Friday, July 3, 2009

Using NING to enhance your videos (Part Two)

In this tutorial I will go over some of things in Manage within your new Ning site. We will;

* Set up network images
* Set up Administrator control features/restrictions
* Set up RSS feed from Blogger
* Set up feature controls
* Quick overview of changing colors/header.

Next time we will work on the Main Page and show you how you can add tons of stuff and utilize the site, and make it look or match your web site or blog. And things you can do to draw attention to your network.

I recorded this video just sitting here on my laptop. This isn't slick & polished. Just me doing the above and talking to you as I make changes.
I hope you enjoy it and it helps you set up your Ning site. ;-) (NING)


Find more videos like this at In The Viewfinder

Monday, June 29, 2009

Using NING to enhance your videos!

NING is a social web site where you can create a community for your customers or friends. It is also a place you can upload video and get high quality playback. In this article I will show you how you can use NING as a place to upload videos, brand them with your own company logo and then embed those videos on your web site, blog or other business site.

Ning allows you to create a free community and gives you 10 gigs of free upload space to upload your videos. 10 gigs equals about 300 videos if they are under 3 to 5 minutes. So it is perfect for promos and commercials or product advertising. You can embed those videos from your Ning web site into your blog, or business site with better quality than UTube and without all the text and distractions from a Utube video.

UTube videos tend to have ads and other text or redirect links that can distract from your message. Plus UTube videos look like UTube, which is often thought of as an amateur site for blooper videos. You probably want a better more professional player on your company web site that will not link to funny animal or silly videos from someone else.

In this program I will show you how to create a Ning site for your company, brand the player with your own company logo then upload and get the embed code so you can paste that code into your blog or web site. Once you know how, it's faster and easier than trying to set up a player and upload complicated flash media into your own page. Plus you are not using the bandwidth on your company site, the video is streaming from your Ning site.

In future programs I will show you how you can craft the Ning site to become an extension of your own site too. You can use it as a place for customers to join and interact with you and each other. All under the umbrella of your own company site! A great marketing tool!

But first, lets learn how to use it as a place to put your videos and share them on your site in a professional player that is branded with your own company logo! After watching this video go to NING and create your own site!


See how I changed this link at In The Viewfinder!

Select the "Full Screen" option from the Media Player Controls under this video to see it larger!
Advantages to using Ning:

• Your own branded videos with your logo.
• Streaming video, no downloading then playing a video.
• Better quality!
• Fast & easy to upload - process - copy / paste to embed in your site.
• Use the 'community' as a place to interact with clients / customers.
• 10 gigs of free storage space.
• No 10 minute time limit on videos! (keep files under 100 megs)
• No links in the video to lure viewers away, no distracting text.
• Ability to resize video.
• Media Player Controls (volume, pop-out, full screen viewing, etc.)
• No coding or flash files to deal with. Just upload, embed & go!
• No converting video to FLV before you can upload.

J.
I encoded this video as a wmv, much better quality is usual for ning sites.

Monday, June 22, 2009

Dude, Where's My Video?

You need to seriously get some video on your web site! Looking about the 'information superhighway' today, surfing the sites and pursuing through many web billboards posted along the way I noticed a huge lack of video!

Do you have video on your site? I mean up front and personal, not buried down on link seven and page twelve of your vast network of web properties?

You have about 15 seconds to dazzle your viewer before they drive on by and scan the next billboard. Having a video on your site is the best way to capture their attention and entice them to stay!

And you need streaming video, not some ancient quicktime file that takes three minutes to download. On the net, three minutes will seem like hours to your viewer. They simply will not wait to download then play a video. One click and they are gone!

Text is fine if viewers have time to sit and read it, video will start instantly and show them what you are talking about. You need to captivate them, and you can do that with a video. Click, view, be informed or entertained.

You can tell people all about your products or services, or you can dazzle them by actually seeing it! And if you are the subject of your web site why not let them see you?

Your video works the same way, if they are not interested in you, your product, services or what you have to say they will click away in the first 15 seconds. So your video should start out snazzy and gently pull them in.

Give them something to do when they visit, like watch a cool video. You should have a video up front on the main page, especially if you are teaching or showing off your skills! If you have products put a demo where it is easy to find and view.

If your web site is saying, "I am a pro", show them you are a pro!
If your web site is saying, "I am a guru", show them you are a guru!
If your web site is saying, "I have a great product", show them your product!

You have 15 seconds for them to say, "WOW!" Otherwise they are leaving, gone, out the door.

If you want to have a clean front page then you should have clear and prominent links to the dazzling stuff. Like a Video Page or pages with stuff to see and do. It should be easy to find. Click, you are there dude.

