Calling All Online Video Bloggers!

For those of you who have followed this blog you've probably noticed that things have slowed here bit over the last year, due in part to my busy work schedule. But while things have slowed down here on Klessblog, it's been picking up on my other site, Online Video Publishing [dot] com, with a number of new posts by guest bloggers. I've been running Online Video Publishing [dot] com, as a companion site to my blog, and over the last few years it's become a resource for sharing strategies, best practices, news, tips and how to's for online video publishers.

So why am I spending time on my other site instead of producing new content here on this blog? Well, as a matter of fact, all the most recent articles on Online Video Publishing [dot] com have been written by guest authors. So, I've written this post as an open invitation to any guest blogger who would like to contribute an article or series to Online Video Publishing [dot] com.

The articles on the site are all focused on video publishing for multi-screen platforms. In the most recent post, Peter Smith provides some practical tips on How to start your own Videography Business. He says, one of the first things you have to consider when thinking about starting your own videography business, "is whether or not you are suited to owning your own business. As difficult as it may be to hear the truth is not everyone is capable of being in business for themselves. It takes discipline and dedication and owning a decent video camera does not automatically qualify you to be in business." Read more here.

In another guest post, Apple's Thunderbolt Display Port Dismays the AV Industry, Lorin Nelson, SF Bay Area-based Technical Panic Alleviation Technician, describes the current dismay within the AV industry resulting from HDCP encryption in Thunderbolt mini-DVI ports, and what current solutions are available. He sums up the challenges within the article in his sub-title, "AV Industry Challenges Brave Mac Techs Who Are Confined to Speaking In Terms of Re-Branding, With Little Success Given the Fact that They Are Unaware of Specs, Really want to Help, but Are Rendered Helpless by the Apple Core Design Team." Read more here.

Also, Joe Kukura, a writer for the RealPlayer video technology blog contributed an article on how music legend and recording artist, Neil Young rocks online music with a new high resolution audio format. Apparently, Neil Young had been working with the late Steve Jobs to bring this new HD audio format to future iPods and was quoted as saying, “Steve Jobs was a pioneer of digital music, but when he went home, he listened to vinyl. And you've gotta believe that if he'd lived long enough, he would eventually have done what I'm trying to do.” Read more here.

In addition to individual writers, video companies are also welcome to provide content, like UK-based Vidify, who shares 5 ways online video can increase your business revenue. The article points out that, "Video has been proven to be an effective tool in increasing conversion rates online. You should note however that a bad video is going to do just the opposite. When you decide that it is time to join the major brands in online video, ensure that you are providing your website visitors with a professionally produced video that explains your business message and presents you as an expert in your field." Read more here.

The posting guidelines for Online Video Publishing [dot] com are that articles be video topic related, and can be news, informational, analysis, observational, opinion, how to, production tips, best practices and can be any length. Articles can include videos, graphics, embed codes and can be in html format. Author and company will receive mention and backlinks within the post. Sponsored posts are also accepted, but posts that are just promotional, pure marketing, direct sales pitches or press releases are not accepted. 

If you're interested, please feel free to submit any article or series, contact me at klessblog@gmail.com if have you any questions.

My Updated Business Cards for Online Video Publishing [dot] com

It's been more than two years since I've updated my social media business cards, and I proudly present this new design. 

Why new business cards? Who cares? Who even uses business cards anymore?

Well, regardless of our ever-expanding online presence and connections, business cards still do come in handy. They are the ultimate lead generation tool, because you can put them into the hands of potential customers, partners, investors, or anyone you want to follow up with later. It's easier to network at conferences and events by just handing out your card. And with that, business cards can help promote your social media presence, by having your main social media channels listed on the card. 

So what's new? 

This new design is different in a few ways, a new picture, a new phone number and my Facebook page. My previous card had most of the same information, but instead of my own picture, I used an archival image of a television newscaster inside an old-school looking TV, from one of my early experimental videos, "How They Saw The New World," which I featured in my first blog post. At that time, a lot of people asked why I didn't put my own picture, but I had been using that image in the past for my experimental film identity, and I guess I just didn't have the right picture of myself. 

But now, having replaced my Facebook and Twitter accounts with this new picture, which has been my Blogger profile picture for some time, I decided to pull that through to the cards as a branding element. These cards carry also list my current mobile number, and my main social media channels where I spend most of my time.

I'll be handing these cards out at Streaming Media West 2010 and the Online Video Platform Summit on November 2-3, in L.A., and will be conducting interviews at the conference like I did at Streaming Media East 2010. So, please contact me if you'd like to schedule an online video conversation. Stay tuned to this space for videos and updates from the events.

Also, watch for these upcoming interviews, with: David Burch of Tubemogul,  Jayant Kadambi of YuMe, Steven Horn of Metacafe and Jeroen "JW" Wijering of LongTail Video.

Streaming Media West Interview with Adriana Gascoigne

Adriana Gascoigne is the Director of Corporate Communications at hi5 which launched in 2003 and is now one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing social networks. Last week hi5 became the first major social network to offer a language translation tool that's fully compliant with the OpenSocial v0.8 standard. Adriana is a seasoned vlogger for Bub.blicio.us, MeeVee, TheWeakSpot and has had numerous clients in the corporate and technology industries. She founded Girls in Tech with Jessica Valenzuela and Davina Anthony in March 2007, "an organization focused on women's entrepreneurial and innovative achievements in technology."


MP4 version here

I had a few minutes to talk with Adriana who spoke at Streaming Media West as part of the panel session on New Media Production: Building an Independent Media Brand which focused on how new media producers navigate the online video landscape from concept development to distribution, licensing, and marketing. In this clip she says that there are great opportunities for niche content producers and that we're lacking a lot of vertical television. She offers advise to video and new media students recommending that they learn new media tools and engage in distribution networks.


One her next ventures will be Smitten With Mittens which will launch in December 2008. "a non-profit providing warm mittens and clothing to orphans in third world countries during their respective Winter seasons."

Streaming Media West Interview with Dan Rayburn, Conference Chairman and EVP of Streamingmedia.com

In the last hours of Streaming Media West I had a few minutes to speak with Dan Rayburn, EVP of Streamingmedia.com and Conference Chairman. Dan led two sessions on the CDN market and in this interview he provides an overview what the conference is about, what's important to making the 10-year old event a success, the demographics of the attendees, initial feedback of the sessions and keynotes, and an outlook for the streaming media and CDN industry.


MP4 version here

A note on process for all you online video content producers:

• This is the first of several interviews and videos I recorded at Streaming Media West using my Flip Ultra video camera. I used Quicktime Pro to trancode the Flip .avi file into a .mov and edited it in iMovie. I then uploaded the file to Tubemogul for distribution and syndication on my video sharing sites.
  

My New Business Cards for Online Video Publishing [dot] com

I proudly present my new social media business cards. I've been asked why I didn't put my picture on card and the image I chose dates back to my first blog post. I think it adds an old school new media vibe to the card.

I included my main channels of communication and while I'm expanding in other networks I listed where I spend most of my time.

Online Video Publishing [dot] com will be at Streaming Media West starting this Monday with the Pre-Conference sessions.

Stay tuned to this space for video and updates from the conference.