But … writing is *hard* for me.

If I feel blocked, if I want to create tons of content really fast, if I’m teaching something complicated – it’s easiest, a natural expression, fastest for me to speak.

Whether that speaking is live, on video, on a livestream, or an audio podcast – speaking is more in the flow for me.

What about you – do you write or speak your truth? 

Here is is baby –> The Advanced Video Series

The Advanced Video Series is for those of you who have made a few (or a bunch!) of videos & are ready to take your online videos to the next level of awesometasticness.

Here’s the thing – in the grand EPW tradition of learning something yesterday, applying it this morning, and teaching it to you this afternoon, in this series I’m teaching you the advanced video-blog skills & strategies that I’m figuring out right now this second.

Yep, this program is the cutting edge in EPW video. Awh yeah.

The 4-part Course will include advanced strategies for planning, shooting, editing, uploading and utilizing video — such as scripts, green screens, multiple cameras, external audio, professional lighting, Final Cut & Adobe Premier editing, converting to flash, amazon s3 video hosting, SEO, analytics, and a complete tutorial on advanced streaming video using Livestream.

And it’s not just the skills. I’m teaching you the why. The strategy for when it’s time to do guerrilla style simple videos, and when’s the right time to uplevel your stuff into the land of semi-pro.

(btw, for those of you who have never made videos before, you will be able to buy both the Advanced Video Series & 4 Weeks to Video at a package discount. no worries, you are not behind!)

I’m putting this 4-part course series on pre-sale for 2 days only: June 9-10.

In the pre-sale, you will be able to buy the course series at about 1/2 of the price I plan to sell the four individual courses, after they are all created.

Why am I doing this low priced pre-sale?

For you – you get rewarded as members of my tribe & for having the faith to buy my stuff before it exists, and you get the info as fast as it’s created.

For me – I get paid to create the series, and I get your feedback as we go so I can make the series more awesomer.

Epic win for everyone!

If you’re all about what I just said – get on the EPW First Dibs list so you know the second the Advanced Series goes on sale (and everything else I’m launching this summer).

(More on the other two programs I’m launching this summer – Find Your Truth and The Quickstart Video Program – coming soon!)

A horrid red bump on the bottom left of my chin.

(I thought I was too old for this stuff? Well, apparently not.)

It happens to all of us. Those days where you have a blemish or a bad hair day or you’re hungover or have dark circles under your eyes or your kid is screaming or it’s cold or too windy or you’re sick …. but you still need to make a video.

Here’s my secrets for the days where I’m just too murkified to be on camera:

1 – Screen Capture Video

I use screen capture videos to create how-to tutorials, to review information products (Empire Building Kit, Question the Rules) and for case studies. These videos look deceptively professional and complicated – but they are as easy as hitting “record” on a piece of software, and speaking into your microphone. As far as the technology goes, I use Screenflow on my Mac and CamStudio on my PC.

2 – Photo Voiceover or Photo Music Video

Take a montage of pictures – photos that illustrate your points, photos from a recent vacation, or photos from a local networking event, for example – and put them together in a timed slideshow using your movie editing software. Just add your voiceover audio to explain your points. Or, use the subtitle function of your movie editing software to communicate your content, and add music to set the mood for the scene.

3 – Powerpoint Voiceover Video

Think of these as webinars or live presentations, without the live. You create a powerpoint presentation (or if you’re on a Mac like me, a keynote presentation) and record your voice over the slides as your video. You may do this using your screen capture software or by importing the slides into your movie editing software & recording the voiceover from there.

4 – Dig Up Old Footage and Recut

Here’s a real hack – don’t feel like making a new video for that relaunch of your program? Just get your old footage and recut the video to give it different timing and feel. If some of the details of your relaunch are different (dates, prices) just insert a title slide or picture and voiceover with your new information.

5 – Do the Video Anyway

Yep, I made videos this weekend, even with a spot on my chin. Because here’s the thing – we all get spots/wrinkles/bad hair/circles under our eyes/etc. – and when you are vulnerable and real with the people watching your videos, it’s endearing. (And most of the time, people don’t even notice the things that seem glaring to you!)

What problems come up that keep you from making videos?

So have you not made a video on a day when you felt murky? What did you do instead?

I’d love to hear your comments/feedback/questions below!

I mean, I haven’t worked for a TV station. I haven’t taken courses in editing. I don’t have a degree in filmmaking or a camera costing thousands of dollars or years of experience in professional broadcasting.

