Tutorial on the New Linking Device

Short video editors on the desktop version of YouTube Studio now have access to a new linking tool that makes it simple to add a single “related video” link. Clicking this link will take you to another available video on the same YouTube channel. Details can be added by clicking the tab in the right sidebar of YouTube Studio. Any existing or future Shorts video can be edited to include the desired link.

YouTube Expands Shorts Links, Cracks Down on External Links

YouTube recommends a few different ways in which creators can use this feature to improve their Shorts. They can use the link to promote livestreams, connect multiple episodes of a series, or connect Shorts to longer videos. The options are wide open, and artists are free to try out various approaches to see which works best for drawing in their target demographic.

Soon to be Added Metrics

In addition, YouTube has confirmed that in an upcoming update, metrics measuring clicks on related videos in Shorts will be implemented. Creators can now monitor the clickthrough rates of the links they include in their Shorts videos. Creators can improve their content strategy by analyzing these metrics to learn more about their audience’s habits.

YouTube has recently implemented new policies that severely restrict the use of external links within the platform’s Shorts’ description and comment sections. YouTube has decided to disable this feature in an effort to protect its users from fraud and improve the site’s overall quality.

In summary, one of the most exciting new features on YouTube is the ability for creators to link their Shorts videos to other content on their channel, such as their longer videos, livestreams, and more. Creators can improve content strategy and audience engagement by using the new linking tool and monitoring the metrics. Creators can anticipate more cutting-edge tools that will give them greater freedom in the content creation and dissemination processes as YouTube continues to develop and improve its platform.

See first source: Search Engine Journal

FAQ

1. What is the recent announcement from YouTube that creators are excited about?

YouTube has introduced a new feature that allows creators to connect their Shorts videos to other content on their channel. This feature offers creators a way to link their Shorts videos to longer works, additional Shorts, and livestreams.

2. How does the linking tool work for Shorts videos on YouTube?

Creators using the desktop version of YouTube Studio can access the new linking tool. This tool enables them to add a single “related video” link to their Shorts videos. Clicking on this link will direct viewers to another available video on the same YouTube channel. The link can be added through the right sidebar of YouTube Studio.

3. What are the recommended use cases for this new linking feature?

YouTube suggests that creators can use this feature to promote livestreams, connect multiple episodes of a series, or link Shorts videos to longer content. The options are versatile, allowing creators to experiment with different approaches to engage their target audience effectively.

4. How will upcoming metrics help creators make the most of this feature?

YouTube has confirmed that it will introduce metrics to measure clicks on related videos in Shorts. Creators will be able to monitor the clickthrough rates of the links they include in their Shorts videos. Analyzing these metrics will enable creators to refine their content strategy and gain insights into their audience’s preferences.

5. Why has YouTube restricted the use of external links in Shorts’ description and comments?

To enhance user protection against fraud and improve the overall quality of the platform, YouTube has implemented policies that severely limit the use of external links in the description and comment sections of Shorts videos.

6. How can creators benefit from this new linking tool?

The new linking tool empowers creators to enhance their content strategy by directing viewers to related content within their channel. By strategically linking Shorts videos to longer content, livestreams, and other videos, creators can increase audience engagement and retention.

7. What does the future hold for creators on YouTube?

As YouTube continues to develop and improve its platform, creators can look forward to more cutting-edge tools that provide them with greater freedom in the content creation and dissemination processes. YouTube’s commitment to innovation will likely result in more opportunities for creators to enhance their content and reach.

8. How can creators begin using the new linking tool for their Shorts videos?

Creators using the desktop version of YouTube Studio can access the linking tool in the right sidebar. They can click on the tool to add a single “related video” link to their Shorts videos, helping viewers navigate to other content on their channel.

9. How can creators optimize their use of the new linking feature?

Creators can experiment with various approaches to linking their Shorts videos to other content. They can strategically choose to link to livestreams, related episodes, or longer videos based on their content strategy and audience preferences.

10. When can creators expect the metrics for measuring clicks on related videos in Shorts?

YouTube has indicated that an upcoming update will introduce metrics for measuring clicks on related videos in Shorts. Creators can anticipate gaining insights into audience behavior and engagement through these metrics to refine their content strategies.

Featured Image Credit: Souvik Banerjee; Unsplash – Thank you!

The post Link Your YouTube Shorts To Other Videos! appeared first on The Blog Herald.

YouTube has been at the forefront of online video content creation since its inception back in 2005, but in recent years it’s been making changes to try and keep up with the burgeoning growth of bite-sized content like TikTok and Instagram. One of those changes was the 2018 implementation of ‘YouTube Stories’ reminiscent of the Snapchat feature with the same name. YouTube wasn’t the only adopter of stories, though. Both Instagram and Facebook added the disappearing posts back in 2016 and 2017 respectively, but what worked for those social media sites might not have for the video-housing giant.

Why Cut Stories?

It seems that stories simply didn’t live up to expectations, at least for YouTube. This short-form content existed too close to their other main source of quick consumables, YouTube Shorts. Similarly to how YouTube tried to emulate the success of Snapchat stories, the shorts are reminiscent of TikTok’s video length or Instagram’s Reels. The main differences between stories and shorts are the form of content and that content’s shelf life. Stories could host photos or videos that would disappear seven days after posting. Shorts, on the other hand, are exclusive to videos, up to 60 seconds in length, that exist on a dedicated scrollable tab, and they exist indefinitely. 

For YouTube, stories existed to be an outlet for creators to create quick, easily digestible content for their viewers. However, on a platform based almost entirely on lasting video, they felt disjointed. Additionally, YouTube felt that stories were vastly underperforming compared to regular posts or even shorts, and thus the decision was made to get rid of them. 

How Can Creators Interact with Viewers Now?

Creators shouldn’t worry too much about the removal of YouTube stories. There already exist a couple different tools they can use that work even better.

As mentioned, the main competitor to YouTube stories was YouTube’s own shorts page. This, of course, can fill in the potential hole of short-form videos. These videos help to garner more engagement in a channel’s main posts, as well as to be a forum for creators to cater their content to their viewers.

