Find Domains For Your Online Business: 3 Steps To Get You Started
November 3, 2011 by Kim R Miller
Filed under All Posts, Resources, Special Interest Video Biz
If you’ve been around the internet for a while, you’ve undoubtedly heard or seen the word “domain name.” It is another word for Universal Resource Locater (URL) – otherwise known as your web address.
If you don’t have a domain name yet for the site where you’ll be selling your videos you need to get one, and the sooner the better. The good news is that you can usually pick them up at a great price. They can be found starting at $7.99/year. (If they don’t list it at that price, go to a coupon site like FatWallet.com and you’ll probably find a coupon code to use.)
It’s a low price to pay for one of the best pieces of real estate out there.
Your domain name can do many things for you from branding you and your products to helping your Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Your effort should be put into deciding on a good one. You need to find domains that will work best for you. You not only want one that is recognized by the search engines, you’ll also want it to be easy to remember and spell and you want it to represent your video well. That’s no small task.
There are different types of domain names to consider using. You can use your name, your business name, or your product name. You can choose something that is short and catchy or long and keyword-filled. Which type of domain name you use depends on what type of website you’re building, i.e., to promote yourself, a business or a specific product and also how you plan to attract visitors to your site.
Here is a step-by-step procedure to help you get started:
Step One: Do Your Research.
Research keywords that describe your product, service or website, along with your competition. Spend some time finding out what people search for when they’re looking for your information, or similar videos, products or services. This is worth the time it will take.
Tip: A URL with an .com extension is still the best choice in the U.S. It not only is the easiest for visitors and prospects to remember and offers you more credibility, if your prospects are looking for you based on your URL, they’ll most likely type in .com over any other extension.
If you find domains available with your keywords and that have the .com extension, you need to grab yours soon because many of them have already been taken. There are firms and individuals that think of and purchase URLs with the intention to re-sell them at high profits. The competition is fierce so get started now.
Step Two: Brainstorm.
Get creative. Think outside of the box. Look a little further into all your research to learn what other keywords may also suit your business. These words may have less competition yet still send you loads of traffic and may be a better fit for you than the more obvious keywords with higher competition.
Step Three: Register your domain name.
As soon as you’ve narrowed your list down to your top five to ten favorite domain names, it’s time to go to a domain registration website and purchase your domain. You’ll need your credit card. Start with your first choice and see if it’s available.
TIP – You can often buy the related .info domain name for as little as an additional 49¢ when purchasing the .com URL. Do it. You don’t want a competitor buying up the .info or even the .net or .org variation of your URL and the additional cost is insignificant.
So where do you purchase (register) your domain name? You can almost always purchase it through your website host or through a basic domain registration site, called a registrar.
Although it’s easy to find a registrar online since there are thousands of them, make sure you’re going with a reputable company. One of the top companies, and the one we use, is GoDaddy.com. We have registered about 100 URLs with them, spending on average $8-10/year on each. Don’t over spend a ton to register your domain name. You can pay $20-$25 at some places or as little as $5.99 at others, so shop around.
TIP – Some registrars will give you free basic web hosting and email when you purchase a URL through them. If you are on a very tight budget this may work well for you although there are reasons not to do this, which is the topic of another article.
Although it will take some time to find domains that will not only be search engine friendly but user friendly as well, it is well worth the effort in the long run.
Using A Script On Your Next Video? Consider Hiring A Script Supervisor
August 11, 2011 by Kim R Miller
Filed under All Posts, Special Interest Video Biz, Video Production, Video Production Tips
Using a script?
If you’re shooting to a script or storyboard like we recommend, or if you have a series of shots you have to get, you may want to hire a detail oriented person whose job is to deal solely with making sure you get the shot. In the movie world, those are called script supervisors.
You may think a job like this is only required on movie sets but even the simplest commercials, client videos and marketing videos sometimes need it.
Why?
Today many film and video production companies are small operations, often one or two people, so you are frequently wearing many hats on a shoot. It isn’t that unusual for one person to be the director, camera operator, lighting gaffer, sound recorder and grip. I know; I’ve been on plenty of shoots like that.
Therefore, here’s my advice about having a script supervisor on your set.
Don’t Rely On The Camera Operator
First, the camera operator is more likely to concentrate on the actual shot, be concerned about camera moves, lighting, audio, etc.; for the camera operator, keeping track of script details is secondary.
His/Her primary job should be to focus (pardon the pun) on getting a good shot without distractions.
If you’re the camera operator and don’t have anyone to do this for you, then taking time out after every shot to review what you did and look at your shot list and take notes is important. If you’re doing this for a client, then make sure your extra time is figured in the cost.