I’m just a girl who makes videos.

But strangely, after creating dozens of videos (well, now more than 147), I got a reputation as someone who knows how to make videos that work.

As far as videos that don’t work … you’ve seen them.

Some of them are even super-professional, with animation and full makeup and external audio and snazzy editing.

But they’re flat. Passionless. Boring.

The videos I create have a different effect.

In my videos, I speak my truth.

Endear myself to my viewers. Create relationships. Bond with my tribe.

And for months (well, years) people asked me to teach them how to make videos like mine.

But I continued to object – I’m not a video expert! I can’t teach that! I’m just a girl who makes videos!

Until finally, in fall of 2009, I grudgingly created a home study video tutorial program (4 Weeks to Video), really just so my clients would stop nagging me about it.

And found that this was it.

Over the next few months, 4 Weeks to Video became my highest selling program to date.

With members reporting results.

People finally creating their first video. And actually posting it and getting positive feedback from their clients/prospects/followers/readers.

Even creating entire video blogs and video-based membership programs, from what they learned from me in the program.

Freaking awesometastic.

And, while I’m confident about what I teach, in a particular way I’m still flabbergasted.

Because for me, making videos (and teaching it) is easy. In the flow. Fun.

A natural expression of who I really am.

And it feels bizarre to charge money for that.

And then there’s the part of finding myself perceived as a video expert.

Weird.

What I’ve learned is that becoming an expert is not about degrees and certifications and decades of professional experience and being officially designated as such.

You don’t become an expert by declaring yourself one.

You become an expert by doing.

You become an expert by getting results.

And other people notice. Beg you to teach them or mentor them or share your wisdom.

And assuming you love it, assuming it’s a natural expression of who you are, that’s your money-making business.

(Or at least part of your business.)

So the lesson today is … listen to your tribe.

They will tell you what is the natural expression of who you really are. What they want to learn from you.

And then let them pay you money for teaching them your natural brilliance.

#thatisall

To learn how to make your own videos, check out my newest video program 3 Days to Video live virtual workshop or get the free Quickstart to just learn the basics!

If you want help finding what is the natural expression of who you really are, I’m available to help you via consulting with me (only until May 6th).

–

What is a natural extension of who you really are?

What have people begged you to teach them even though you are not an “expert?”

I’d love to hear your comments below!

I cringe when I see the marketing for “how to make video” programs come through my twitter feed.

We’re promised that we’ll learned how to make “videos that sell” or “videos that convert leads to paying customers” or “videos that will make you money” etc.

And magical fairies will throw money at us from the sky. Freaking awesome.

Sigh.

Yes, videos are powerful.

Yes, videos are the most intimate way to connect with your audience outside of meeting each of them in person, one-on-one.

Yes, you can use videos to sell products, to make money, to convert leads to paying customers.

But people don’t buy stuff from the video.

For that matter, people don’t buy stuff. They don’t buy products. They don’t buy solutions. And they are less and less likely to buy magical pills.

People buy you.

And that is what you are selling in your videos. Not your program. Not your expertise. Not your upsell or opt-in or telesummit.

You are selling you.

There are tons of other solutions your prospects could buy that would solve their problem. Some of them are cheaper, faster, even better than yours.

But you are unique. Your energy. Your weirdness and habits and body language and accent and the clothes you wear and the wrinkles on your face.

Your presence. Your passion. Your truth.

That is what people are buying from your videos. Whether your call to action is subscribe above or comment below or give me money or buy my stuff.

The only thing you need them to buy, is you.

So don’t worry about being perfect. Glossy, technical hollywood productions are just a bullsh*t artifice of your truth. And we all have learned how to see through that crap.

It’s about letting your true self, your real self, shine through the video.

Remember that children’s book, the Velveteen Rabbit? Real is not about shiny and gears and fancy technology.

As the Skin Horse said, “Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don’t matter at all, because once you are Real you can’t be ugly, except to people who don’t understand.”

You don’t need to be perfect. You don’t need to be fancy or professional or flawless. Those things don’t matter to the people who are in your tribe. To the people who understand you.

All you have to do to sell yourself in your videos, is be Real.

What’s holding you back from making videos? What’s stopping you from posting, from promoting the videos you already made? Why are you holding yourself back from just being Real?

To learn how to make your own videos, check out my newest video program 3 Days to Video live virtual workshop or get the free Quickstart to just learn the basics!

Yes, I know your pain.

