7 steps to vlogging for success

Nowadays people tell you how vlogging can be a powerful tool for your blogs success. What with the high speed connection in most households and Youtube making an impact on millions of people out there, video has become such a cool tool to play with that nearly everyone is using it and some even abusing it.

This is where, I believe, vloggers get it wrong. If you look at youtube for example you get to see some pretty naff videos being made which don't get much exposure, the filp side being that you get some which bring home a fair share of viewers and others which go completely ballistic -and get an audience of millions.

I have recently listened into a teleseminar with Maria Andros who spoke about seven ways to improve your video skills and have a better chance of bringing in a higher number of viewers then if you didn't have a plan in mind to begin with.

So, here we go with the 7 steps to vlogging for success:


Step 1 - Welcome your audience.
But before you even turn on the camera, (a tip from Maria) to get yourself in the zone ,do some jumping jacks, flips, splits, whatever it takes to shift your energy and get the good vibes flowing through your system. Then you're ready to say 'I'm ready for that close up Mr Demille' ;-)
And once you're ready, make sure you set up the camera at the appropriate angle (preferably on a tripod), flick on the ON switch, press that RECORD button and get ready for the introduction. That's right boys & girls, you want to welcome your viewers first by introducing yourself and try and be as natural as you can, pretend you're talking to a friend of yours. But if you still feel a bit apprehensive, do some more somersaults ;-)

Step 2 - Establish credibility with your viewers.
What that means is that even though you're still a complete miserable failure in the internet marketing game, that's not to say that you don't have something of value to share with your audience. I'm sure, in fact, I'm certain that you're a person of many talents and that you've accomplished many things in life, so talk to your viewers first about your past success in life, the awards that you've perhaps won, the books that maybe you've written and the challenges that you've overcome in the past. It's not boasting, it's just giving your audience that nudge of encouragement that you are someone worthy of listening to.

Step 3 - Keep your audience interested throughout your video.
In this day and age of numerous channels and countless vlogs on the web its easy for your audience to loose interest and flip onto another silly vid of a girl with low cut top and over exposed bossoms, so keep them wanting more. Hook them in with some top tips if you have to, draw their interest, tease their senses and even add some humour to grab their attention. Remember the saying WIIFM (what's in it for me?) Your audience wants to know what they'll be getting out of watching your vid, so if you can convince them that what you have to deliver overides a pair of mammeries then you're on the right track to keeping them tuned to the very end.

Step 4 - share your story with the world.
Let go of your ego here, and don't be shy to share with your audience the reason for your vloggings in the first place. I'm sure we're all here for most of the same reasons so be truthful about why you are here in the first place? What made you decide to become an Internet Marketer? Open up to your audience and allow them to see the real you. After all, we're all human beings at the end of the day.

Step 5 - Paint the problem.
'Are you sick and tired of being... Sick and tired?' Tell your audience some of the major problems we're facing today, and the crap that most of us have to deal with. Credit scrunches, Stock divings, Repossesions, Foreclosures, Recessions, Redundencies, should I go further? Yes, they've all had it up to here with 2008 but they still have to be reminded of what is lurking behind the corner of 2009 and what they can still be facing unless...

Step 6 - Provide a solution.
...You can help them change for the better. So what can you do to soothe their problems, alleviate their troubles, calm their nerves. What's your solutions for a happier 2009?

Step 7 - Call to Action.
And just like in the good ol' days when we were kids who liked to play Simon says you will do the same thing with the adults Because people like to be told what to do. We are taught from an early age to follow the leader - what Simon says - right? So be that Simon, or Janet, or Dean, or Tracey and tell your captivated audience that you truely and passionately want to help them and make a difference in their lives. So call them for action and get your audience to do what you ask from them to do whether it be to join your mailing list, download your e-book, buy your software, or simply visit your website.

Be interactive.

Be inspiring.

And above all...don't forget to smile :-)