Another tool creators can use to get direct feedback from their audience is through the “Community” page. Anything from polls to announcements to Q&As gets posted there making it a great resource to get direct feedback. YouTube also plans to roll out more features for the community page in 2023.

What Features to Expect from YouTube in 2023

Out with the old and in with the new features. YouTube has dropped several new features already this year, and with more on the horizon, there’s a lot for both creators and viewers alike to be excited about. 

What’s New?

Some of the most exciting new features that YouTube has already implemented in 2023 include changes to shorts, monetization, and how viewers can interact with creators.

Shorts received a makeover recently. Unlike before, creators can now create and choose custom thumbnails for their quick videos, allowing for more engagement and expression. Additionally, shorts will join the YouTube partner program later this year.

Monetization looks different, too. Now audiences have more outlets than ever to support their favorite creators. The most prominent of these outlets is merchandise. Now, instead of having to search for creator merch, YouTube now allows creators to tag products directly in their videos. In addition, YouTube expects to do a complete overhaul of its membership system and direct fan funding. 

Fans of YouTube live streaming will also be excited to see live reactions coming to the site. A common feature of contemporary streaming sites, YouTube has caught up to the trend.

What’s Next?

In the latter half of the year waits some of the most anticipated additions to YouTube. The aforementioned changes to monetization through the membership program and additions to the community tab are just some of what we can expect in 2023. 

One of the most welcome additions YouTube has announced is its changes to audio in their videos, and how they can use owned media without risking copyright infringement. This will come to us in the form of a vaster library of YouTube-owned music for creators to freely use, as well as an option to license popular music while maintaining revenue from videos the music is used in. This will offer creators more stability in monetization when utilizing songs from big-name artists. 

More features for engagement are also expected in 2023. Multi-language videos are on the docket, allowing creators to add multiple audio tracks to a video depending on the region it’s shown. This feature was tested by popular creator Mr. Beast and has shown itself to be of great success. 

Lastly, YouTube plans to add A/B testing for thumbnails this year, one of the most highly requested features from creators. This lets creators use two different thumbnails early in a video’s publishing to test for engagement. 

What else YouTube plans to add to their site, we’ll just have to wait and see. So far the changes appear to be in favor of users on both sides of the content line. 

The post YouTube Plans to Sunset Stories: What’s Next for Content Creators? appeared first on The Blog Herald.

5 Steps Towards Becoming a Food Vlogger

Step 1: Create a Facebook Page, YouTube Channel, and Other Social Media Platforms

The very first step of how to become a food vlogger is to create a platform for yourself. For maximum outreach, you shouldn’t limit yourself to one platform and rather try to attain followers by utilizing all the available platforms.

Creating a Facebook page and opening a YouTube channel are the two most popular paths nowadays. You should think of a catchy name for your food vlogging platform.

Afterward, update your platform with the necessary initial details about what you want to share with your customers. You should talk about yourself, your attributes, and what you intend to do for the customers. Furthermore, it is better to provide a compelling statement about yourself, so that people are intrigued about you & your channel.

Since the channel is going to be about food vlogging, you can talk about your vlogging interest & experience, your food consumption habits, and more. But you should remember to focus on one single platform at the beginning. After gaining a significant amount of appreciation from people, you should then try to expand your horizon to other social media platforms. But yes, undoubtedly, you need to utilize all the platforms for proper branding.

Step 2: Make a Schedule and Plan

In the second stage of how to become a food vlogger, you should make a plan for your endgame. Additionally, you should think about exactly what you would like to achieve. Many food vloggers are trying to gain their desired popularity. Some others have already achieved their goals. So, for the attainment of your goals, keep working with a plan in mind.

Step 3: Visit Different Places and Eat at Various Restaurants

In this step, you need to go out and make the actual videos. Take a camera or mobile, camera stand and also take a person with you to help you with the whole procedure.

Influencers cut deals with restaurants. They deal in publicity for a free or reduced cost of food. The situation becomes a win-win for both the food vloggers and the restaurant owners.

Make a compelling script and practice what you would like to say. Then, create a good video. The video should be focused on entertainment and educational values. Because many people love food. Those people are always in search of good tasty dishes, and quality restaurants. And just like people who watch reviews regarding techs including mobile phones, food lovers want good reviews regarding food and restaurants. You need to keep this in mind, while you are trying to make the video to the best of your ability.

In the video, it is crucial to include some of the interior decorations of the restaurant and also the essence of the environment.

Step 4: Maintain Your Video-Creation and Sharing Streak

It is important to keep your streak regarding making & sharing food vlogs. Also, try to mix up food Details with the details of the location. Good quality vlogs will include entertainment and possess educational values. So, target that as your primary goal.

Step 5: Communicate with the Audience and Make Live Videos

It is crucial to maintain communication with your target audience. You don’t always need to talk about foods in your food vlogs. You should take time apart to introduce yourself to them. Also, you should show them your hobbies and others. But yes, undoubtedly, you should focus on your primary content. But it is good to mix everything up for maintaining entertainment values. Live videos and streaming videos are the best way to retain and increase your fan base.

Food Vlogging as a Career

Many people have now become an influencer regarding their food vlogging. It can be a good source of income when you get a certain amount of followers. After that, you can lead a solvent life after developing your food vlogging experience to a significant extent.

Issues and Opportunities

Becoming a food vlogger comes with various issues and also opportunities. You should learn about those issues & opportunities in depth. But the potential is vast. So, make sure to follow up with your plans to the best of your ability. After learning how to become a food vlogger, you should consistently maintain all phases of your plan to ensure that your food vlog is successful.

Marketing

Marketing is a major segment of being an influencer. Therefore, it is important to utilize the necessary marketing strategies to develop your brand.

Conclusion

A good vlog will require you to be consistent with your work. Moreover, you need to be capable of enjoying the act of food vlogging, for it to be really enjoyable for the audience. So, make it entertaining for both you and your audience. Hopefully, the article can provide the necessary information on how to become a food vlogger for interested people.

The post Become a Food Vlogger in 5 Easy Steps appeared first on The Blog Herald.

What is the partner program?

YouTube and its parent company, Google, rely heavily on creators posting content every day to support their business via advertisements. Without creators posting new videos daily, companies would not have space to showcase their advertisements. 