There’s the first step, of just getting all of the video into your computer. Compatibility problems with your software, the time it takes for your computer to process the raw footage, what file types your computer accepts to import …

There’s deciding if you are going to use entry-level software like Windows Movie Maker or iMovie, if you are going to up-level to Adobe Premier Pro or Final Cut … not mentioning actually learning how to use the software …

And you haven’t even started editing yet.

Then there’s deciding what footage to use, dealing with sound and lighting problems, where to make the cuts, transitions, titles, graphics, whether you will add music, photos, cutaways, b-roll footage, how to convert and expert your video …

It’s overwhelming.

I get it.

And, I get that I’m a bit of a weirdo.

Because … I love editing videos.

I love editing videos, because that’s where I find the story.

Editing is where the creation happens, where I take what I thought I was going to shoot, what I had planned in my outline, the message I thought I was going to speak … and learn what the video is really about.

I love editing videos, because I can craft how I want to be seen.

I can find the funny. I can find my message. I can find the one time out of 5 or 6 shots where I got it right and sound moderately brilliant. Or at least not like a complete idiot.

Editing is my art.

But you don’t have to edit.

Yes, I know that I sell a program that teaches you how to edit videos (among other things).

But editing is not required to create videos that bond with your audience and speak your truth.

Instead, you can create videos that are “recorded live.”

In other words, you just shoot your video, from beginning to end, and post it. Maybe you add a title at the beginning or a call to action at the end. Maybe you add nothing.

Recorded live is a huge time savings.

You can shoot a video and get it up in a matter of minutes. You can shoot from anywhere and easily upload from anywhere straight to yourtube or facebook … even right from your phone or laptop.

Recorded live is real.

When you include all the “uh’s” and when you forget words and and plane flew overhead and the demo didn’t quite work the first time … that can be endearing. You’re taking us behind the scenes, not hiding behind pillars, you’re sharing your message with us, raw.

Recorded live works.

But recorded live doesn’t work for everyone.

It takes practice. You must be able to carry your energy for the entire shot. You must at least get your message across, because there’s no fixing it later (without a completely reshoot). You can’t let us get bored.

And some of you are so intimidated by the shooting, the idea of having your face on camera, that the meek protections that editing has to offer will help you be okay with letting the world see you on video.

And that’s the bottom line.

Edit or don’t edit. I don’t care.

Whatever it takes to get your damn video up.

If it means you need to edit. If it means you can’t edit.

Later on … you can futz with it, add transitions, cutaway to b-rolls, get a new haircut, use better lighting, do a better job maintaining your energy, actually remember to do your call to action … yes.

You can and will improve everything.

But, in the meanwhile … edit. Don’t edit. Whatever.

Just post the damn video.

Do you edit your videos? What’s hard about editing videos, for you? Do you prefer videos that have been edited or the recorded-live video style?

To learn how to make your own videos, check out my newest video program 3 Days to Video live virtual workshop or get the free Quickstart to just learn the basics!

And blogging. And making online videos.

And the “how to make a video” questions start …

• what camera do you use?
• do you film in HD?
• what software do you use to edit the videos, iMovie or Final Cut or Windows Movie Maker or Adobe Premiere Pro?
• do you host your videos on YouTube or Viddler or do you host the videos yourself?
• do use special lighting or external microphones or green screens or animation?

… and even though I politely answer their questions, I cringe inside.

Because they are worrying about the wrong things.

Making videos is not hard because of the technology. Or because of the editing. Or because of the cameras or graphics or equipment.

Making videos is hard because it’s you.

Because there’s nothing to hide behind.

It’s your face. Your wrinkles. Your hair that won’t sit right since the last time it was cut.

It’s your energy. Your passion. Your personality displayed for everyone to critique.

And as much as you can try to hide behind multiple HD cameras, fancy lighting, professional makeup, stock animation and moving titles and flashy transitions …

… your truth (or lack thereof) will be visible for us to judge.

And that scares the crap out of most people.

Which is why most people talk themselves out of doing videos … by getting stuck in the technological details.

As an excuse. To avoid the spotlight. To avoid the exposure.

To avoid sharing their truth with the world.

So …. is this you?

I’d love to hear from any of you who are nervous about making videos — please share your experience in the comments below …

Why are your videos not up yet? What is holding you back? Have you made videos and not posted them? What are you missing?

To learn how to make your own videos, check out my newest video program 3 Days to Video live virtual workshop or get the free Quickstart to just learn the basics!