3 Quick Tips for Not Freezing Up On Camera

They say fear of speaking in public is right up there with fear of death.  Yikes!  If that’s true, then speaking on camera must also be one of the biggest and most universal fears.  There may not be a room full of people when you’re shooting your marketing video, but the minute that camera goes on, many of us go into a state of mild panic.

If you’d rather run for cover than be on camera, you’re not alone.  It’s natural to be self-conscious when you need to be in front of the camera.  Even seasoned professionals still get a bit of stage fright.  Back in the day when I was at E! Entertainment TV shooting television commercials and celebrity interviews, we’d actually turn off the “tally” light on the camera – it’s the little red light that indicates “recording.” We’d disarm the tally light just so the interview subject would be less nervous.  Eventually, after a few takes, the person on camera would relax and focus on their message, instead of worrying about the camera.

That’s just one of the keys to better on-camera video: Focus on your message.  The more you concentrate on delivering your content and engaging your audience, the less aware you’ll be that there’s a camera there.  Stay “on message,” just as political advisors would recommend to their candidates.

Here are three more tips for looking like a pro when the cameras roll:

1. Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse.

Television and movie celebrities practice and rehearse relentlessly, and so should you.  Take a cue from Hollywood and be prepared.   Review your script up and down and sideways before you ever fire up your video camera.

2. Plan it. Script it. Shoot it.

You’ve got to have a strategy and a well-thought-out plan for every video you create.  If you want to look comfortable on camera, then you need the confidence that a real strategy provides.  Plan your video shoot in advance.  Understand your objectives and what the video has to do to accomplish those objectives.  Then script it out.  It doesn’t have to be word for word, but it you do need to organize your thoughts and – at the very least – have a detailed outline for what you’re going to say.  Only then are you ready to shoot your video.

3. Suck it up, buttercup!

Finally, if you still feel like a deer in the headlights when the camera rolls, just deal with it!  (Insert tough love here!)  Seriously, you may have to get outside your comfort zone to be on camera, but the end result is well worth it.   The more you do it, the easier it will become.  You will make mistakes at first, but that’s what re-takes are for!  If Hollywood can do 27 takes of one scene, so can you!  You’ve got to start somewhere, so just start!

This is just a small sample of what we’ll be teaching in our upcoming Video Marketing Bootcamp that starts in a couple of weeks.  We’ll show you how to create the right video to achieve your specific objectives, along with enough tips, tricks and tools to give you everything you need to crank out your own videos that actually get results!

There’s still time to join us.  Just sign up for the Video Marketing Bootcamp while there’s still space here:

http://www.loubortone.com/bootcamp

Hope to see you there!

My grandparents were from the “old country,” and I can still remember the incredible aroma’s that came from my grandmother’s kitchen when she was cooking the big Sunday dinner for us.  As a kid, I’d ask her if I could “test” the spaghetti, which consisted of throwing the pasta at the wall to see if it would stick.  (After all, what kid doesn’t enjoy throwing food?)  If the spaghetti stuck to the wall, that meant it was done and it was time for the big Italian Sunday dinner.

Throwing spaghetti at the wall may have worked in my grandmother’s Italian kitchen, but I don’t recommend it as a marketing tactic.  Many of us, myself included, throw shit against the wall hoping it will stick…

In the online marketing world, just replace pasta with article marketing, social media, email marketing, blogging – whatever you may be doing in your marketing that you’re just blinding throwing out there to hope something sticks, or resonates with your customers.  Usually, it just doesn’t stick.

Don’t get me wrong – any of these marketing tactics can work, but not without some sort of strategy in place first!  Spaghetti Marketing doesn’t work.  What does work is a well-thought-out, integrated marketing PLAN.

It’s the same with video marketing.  I see it all the time.  Entrepreneurs “throw” their videos up on YouTube with no real strategy behind them, then they wonder why their videos get dismal views. I call this the “post and pray” syndrome, and it leads to frustration and disappointment.

