Video Blogging Advice From Two Very Different Sources

Posted on June 5, 2007

Two recent advice offerings for video blogging success come from very different sources: one is the most popular business daily and the other is a star in the YouTube video world. The Wall Street Journal is offering some how-to advice for would-be YouTube stars with an article called "How to Be a Star in a YouTube World." Some of the advice includes have sex appeal and be familiar with web popular culture.

It turns out that success in the new-media world depends on a lot of the same things as in the old-media universe. Just as in Hollywood, becoming a hit takes talent, effort, timing and some luck. Sex appeal is just as valuable online as off. And getting noticed by the "mainstream" press also helps build buzz. With over 900 reviews on Yelp.com, posting reviews online isn't as much about stardom for Megan Wade, it's about talking up local businesses like Weird Fish.
Most important, though, is the way Internet stars exploit the power of the Web. They employ all the social-networking tools available on new-media sites like Google Inc.'s YouTube, inviting fans to comment on their work, link to it and even copy it. And they draw on email, subscriptions and other tools to alert fans about new offerings.
"The most popular are the ones who have really tapped into the social fabric" of the Internet, says Jamie Byrne, head of product marketing at YouTube.

Other advice includes be consistent like Rocketboom was with their daily schedule. The WSJ article also tells would-be YouTube stars to "work your network" noting that in the early days of LonelyGirl15 they would make comments about other YouTube videos using the LonelyGirl15 user name. Another suggestion from the WSJ article is to find a niche like Grammar Girl has with her popular grammar podcast.

One piece of advice is somewhat unhelpful.

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When "Rocketboom" went online in late 2004, the idea of a video blog -- posting commentary and news in video form instead of regular text -- was still novel. Andrew Baron, the program's producer, says that the program had a small but loyal audience of about 700 daily viewers within a few weeks of launching.

That isn't really helping because without a time machine you can't go back to 2004. That said just because there are already established YouTube stars doesn't prevent you from becoming one and technically these are still the early days of online video.

The other how to source is Brookers, who is already a YouTube star with over 48,000 subscribers. Brookers has a video called "How2 : Make a Video Blog" with some tips for making a video for YouTube. Brookers can be a little silly so don't take it personally when she is laughing at you because you don't know how to make a YouTube video.