drastically improve your ability to achieve your goals.


5.  Mediterranean Diet: Sweet and Savory Mini-Tarts From Appetizers to Desserts - Cheryl Antier:  Yes, another cookbook!  Mini tarts!  Easy recipes!  What's not to love?!  The way to my heart?  The Monte Carlo Dark Chocolate Truffle Raspberry Tartlets.  Pure bliss!





                   

How To Generate Leads for Your Network Marketing Business

If you know how network marketing works, you will know that a repeated supply of leads is absolutely necessary for a prosperous business, and they are tough to get unless you kick off by using a proven lead generation system.

There are loads of places where you can buy leads online, but most of the time this is a waste of money because these leads are gathered from everywhere and will not be targeted at YOUR business.

Of course if you have heaps of money you could always hire an M.L.M lead generation company to do it all for you. It may sound right if the product you are marketing gives you an enormous profit, let's imagine $1000 per unit, and you could secure a professional lead for $10, but competition for anything that pays a $1000 commission is going to be stiff, and you will need to be an extraordinarily good closer.

Problem is, few network promoters are selling anything that grosses a $1000 commission or profit, so the smaller the profit on a product becomes, the less you'd be ready to spend on buying leads, and the less you spend the worse the leads.

So now what to do?

Do It Yourself Lead Generation

You have to learn how to generate leads yourself, and if you have never done it before or have attempted and failed miserably, you need a system that will take you by the hand and show you the most effective way to generate those leads.

There are many network marketing lead generation systems that have appeared on the market over time only to disappear because they didn't work.

One particular "leads for network marketing" system which has been about for a long time is run by a group of entrepreneurs and network marketing consultants who practice everything they preach in this system. Network marketing isn't about standing on a street corner and waving your product in each bypasser's face, it's about helping people with their problems and wishes just like off-line, face-to-face marketing does.

Network marketing isn't about hawking your wares to anyone that will listen, and most will not, it's about helping people with their wishes and issues, and being concerned with people, just like successful offline marketing.

Once you have established that somebody needs help, then you build a relationship and ultimately offer your product to help them. It's the basis of attraction marketing and it is a sound principle and model for business.

This is the foundation of attraction marketing, and this is the system that successful network marketers use daily.

This group of entrepreneurs spotted that there were thousands of people in the network marketing business who needed aid, and were wrestling.

The system is not just about multi-level marketing lead generation however, this system covers everything you will need to get you moving.

It's a completely customizable system. It's not quite plug-and-play, but almost - you will have to customize some of it for yourself.

Network Marketing System Set up

This is what you'll have to do:

* Make some videos
* Enter all your affiliate links
* Tie the system, now customized to you, with a good autoresponder system.

This is what you will get:

* A subsidized suggestion system that may help you create cash flow when you're starting out
* A collection of e-mail messages that contain your affiliate links
* An overwhelming top of the range coaching system via your own member area back office and also weekly training webinars by the most successful network marketing specialists worldwide , and
* A customizable approach to attraction marketing that may take out lots of the tough work

Doesn't this sound great? You will find out more about it here.

The Lead Generation Process

Leads are an indispensable component in building any sort of business successfully, whether it is a normal bricks and mortar company or an internet business. Good lead generation is critical to the monetary success of any company, whether big or little. 

Not all leads are made equal and not all lead generation processes are born equal. A low quality lead can cost you a lot more than it would appear at first glance.

For instance, if leads have not been qualified in the marketing process then you will squander time on unqualified and disinterested prospects.

Your sales response rates drop, and business declines. It's a vicious spiral. 

The lead generation process can be labor intensive, both online and offline. The offline lead generation process often involves driving to meet people face to face, and a lot of phone calls.

If the leads are taken from fliers and forms filled in at trade shows, these leads have to be put into a database and then made contact with individually. Information may need to be sent out, which involves cost, and one way or another those leads have to be qualified and then stepped up to a sales department.

The sales office then has to go through more processes, through to closing, which hopefully leads to a sale.

Online lead generation appears much simpler at first glance, nevertheless people who own their own network marketing or multi-level business know that this isn't necessarily so. Such individuals know that this kind of lead generation can be pricey and time consuming as they are fishing in huge sea of purchasers who have not heard about their business.

It takes resources to properly launch any business, and the more money one can invest, the better, as this way a sufficient staff can be hired for the purpose of lead generation and other activities that are vital to the company's success. Money must also be spent to advertise correctly, as this is an avenue through which more leads can be created.

If a person has created an enticing web site and she or he is following the tried and true techniques of success, such as making an investment in an auto responder, smartly answering emails, adding articles on a regular basis, prominently showing an opt-in box, building back links and joining social media networks, he or she should be earning profits. If not, it is time to find the problem and fix it..

If an online entrepreneur does all the right things and still struggles, many will consider giving up and returning to the offline marketing world. Or many consider buying leads from marketing firms. Nevertheless this activity has a big downside. 

You may scrape up some money. You'll buy some leads. But you'd be better off purchasing groceries. Which corporations can you trust will be the first question, as the better the leads are the more pricey they will be. Since most of these leads are not adequately qualified, it is unlikely you will convert many of them. And if only make a few conversions, they will be costly loss-producing leads. You have just spent the last of your money and now you can't buy any product to market!

What you need is a trustworthy lead generation system that works, one that is easy to learn and one that keeps you in charge of the entire process.

Your lead starts with you and ends with you when you close a deal. You want a system that teaches you the latest methods of grabbing those targeted and qualified leads, and will keep you up to date on the latest, inventive ways for getting you through the lead generation process easily, leaving you with more time to build and enhance your business.