Video – like any smart marketing tactic – must begin with a strategy.  What are your goals for the video; where should you post your video; how can you make it more “shareable?”   Will your video’s message hit home and motivate your target audience to action?  Is the script and the call to action right?

It’s not enough to create video any more, you have to create the right video for the right objectives.  Simply put, you need a video marketing strategy!

That’s a lot of what we’ll be teaching in our upcoming Video Marketing Bootcamp that starts in a couple of weeks.  We’ll show you how to create the right video to achieve your specific objectives, along with enough tips, tricks and tools to give you everything you need to crank out your own videos that actually stick!

There’s still time to join us.  Just sign up for the Video Marketing Bootcamp while there’s still space here:

http://www.loubortone.com/bootcamp

Hope to see you there!

Do you think that Leonardo da Vinci let some dude from a far away country work on the Mona Lisa?  Do you suppose he delegated his art so he could hang out by the pool at his villa?  Did Michelangelo outsource the painting of the Sistine Chapel?  If he did, it probably wouldn’t have taken him four years to complete, but it certainly wouldn’t be the masterpiece we still marvel at half a century later.

Some tasks can and should be delegated.  Outsourcing is a good thing, and vital to the growth of any small business.  But some entrepreneurs get so caught up in the outsourcing craze that they delegate away their brilliance.  In an effort to grow and scale, they end up giving away their greatest skill, asset or talent.

That’s why, when it comes to video, I won’t work with just anyone.  Because of the time and creative effort involved in developing a video marketing strategy, or producing a customized video, I’m really selective about who I work with.  It’s part of my “red velvet rope” policy that ensures that I only work with ideal clients.  (Don’t believe me? Check out my client intake form to see if you’d make the cut: http://www.emailmeform.com/builder/form/d6tvabbOE43XQo)

Many colleagues have pointed out (rightly so) that I could make more money and take on more clients if I would outsource my creative services.  They are probably right.  I could take on more clients if I sent some of the work overseas.  But the fact is, I’m too particular, too proud and too passionate to delegate the most crucial and creative aspects of my work.

I’d rather work with fewer clients who are absolutely over the moon about their video results than compromise on quality.  Idea generation can rarely be outsourced.  Creativity cannot be delegated.  Great marketing strategy does not come from a worker bee 8,000 miles away who is making $3.00 per hour.

Take my accounting, my admin, my article distribution, but not my art!   I have no problem getting a guy on fiverr to do my backlinks, but if a video production or video marketing strategy has my name on it, you can bet your sweet bippy it was created by me!

Now, I’m no Michelangelo – and your video masterpiece won’t take four years to create – but I think we can all learn something from the Renaissance masters.   Do what you do best and delegate the rest. Don’t compromise on your brilliance.  Don’t let anyone else mess with your Mona Lisa!

What do you think?  Feel free to disagree or comment!

I’m preparing the content for my upcoming “Video Marketing Bootcamp” program, and I’d love to get your input so I can customize the course to your specific needs. Please answer the one-question poll below:

Want info on the Video Marketing Bootcamp? Visit http://www.loubortone.com/bootcamp!

Let’s face it.  Doing video on your own can be a pain in the ass.  It’s kinda like eating your veggies.  You know you should eat carrot sticks instead of potato chips, but chips are more fun.  Eating veggies will make you healthier, but you still don’t do it as often as you should. Using Online Video will make you money, but you still don’t do it as often as you should.  So let’s be honest…

You don’t really want a video.

You want more clients.

You want more money.

You want more visibility and street cred.

You want to look like a rock star.

News flash: That’s what video gets you.

If you want more clients coming to you; if you want more cash in your pocket; if you want to look rockstar cool, you need video.

And I don’t mean “just throw shit against the wall and see what sticks” video.  Video without a strategy is a complete waste of time.  You need a video marketing plan.

You can (and should) use video marketing to attract more clients, accelerate the sales process, build your list, get way more visibility, increase conversations, or just be the coolest kid on the block.  Video can do ALL of these wonderful things for you, IF you plan it with the right strategy to hit your goals.

