On our way home from yet another fun dinner with friends, the conversation with my husband became reflective as we continued to discuss new media and new media friends. It dawned upon us that the group we had just dined with, we had met because of Twitter. Not necessarily directly ON Twitter, but at the very least because of it.

We’ve only been on Twitter a couple of years, but it has become an indispensable tool in our lives. Once a month, also for the last two years, we have been a part of New Media Cincinnati, started by Daniel Johnson Jr. It was at our first meeting that we heard about Twitter. [As a side note, my husband, being the geek that he is, had us signed up for Twitter before that meeting was over.] It took a couple of months to kinda get the hang of it; it was still about 6 months or so before I began to see it as a unique business tool; and now, it is essential.

The dinner I just mentioned was after the regular monthly New Media Cincinnati meeting. Six of us got together, ate, then sat around for at least another hour talking. We laughed so much, just sharing and enjoying each others’ lives. However, we are all also friends outside of a NMC context. We get together for dinner, or go shopping or to a movie. We’re not just “tech friends”. That’s where, for me the line is between acquaintance-friends and real friends. (To be clear, there are many others we know through NMC – and perhaps only see once a month – that we consider to be true friends. They just didn’t make dinner.)

But it was because of Twitter at that first meeting that we know these people. Some found us through NMC, through a friend that brought them to NMC, we met on Twitter and invited…all sorts of Twitter-related avenues. If not for Twitter, we all would not have met. But because of Twitter we did meet, and are now true, IRL, F2F friends. Our TFF’s. Even if you think Twitter is just a huge waste of time, you never know where true friendship may come from.

If you would like to find out more about the value of Twitter, don’t hesitate to comment.

Vickie – @editVDO
Don – @drscefiers

Here’s the next installment in the series Video THAT Much Better. If you’ve been doing videos for a while now, this video encourages you to consider changing things up a bit and try screencasting. Screencasting is simply recording the actions that happen on your screen and creating a movie out of it. It’s a great way to demonstrate your software product or how to navigate your website. I use Screenflow from telestream.net for my screencasting videos.

If you have an online website or computer-based training that you would like made into a video resource, please email me or leave a comment below.

Here’s another installment in the series Video THAT Much Better. Let’s talk audio. Specifically, camera mic audio. Have you ever watched videos where the person talking seems further away than the video shows or the vocal quality is not rich enough? That’s because they ARE standing further away from their camera and depending on the camera mic. You can pick them out instantly, can’t you? It’s a deadringer, telltale sign of an amateur. It is so easy these days to get an inexpensive wired lapel mic and plug it into either your camera (like the Kodak Zi8) or your computer to record. Now it may take a bit of editing to sync it to your video, but if you start both recordings at the same time, and don’t shut either one off until you’re finished recording, it can be very easily done.

Because there are so many people that don’t bother with an external mic, instead depending on the camera’s mic, that if you use an external mic, your videos will stand out from the crowd, and sound OH so professional!

If you shoot a lot of video at your desk, or in your office, how about a change of scenery? Shooting video outdoors can be a great change of pace, more engaging and give you better lighting. Watch out for loud noises, like your neighbor’s weed whacker, or passing traffic. Pay attention to the background. Remember how we watch out for busy backgrounds indoors? Well, watch out for literally busy background when outdoors, like highway traffic or children playing at recess. Now, of course, there can be circumstances where these backgrounds can be appropriate, but if you’re just doing short, instructional-style videos, I wouldn’t recommend it. Watch out for anything that may distract the viewer from paying attention to you. And, finally, don’t forget that external mic!

I recently had an experience at a networking event that set me off, just a little. So I decided to share it as a little networking tip from me to you as to why you might not be getting as many connections as you think you should…

Next month I am giving a presentation to the Cincinnati Area Board of Realtors and they had me create a promotional video for it. So here it is.

Here, too, is the description I submitted for the workshop.

Perhaps nowhere as in Real Estate is a business so dependent on relationship. And video is the best way to begin and grow that relationship. People LOVE video! Last year, 86% of the US online population viewed video content. That’s 178 million; compared to “only” 150 million in 2008. The average online viewer consumed 187 videos in December of 2009, up 95% from December 2008. Videos are 50 times more likely to receive an organic first page ranking than traditional text pages. Unlike traditional media, video has the ultimate ROI value because it can be created once, and used forever.

Come to the Video for Fun and Profit workshop at the CABR on June 16 at 10am-12pm. This workshop will show you how to create your own videos, how and where to post them. We will also have an interactive panel of users of these and other technologies. Come learn more about these simple to use tools and how they can make a significant impact on your marketing success.

If you can relate to these agents, you need to come to this workshop!

Unfortunately, unless you’re already involved with CABR, this is not open to the public. HOWEVER…I am starting a list of people who are interested in learning how to use video to promote their business. If that is you, please comment below, send me an email, Twitter me (@editVDO), or leave a post on my Facebook Fan page.

Sorry for the late posting of this video. You know, sometimes life gets in the way. I’ll do better next month!

Questions from a Hat is a New Media Cincinnati favorite. Attendees write down questions concerning anything new media, social media, Twitter, Facebook, video, podcasting…these are all put in a hat and, guess what? The emcee, in this case Daniel Lewis, draws a question and the group answers it.

Here are photos I took at April’s New Media Cincinnati meeting. I think I’m improving, don’t you? Enjoy!

Vickie

[View with PicLens]

This is a video review of the Kodak Zi8. If you would like to purchase this camera, along with some recommended items, please visit my online store. It’s at the bottom right. Don’t get the remote through this store; it’s out of stock. It’s out of stock a lot, so I purchased several last time they were available. If you want the remote, email me and I’ll get you one.