Types of Videos
There are many types of videos you could create, but we’re only going to discuss a few of the easiest types. This will get you creating videos quickly and with minimal training.
Talking Head
A talking head video is your typical video in which a single person (or sometimes a group of people) stands in front of the camera talking. This type of video is quickly losing favor on YouTube, because it’s one of the most popular types and sometimes it isn’t very engaging. This is especially true if you don’t have a really good on-screen presence. Of course, if your video’s purpose is to brand you, specifically, you will probably want to appear on camera for at least part of the video!
Testimonial
Product
Virtual Tours
Commercials
Event videos
Interview – If you’re ready to take the talking head video one step further, add another person to the mix and make it an interview video. Interview videos can be two or more people on camera, or can be “news style” with the interviewer off camera and the subject on camera. Today, interview videos can be easily created using Skype, Google Hangouts or Oovoo.com.
Video Tips Series – One of my favorite video genres is the video tips series. A tips series is ideal for establishing a presence on YouTube, and they’re great for improving your SEO. In addition, video tips help to build your credibility and establish you as an expert in your niche.
Drip Marketing Series – A video launch series is a related to a sales video, except these videos typically come before a sales video in a launch sequence of three or four videos. Often used for product launches and major promotions, the launch series are usually “teaching” videos that are heavy on content. The idea is to provide value and establish credibility before releasing the final “pitch” video at the end of the series.
Video Testimonials – Testimonial videos are a powerful, yet under-utilized tool for providing social proof. These can be used on your website or on a sales page promoting a specific product or service. I usually bring my iPhone or Flip camera to conventions or events, and grab quick testimonials while networking with colleagues and clients.
Product Videos – Info product videos are simply video content that has been packaged for sale as a physical or digital product. If you’ve got webinars or teaching videos that you can turn into DVDs for sale, then you’ve got a product video!
Teaching/Webinar Video – Another often overlooked video format is the recorded webinar. Assuming you’ve recorded your webinar with GoToWebinar, Instant Teleseminar or even using Camtasia, you can use the recorded webinar as a video for sale or distribution. You can post the video webinar on your own website, or on YouTube. (Most video length restrictions on YouTube have been lifted, so you can now post longer videos on the site).
Animated Video – Animation or motion graphics videos used to be out of reach for most people, but video creation sites like XtraNormal.com and GoAnimate.com have opened up new possibilities for creating your own cartoons. If you’re thinking about higher-end motion graphics, you’d need to think about using Apple Motion or Adobe AfterEffects. Since those programs are expensive and have a steep learning curve, you may want to outsource that.
Live Demo (on-camera) –On camera demonstrations can be one of the most effective videos you can produce. You can use a whiteboard, or simply teach live to the camera. I use Jing for brief demos, because it’s fast, free and flexible. You can record up to five minutes and switch easily from on-camera to on-screen with one click.
Recorded Demo/Screencast – You can also use Jing for short screencasts so you can record your demo right from your computer screen. Screencast videos are very popular (and powerful), so they’re definitely something you want in your video marketing arsenal. Camtasia is king when it comes to screencasts, though Screenflow is a good alternative if you’re on a Mac.
Photo Montage – One of the easiest types of video to create is a photo/video montage. Websites such as Animoto.com,OneTrueMedia.com and Stupeflix.com make it ‘drag and drop’ easy to turn your text and photos into a video. Add some text and music and you’ve got a professional video!
Sizzle Reel
Screen Capture Videos
Screen capture videos are very simple to make with software like Camtasia will let you record your computer screen while you talk into a microphone. This type of video is excellent for demonstrating software, showing how to use certain websites, etc.
Presentations
You’ve probably heard of presentation software like PowerPoint and Keynote, but did you know these can be used to create videos? All you have to do is create a presentation as usual and then export it to a video format.
If you think there must be some sort of catch, you’d be wrong. It really is that simple. Here’s a quick rundown of how it’s done:
>> http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/powerpoint-help/turn-your-presentation-into-a-video-HA010336763.aspx
As you can see, this is a very, very simple method for creating a video! Not only that, but amazingly a very simple presentation video is an extremely effective video type, and usually holds its audience captivated and encourages the viewer to take action at the end!
There are many types of videos you could create, but we’re only going to discuss a few of the easiest types. This will get you creating videos quickly and with minimal training.