That’s what I do: I help folks like you create a comprehensive video marketing strategy that gets results.  You want a video strategy that gets you more clients, let’s talk.  You want a video marketing plan that actually boosts your bottom line, call me.

Just ask my clients, like Michael Port, Ali Brown, Nancy Marmolejo, Mari Smith, Sheri McConnell and dozens of other uber-successful entrepreneurs.  They all use video as a STRATEGY, and they all reap the benefits!  (So can you!)

You may not want to do video, but you need to do video.  I can help…

So eat your veggies. Make your videos. Live long and prosper.  (borrowed that one from Star Trek)

And for the love of God, get your act together and sign up for one of my video marketing coaching programs! It’s time for you to make money with video marketing:  http://www.loubortone.com/vip

Those who hesitate are toast.

Remember the 1996 movie Jerry Maguire with Tom Cruise and Cuba Gooding Jr.?  (Holy crap, was it that long ago?) The movie has some memorable lines, like “Show me the money” and “You complete me.”  Corny, but classic!

But my favorite quote from Jerry Maguire is “help me help you.”

Help me, help you.  That’s the theme of this blog post…

This year, I’ve been working with a few folks just like you who are ready to do much bigger things and generate more business using powerful video marketing strategies.  In just a few short months, my Video VIP clients have experienced greater online visibility, enhanced credibility (i.e. star power) and have saved a ton of time and frustration by having me help with their videos – and their overall marketing efforts.

We’ve been able to develop a solid marketing strategy and discover smart short-cuts that leverage our time and virtually eliminate the learning curve.  I want all that good stuff for you, too!

It’s hard to believe that 2012 is already a quarter over.  Spring is here and there’s no better time to re-commit to your business goals and make some serious strides.  (Ask yourself where you’re going to be in 6 months if you don’t do something?!?)

If you’re like me, you may need a little extra nudge to help you get started… (nudge, nudge!)

So what do you say?  Help me help you.  Join my exclusive “inner circle” and become a Video VIP.  Together, we will rule the galaxy!  (Or, at the very least, we will dominate your niche!)

Go to www.loubortone.com/vip to see all the details, or feel free to call me or email me at lou.bortone@gmail.com.  I’ve got room for a few more private clients and I’d love it if you were one of them!

Don’t worry, I’m not going to say “you complete me,” but I will help you tell your clients to “show you the money!”

I look forward to helping you!

Here are some new ideas for creating compelling videos without being on camera

So you want to create videos, but you’re not too keen about being on camera…

Relax, you’re definitely not alone!  Most folks don’t exactly love the idea of being on camera, myself included.  Having spent most of my career behind the camera instead of in front of it, I am still not comfortable with the idea of being the main attraction.

Sometimes I just don’t feel like getting all dolled up. (Can boys even do that?)  It’s no doubt more difficult for women, but even us work-at-home dads can have a bad hair day! I’ve done hundreds of “talking head” videos, and the good news is that it does get easier…

However, I still prefer “off camera” videos to live, talking-head vids and, fortunately, those off-cam videos can be quite effective.  So feel free to step away from the webcam and I’ll share some video alternatives that do not require your on-camera presence…

Photo/Video Montage

Animoto.com – Perhaps the best known and easiest to use video creation site on the web.  You can create 30-second montages for free; for longer videos you’ll have to sign up for one of their premium plans.  Sites like these allow you to upload your photos, add music and select a theme or “template.”

OneTrueMedia.com – One of my all time favorite video creation sites – I’ve created hundreds of photo montages using OTM’s user-friendly interface.  The free version has plenty of features, and it’s “drag and drop” simple to add photos and video clips.

Stupeflix – Stupeflix.com is smarter than it sounds!  Similar to Animoto.com, but with a bit more flexibility for the free version.  You can upload your own photos, or import them from Facebook, Flickr or Picasa.  There’s also a decent selection of music to choose from.

