Thread: My journey with video marketing

For those of you that are thinking about promoting your site, blog or forum with videos, allow me to share with you my experience.

This is where I am today: If you are going to do something, do it with style.

Here is my 300th video on youtube, this videos depicts firearms and graphic scenes from deer hunting. Not for the faint of heart or those easily offended - YouTube - Video number 300

The background music is royalty free, as long as I gave credit to the author, which I did.


This is where I started, in early 2007:
When I first started on my video journey, I was lost. I had an idea where I wanted to go. This "idea" had been set by someone else - Sean Kennedy from rant radio.

Here is an example of one of Seans videos - YouTube - Patrolling with Sean Kennedy S01E10 (1 of 4)

I first saw Sean around January of 2007, when a buddy sent me a link to one of his videos. I thought the videos were amazing. Here is an average guy, talking about the exact stuff I want to know about. Season 1 was awesome, no, it was an amazing piece of art. Season 2 was really good, by season 3, it was as if Sean lost direction. After reviewing what Sean had done, where he was going with his videos and the direction he was taking - I knew I could do the same as he did. In my opinion, I could do it better, but that is an opinion.

Around april of 2007 I got my wifes digital camera (didnt have a clue as to what I was doing), filmed my first video and posted it on youtube. Then the flame wars started.

The first replies to my video were along the lines of "your an idiot" or "your stupid." These comments really beat me down. At several points I thought about just giving up. But if I stopped, then that meant they won. Then I discovered the "block user" feature on youtube. At that point I became a tyrant. If someone posted a rude comment, they were blocked and the comments were removed. Something I heave learned, some people can be like a pack of dogs. One rude comment can lead to more and more. So it has to be stopped at once.

Over the next few months I tried all kinds of video editing software, all kinds of settings, all kinds of video quality settings, resizing the video, water marking, types of videos (mpg, wmv, avi) and finally found a setting I liked that gave good resolution.

At first I set out to be like someone else. But I quickly learned I can not do that. My voice and my personality can not mimic someone else. I have to be my own person - who ever that is.

As my videos have made a circle over the past year, I have also learned that they have to change, they have to mature. If the videos are the same every time, people will get bored.

Here I am, 16 months after I started my journey. What have I learned and what can I share with everyone else?

1. Do not waste your time with crappy cameras.
2. Use a good video editing software, but do not over spend.
3. Be yourself.

Regardless of what you want to do, just be yourself. If you are not yourself, your viewers will know.


4. Do something different.

Other people are making videos about the same thing as you. Ok, so what? The most important tweak you can make to your videos is the setting. There are tons of people filming videos in their house, get outside, do something different.


5. Do something with your kids.

Take time to put your family first. Set an example that others may follow. In some of my videos I have received comments like - "I wish my dad did stuff like that with me." On the other hand, I have seen lots of adults that involve their kids in their video production.

Over the last 16 months I have uploaded about 22 gigs of videos to youtube. And if you count all the other video sites, that number might be over 50 gigs.

If you are thinking of going down the video promotion trail; its not a trail, its a wilderness you have to navigate through. Its a journey that only ends when you say "I quit." This journey is not for the faint at heart, and its not for the thin skinned. Its also not for the quitters. One thing is for sure, if you are any of these when you start, you will not be that way when the youtube wolves get finished with you.

When dealing with people on these video hosting sites, be kind, but be firm. Treat every person as if they were your best friend, but dont put up with any crap either.

Over all, I have found video blogging more satisfying then writing articles. Videos allow me to express myself in ways that text just can not. When these videos are combined with text articles and pictures, the result is an article that will stand out and above your competition.

I just watched some of your videos and they're good, I love the pictures in the 300th video, too. Nice to hear your story and I'm glad the few people who said stupid things didn't stop you