Breakdown

Once you are a part of the YouTube Partner Program, you are able to earn a substantial portion of each advertisement put in your content. The YouTube Partner Program money breakdown is as follows: 

Creator: 55%

YouTube: 45%

Seems fairly cut and dry right? Well, I’d say you’re right. The catch is that there is no catch. Once you are in the program it’s actually a pretty fantastic deal considering YouTube doesn’t charge a hosting fee and creators are able to post without extra charges. The tricky part, or what can feel tricky, is getting into the YouTube Partner Program. The application process is actually quite simple once it is explained. 

Application

There is no formal written application, but better described as a process or checklist in which to complete it. Two goals that are a quick yes or no to tell you whether you should think about applying is,  

1. 4000 hours of public watch time within a 12-month period
2. 1000 YouTube subscribers

If you are low on those two numbers, you are not yet eligible to apply, but work hard to boost your numbers to meet those goals and you will be ready in no time. If you are at or above those goals, you can apply to earn money for your videos. 

In the left-hand corner of your YouTube Studio, you will see a monetization tab. Click that and start on your application. As I stated earlier, it isn’t a true application like you would normally think of the word. All this application involves is agreeing to YouTube’s terms and conditions. This is a standard procedure and setting up and connecting your Google AdSense account as one is required to be in the YouTube Partner Program. An AdSense account essentially makes it possible to display ads with your content on any platform. In this case, YouTube would need to connect the two to be able to have the option to show any advertisements with your videos to earn money. 

Timeline

Though the process of applying can be fairly quick, the reviewing process can take up to a month. The best course of action after applying is to continue making content for your page and review YouTube’s advertiser guidelines to know what is and what is not welcome in the YouTube Partner Program. If your page is rejected, the reasoning will most likely be in those guidelines. 

If YouTube does get back to you with admission, you will be able to start earning money off of your videos almost immediately. The YouTube Partner Program features more than one way to earn money through channel memberships and Super Chats. 

How Much Money Can You Actually Make? 

As you may guess, the amount of money earned as a part of the partner program varies from creator to creator. On average, a creator makes between $0.01 and $0.03 per view. The amount depends on several factors including how many views your content video attracts, the quality of clicks from those views, ad quality, video length, and more. With that, a video with over 1 million views potentially makes the creator over $5,000 for that one video. It all depends on the creator and their content. 

Conclusion 

Making content should be fun. So applying to become part of a program that rewards you for creating content you are passionate about can be a huge step in the right direction. Now that you know the ins and outs of applying, take your page to the next level with the YouTube Partner Program!

The post Blog Herald Guide to the YouTube Partner Program appeared first on The Blog Herald.

Keyword Optimization

Did you know that you can rank your YouTube channel, not just your videos? You can input keyword optimization tags into your settings to show up to your targeted audience at a higher rate. These settings are located under your advanced channel settings. You are also able to link your Google Ads account so that it plays in your videos. This way, you have a bit more control over the ads that are played before and during your videos.

Upload Default Settings

Your default settings include your preferences for privacy settings, category, title, tags, comments, language, and so on. This can provide consistency in the future and keep you from having to remember every single setting on an individual upload basis. There is, of course, a way to override these default settings for individual videos, but for the majority of your uploads, you will probably have the same settings. You’ll get to this setting by going into your YouTube account, going to the menu, then settings, then default settings.

All of your default settings will be in the basic info and advanced settings tabs. Once you save all of those settings you’ll be able to actually integrate them to be there permanently, or as permanently as you would like. Hit your profile circle in the top right and then click upload defaults. Boom! You now have pre-populated settings for your upcoming videos.

Three portions of the default settings should be different already every time, specific to the video: Title, Description, and Tags. Otherwise, you can save the rest to use on each video.

Community settings

Your community settings are essentially your personal settings for what you feel is safe on your channel. If there are certain words you know for certain you do not want to see comments, you can block those out so they cannot be seen. You can also turn off comments on live videos if you so desired to keep out any unwanted trolls. This setting will eliminate any unwanted stress so that you can focus on what you want to focus on, your videos, and your loyal subscribers.

Licensing

Your YouTube channel comes with standard licensing, but you have the option to choose a creative comment option. For standard, you are basically stating that YouTube has the right to show your video to anyone else on the platform, no matter what. If you have the creative comment option selected, you have the rights to the video. Anyone can still use the video, but they have to do so through YouTube’s licensing rules. Long story short, you have exclusive rights to the creative comment setting. Rather than YouTube having a share in the rights with the standard setting.

Watermark

Just like in photos where photographers and artists leave watermarks, you can do that with your YouTube videos on your channel. You can add your channel logo if you have one. This watermark will appear in the bottom corner of all of your videos, making subscribing to your channel more desirable to viewers.

Custom Home Page

Just like most social media sites, you can customize the way your homepage looks. For Twitter, this means adding a pinned tweet and having a header, profile picture, and bio. For Instagram, a profile picture and bio are all that is needed, but you can also pin your 3 favorite pictures. And for your YouTube channel, you can create playlists for your viewers, editing them at any time. You can also add a new viewer trailer to your channel and have a subscribers video. So, you can cater the experience to new or veteran subscribers. You can find these settings under “customized channel” by clicking the pencil button.

Analytics

This next piece of setting advice will only work with a Google Analytics account. Once you have your Google Analytics account, you can add your ID of that account to your YouTube channel. By using Google Analytics, you can see all of the analytics and data throughout your channel. You have a real-time visual of who is on your channel, how long they were there, and what they were watching while they were there, along with many other data points. This is also helpful to see what types of videos are attracting the most views. It will help you better understand your audience, and be able to better cater to those desires.

Money

You are able to monetize your channel at a certain point if you so desire. The ads you are serving on your videos need to have some sort of relation to your viewers. If you have videos that have been uploaded using the wrong settings, including your ad preferences, you can potentially be losing clicks, and as a by-product of that, you will lose money.

Additionally, if you are putting ads in your videos, you have to make sure you not only have the viewership to sustain it, but the viewer longevity to sustain it. If you put an ad on a 20-minute video, you have to make sure your viewers are consistently watching the video and would just click away the moment an ad comes up. Once you have the metrics to know ads will in fact make you extra money, throw them in.