Screencasting

PowerPoint – Microsoft’s PowerPoint still sets the standard for presentation software.  As a Mac person, I prefer Apple’s Keynote but, either way, you can narrate your presentation and save it as a “movie” or video!

Prezi – If you’re ready to take those traditional PowerPoint presentations to a whole new level, check out Prezi.com, the free, cloud-based presentation software that puts your message in motion!  With a “zoomable” canvas, your presentations become much more engaging and dynamic.

Camtasia – When it’s time to play with the big boys, you may be ready for Techsmith’s Camtasia Studio, the go-to software for screencasts.  Camtasia comes with a bigger price tag and a steeper learning curve, but it’s a ‘must have’ if you plan on producing screen capture videos regularly.

SlideMotion – This site is new to the screencasting scene, but it’s ease of use is making it a new fave.  You can create video slide shows with music, and they’ve also got a simple ‘onboard’ editor so you can add text, etc. Their Facebook application is a nice touch, and allows you to create quick videos (in just 3 clicks) from your Facebook photos.

DIY Animation

If you decide to get really fun and creative, you can try your hand with “do-it-yourself” animation.  There are online resources and free websites that make it really easy to create your very own cartoon.  This can be a unique and memorable way to get your message across, and it takes only minutes!

My favorite two sites (listed below) both allow you to create your own animated characters and give them voice.  You provide the script, and your cartoon characters do the rest!

Xtranormal.com – This cool site boasts “text to movie” technology that allows you to type out exactly what you want your characters to say.  Creating “insta-animation” couldn’t be easier.  Xtranormal offers a host of characters, backgrounds, sound effects and more.  Be forewarned that this freemium site requires points (aka cash) to access extra characters and additional bells and whistles, but start with the free version and see what you think.

GoAnimate.com – Another fun and easy-to-use site that offers characters so you can create your own story.  Just add text, and the text becomes the narration for your characters.

Whatever tools you choose, rest assured that you can create a very professional looking video for little or no cost, and without the stress that usually comes with having to appear on camera.  These off-camera solutions could be the answer to your online video prayers!

VIDEO SCRIPT CHEAT-SHEET

Two of the first (and easiest) videos you should create for your business are a “welcome” video and an “about me” video. A welcome video, as the name implies, is a short video on your home page welcoming visitors to your website.  An about video is similar, but is usually more of a personal “bio” video with additional details about your background and experience.  Here is a sample outline for each:

WELCOME VIDEO OUTLINE:

Purpose: To give your web visitors a positive first impression, introduce them to you, and offer them a brief message about what they can expect to find on your website.  Be sure to end with a strong call to action!

• Open with a short, branded intro (such as a logo reveal or title card) if you have one
• Introduce yourself to your web visitors as if you’re welcoming someone into your home
• Briefly tell them who you are, who you serve, and the key result people get from working with (or buying from) you – Focus on the benefit to the viewer – think, what’s in it for them?
• Give them a very succinct overview of what they can expect to find on your website
• End with one, direct Call to Action, such as an offer for them to opt-in (sign up) to receive your free report, video series, checklist, or whatever it is you are offering as your opt-in freebie

ABOUT ME VIDEO OUTLINE:

Purpose: To give your web visitors additional details about your background, experience and special skills or talents that could benefit the viewer/visitor.  This video can appear on your “About” page, but you can also use it on other platforms, i.e. YouTube, as well.

• If you have a branded video intro, start with that…
• Introduce yourself and thank the visitor for taking the time to visit your site
• Provide some basic background info about you, as it pertains to your prospect
• Remember to keep your focus on the viewer, who is always thinking “what’s in it for me?”  Even though this is an “about me” video, the truth is you still have to make it “about them!”
• Talk a bit about your target market, and how you help them. Focus on the solutions you provide and the benefits your clients or customers receive.
• Close with an invitation to learn more by giving your email address or a way for prospects to “continue the conversation.”