Getting started using video on your blog requires a few key components:

• A video camera
• a YouTube or Viddler account
• Time

That’s it!

Flip It

2009 and 2010 saw the rise of the “Flip” videocamera.  This easy to use, portable camera doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of its expensive counterparts, but it does have a USB adapter built in.  At the very simplest, you just shoot your video, upload it, and then embed the video in your blog.

Kodak Moment

A “step up” from the Flip is the Kodak Zi8, my choice for a Fliip alternative. It has the features of the Flip, but also adds a microphone input jack.  This allows you to get really great sound.

By using these entry level-devices, YouTube (or Viddler.com) to host your videos, you can get started using video on your blog within a very short period of time.  You can learn how to use these cameras in a few hours and have a video shot, edited, uploaded and embedded very quickly.

You may also ben interested in the Online Video Toolkit - a site that explains how to get the very best looking videos without buying expensive lights or backgrounds. Another great resource is Steve Garfield’s book, Get Seen. Steve is one of the foremost experts in web and blog video.

Please check back for step-by-step guides on shooting, editing, posting and embedding videos into your WordPress blog.  We’re working on them now, be sure to subscribe to the feed to be notified when they are available!

Question: How do you make a video blog?

A video blog uses the same type of format as a regular blog.  The difference is – you guess it – the video.

Adding videos in WordPress is easy.  You have a few choices:

• Upload a video to youtube and use the embed code in a post
• Upload a video to youtube and use the “add video” shortcut button
• Host the video yourself and link to it

Here’s another question on Ask The Blogger with more insight.

As for actually creating the video, there are too many possibilities to list here.  Some people use their computer’s built in webcam, while others buy high-end video equipment and edit their videos like a professional.  Most people fall in the middle someplace.  The Flip video camera or the Kodak Zi8 are both excellent choices for video cameras under $200.

If you are looking for ways to improve the quality of your video, be sure to check out the Online Video Toolkit.

If you have any specific questions about creating videos for the web, feel free to ask!