Membership Settings

If you are still searching for how to cancel your YouTubeTV account, I have the solution for you. You’ll go to your settings, click on membership and then click manage. Once you cancel and hit save, your account will be active until the end of the billing cycle.

Conclusion

Now that you not only know all of the best tips and tricks to manage your YouTube channel settings, you also know how quick and easy it is to make changes to YouTube’s add-on services like YouTubeTV.

The post YouTube Settings You Need to Know appeared first on The Blog Herald.

What is a copyright claim? 

Basically, a copyright claim is another creator saying that you’ve used content that they have created and own the rights to.  It could be a video clip, a picture, a piece of audio, etc.  

To combat this, YouTube has a Content ID tool, which allows creators to protect their content on the site.  Tools like this have come a long way since the early days of the internet when sharing other people’s music or videos was widely accepted by the public.  

Music publishers sued early internet juggernaut Napster and won in the early 2000s.  This was considered a huge win for songwriters, publishers, and other creators at the time.

But back to YouTube.  If your video gets a copyright claim, you will be notified by YouTube.  The copyright owner generally has a few options.  They can either monetize, block or track the videos on the platform where their material is found to be being used.

Most often the original creator will decide to monetize your video.  That means that you can no longer monetize it yourself.  But your video can still be seen by your followers, and you’re not in any serious trouble with YouTube.

If you receive a copyright strike, things are more serious.  A copyright strike is a request from the copyright owner, that is an official legal action. It results in the video taken down from YouTube altogether.  Not only that, but you will also receive a strike against your YouTube channel.

The platform takes these notices very seriously and if you get multiple strikes, you may receive penalties on your channel.  These could include restricting features on your channel, and they could also affect your monetization abilities.  You could also be required to go to “Copyright School”.

Music copyright claims

Music copyright claims are the most common claims on YouTube.  Use nearly any popular song on a video, and you will receive a music copyright claim for the recording.  The claims are usually from the record label or distributor.

And while the lyrics of a popular song might be perfect for your video, you’ll save yourself time and trouble by using something else.  The good news is there are lots of options and places you can get copyright-free music for your video.  

So what steps should you take if you receive one of these copyright claims?  First, don’t panic.  There are steps that you can take to keep the claim from negatively affecting your channel.

Dispute the claim

If you actually have a license, or the creator’s permission to use the content, you can dispute the claim.  This can be frustrating because you followed the rules and did it the right way to begin with.  But in the process of disputing the claim, you’ll have the opportunity to provide proof of your license agreement.

Once the process is done, your video will be released, and the monetization of the video restored.  More good news, the money that your video earned during the dispute process will also be paid to you.

It is possible that you could receive a fake copyright claim.  It’ll be another case of a headache for you, but when you provide proof that the content is 100% yours, your video and account will be restored to normal.

Before filing your dispute, however, double-check your video. Make sure nothing appears no matter how minor, that includes copyrights by another creator.

“Fair Use” defense

Another defense to a copyright claim could be Fair Use.  This is a legal doctrine that states there are certain circumstances in which you can reuse copyright-protected permission without permission from the owner.

A common misconception is that you can use any content you want as long as you credit the owner or creator.  This is an oft-given defense, but it is absolutely not true.  Documented permission is always needed.

This brings up another suggestion.  Verbal permission to use someone’s content is not going to get you very far if a dispute arises. Obtain written permission, or find some way to prove they gave you permission.

In conclusion

Copyright infringement is serious. Think about how you would feel if someone was using your work without permission.  And while most instances of infringement are innocent mistakes, getting permission or using copyright-free options before you put a lot of work into your project is a smart idea.

The post Copyright Claim YouTube: How to Handle appeared first on The Blog Herald.

The high surge of content creation and vlogging has further increased in the past couple of years. This makes installing WordPress Plugins for video quite a necessity for bloggers. Nowadays, internet users of ALL ages find excitement in engaging with others not only through watching videos but also in creating and sharing them. This is especially true during the current pandemic when people have found that internet videos (watching, creating, and sharing) are a great source of entertainment.

In fact, internet videos are so influential that a good majority of social media platforms have adjusted their designs to encourage their users to create and share more videos. This is quite evident with Facebook Stories, Instagram Reels, and TikTok. This has encouraged websites and blogs to adjust and incorporate more videos into their content.

While, yes, you can easily embed some code into your blog post, there are many WordPress plugins for video. From helping you share self-hosted videos to displaying videos from YouTube or social media in a beautiful way, there’s something for everyone.

Quadlayers TikTok Feed

In the last two years alone, the quantity of TikTok users has grown exponentially. TikTok’s content is made up entirely of videos created by its users and learning how to integrate a website with the platform can be highly beneficial. This Quadlayers TikTok Feed plugin (or WP TikTok Feed) allows for the easiest integration. So, what benefits can we gain from installing these kinds of WordPress plugins for video? It simplifies video uploads onto your WordPress site. Other than that, it easily recovers data from your feed including likes and comments.

Embed Plus for YouTube

If YouTube is your go-to video site, this plugin will help you save time. You can search and directly embed videos, view analytics and even see what people across the web are saying about a video. Its settings page also allows you to automatically set defaults for videos you embed. The latest update also puts ease in embedding entire channels which allows readers to scan through a channel’s entire gallery. All these are among other great features.

Instead of copying and pasting HTML code, all you have to do is copy and paste the YouTube video URL into your post. That means no more messing around with code, and with the proper dimensions for video embeds set in the defaults, no need to edit that either.

The best part about this plugin? Well, it is compatible with both the Gutenberg block editor and the classic WordPress editor.

Envira Gallery

Envira Gallery is more of a gallery plugin with a WordPress capability. Still, for its designated purpose and the bonus, it’s one of the best, meaning you wouldn’t want to ignore this one. It comes with its own Videos Addon feature for WordPress and this lets you grab clips from YouTube, Wistia, or even your own self-hosted WordPress videos.

Additionally, you get plenty of options when it comes to customizing your video embeds for your website. Envira Gallery lets you display videos with several options and easily too. The said plugin lets you drag and drop to add videos or a gallery of videos on your blog. Of course, some of its more advanced functions come in at a premium price, but you can stay free if you want.