Talking Head
A talking head video is your typical video in which a single person (or sometimes a group of people) stands in front of the camera talking. This type of video is quickly losing favor on YouTube, because it’s one of the most popular types and sometimes it isn’t very engaging. This is especially true if you don’t have a really good on-screen presence. Of course, if your video’s purpose is to brand you, specifically, you will probably want to appear on camera for at least part of the video!
Testimonial
Product
Virtual Tours
Commercials
Event videos
Interview – If you’re ready to take the talking head video one step further, add another person to the mix and make it an interview video. Interview videos can be two or more people on camera, or can be “news style” with the interviewer off camera and the subject on camera. Today, interview videos can be easily created using Skype, Google Hangouts or Oovoo.com.
Video Tips Series – One of my favorite video genres is the video tips series. A tips series is ideal for establishing a presence on YouTube, and they’re great for improving your SEO. In addition, video tips help to build your credibility and establish you as an expert in your niche.
Drip Marketing Series – A video launch series is a related to a sales video, except these videos typically come before a sales video in a launch sequence of three or four videos. Often used for product launches and major promotions, the launch series are usually “teaching” videos that are heavy on content. The idea is to provide value and establish credibility before releasing the final “pitch” video at the end of the series.
Video Testimonials – Testimonial videos are a powerful, yet under-utilized tool for providing social proof. These can be used on your website or on a sales page promoting a specific product or service. I usually bring my iPhone or Flip camera to conventions or events, and grab quick testimonials while networking with colleagues and clients.
Product Videos – Info product videos are simply video content that has been packaged for sale as a physical or digital product. If you’ve got webinars or teaching videos that you can turn into DVDs for sale, then you’ve got a product video!
Teaching/Webinar Video – Another often overlooked video format is the recorded webinar. Assuming you’ve recorded your webinar with GoToWebinar, Instant Teleseminar or even using Camtasia, you can use the recorded webinar as a video for sale or distribution. You can post the video webinar on your own website, or on YouTube. (Most video length restrictions on YouTube have been lifted, so you can now post longer videos on the site).
Animated Video – Animation or motion graphics videos used to be out of reach for most people, but video creation sites like XtraNormal.com and GoAnimate.com have opened up new possibilities for creating your own cartoons. If you’re thinking about higher-end motion graphics, you’d need to think about using Apple Motion or Adobe AfterEffects. Since those programs are expensive and have a steep learning curve, you may want to outsource that.
Live Demo (on-camera) –On camera demonstrations can be one of the most effective videos you can produce. You can use a whiteboard, or simply teach live to the camera. I use Jing for brief demos, because it’s fast, free and flexible. You can record up to five minutes and switch easily from on-camera to on-screen with one click.
Recorded Demo/Screencast – You can also use Jing for short screencasts so you can record your demo right from your computer screen. Screencast videos are very popular (and powerful), so they’re definitely something you want in your video marketing arsenal. Camtasia is king when it comes to screencasts, though Screenflow is a good alternative if you’re on a Mac.
Photo Montage – One of the easiest types of video to create is a photo/video montage. Websites such as Animoto.com,OneTrueMedia.com and Stupeflix.com make it ‘drag and drop’ easy to turn your text and photos into a video. Add some text and music and you’ve got a professional video!
Sizzle Reel
Screen Capture Videos
Screen capture videos are very simple to make with software like Camtasia will let you record your computer screen while you talk into a microphone. This type of video is excellent for demonstrating software, showing how to use certain websites, etc.
Presentations
You’ve probably heard of presentation software like PowerPoint and Keynote, but did you know these can be used to create videos? All you have to do is create a presentation as usual and then export it to a video format.
If you think there must be some sort of catch, you’d be wrong. It really is that simple. Here’s a quick rundown of how it’s done:
- Create a short script for your video. Generally, this will be around 200-400 words.
- Record your voice speaking the script. You can use any audio program , as long as you can export the audio for use in Keynote, PowerPoint or any other presentation software you use.
- Create a slide for each sentence in the script you created.
- Sync the audio file to the presentation.
- Export to video.
>> http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/powerpoint-help/turn-your-presentation-into-a-video-HA010336763.aspx
As you can see, this is a very, very simple method for creating a video! Not only that, but amazingly a very simple presentation video is an extremely effective video type, and usually holds its audience captivated and encourages the viewer to take action at the end!