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Most videos I watch on the video sharing sites are not very interesting.

Why am I being so critical? Because it is true.

If I have to watch another screen capture video where they slowly move from check box to check box, I think I will die.

If you use Camtasia, a very popular screen capture product, you can take sections of your video and speed them up…if you must show them. If you use Camtasia, look for “clip speed” in the help area or go to the “Edit” at the top of the page and find “clip speed”. Please use it to get through mundane parts of your video.

Another way, which is easier, is to just cut out the portion of the video where you type everything in.  Why make the reader/watcher look at your typing and correcting?

Many people refuse to view videos because they cannot skim through the material like they can with a document. Actually, people can move the scrubber bar at the bottom of the video and jump through parts of your video, but they shouldn’t have to do this if you show the essential portions only. This can be a problem if you haven’t saved the video in a efficient enough format. If you haven’t compressed it appropriately, then your video watcher will get excessive “buffering” which will cause them to leave.

AIDA
A stands for Attention: You need to grab their attention. Use music, a smiling human face, an attractive woman, a short but interesting intro.

I stands for Interest: Now that you have their attention, you need to deliver the goods. Give them what you promised to give them in as succinct a fashion as possible. Load your video with good content and you will keep their interest.

D stands for Desire: If you are selling something, you will want to create desire for your product or service. Now don’t say you aren’t selling something. We are always selling, all the time. It may be an idea, a notion, a product, a service, education, or training - you get the idea.

A stands for Action: If you have created the desire, then you need to give them a way to satisfy their desire. Perhaps it is just a link to your blog so that they can get more information. Maybe it is a special offer of an article, report or eBook if they visit your site. You have to be careful here. You don’t want to go hard sell. Just make it easy for them to find what they want.

Always remember, when you are done making the video, take a critical look at it. Do I need to show this part? Can I speed this part up? Can I eliminate whole sections? Did I show my website address at the bottom third of the video through out?  Show it to someone who is very critical and won’t hesitate to give you advice.  Perhaps your spouse will give you the straight scoop. Perhaps a friend who knows a little bit about the subject might be better.  At any rate, get some opinions.

What do you think?  Are you happy with the videos you watch?  Do you have suggestions for improvement?  Do you prefer to read articles rather than watch videos?  Leave your comments below, please.

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