All-in-One Video Gallery

The downside to incorporating internet videos into any blog is the fact that there are just too many video types and formats. What this plugin boasts about is that it supports all types of videos and video-hosting services. Its flexibility and compatibility are what hooks bloggers to this plugin – even if your blog and your video have different hosts. Although the free version is a bit limited, it is still complete enough for any blogger’s use.

YourChannel

Up next is a plugin that’s most likely best suited for content creators who also dabble in videos. If, in addition to your website, you’re also a YouTuber and want an easy way to both manage your YouTube channel and embed your videos to your main site, then YourChannel is perfect for you. It’s not as popular as some of the more mainstream options in this list but it also has a free version.

With YourChannel, you can easily turn your website or blog into a place of engagement similar to YouTube. The best part is that you don’t even need additional storage for this; YourChannel lets you load your videos and playlists from the comfort of the WordPress site, with no need for additional messy tabs, leading to overall better user experience. It’s also quite easy to set up.

RELATED: Improve Your Blog With These 5 Types Of Blog Video Content

VideoPack (formerly Video Embed & Thumbnail Generator)

Depending on what you’re working on, some videos may not be best uploaded to a site like YouTube. For example, if you’re selling a product or wanting a video to be seen by only a select group of people. With Video Embed & Thumbnail Generator, you can easily embed self-hosted videos in a wide variety of formats. Once a video is uploaded, you can choose a thumbnail from the video to set as the featured image, or add the URL to a different image.

What is great about this plugin is the fact that it automatically selects the resolution closest to the size of the player, or nearest to what you have set as default. Viewer control also isn’t an issue as you can provide a button for your viewers to manually select their preferred resolution. Videopack’s blogger favorite feature should be the Videopack Ads premium add-on. This allows bloggers to add advertisements to the videos.

ARVE

ARVE sounds like new bleeding-edge technology and depending on how much you like it, you can treat the plugin that way. It actually stands for Advanced Responsive Video Embedder. As such, it does what it’s been named for and then some more. ARVE is compatible with a wide variety of video formats and websites such as YouTube, Vimeo, Dropbox, Facebook, HTML5, and more.

For some, ARVE might even be the best there is given its versatility and flexibility when it comes to different video types. To that end, you can think of ARVE as a Swiss Army knife for video embeds. It likely has a solution for every compatibility problem you’ll face if you want to show videos on your website. Surprisingly, it also comes with a free and premium version. It is also compatible with both the classic WP editor and the Gutenberg block editor.

Elite Video Player

Elite Video Player’s name precedes its reputation. That “elite” moniker is not just for show or marketing– it really is one of the cleanest and most functional WordPress plugins for video. Unlike other plugins, this has unique features that bloggers simply can’t pass on. One unique feature is its compatibility with YouTube’s live-streaming and 360 VR videos that gives viewers a unique omnidirectional experience. Another would be the plugin’s support for Google Drive and Dropbox videos.

Spider Video Player

Spider Video Player is similar to Elite Video Player but can be simpler to operate. It also allows for customization provided you know how to code a little bit with HTML5.

Additionally, Spider Video Player proudly boasts compatibility with a lot of devices from phones, desktops, to even tablets. This has much to do with how it implements utilizes for Flash and HTML5 where the latter would be a backup to the former if it turns out that a device does not support Flash. Thankfully, such generous features also come with a free version in case you’re just starting out.

Video Portal

More of an add-on than a plugin, Video Portal extends and improves features of your existing video plugins. One unique feature would be its Facebook login component. This allows users to review videos watched, playlists, “liked” videos that are linked to their personal Facebook accounts, in case they wish to embed them into their blogs.

If you are looking for WordPress plugins for video – these are probably the best ones to explore!

RELATED: How to Turn Your Best Blog Posts Into Even Better Videos

The post Top WordPress Plugins for Video appeared first on The Blog Herald.

What’s a Mukbang?

There is a lot of trending content on social media. Some trends are entertaining, while some are weirder than others. One of these interesting trends is mukbang.  A Mukbang is an online trend that originated in South Korea which features influencers consuming ginormous spreads of food while interacting with an audience, in front of a camera. Basically, for audiences, it is getting entertained while watching another person eat. Some influencers use this as an interesting twist to talk shows and interviews. There are food try-outs, exotic food challenges, and even food reviews. While some video contents focus mainly on food consumption like ASMR mukbangs. As some people find the sounds of chewing, slicing, crunching, and the like relaxing and sedative, ASMR mukbangs have become trendy and are treated as “brain massages”.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkqfWBkeloM]

Why is it so popular?

There are multiple reasons why mukbangs are unusually popular. One of these is a person’s sense of social isolation. In many developed countries in the world, many individuals live alone and crave a sense of companionship. For many cultures, having a meal is a social activity which is why eating alone is considered lonesome. Watching another person eating while having a meal gives a sense of “eating with somebody”.

Another reason why mukbangs are popular may be the virtual satisfaction of a craving. Maybe, for some people, watching another person eat a good meal could give them a virtual taste of delicious-looking food. Although it is unusual for many, this may be the truth for some.

One other reason why a mukbang is popular is the fact that it can be really entertaining. Watching a person from a different culture eating exotic local food can be enjoyable. Influencers that show the preparation of their meals gives their viewers a sense that they are watching a cooking show. Hearing crunching sounds could be relaxing for some. Also, watching a petite person eat such an enormous spread of food is unbelievable yet awe-inspiring for many.

Unpleasant Truths Behind Mukbangs

An Issue of Health

For bloggers and influencers who are planning to try out a mukbang video or vlog, it is important to understand the different health risks. Too much of anything is always dangerous. Just imagine, viral mukbang influencers can consume as much as 4,000 calories in just ONE MEAL. The standard amount of calories a regular person must consume IN ONE DAY is about 2,000 to 2,500 calories. Elite athletes with rigorous training routines may take up as much as 3,500 calories IN ONE DAY. This means viral mukbang bloggers take up the daily limit of calorie intake in just one sitting.

There are two kinds of health risks – short term discomforts and long-term illnesses. Short-term discomforts may happen when trying out mukbangs a few times or for the first time. However, doing content on mukbang regularly may lead to terrible health risks.

