A blog post

How to Produce a Video Podcast on a Shoestring Budget, Part 1

Posted on the 18 June, 2008 at 12:41 pm Written by in Video Marketing

Most podcasting experts will tell you that don’t need Hollywood effects to produce a video podcast. I interviewed quite a number of video podcasters for my book and many shared with me that they started off with a few homemade items to create their studio.

Too often, people are looking for Hollywood effects when watching a video podcast. My advice? Just make sure the content is solid and get it out there.

While you don’t need to be a Hollywood producer, I highly recommend that you follow these tips if you have a limited budget:

  1. Buy a simple video recording device. I use the Flip Camera which you can buy for under $160 at any Walmart (Canada & US), Best Buy or Target (US only). I record all my videos using the Flip. Check out the videos done by Dulcita Love (a Social Media Telesummit alumni), Nancy Marmolejo (a longtime colleague), Travis Greenlee and The Blog Squad (my mastermind buddies). Very good quality videos for a small investment. You just insert 2 double A batteries, turn on the device, then click the red button at the back to start recording. Easy.
  2. Edit the recording using the free tools on your computer. The Flip camera records in an AVI format which is a lousy format to share online because it’s too big and bulky. I use Camtasia to edit my videos and you can download the software for just under $400. If you can’t pony up that kind of cash, both Mac and PC users have free video editing software on their computers. If you’re using a Mac, you can edit your recording using iMovie. On a PC, there’s a free tool that comes bundled with XP and Vista called Windows Movie Maker. In iMovie or Windows Movie Maker, you can mix in music, add other video clips and have loads of fun putting the final touches on your video.
  3. Save your video recording in a M4V format. This format is required for podcasting and ideal for sharing your video online. Why? Because it’s a compressed format. That means you get a high quality video file in a lean size and gives you a better chance of meeting the uploads requirements for Facebook and YouTube. For Windows Movie Maker users, the only compressed format available in this software is WMV. But never fear because there’s many free tools online to help you convert WMV to a M4V format.
  4. Publish your video for all to see. There are so many options here. You can upload your video to YouTube or Facebook, then add tags so it brings in traffic. You can use a service called TubeMogul which will submit your video to dozens of video file sharing websites. I use mDialog because I can upload any file size and the encoding is done for me. mDialog also offers an RSS feed which I can then use for podcasting. Or, simply use Podpress on your WordPress blog and post it there.

As you get more proficient with shooting and producing video, you can then improve your technique. But I highly advise that you first concentrate on creating really great content. The bells and whistles will come later.

In a couple of days, I’ll post some additional things you can do to make the people on your video podcast look good. In the meantime, please post your tips in the comments section below on what tools you use to create stellar videos.

Update: Check out Donna Maria’s post in response to Larry Lawfer’s comments below. In summary, Donna Maria writes that business owners are never locked into any one strategy. That if we wait until we can hire professional videographers to produce a video for our business, we will miss the boat.

I love this quote from Donna Maria:

“We don’t succeed because of how much we have. Instead, we succeed because of what we do with what we have.”

  • http://www.yourstorys.com Larry Lawfer

    Leesa totally misses the point on a variety of long term issues here. While the Flip camera is a wonderful and immediate tool for down low social media communications, using one for anything professional or corporate locks you into this low level presentation of your work. Without getting highly technical about codecs, compression and delivery trackback let us examine our objectives from a year out.

    If something is worth shooting and presenting, then it is worth archiving and used again in other ways not originally anticipated. Our world is moving through Social Media quickly, corporations are catching up. We live in a world where good is just not good enough, especially in the highly competitive world of business. If you shoot something with a consumer camera then you forever have low level quality. This is not good.

    What you really want to do is capture your work at as high a level as you can. If what you have to say and share is important to more than just a few friends and family then it is important enough to do it as well as you can.

    Saving your content in an M4V format is the correct way to do a podcast. What Leesa does not share is that double compression of your content degrades the image significantly. That is why all the YouTube videos look so horrible. You want to present your work in the best possible way you can. If it is a podcast than M4V is fine, if you are on the web Flash is better. Not all computers run the Quicktime file M4V, 98% of the computers run Flash. Assuming you want people to be able to watch your content, then deliver it to them in the way you can be sure they will see it.

    I notice Leesa omitted iTunes as an option. While I am not a huge fan, it is the most used method for remote delivery. Consider how your audience will view your content and give it to them in the best manner possible.