Be Kind To Your Editor
Get all your shots and provide coverage and the editor will love, love, LOVE YOU, and if you’re the editor, you will love yourself. My mantra is “be kind to the editor, they can’t pull a shot out of thin air.”
Yesterday that point was driven home when Rick, whose been editing a series of 40 exercise videos we just finished shooting for Dave Sheahan’s Home Workout System, turns to me with a look of panic in his eyes and announces, “We have to shoot the first video again!”
“I can’t find it”
“It’s GONE!”
It looked like he was right…the shots seemed to be duplicated several times and key ones didn’t look like they were there.
My stomach sunk.
Since we were dealing with such large, long files, Rick didn’t have the time while getting them off the camera every evening to watch and log each one individually. It would have taken over 4 hours a night just to watch the main camera, and we shot with three cameras.
He just assumed that all was going correctly. Uh oh…
Now re-shooting was going to be a BIG problem since we no longer have access to the house and set we shot it in, and the talent is no longer here. There is the possibility we could meet up with him in L.A. and re-shoot the first video there, but the look will be radically different. Besides, that would be expensive and it would look like we messed up and oh, how I hate to admit that!
I ran over to the folder where I had accumulated all my notes I took while shooting and there I saw where I wrote that we were having problems with the mic that day and had to do some retakes. So I meticulously went to the place in the clips where I noted the problems and we found we had everything!
Whew!
They were numbered quite randomly and Rick, being the main shooter, hadn’t really remembered that we had the mic problem on that particular day.
I hadn’t either since it happened on Day 1 of an 11-day shoot, over three weeks ago.
But my notes didn’t lie!
Needless to say, we were both very relieved. Rick had worked so hard to make sure all of the files were correctly stored and backed up, he would have been devastated if he had messed it up.
Many times, when I’m not behind the camera, I step into this role. It may be a thankless job at times but I’ve found that for all parties concerned, especially the editor and the producer who is responsible for delivering what the client wants, it’s a very important job.
What Qualities Should This Person Have?
Not only should the person you hire be detail oriented, they need to know how to take really good notes, too! Having a good memory is an added bonus.
If this is not you, then you really need to budget to hire someone like this.
They also need to be assertive on a set. If they know a shot was missed or done incorrectly, then they have to speak up no matter if it means the shoot is going to run into the wee hours of the morning. Their insistence can save a project, your budget and your reputation, so respect them for it. Although you may get a tired cast and crew grumping at you, but it is well worth it in the long run.
What tricks have you found to help you get every shot you need and to keep you on track? Please let us know below.
Choosing A Topic For Your Video
May 26, 2011 by Kim R Miller
Filed under All Posts, Picking A Topic, Special Interest Video Biz
Choosing a topic for your videos takes thought
Choosing a topic for your video is a bit like deciding on a college major during your freshman year.
You either know exactly what you want to study and do with your life after college, or you become ‘undeclared’ and pursue a variety of majors to find the one that’s right for you.
The difference between college and being a special interest video producer is that you must choose a major in order to graduate, whereas you can remain ‘undeclared’ forever as you work on building a business with your special interest videos.
How to choose a topic: Two keys to picking a successful topic
The best way to get started in this business if you haven’t produced anything like this before and you don’t know where to start, is to focus on choosing a topic you are interested in and know something about.
Choose a topic that interests you
Producing a special interest video is much like writing a book. You will be spending a lot of time, effort and investment in producing this project. Your interest in the topic will give you the motivation and commitment to see the project through to completion. Then when you are ready to sell “your baby,” you’ll be more enthusiastic about promoting and marketing it which will increase your chances for success.
Once you see success in this topic and gain the skills you need, then you can branch to other niches if you wish.
Choose a topic you know well
When you know about the topic you are producing, you will use the correct terminology within that area. This isn’t only necessary to produce quality, factual video, you’ll also know the language your ideal customer uses so that you can successfully market to them. Your “marketing voice” will be more authentic.
You’ll be able to choose a good title for your video. It’s important to not only have an appropriate title but one that will also excite and entice your customer.
Most likely you have a deeper understanding of the niche so that you can expand your video products further and sell to the same customers. You’ll find that if you produce many videos within a niche, you will be seen as an expert and be set up to rule that niche.
Finally, it’s simply more fun when you know and love the topic. You’ll get the advantage of being able to indulge yourself in your topic while producing and selling a video to others who share your passion. It’s a win-win.
If you’re ready to start, you’ll want to check out the two DVDs we have, Make Money Selling Your Videos and My Secrets Of Producing Successful Special Interest Videos. We are also going to be offering a new 16 week course in our SIV Academy in July so sign up to be the first to be notified. We’ll be offering discounts to our customers.