Short term risks are varied, depending on different factors. These could range from physical discomforts of excessive fullness to intense short term risks like fatigue and lethargy. Over-eating could lead to stomach upsets which could worsen and become gastrointestinal distress. Factors that may affect short term discomforts may include levels of spiciness and even the volume of consumed food.

Long term illnesses are a much terrifying effect of mukbangs. Too much oil, fat, sugar, and chili could lead to a variety of health problems. Excessive weight gain, diabetes, heart disease, among others. People could also get acne breakouts,  from excessive consumption of fat, oil, and carbohydrates.

It is never advisable to consume food more than the suggested serving size. For bloggers and influencers who are planning to try out these kinds of contents, it is best to consult first with medical professionals.

Food Waste Galore

It is noticeable that many mukbang bloggers do not gain a considerable amount of weight despite recording eating videos regularly. Some bloggers say that a hack for this would be to spit out the food in between takes. This becomes obvious when there are too many edits or outtakes in a single video.

Mukbangs do have a societal impact, and it is not always that great. This could lead to promoting disordered eating and also promoting excessiveness. Some psychologists may even consider this as triggering addiction and negatively impacting viewers’ eating habits.

Although this may be a healthier option for influencers, it is not necessarily practical. Food waste is a global problem where tons of uneaten food go to landfills regularly. Trillions of dollars are lost every year because of food wastage. Surely, this number leads to bigger problems in terms of economic finances.

The post What’s a Mukbang and Why It’s Not Really That Great appeared first on The Blog Herald.

Visual content, and specifically video content, is now king. Not only is visual content easier to consume and retain, it’s also attracting significantly higher demand; it’s estimated that in 2017, video content represented 74 percent of all internet traffic.

So if you already have a blog, and you’re new to the world of video content, what’s the best way to incorporate video into your existing strategy?

Potential Approaches

Let’s start with a handful of high-level approaches you could try:

• The gallery. If you want your video to stand apart from your blog work, you could try offering a video gallery like this one from Semper Solaris. The idea here is to give your readers more video content, but without distracting from your blog—the main draw of your website. This option is ideal for webmasters whose blogs have already attracted and retained a fair number of readers.
• Integrated examples. If you want to complement your blogging strategy with more video content, you can integrate short video snippets to illustrate what you’re talking about, like this article from How Stuff Works on car engines. Animated gifs and illustrations excel here, as they’ll help you explain your points in a way that’s more understandable to your target audience. You may even be able to use these video elements in other areas of your marketing and advertising.
• Content as video. You could also offer video content in place of a blog post, or as a repackaging of content you’ve written about before, like this guided demo video of Zendesk Chat, which recaps written descriptions in a more engaging format. Here, your video will serve as an extension of your core blog content, bringing it to a wider, more visually-focused portion of your audience.
• A standalone strategy. Finally, you could treat your video campaign as a separate entity from your main content marketing strategy. Here, your video content will exist as a separate channel from your main blog, but you can cross-reference these independent strategies so you can build a mutual audience. This is best reserved for bloggers who want to start a new or tangential topic in their video content strategy.

How to Make Your Videos More Engaging

Those strategies may help you with video placement and incorporation, but what about the actual video content you’re creating? How can you make your videos more engaging?

Study the competition. You aren’t the only blogger in your space creating video content. Take a look at the competition and study what they’re doing. What do their viewers like to see? What are they missing that you could provide?

• Keep things short. In general, short videos outperform long videos. Try to keep things to 5 minutes or less, especially if you’re using videos as supplements to your written material.
• Skip the fluff. You might be tempted to use time in the video to pitch your products or services or share some personal anecdotes, but unless you’re catering to a very specific, casual audience, it’s better to cut the fluff and get right to the meat of your content.
• Show off your personality. That said, you don’t want to come across as a robot either. Make sure to inject your personality into your video content, whether it’s in the tone of your voice, the style of your visuals, or an occasional joke thrown in to lighten the mood.
• Invest in decent equipment (if you can). You can technically create and upload videos with a decent smartphone, but if you want to make a good impression, it’s better to invest in higher-quality video equipment. You’d be amazed what a difference a professional camera and decent sound equipment can make for your finished products.
• Promote your channel. Don’t keep your new video content campaign a secret. No matter how you’re uploading or integrating your videos, go out of your way to promote them—send an email blast to your customers announcing your new video series, and distribute them across social media. You can even optimize your YouTube channel for search to get even more views.

With these tips, you should be able to upgrade your blog for the modern era, giving your customers more high-quality video content and supercharging your blog with more engaging material. Be sure to carefully measure your audience’s responses and feedback, just as you would with your written content, and make adjustments as you gain more experience and insight into the video marketing world.

The post What’s the Best Way to Incorporate Video Into Your Blog? appeared first on The Blog Herald.

]]> https://www.blogherald.com/blog-tips/5-highly-effective-tips-create-engaging-blog-video-content/ https://www.blogherald.com/blog-tips/5-highly-effective-tips-create-engaging-blog-video-content/#comments Tue, 27 Feb 2018 07:16:14 +0000 https://www.blogherald.com/?p=36439 Creating video content for a blog that is really able to engage viewers can involve a lot of different factors. At the end of the day however the goal should be to attract attention and interest viewers, and keep them interested through to the end. While that is often easier said than done, it is…

The post 5 Highly Effective Tips to Create More Engaging Blog Video Content appeared first on The Blog Herald.

]]> Creating video content for a blog that is really able to engage viewers can involve a lot of different factors. At the end of the day however the goal should be to attract attention and interest viewers, and keep them interested through to the end.

While that is often easier said than done, it is far from impossible. In fact here are 5 tips in particular that may help you to come up with far more engaging video blog content:

Show and don’t tell

One of the main reasons why videos are more engaging than most other types of content in the first place is because of how visual they are. That is something that you absolutely must take advantage of – and the way to do that is to ‘show and not tell’.

The basic idea behind that is simple: Try to find ways to visually deliver your message to viewers, rather than relying on a voiceover or text.



Get creative with captions and subtitles

As much as it is preferable to use other visual means of communicating your message – if necessary you should use captions and subtitles to do so. Nowadays many viewers watch videos without audio, and so having captions and subtitles will help you increase your odds of engaging them.

