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USING YOUTUBE
T
1 his section will provide you with quick start information about
using YouTube to your advantage. From registration to
uploading videos and more, you will find all the answers
to your most pressing questions right here in this simple and
easy-to-use section.
R
EGISTRATION
You are welcome to view video clips freely at YouTube.com.
But, if you want to become an active member of the community,
you will first have to join. You can do this easily. If you use the Web
even mini
-mally, registering with YouTube.com will prove a snap.
First, you will have to log onto the main YouTube.com sign
up page.
VISIT: http://www.youtube.com/signup
REGISTRATION IS SIMPLE, just enter your user name, set up a password,
2 provide your e-mail address, and provide some personal details
needed by the site. These include your phone number, the
country you live in, your gender, date of birth and a confirmation
number provided by YouTube.
Worried about your privacy? Don’t. YouTube.com provides
an extensive privacy policy you can access by the bottom
navigation bar, or just visit:
http://www.youtube.com/t/privacy
YOUTUBE VALUES THEIR CUSTOMERS’ privacy. While they may not
share your personal information intrinsically, you should know
that any content you upload to the site will be available to the
public at large. YouTube may use information such as your
name and e-mail address if you choose to engage in activities
offered by the site (like uploading your video clips).
YouTube often sends cookies out to users computers, so visitors
returning to the site can log in easier. You can always delete cookies
on your computer, this has never been an issue for most people.
The company will not send you marketing material or other
advertisements without your consent, though they might send
your e-mail address for administrative purposes, but does not
share your personal information with “third-party” companies.
This means usually most of your information is protected.
REMEMBER, here are the benefits of registering:
You get to watch millions of videos presented by
people throughout the world.
You can set up your section so you can share home
videos with family members and friends that may live
faraway. You can connect with people around the
world that share common interests, likes and dislikes.
You can have fun
3. RICHARD HOLMAN
You can upload and promote your videos to a global
audience, a huge benefit for any entrepreneur,
marketer or small business owner.
C
ONFIRMATION
Note, when you register YouTube will send you a
confirmation note to confirm your e-mail address is legitimate
and that you own it. Do not forget to confirm your email address
or you will not be able to use the full functionality of the site.
G
ETTING Your Video Featured
Now that you are registered, its time to start making movies.
One of the first questions people have is about getting their
videos featured. Everyone wants their turn in the spotlight. The
real key to getting your videos featured is nothing more than
creativity and good luck.
Visitors on YouTube ranks the videos they like. So, like any review
system, if people like what it is you have to show, they will rate your
videos better, and your videos are more likely to be featured.
YouTube.com provides a featured section for popular videos.
U
SING TestTube
Some people are generous enough to want to offer feedback
and improve any site they use, including YouTube. If this sounds
like you, visit:
http://www.youtube.com/testtube
HERE OFFICIALS of the site try their newest features and ask users to
provide them with feedback so they can make their products and
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services more appealing. You will get the opportunity to “test-drive”
new features or programs before YouTube launches them.
M
AKE YOUR VIDEO “WATCH WORTHY”
Apart from making a great video, there are many ways you
can express yourself and get noticed on YouTube.
Unfortunately, YouTube doesn’t let registered members upload
person
al avatars of themselves, small pictures of their liking.
You can however, create a brand simply by using your video
cam. You can provide an intro clip, a short bio of yourself if you like.
Otherwise, use your full creativity to help brand your name, your
products or your services. You can even brand your message if you
place enough time and energy in creating your videos!
M
AKING Your First Video
Since YouTube is a relatively new concept, there are still many
people that are not certain “how” to go about making a great video.
First, you will need the proper supplies. You can make a video using
something as simple as a digital camera, your cell phone (provided it is
one that takes video pictures) or a traditional camcorder.
What you do is simply record a short, 10-minute clip of your
video. Then, download the video to your computer just as you
would any digital pictures you would take. YouTube then allows you
to upload your videos. If you want to shine, you can edit your
videos before uploading them. There are many software programs
readily available that allow you to edit videos relatively easy, even if
you are a beginner. Some examples include Windows Moviemaker.
