Today I did a sneaky interview…
It was actually meant to be an email interview, but as I do not like typing all that much, and prefer talking, I decided to just record a video about it, and acting as if I was getting interviewed by Louis from ProfitsMasterPlan.com.
It’s a cool little tip you can also do whenever you want to create easy video content. Simply come up with a handful of questions, position your camera in a way that it looks like you’re being interviewed, hit record and just answer the questions!
I hope you can see the power of this method of creating content. Personally, it’s much easier to create compelling video content, than it is to create boring old text!
“Talk” soon!
Gideon Shalwick
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{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Gideon,
I really enjoyed this video interview. I have been working with some a youth outreach program at the University and have been looking for some ideas of how to present content that is not only interesting to watch, but not burdensome for or uncomfortable for the person being interviewed.
Simple brilliance!
Thanks for sharing this tip
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Gideon Shalwick Reply:
January 18th, 2010 at 8:54 pm
Excellent stuff Monique!
Glad you liked the cool new method for creating easy video content!
Gideon
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Very informative, thanks Gideon.
Questions:
Do you use your real birth date when setting up a YouTube account? Their TOS state the information must be ‘accurate’ but I’m wary of why it’s necessary for You Tube to have my date of birth.
How important is it for a human face to be on videos? Do you think it can be just as effective with only voice over and some sort of presentation of what’s being covered?
Thanks Gideon.
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Gideon Shalwick Reply:
January 18th, 2010 at 8:56 pm
Hey Michelle
Yes I do use my real birthdate – for me it’s not too much of an issue being over here in Australia. But I guess it’s up to you whether you want to share such information.
I think the human face definitely adds value to your videos – I’ve had some people commenting on my screen capture only videos, asking to see my face, and saying that it will help them a lot more to make a connection with me and to stay focused on the video.
That’s why you will be seeing more of my face from now on inside my videos.
All the best!
Gideon
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Thanks for the quick reply! I’m an Aussie too so perhaps could worry less about these things than I do. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on it.
I admit I prefer to see faces myself but after several, (make that LOADS), of takes I’m just not confident with what I’m producing. I’ve read and heard enough about perfectionism getting in the way of progress so will get over it after reading your advice.
You’re the video expert and kicking butt with it so I’m listening!
Thanks for sharing your knowledge Gideon.
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Gideon Shalwick Reply:
January 18th, 2010 at 10:38 pm
Thanks Michelle!
You’re an Aussie too? Sweet! Not sure if I already knew that.
Yeah I know what you mean with having LOADS of takes before you’re happy with the result – yes there is the perfectionism thing, but I think there is also something else that seems to be normal with us humans. That is, many of us don’t like seeing or hearing ourselves.
The key here is to just do it enough times, so that you can get over it. Once you’re over it, you actually start enjoying watching yourself – hehehe (don’t tell anyone I said that!)
Talk soon!
Gideon
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Hi Gideon,
This is a very clever, low maintenance way to create content. While I purchased BaB premium some time ago, I didn’t plan on becoming a blogger immediately.
However, now is finally the right time for me to start and I’m moving through the material at my own pace. Point is I tried writing my first post today but I’ve only gotten half of it down, and spend 4 hours already! Probably would have been done by now with this video method. I’ll have to look into camera equipment, but thanks for the great tip.
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Gideon Shalwick Reply:
January 21st, 2010 at 1:13 pm
Hey Danielle
Yeah this is such a fast and easy way of creating videos – and it’s fun too!
I’m actually busy creating a new set of videos that shows you how to create your own high quality videos, but still keep in affordable.
Should be out in the next few weeks
Gideon
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Yep I’m in Melbourne, best state in Australia with Brisbane a close second.
I think I know what you mean about getting used to it. Voice over was hard to hear once but now it’s easy so hopefully the more I persevere with talking head the easier it will be like you say. Not sure I’ll get to the point of actually enjoying watching myself, but if I do I definitely won’t tell anyone, lol.
Thanks again.
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Hi Gideon!
