Have you ever wondered how a video goes viral? And what the heck makes a travel video popular?
Membah Matt Harding? He produced the most popular travel video found on YouTube, with more than 30 million views after it first went viral. His second video garnered more than 15 million views and a sponsor. Video used to be limited to those with broadcast production backgrounds. With today’s tools, bloggers are more than just content writers, we’re now publishers, marketers, and now we can add the element of production.
For the past six months, in conversations I’ve had with public relations firms and brands, one theme is consistent - PR and marketing firms look for sites with video. This made me pause and think about the first video I put on my site, TravelingMamas.com. It was a slideshow made on Window MovieMaker and was very easy to make.It’s short and includes my personal photos from a resort hotel. It’s also one of the most viewed videos on that channel.
I’ve always been interested in what makes a video popular or makes viewers want to come back for more. It’s tough here in the travel industry when the indy blogger is competing against the likes of The Travel Channel or Food Network. But, it can be done. That’s why I’m excited to be the moderator of “How to Make a Kick-A$$ Travel Video” as part of this year’s BlogWorld and New Media Expo Travel Track. The lineup of speakers on the panel are superstars in travel, with Kim Mance of Galavanting TV, Johnny DiScala who is the popular Johnny Jet, and Leigh Caldwell of ThemeParkMom.
As a travel blogger looking to put more video on your site, you should do some research and find the best route for production that you can manage. There are a wide variety of tools for video production, some expensive and some affordable. It’s hard to choose which video camera is the right one for you and what video editing programs work best for your personality. My advice is to start with the inexpensive electronics and user-friendly editing tools and then upgrade once you get a little more comfortable with your video productions skills.
Below are some interesting videos and popular videos. When you do produce your own videos, be sure to let your personality shine and have fun with it. If you’re coming to BlogWorld and New Media Expo, I hope you’ll attend the sessions for the travel community. This is one of the big events I mention in my blog post: Explore New Communities.
The most popular short video in YouTube’s Travel and Events category is one that appeals to families: “ Thomas the Tank Engine Land!” which has more than 6 Million Views. What makes this the most popular? I’m sure it helps that it’s on the UK’s The Times Online website, but also, search terms in the title and description are important.
Below, Robert Reid (funny man and personality from Lonely Planet) produces the 76 Second Travel Show. His videos incorporate quirky observations on various destinations and are very entertaining. This particular video is his most viewed. I didn’t find it to be his most entertaining, but with the search terms San Franciso and New York in the title, it would rank higher in the searches than many of his other videos. Plus, he just rocks.
Be sure to attend our panel presentation at Blog World and New Media Expo in Las Vegas on Oct 15, 2010. We’ll take a deeper look into travel video production and provide attendees with a few secrets of broadcast and elements to make your travel video entertaining for viewers. Do you have questions about travel video production? We’ll choose one question from the comnents below to answer live on the panel discussion at BlogWorld and New Media Expo.
Also, another element to consider, is adding an introductory video to your blog. Check out Heather Cowper’s blog, where she offers a video telling what her blog is about and how to take action on subscribing to her blog.
I agree, Shannon, that making travel videos adds an energy to blog posts plus it reaches another community of viewers. I’m bummed that I won’t be in Las Vegas to attend your BlogWorld presentation, poor me, I’m traveling in Italy instead.
Here’s my question:
When uploading a video to YouTube is there anything special that I should do to make it viewable on smart phones and iPads?
Hey, if you pick my question, I hope you’ll email me with the answer or post it here. Thanks!
.-= Donna Hull´s last blog ..Luxury on the Farm in Sonoma’s Wine Country =-.
Helpful post, Shannon. Like Donna, I won’t be able to attend BlogWorld in Las Vegas. Hopefully, you’ll live stream the travel video panel or video tape it for broadcast later!
My question: aside from tags and headline options – what are the most important items to consider for SEO when posting your video to YouTube, vimeo, and such sites. FYI, I use the very basic and user-friendly Flipmino HD.
Check my introductory video on Writing Horseback blog and you’ll get a chuckle that I ‘sleep around a lot.’ Humor is important, too!
.-= Nancy D. Brown´s last blog ..Family Summer Horseback Riding Vacation- Estes Park- CO =-.
Thanks, I’ve been thinking about going the route of more videos for my travel blog community. I’ve noticed when I come across other travel blogs with video I get more excited and I feel more in tune with what their experiencing. I don’t know, you have to be able to create a whole other dynamic relationship with your audience though that is different from writing. I’ve found some people have that character in them ready to come out and some really don’t.
.-= Michael´s last blog ..Photo-Free Travel =-.
Don’t suppose I can give a plug to http://www.booklocker.com/books/4185.html (he said, modestly!)?
Back in the office & blogging regularly now; how have you been?
.-= Keith´s last blog ..Team Queensland 10 =-.
Hi Shannon: Sure wish I could be at BlogWorld. I’m sure I’d learn a ton, but I’ll probably be wandering around Nepal at that point. As you probably know, I stated adding video to my mix about a year ago. Was using iMovie, but recently switched to Final Cut Express and what a change! The quality of my videos has taken a quantum leap, now that I have better video processing software. But I’ve still got a lot to learn. Hope your panel will be available online afterward so those of us who cant attend can still absorb all the knowledge of the experts.
.-= Barbara at Hole in the Donut Travels´s last blog ..Time to Tell the Truth – China was the Most Frustrating Travel Experience of My Life =-.
I had a short and quick burst of enthusiasm with video but got complacent. This post has reminded me I need to stay on top of that medium!
.-= Anil´s last blog ..Photos From Boras- Sweden =-.
Nice post Shannon! It’s great to see people taking more and more interest in travel video. I’ve been the production manager at http://www.tripfilms.com for the past 3 years and lately, the amount of bloggers posting videos has skyrocketed! We love it, and we accept all, even the amateur stuff. Some of our top filmmakers started out not so saavy
Here’s a video about how to make a great travel video for anyone who needs tips: http://www.tripfilms.com/Travel_Video-v66770-New_York_City-How_to_Make_a_Travel_Video-Video.html
Thanks for the mention. As you suggested I started with the cheapest or free equipment that I happened to come across, but as you get more into it it’s worth upgrading to a better camera & editing software – my Christmas present last year was a super dooper Panasonic HD camera & I’m producing better quality HD footage as a result.
My top tips for travel video makers are – 1. keep it short (max 3 mins) and 2. inject your personality into it with your voice, humour or best of all getting in front of the camera and voicing your opinions.
If you’re a Youtube user, you can find my SEO tips for optimising your channel and your videos here;
http://www.heatheronhertravels.com/how-to-optimise-your-youtube-channel-and-videos/
.-= Heather on her travels´s last blog ..Exploring the ‘Abode of snow’ in the Indian Himalayas =-.