The time to make videos is now. That’s the key message and pitch in this short video from Chris Brogan (you should absolutely be following him and reading/watching his brilliant insights):
Got it? I get it. You are self conscious or don’t want to make videos for a bunch of reasons. I’m right there with you. But, according to a Cisco report, online video will be responsible for over 80% of global Internet traffic by 2022. You already get this. You watch lots of online video. So do your clients. You use online video to learn how to do things. So do your clients.
It’s time to make videos for your clients. And it’s time to make them multilingual.
Why?
I’ve been saying this in pretty much every presentation I make about client-facing technology & digital strategy. You can and should be making videos providing quick and useful information and tips for your clients. It’s never been easier to do it and post them online.
Multilingual information is still important to your clients. It’s why you have multilingual staff. It’s why community/ethnic media continues to be important and vital for newcomer communities.
But translation and interpretation is expensive!
You know what isn’t expensive? Pulling out the smartphone you all carry around and recording yourself providing a tip of the week for your client. Think of it as your weekly work selfie. Easy, right? Each staff member can do it, in each language they speak, in the subject area they most know about. Imagine a repository of videos on your website or YouTube channel for your clients.
But, really, make sure the videos are embedded on your site, don’t send people to the attention sucking rabbit hole of YouTube… You can surround your videos with additional information and tips. Let’s say your video is about resumes. Embed the video, have a few paragraphs about resumes, include information about your resume workshops and services, link to some PDF templates for them to download. Boom. Immediately useful content and “virtual service.”
Making multilingual videos quickly and affordably online
Making multilingual videos isn’t always easy. If you’ve got multilingual staff, you can create multilingual video.
But what if you don’t have staff who speak the languages you need to translate information into?
VEED.io may be able to help (note, Veed asked me to include mention of their site for a free Pro account, but I was already using it, so, cool!).
VEED.io is a site that gives you a quick and easiest way to create videos, add subtitles, with translation built in. You can upload your own video, or even take a YouTube video and add multilingual subtitles to it.
Here’s a video about just how quick and easy it is.
Here is another online video editing tool that you can use.
Motionbox features a variety of tools that help cut down the effort of creating videost. It features a library of templates that can be used as-is, or that you can use as the foundation of your design. It also has a collection of fonts and multimedia files that include audio, images, and videos, many of which you may freely use for your project.
Motionbox is quite easy to use for the beginner video editor. It has drag-and-drop interface. With features such as music visualization, GIF editor, video trimmer, and video calendar. Try it out to create some new video designs for your work. Here’s a video about how you can use Motionbox to create a promotional or informational video:
More work? Not really.
You already have all the other content and information somewhere on your computer. Copy and paste it to the web page (OK, have your web person help) with the embedded video.
Useful not only for existing clients, but also for prospective clients. Easily shared, easily consumed. Vital information that can lead a newcomer (you know the 60% or so of them who don’t currently access settlement services?) to the help or information they need.
If you’re curious about how easy it has become to make videos, watch this video from Brogan to understand how to make better videos:
Making videos is intimidating. I get that.
But it doesn’t have to be. The videos above are just point and shoot. No fancy music, logo intro, cool credit outro. Gets you to the information immediately, not wasted time.
Here’s an example of how it can be useful.
Earlier this year I presented at a one-day series of workshops. I wasn’t able to stay for an after-lunch panel and round-table discussion with other presenters. So I recorded a short video with my main talking points for them to play. You can find that below, along with my presentation slides.
Notice that I’m not the main focus. That helped me with feeling less intimidated about video (yes, of course, like you I don’t like making videos of myself to share them in public!). Sure, you can look at me, but I’m not the main focus. The content is.
I made this video using ScreenCast-O-Matic. It’s super easy and useful and you can try it out for free (I upgraded to Solo Deluxe, it’s like $1.50/month (USD). I mean, $1.50 a month?!? You can’t go wrong.).
My video camera? The camera on my laptop. Like my expensive backdrop? I filmed in my dining room, those are my curtains (I know, great colour, right?!).
Yes, I did use an external mic. The Blue Microphones SnowBall iCE USB Microphone. It costs $70 at BestBuy (totally worth it, audio is key).
Your phone will make even better video than my crappy laptop camera. If you’re in a quiet space (like an office with the door closed), you won’t even need an external mic (and, if you do, or want one, they won’t break the bank).
Want more? Here’s a great video (from 2015 (!), still completely relevant) about how to make great videos using your smartphone:
You should start making videos for your clients.