    Leesa talks about how to make money, she talks about six figures, she delivers a premium product at a premium price. Suggesting that you cut corners on the tool that is the hottest way to deliver you content is a complete disconnect. I know Leesa to be intelligent and focused on providing the greatest value she can. Not everyone bats 100%, this one is a miss.

  • http://www.leesabarnes.com Leesa Barnes

    Your comment reminds me of a blog post that I saw, which is the reason why I wrote up this post. The person practically roasted someone else for producing a poor quality video. I watched it and the video quality wasn’t bad at all and the content was amazing.

    Larry, I know you and you come from a video production background. Many people I work with do not and are scared to move into video because of comments like yours. Sadly, too many businesses do not move into video because those with a video production background choose to tear down what they’ve done instead of encourage that business or individual for starting in the first place.

    My post is meant to encourage individuals to start video recording and stop thinking they need a huge budget to get started. I’ll focus on giving the novice confidence to get started. When they’re ready for the advanced tips, I’ll refer them to you, Larry. How about that?

  • http://www.yourstorys.com Larry Lawfer

    My purpose is to give them a longer tail view of what they will gather. I am not suggesting hiring professional crew. Cameras today are capable of doing all the thinking and hard work for you. The big BUT here is that if it is worth shooting, it is worth doing it with a bit deeper view of the power of video than you share above. By providing your audience with entry level knowledge just so that they start you are doing them a disservice, and I know that is not your goal.

    Video is already the next Killer App. You don’t suggest it is ok to use a bad microphone for your audio podcast, or not proofread your blog before posting it, why give not give video the same respect. Is ok, or good enough really ok. I know that is not part of your mission statement.

    I think individuals need to know that they can do it, they should do it, it doesn’t have to be big budget or come out of a place like YourStorys, but it certainly can be done in a way that is both cost effective and provide long term value.

  • Michael Jones

    Leesa, I think your post outlining ‘low budget” ways to produce video is great. I notice you mentioned the price of the Flip. I have used the Flip for some of the presentations I have made at medical conventions and the videos are more than adequate for my purposes and my audience. Maybe Larry can give pricing strategies for his recommendations. Its great to criticize but give us some specifics. I have used professional video production crews for the last 14 years. Yes, we have produced great segments but for educational purposes I have shifted by production concepts to the Flip. If we can’t get a good product with Flip, then we book the video production professionals. We use the Flip for our video posts on YouTube and for short segments on our website. So far, they have been ver well received. Thanks Leesa for your posting.

  • http://www.simplysuccess.ca Iris Benrubi

    Hi Leesa:

    Thanx for this post. It is perfect timing. I have been thinking about using video for my newsletters, my blog and my training tools. This is perfect timing.

    I am willing to give the flip camera a try. It’s great to get my feet wet and make my own decision as whether I wish to upgrade. I have many other service and software providers suggest the flip camera
    for producing video – so I think you are very much inline with what is ‘acceptable’ right now, with an eye to the future as products improve and prices become more affordable for higher grade products.

    One thing, my computer has windows xp and i can’t seem to find the Windows Movie Maker. Would it be under another name? or do you recommend another product cheaper than Camtasia for beginner videographers/video editors?

    Thanx for your contribution Leesa!

  • http://www.leesabarnes.com Leesa Barnes

    @michael, as someone said on twitter, just keep it simple. The Flip is great and you just have to make sure that you have ample lighting.

    @iris, check out the Microsoft website and see if you can download Windows Movie Maker there.

  • http://www.homespagoddess.com Denise

    Hi Leesa,

    I found this post via dM’s blog. I guess great minds think alike because I just spent the past weekend putting together a mini free seminar on digital video and photography. You can check it out here:

    http://www.youtube.com/user/TheHSG

    No, it’s not a “professional” production, but it’s what I’ve learned and I wanted to share it with my email list of potential ad customers.

    I’ve been podcasting since 2005, I was one of the first bath & beauty podcasters online. My first show was awful, but 173 shows later I’ve got it down.

    My first vids weren’t that great either, but 88 vids later I think I’ve gotten the hang of it.

    I have always focused on content and delivery. I get over 5,000 downloads a month of my podcast and I have over 400 subscribers on my YouTube channel. I upgrade when I can.

    There is some awful video out there, but there are ways to make great video on the cheap.

