Audio and Video Blogging
The principles described above apply equally to audio and video blogs. However, there are some specific guidelines for audio and video related content, production and length.
For example, one of the best blogs I’ve seen video of Andy Carvin is walking in the recent video, Kumasi Central Market. Why? Not only is it reasonable duration, the content is more than a head and shoulders photo of someone speaking. It is lively and interesting content, and above all, most people cannot see the content anywhere else (which * never * see a video like this in the news, for example).
Audio
I read once years ago (on a crisp sheet of paper) distributed guidelines for Canada’s CBC radio documentary producers. There seems to be online, but I remember large chunks of it:
- Using a script, especially for the intros and outros – the time it takes to think about what * really * tell shown in video and audio
- In the background is important – try to capture not only voices, but sounds expressive of the story
- Do not use your radio "voice – use the ’talking with a friend about something interesting voice
- Use many voices – interview people and to capture recordings of people saying things (advertisers, etc.)
- See the audio levels – ensuring that the volume is the same throughout
- Organize the tape "scenes" – to allow a fade between scenes (in order to avoid shocks in the background noice jumps)
Some other things about the quality of the podcasts that I noted:
- What you need to create a sound "look and feel" – if we look at Adam Curry’s Daily Source Code, for example, you will notice that it has scheduled to open and close the dialog and music. This is more difficult to do with the video, but only when necessary. Note how Andy Carvin had time to add a title and opening credits.
- Legal – and mix – multiple media – I recommend using the library of Creative Commons music in the best way.
Video
Similar guidelines apply to video as well as some guidelines for the visual aspect of it. For example:
- Framework for a central object or scene (the 2:1 rule applies to the visual content)
- Capture of movement by both the subject and from Thye viewer (the camera)
These are both standards for the promotion of standards for content. However, that’s part of what I was trying to say with this article – to pay attention to plan and quality content will make a big difference in how widely read and distributed his blog.
With respect specifically to the promotion:
- Podcast and vlog content is effectively invisible to search engines, thus providing a good * * Text-based summary of the content – the vlog or podcast should * also * a blog instead of instead of
- Sending emails to individuals or organizations that appear in the video podcast or to let them know it exists, since it is unlikely to know anything else.
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