When you do use captions and subtitles – try to get creative and not just use the standard white text. Use contrast in color, size, font, and placement to draw attention to important words or phrases and emphasize them for better effect.

Make the first few seconds really count

A lot of viewers will start to watch your videos, and within the first few seconds will decide whether or not to keep watching. The exact amount of time before that decision is made can vary, but the 10-second mark is a good yardstick to use.

In short that means you have about 10 seconds to convince viewers to keep watching – and you need to take full advantage of them, and should not beat around the bush. Try to make sure you outline what your video is about and how it will benefit viewers, to tease the content and get them interested.

Find the ‘sweet spot’ for the video duration

Even after viewers decide to watch, they may decide to stop watching if the video drags on for too long. Unfortunately the ‘sweet spot’ for video duration can vary quite a bit, and while 15 to 60 seconds is normal for social media videos, blog content has been known to retain viewers for longer.

The best way to find the ‘sweet spot’ for engaging videos is through trial and error. Be sure to try short and bite-sized videos, and try a few longer videos as well to see if they stick.

Measure and analyze every video

At the end of the day the best way to create more engaging videos is to learn from each and every video that you publish on your blog. To accomplish that you will have to measure the performance of every video, analyze it, and experiment with different types of videos.

If you do that and implement the other tips listed above, you should be able to gradually improve your video engagement levels across the board.

As you can see none of these tips are particularly difficult to use when creating video content for your blog, yet the effect they have can be mercurial. Keep in mind that engaging videos don’t need to be expensive to create, and recording using your smartphone, digital camera, or even a screen recording software for Mac or PC should more than suffice.

All said and done what is important about engaging videos is that you are able to reach out to your audience and hold their attention and interest – and the tips listed above will help you to do just that.

The post 5 Highly Effective Tips to Create More Engaging Blog Video Content appeared first on The Blog Herald.

]]> https://www.blogherald.com/blog-tips/5-highly-effective-tips-create-engaging-blog-video-content/feed/ 3 https://www.blogherald.com/blog-tips/5-simple-steps-create-great-video-content-blog/ Wed, 02 Aug 2017 06:52:27 +0000 http://www.blogherald.com/?p=35444 At first glance it may seem as though creating video content for a blog is easy enough – all you really need is a killer idea, a way to record the video, and you should be good to go. Unfortunately it really isn’t that easy, and if you want to create great video content you…

The post 5 Simple Steps to Create Great Video Content for a Blog appeared first on The Blog Herald.

]]> At first glance it may seem as though creating video content for a blog is easy enough – all you really need is a killer idea, a way to record the video, and you should be good to go. Unfortunately it really isn’t that easy, and if you want to create great video content you may be surprised to know that starts long before the camera begins to roll.

While undoubtedly there are numerous different approaches that are used to create video content, most tend to start with these five simple steps:

1. Define your audience

Before you begin to think about the video you intend to create, you should first think about the people who are going to watch it. Define that audience in as detailed a manner as possible, including their age, gender, interests, common challenges, goals, and so on. By clearly setting as much of that out as possible, you will then be able to make better decisions regarding the video that you eventually create.

2. Decide on the purpose of the video and its message



Video content is used on blogs for a variety of different purposes. In some cases it is pure content designed to attract attention and interest viewers, while in others it is used to indirectly promote products, generate sales, or even build up brand awareness. Needless to say the message that you want your video to put across will vary in each of these cases, which is why you should decide on both before proceeding further.

3. Brainstorm topics and types of videos



Based on the message of the video, you should be able to get off to a running start when thinking about the various topics and types of videos that you could create. Keep in mind that often the same topic can be looked at from multiple slants, and the different perspectives could make a world of difference. Similarly there is no one best ‘type’ of video for any given topic, and it is largely a question of what type of video you feel is best to cover the topic you select.

4. Write a script and go over it again, and again

Every great video starts with a good script – and you should definitely make it a habit to script out all of your videos. The script that you write should be as detailed as possible, and not only provide the dialogue, but also details about the scene, setting, how it will be portrayed, and so on. Once you’ve written the script, be sure to go over it and tidy it up as well as revise any parts if need be.

5. Record the video



Finally you should be ready to record the video, either using a video camera, video recorder for PC, or some other capture device. Make no mistake there are many factors in this stage that will affect the outcome of your video, such as the camerawork, audio and video quality, and so on – so it may help to look into ways to improve your skills and technique when recording videos.

As you can see the real trick to create great video content for a blog is to lay the groundwork well in advance and plan it out carefully. By doing so you will be able to ensure that the video you come up with is far better positioned to be of interest to your audience and fulfill its goals. It can be tricky to pull all this off, but if you get into the workflow early then in time you’ll be able to perfect it.

The post 5 Simple Steps to Create Great Video Content for a Blog appeared first on The Blog Herald.

]]> https://www.blogherald.com/general/power-video-content-marketing/ Mon, 15 Dec 2014 13:30:58 +0000 http://www.blogherald.com/?p=30254 The surging popularity of videos has been increasingly palpable as more website owners use this format to publish their content. If you’re not using this media channel to create and distribute content for your website, you’re missing out on this valuable traffic resource. According to eMarketer, 52 percent of web traffic comes from videos, with…

The post The Power of Video Content Marketing appeared first on The Blog Herald.

]]> The surging popularity of videos has been increasingly palpable as more website owners use this format to publish their content. If you’re not using this media channel to create and distribute content for your website, you’re missing out on this valuable traffic resource. According to eMarketer, 52 percent of web traffic comes from videos, with 72 percent of website visitors watching these videos as reported by the New York Times. Video-sharing giant YouTube gets over one billion unique visitors on a monthly basis. As you can see, the numbers are staggering, making video content marketing a very effective method to drive traffic to your website.



Videos are highly engaging to its viewers. They would rather watch a 20-minute long video than spend 20 minutes going through text-based content. This is the reason why it’s not surprising how videos have established its popularity online.

For website visitors, engagement is extremely powerful. The longer they spend time to take in your message, the more likely they would acquire your product or service, and the more they would come back for more information. This will immediately establish you as an authority figure in your niche as traffic comes in.