Really like your “Get video online” classes same with become a blogger Great work! Just ran across this site a I like it! Was just curious to know what resolution you record your videos in, is it better to just record the highest you can and then compress when encoding? Also, what video editing software do you use? Will probably be different then I can get as I use a PC but I use Sony vegas movie studio 8 and it doesn’t seem like I can get a high enough resolution when encoding my videos! Thank you Gideon, am looking forward to more of you product!
PS. When are you going to host your youtube webinar again?
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Gideon Shalwick Reply:
January 21st, 2010 at 1:10 pm
Hey Ty
Thanks for your kind comments! Much appreciated!
I normally record in the highest resolution possible so that it gives me more options to export to at a later date.
For example, say I want to create an online video now, but later on also want to change the same video into a DVD. It would make sense to then record in the highest resolution possible. You can always go down in resolution… but you can never go up
I mainly use Final Cut Express for moving videos and for screen capture I use ScreenFlow. For PC, I would recommend Sony Movie Studio HD (cos it has a nice YouTube export function) and for screen capture Camtasia.
Oh, and I have just “quietly” opened the doors to Killer YouTube Strategies again. You can access it over here:
http://killeryoutubestrategies.com/
Talk soon!
Gideon
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Hi Gideon, great technique, a very nice idea for the future! Quick question, what camera do you use or recommend, and what external lapel/tie mic do you use? I’m looking at getting a new Flip (I have an old version) but it doesn’t have external mic input and I need one for the sound when I’m outside. I know the Kodak Z8i has an external mic input but that that impressed with it. Don’t mind spending more for something that will last. Thanks!
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Gideon Shalwick Reply:
January 30th, 2010 at 5:00 pm
Hey Joel
Great questions – I’ll be revealing that info really soon – so watch this space
Gideon
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Joel Reply:
January 31st, 2010 at 10:38 am
I look forward to it, thanks Gideon!
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Hi Gideon,
I just checked out your killer youtube strategies site. Great stuff! I hope you’ll keep it online until I save up some money.
I’d really like to learn all this youtube magic from you, as you are truely the an expert at it. What you did with Free Magic Live is amazing! I plan on launching an e-course in the near future which will be heavily based on video and audio. So, you are my man! 
Also, I really loved the design of Killer Youtube Strategies. Very simple, lots of white space, easy on the eye, yet very elegant and effective. How did you build that page? Simple hand coding or with some kind of theme maybe? I wish to create something similar for the optin page of my e-course. Just a video, a little text and and an easilyí accessable optin form.
Thanks and have a great day!
Zsolt
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Gideon Shalwick Reply:
January 29th, 2010 at 8:28 am
Hey Zolt – Ok I’ll keep it open for a while. I may have to close it down for some time though… but I’m still making plans for the year.
For the design of http://www.KillerYouTubeStrategies.com I just went for the minimalistic approach. I think for my kind of websites, content is WAY more important than pretty graphics. I am liking the model that big sites like Google, YouTube and Apple follow – It’s not about the graphics for them… it’s about the content and the user experience.
So, you’ll see all or most of my current and future designs will be following along this same path of simplicity of design and amazing content.
Great to see you on here again Zsolt! Thought I lost you there for a while!
Gideon
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Hey Gideon,
Just letting you know that your ReTweet button is not showing your name:
It’s automatically doing this @retweetmeme instead of @gideonshalwick – I manually changed it for you when I retweet your blog posts.
By the way, Louis asked me to do the same thing, so I’ll be having a video done soon answering his questions as well.
Thanks for the great idea!
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Gideon Shalwick Reply:
February 1st, 2010 at 8:09 am
Hey Tyrone!
Cheers for letting me know!
I’ve just gone ahead and fixed it
Let me know once you’ve done your interview with Louis – will be great to see your end result!
Gideon
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When are you going to take members for you become a blogger program and how much will it cost. Great videos thanks so much for the info I am new to IM and think your program will be good to start out with.
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Gideon Shalwick Reply:
February 1st, 2010 at 8:10 am
Hey Alan
Good timing – we are actually re-opening Become A Blogger Premium again this week.
To make sure you get notified when we open doors again, make sure you are signed up here:
http://becomeablogger.com/roadmap
Gideon
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