Software applications are a big hit, in part because you can
add subtitles to your video, you can incorporate special effects,
and you can zoom in and out and take advantage of many other
features. Since optimizing your video is essential if you want to
attract atten-tion on YouTube, let’s find out how to do that.
Page 5The next section will help you learn how to create and
maximize your videos’ potential so they captivate your audience.
Page 6OPTIMIZING YOUR VIDEOS
O
ptimizing your videos is essential if you want to stand out in
the crowd. You don’t have to have fancy technology to
make a great video. Use the tips below to learn how
anyone can create compelling and interesting videos for their
YouTube audience.
Remember, YouTube provides even novices the ability to
create videos and upload them as simply as possible.
M
AKING Videos With Your Camcorder
If you have a digital or analog camcorder, then you probably
already know how to use it. It is easier to post videos to
YouTube if you use a digital camcorder. All you have to do is
shoot your video, download it, and upload it to YouTube.
If you use an analog video recorder, like the kind that uses
older VHS tapes to record videos, you will probably have to use
a converter box to create a digital copy of your video, which you
can then upload to YouTube.
Once you upload your video, it’s time to improve on it. Sure, you
can leave it as is, but remember, if you take even a small amount of
Page 7
RICHARD HOLMAN
time graphically strengthening your video you are likely to attract
a larger audience. So, here’s what you do.
First, make sure you have access to some video
editing software. You can acquire this
inexpensively on the Web. One of the more common
tools people use is Windows MovieMaker.
Once you have the right software, upload your
video to the application. Once you do this you can
edit your video all you want. Try saving multiple
versions of it and testing it with users to see which
they like best.
Now it’s time to make your video stand out. Add
special effects, like interesting color schemes or fade
in. Try adding titles or even chapters to your video.
Put some music in the background. All of these small
additions will encourage more people to look at and
review your video.
If you are not sure what makes a good video, go to
YouTube.com and check out their “featured videos” section.
Find out what makes these videos stand out. Is the content
outrageous? Does the author use multiple special effects? Are
subtitles or category titles included? Take some notes about
what you like and what you don’t. This will help you when you
brainstorm ideas for improving your personal video.
T
IME TO UPLOAD
Now that you took some time to play with your video, it is time to
upload it to YouTube. Make sure you save any changes you made to
your video before you upload it. You also have to save your video in a
format YouTube can use. YouTube.com recommends you save your
video with the following extensions for easier uploads: .MOV, .AVI, or
.MPG files. These are common video formats most people find easy
Page 8to use. YouTube also recommends you use a video with a
320x40 resolution and one with an MP3 sound track.
You should be able to upload your video any way you like. If
you use a digital camcorder, you can upload your video from the
device to the website. YouTube even provides the alternative for
users to send their videos to the site by e
-mail.
One you upload your video, you will need to provide some
description for it and tags so people can easily find it. The best way to
create tags for your video is to come up with some catchy keywords
people are likely to search for when looking for videos like yours.
You will also have to specify one or more categories under
which YouTube.com lists your video. Remember, the goal here
is helping other users find your video quickly and easily. With
millions of videos uploaded each day, you have to take time to
ensure you label, categorize and tag your video correctly, so it
stands out from the crowd.
Page 9HOW TO DRIVE TRAFFIC TO YOUR SITE BY
POSTING VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE
W
eb 2.0 offers many cost-effective ways of promoting
your website and YouTube is no different. And that’s
just one part of YouTubing. It is also one of the most
fun ways of promoting your website. There is music, there is video,
there is creativity, and there is marketing. A terrific mix, isn’t it?
YouTubing is not going to sell your product. What it can do,
however, is get people interested in your services. How? Let’s
take a look.
B
ROWSE around
If you are new to YouTube, this should be your first step. It’s
a fascinating world out there. Plunge right in and look around a
bit. Look at the kind of videos others have made. You’ll find
some of your favorite music videos, movie scenes, vintage
videos, personal videos, documentaries, and of course, a glut of
marketing videos. If you find something in your niche, make a
note of it. When you make your own video, you’ll need to come
up with something different from your competitors.
Ab
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