Creating videos can set you apart from the competition, since most content creators don’t even bother to put in the work involved in video content marketing. You can do a number of different kinds of videos for maximum engagement. Tutorials, product reviews, contest announcements or even personal videos are great ways to build a relationship with your audience. You have to understand that videos create an entirely different level of engagement that you can’t have with articles, photos, emails or podcasts.

However, there is a lot more to video content marketing than just uploading videos on YouTube. What most people do is upload videos to a few sites and then leaves them wondering why traffic isn’t coming in. There are key ways to do this right to guarantee that your video gets maximum exposure. First, you need to target very specific keywords. Since Google owns YouTube, the site ranks extremely well on the search engine’s results, along with other video-sharing sites. You have probably seen YouTube videos on search results when using Google, which shows on the first page under different keywords. These are highly authoritative sites that can rank quickly even for very competitive keywords.

Include your keywords in the title and description. Use tags and build backlinks to direct people to view your video. This will help you tremendously to rank well in search engines.

When viewing search results, you will notice that your eyes are drawn immediately to images. This makes videos a great way to get your results to stand out at some degree, since they are presented in still images.

Second, you would want to direct your viewers to your website. Include your website’s URL in your video’s description and display it as a watermark in your video as it plays. You also have the option to flash your site’s URL at the beginning and at the end of the video.

Third, you need to promote your video to attract thousands of views. There is nothing more effective than turning to social media. Send your video out to all the popular social networks you’re involved in. If your video is really good, it’s going to be worth sharing. You can also use forums, blogs and the comments section of popular channels within your niche.

The power of video content marketing cannot be ignored. These simple but very effective techniques will help you spread highly engaging video content and bring in that much-needed traffic to your website.

 

More on video content marketing:

Your Blog Needs Its Own Video Channel — Here’s Why You’re Missing Out on Your Success

Which Medium Is Best for Delivering Content That Goes Viral? Video or Text?

The post The Power of Video Content Marketing appeared first on The Blog Herald.

]]> https://www.blogherald.com/youtube/video-channel-for-blogging-youtube-vimeo/ Wed, 26 Mar 2014 23:38:05 +0000 http://www.blogherald.com/?p=29307 Blogging has evolved over the years from simple text based posting by hobbyists sharing their passions. It’s now a powerhouse tool for reaching billions of readers worldwide using ideas and discussion to change world views, challenge norms and sell products. As we go with the flow of the blogosphere we continuously look for ways to…

The post Your Blog Needs Its Own Video Channel – Here’s Why You’re Missing Out on Your Success appeared first on The Blog Herald.

]]> Blogging has evolved over the years from simple text based posting by hobbyists sharing their passions. It’s now a powerhouse tool for reaching billions of readers worldwide using ideas and discussion to change world views, challenge norms and sell products. As we go with the flow of the blogosphere we continuously look for ways to make our own messages stand out from the rest and gain special attention and traction. In this day accomplishing this and increasing website traffic is a difficult task as competition becomes stiffer and readers’ attention spans become microscopic.



There is one medium able to hold the attention of this fast paced age and that’s video. The rise of video blogging has been a slow one but we’re seeing where many “vloggers” who took early advantage of sites like YouTube and Vimeo, are both rolling in the dough and enjoying rich experiences with their audiences. Online video has already started replacing cable TV viewership with more time being spent online.

It’s time to rethink how you distribute your content. Regular publishing on your blog and traditional social media are great techniques but let’s go a step further.

Your Blog is your Own Media House

As a blogger, you’re not very different from CNN, the New York Times and Time Warner. You’re trying to make a living from content, you’re just not a major channel or conglomerate yet. But you’re in the same business as they are. When you begin to start approaching your blogging from this mindset you’ll soon realise that there are many things lacking from your approach to your business. Think about how those major media houses present their content. It’s well branded, professionally done, targeted for their audience and they’re on the ball on meeting their objectives. That’s the mindset you need to develop.

The Benefits of Supplementing your Blog’s Content with Video

There are tons of SEO and distribution benefits of adding video to your marketing toolkit. The first obvious one is that you’re tapping into a very different kind of audience. An audience whose media consumption and sharing patterns are completely different but with an appetite and connectivity strong enough to make your stuff go viral.

In addition, Google treats video in a slightly different manner, and your content will have an opportunity to be presented in a special way. Your content, once you have confirmed Google Authorship on both your site and YouTube, will give you an SEO advantage as you work to gain command of your chosen niche and topics.

Video offers you the flexibility of presenting your content uniquely and with a lot more life as you let your personality shine, with room for animation and other types of cool tricks and graphics if you have the skill. At the end of the day, video will help you reach more people.

Whether You’re a Beginner or Pro, Get Started

Many bloggers fail to jump into video because of a fear of criticism journeying into new territory. They view it in a similar manner to public speaking, which rightfully so, freaks out a lot of people. I would advise that you do all you can to overcome your camera shyness and begin testing the waters with video. It will feel a bit awkward at first but it’s a bold move that will not only get your creative juices flowing, but help you to grow as a professional blogger. A blogger above the average with a brand to be reckoned.

In getting started, it basically doesn’t matter what type of camera you have, whether it’s top of the line, only worth a few hundred bucks or is your phone’s camera. Just get started. Its not about how fancy you can make your video, although that’s important, but it’s how good you are at storytelling. Mastering the art of storytelling is your trump card and if you’ve been paying attention to marketing on the web lately, you’ve heard of this. Tell your unique story.

Learning Resources

As a first step, create your YouTube account. Then check out Derek Muller’s series and favorited videos on creating a YouTube channel and Storytelling. He has some amazing advice for beginners and he shares some in the video below:


The YouTube blog is also a great place to learn from the experts and YouTube itself has lots of resources and tools to help you create killer content.

To conclude, I’d say test the waters, do some research on your target audience who consume videos and make your blogging brand known. Once you’ve got the hang of video as a distribution media, try other video based networks like Vimeo.com and Spreecast.com. There’s a wealth of opportunities out there, you just have to get your feet wet.

The post Your Blog Needs Its Own Video Channel – Here’s Why You’re Missing Out on Your Success appeared first on The Blog Herald.

]]>