YouTube is a video-sharing website bought by Google in November 2006 and according to Wikipedia “each YouTube video is accompanied by a piece of HTML, which can be used to embed it on a page outside the YouTube website”. This means it can be added to blogs and websites.
I hadn’t realised until recently that this networking tool could benefit me as a freelance writer. Michelle Shusterman in her article How YouTube Can Benefit Writers, (Resource for Writers – Suite 101.com) says that freelance writers can “increase their online presence by adding YouTube videos to their website”, but explains that “the competition for video views is fierce”.
Video v blog post
Michelle Shusterman suggests only using a video where it will enhance your blog post i.e. a blog itself won’t do. If a reader opens your video and they could just as easily have read it in a post – they may not choose to return to your site. I know it sounds obvious, but also remember to make your video interesting.
As a writer, examples of video content that may add value to your blog or site are:
- interviews with people you are writing about
- the inside of a restaurant where you are doing a food review
- the inside of a book you are promoting or reviewing
- a scene or famous place on your travels
You don’t have to worry about buying expensive video equipment either – the quality of the video on some smart phones is perfectly acceptable; however, remember to make it interesting and relevant.
Another blog worth reading is by Charmaine Clancy called ‘You Tube and Writers’ where she explains how you can set up a YouTube page under your username. Once set up this is an area where you can store all sorts of footage.
My thoughts: Have you got a YouTube account for your blog? If not, it may be worth creating an account in order to secure your name or company name (even if you are not yet ready to do any actual videoing for your blog or site).
Lastly, I’ve learnt some new terminology today – video blogs are sometimes called vblogs!
Hope you enjoyed today’s blog.
Until tomorrow…
Sandra
Freelance writer
www.sandramadeira.com
(For information on my services as a freelance writer as well as details of my book and other blogs).
This blog post forms part of My Writing Challenge.
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Why users still make use of to read news papers when in this technological world everything is existing on net?
Posted by Michael | December 13, 2011, 4:40 am