Vimeo, BlipTV, even Utube are good places to upload video and then embed them into yor web site. Frankly I'd avoid UTube and use another service, one that isn't as cluttered visually as UTube, but that is your choice. I created a NING site for video uploads. It affords me clean and clear video that I can brand with my own logo. (More on that later)

Plus more and more sites are being delivered to pocket gadgets where the screen is to small to sit and read text or filter through. Video shines on these gadgets!

But, suffice it to say you need video on your site to sell yourself or your wares. In this day & age people are so used to seeing their information they will take little time to stop and read about it. You need to show them. And show them well.

Where is your video?

Monday, June 15, 2009

Shoulder Shooter Contest!

Here is your chance to win a Shoulder Shooter Camcorder Support Brace!

Just fill out the form below and you will automatically be entered to win! The contest will run until July 17th 2009. This is a random drawing. the winner will be notified by email. Response is required within three days. This contest is hosted on the Contest Machine, read the official rules there.


The Shouldershooter is an ergonomically designed camcorder support system allowing you to get steady shots with your hand-held camcorder.

This contest is open to anyone 18 or older. Just enter to win, there is nothing else to do! Prize ships USPS.


The form will also be near the bottom of the blog through the 30 day period to enter. Or you can click here and visit the contest page.

Enter Today!

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Happy Shooters!

Team TSH, a skateboard group recently received their Shoulder Shooter and sent me some footage of them using it. These guys look like they are having fun and getting great steady shots! Here's the video, thought I'd share...

Grab your shooter at Shouldershooter.com!
I would have never thought to use the shooter on a skateboard! What a great way to get a steady "dolly" shot. Way to go guys!
J.

Friday, June 5, 2009

Check Out Special Interest Videos!

Hollywood is not the only place you can find great movies, documentaries and programs to watch! There are plenty of titles available made by smaller producers that are just as entertaining as tinsel town features and blockbusters.

Here are a few to check out:

Lost Towns of the Pine Barrens:

The video was produced by Bill Mecca and features the lost ghost towns hidden away in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey!
Synopsis:

Explore the mystery and history of the pines, without getting lost in the woods. No Jersey Devil to worry about here! You'll learn about the ecology of the Pine Barrens and why it was perfectly suited for an industry that helped forge this nation. You'll learn about the men who founded these towns, and how that iron industry fit into the history of the fledgling nation. Travel the back roads and see how these towns were connected, not just by stage coach routes, but by strong family ties. Learn about the myths and legends of the New Jersey Pine Barrens. You'll also learn how one of these ironmasters had a very famous customer, and how that work of iron is still used today.



Pro Chess DVD:


Want to learn Chess from a pro, you can with this DVD!
Synopsis:

Simple to learn yet tough to master, chess has been played for centuries. It teaches you to think logically, to plan ahead, and to accept the consequences of your actions. A gymnasium of the mind. As former US Champion & IGM Larry Evans (he makes a guest appearance) says, "Chess is food for the brain. It prepares you for life.

Let's Build A Sandcastle!

Ever walked along a beach and observed the beautiful creations in the sand? Ever wondered how they do that? Check out this DVD for wonderful visuals of sand castles!
Synopsis:

Building your Dream Castle on expensive beachfront property is not only fun, it's FREE! Discover easy-to-follow Tips and Techniques from Award Winning Sand Sculptors as they reveal their step-by-step Sandcastle Secrets! Learn Tower & Wall Construction, Windows, Roof, Bridges, Staircases & MORE!

Model T Ford Club International 50th Annual Tour
Synopsis:

Go on a fun filled ride with hundreds of Model T Ford collectors. This colorful DVD slideshow features a large collection of vintage automobiles along with interviews with car owners at the 2006 Model T Ford Club International 50th Annual Tour in Clear Lake, Iowa. Photographs by Robin Heil-Kern and Tony Carlisle. Music by Kevin MacLeod.

Botanical Editions - Ballet Of Blooms
Nature is sublime.....
Synopsis:

Life is beautiful. This totally relaxing DVD will calm your spirit and take you away from your busy thoughts and lead you on journey amongst the flowers. Fly with the dragon flies over the lilly ponds. Come to rest upon the perfect bloom. Glimpse butterflies as they alight in the garden. Explore blooms See details that were always there, but you never noticed.
~
These are just a handful of great DVD's on the market. Almost anything you are interested in is probably a DVD title available somewhere, and if not then a local producer may make one. If you produce S.I.V. look to see if a title of something you are interested in exists, if not why not produce one yourself?

Special interest Videos make wonderful gifts and most distributors will let you buy but ship to the recipients home, so they get it in a timely fashion. Look around for something that interests you!

Check out LULU.com and Createspace for great productions just as good as Hollywood features!
Enjoy!
J.