    By the way, Mv4 is AWFUL on youtube. I learned that the hard way. I compress my vids twice, Mv4 for my video podcast and Quicktime for YouTube.

    When you need some beauty news check out my blog:
    http://www.homespagoddess.com

    Have a beauty full day!

  • Pingback: Leesa Barnes - Podcasting Expert and Author of Podcasting for Profit » How to Produce a Video Podcast on a Shoestring Budget, Part 2

  • http://DulcitaLove.com Dulcita Love

    It was thanks to Leesa Barnes (Social Media Telesummit) and Travis Greenlee (Virtual Practice Builder) that I got started using video.

    I have found video to be a very helpful tool in making better connections on Social Networking sites since I have not had the opportunity to meet the majority of people face-to-face. Video provides a much better sense of who a person is compared to a photo alone.

    Although taking that first step in creating video can be intimidating, I followed Travis Greenlee’s suggestion to just get out there and start creating your videos as part of his Virtual Practice Builder training program.

    The key is just to get started and have fun!

    P.S. Thank you for the mention in your blog post Leesa and I look forward to Part 2 on this topic.

  • http://www.smsolutionsconsulting.com Shelley Montreuil

    Wow, this topic has revealed quite a hotbed of differing opinions!

    Leesa, I appreciate your willingness to step up and tell the world that most people are way closer to being able to publish their thoughts online than they think they are – it’s a very liberating fact and one that many media professionals might find a little threatening (if they realize they can do it themselves then why would they hire me?). But I also can appreciate Larry’s point that quality is in the eye of the beholder and a video that one person thinks is decent may be garbage in another person’s eyes – I struggle with this issue myself – where to draw the quality assurance line.

    I have to say that simply getting the job done versus worrying over how I will get it done is quite a compelling argument for working within your means.

    I am a past member of your success club and continue to follow you on your new life/business journey – I just want to say, good job. As you pointed out in a teleclass a few weeks ago, it’s all about balance – I try to remember your advice when I am trying to produce the best quality product within my current means (or my client’s means). I hope I apply it appropriately cause it’s good stuff.

  • http://www.LoveFineArt.com Paul Leasure

    Great job bringing us up to speed on the ease of U-Tube (however it’s spelled). Being a technical minded artist painting realism, I think “archival” thoughts like those of Larry Lawfer when it come to my “fine” art presentations. However, I also understand the dynamics, or lack thereof, of feeling overwhelmed and holding back. I agree with you that it is far more important to be productive in the NOW so we can kick out results and get the attention we need. The following we need, the public’s attention, which then affords us better opportunities to produce archival works to be appreciated in whatever media will have it.
    My wife and I are shopping a decent video camera now. Thanks to your encouragement.
    Who knows Larry, after applying Leesa’s advice, I just might be able to afford your services.

  • http://www.PodcastingForMedicalProfessionals.com Peter Beck

    Howdy, Leesa.

    This discussion has been super timely for a couple of reasons: 1) there will always be tension between doing it “quick” and doing it “quality,” and 2) the market is driving the 2 together, but only to a point.

    I use Camtasia in my consulting work, making educational videos for physicians; I used to do purely audio podcasting. The leap upwards in production time from audio to video was, as you know, enormous, but not as bad as it could have been due to market competition making a $299 Camtasia program that does everything but brew your cuppa joe.

    Compare that to audio podcasting…the cart recording software that I use and love, Podcast Station, is no longer available; its parent company discontinued it. To do what it did in hardware — no other company makes similar software for Windows — would cost many thousands for the console. A pro/prosumer quality dynamic mic for podcasting goes for about $300, and a decent vocal strip to massage your mic output (in hardware) goes for between $200-800.

    Needless to say, the knowledge needed to properly use this gear exceeds the “plug and play” ideal for folks focused on business goals. Even using a software solution, a program with Camtasia’s chops in the audio only realm, Adobe Audition, goes for $349, and requires a bit of elbow grease to use well.

    There’s no question things have improved dramatically — either a basic mic + Audition, or a Flip Mino + Camtasia, would set you back maybe $5-600, and give you capabilities that years ago you’d have spent 10 times that much to get, not including hiring the techs to use all that gear. The stumbling block will always be the energy needed to “veer off” and learn to use tech, to further your business goals.

    Personally, I’m all for doing what you can with what you have, while keeping an eye towards the “quality” horizon. That bright line keeps getting closer (i.e. more integrated into the products, and cheaper) every year.