| If you're a travel blogger, you should be including both | | | | their travel blogs, and to share them with their friends |
| audio podcasts and video in your blog posts. It's a | | | | as well; |
| great way to engage your readers, keep them coming | | | | Top 5 Audio Tips: |
| back, and increase your audience. More importantly, if | | | | |
| you're travel blogging, you should know that readers | | | | 1. DO include a brief (few seconds) musical intro and |
| EXPECT to see videos of the destinations that you're | | | | exit at the start and end of your recording - this gives |
| writing about. Not having videos on your travel blog | | | | your recording a professional touch (but again, be sure |
| labels you as a rookie. | | | | to use royalty-free music); |
| This article is not intended to teach you how to make | | | | 2. DO clearly introduce your guest (if you have one, in |
| podcasts or videos (there are thousands of websites | | | | the case of an interview) and/or clearly state the topic |
| devoted to that but I will tell you that with a Flip | | | | of your recording and welcome listeners. If you have a |
| Camera you can make and post a video to YouTube | | | | guest, pause to allow them to say hello; |
| in mere minutes. If you have a standard video camera, | | | | 3. DO use an audio-editing application (like the free |
| you're still only talking a few minutes more.) | | | | Audacity for both Windows and Mac) to remove |
| The intention of this article is to make sure you do it | | | | background noise or hiss, and to clean up any bits that |
| the right way - to ensure that you're getting the most | | | | need trimming; |
| for the time that you invest in both creating and posting | | | | 4. DO be sure to mention your website (and the |
| your audio and video. | | | | website of your guest) once at the beginning of your |
| Top 5 Video Tips: | | | | podcast and then again at the end of your recording - |
| | | | repeat it slowly and, if necessary, spell out any parts |
| 1. DO make sure you have an opening title and closing | | | | that might be easily misunderstood; |
| "credits". You can use free tools such as iMove (Mac) | | | | 5. If you're not interviewing someone, then DO ask |
| or Movie Maker (Windows) to edit your video before | | | | listeners to visit your site and give them a reason to - |
| posting. Your opening should be the title of your video, | | | | more information, a free report, or some followup |
| and can be superimposed on the first few frames of | | | | benefit. If you are interviewing someone, keep the |
| the video. Your closing credits should be on a plain | | | | focus on them and their website - you'll get a |
| white, black, or other solid color frame that you add to | | | | reputation for being a great interviewer and more |
| the end, and - if nothing else - list the link to your | | | | people will want to be interviewed by you; |
| website with a "call to action" (an invitation to learn | | | | BONUS Tip: Whether you've posted video or audio, be |
| more by visiting your website). You can also use the | | | | sure to follow up with a written transcript in either |
| credits - just like in the movies - to list anyone who | | | | HTML, or PDF form, and post a clear link to it where |
| assisted with the production, and the title to any music | | | | your audio or video is posted. If you're busy, outsource |
| used; | | | | the transcription, but it's important to do this for two |
| 2. If you use music for any part of your video that | | | | good reasons: |
| does not have narration, or as a low-volume backdrop | | | | - Primarily, you may very well have readers who are |
| to your narration, DO make sure you are using | | | | visually or aurally impaired and providing them with a |
| royalty-free music to avoid legal trouble; | | | | written record of the narrative will allow them to enjoy |
| 3. DO use YouTube or other video hosting service | | | | your production also. |
| (yes, there are others!) to host your video, in order to | | | | - Secondly, it's SEO-savvy - Google and other search |
| avoid potential bandwidth over-runs that could wind up | | | | engines can then index the written content of your |
| costing an arm and a leg, or shutting down your site; | | | | audio or video production and rank it for any of your |
| 4. DO ask people to leave comments at YouTube, | | | | keywords that you've used. |
| which will increase views - the more people who see | | | | If you have questions, feel free to post them in our |
| your video, the more that will find your site after seeing | | | | Forum at Travel Writers Exchange -- we have |
| your link in the closing credits; | | | | several forum members who are great with both |
| 5. DO encourage others to embed your videos on | | | | audio and video podcasting! |