A podcast can seem like a daunting, technologically complicated and overwhelming task. However, the truth is quite a relief. Creating, maintaining and distributing Podcasts is easy to do and VITAL to a holistically successful social media marketing campaign.

Here at Primeau Productions, we recently created a two part Video Tutorial, showing and explaining the step by step process of podcasting. The video is available as a podcast and can be downloaded via iTunes. The two video segments can also be found on The Video Revolution website . By following along with the tutorial videos and reading the downloadable, supplementary step by step guide, you will be willing and ready to create your own rich content, available world-wide on all devices instantaneously.

Click Here to download the Video Revolution eTutorial: Turning Your Media Into a Podcast.

Please leave any and all questions or comments in our comments section. You can also join in the conversation:
@ThevideoRevolutionOnline, #podcasthelp

We have arrived at “The Video Revolution Online”. There is more video on the Internet today than ever before. Much of the video is homemade and works for its intended purpose. If you are a business that is using video to help convince a prospect to contact you (which is a very important focus for your Internet and social media marketing efforts) then you must consider these 5 components of a successful video.

By successful we mean your video has to accomplish a purpose that it was intended for. If your video is intended to sell (sales video), then it better walk your Internet shopper through a sales process driven by benefits. If your video is intended to demonstrate (demo video) than it better demonstrate your talent, skill and ability. If your video is intended to market (marketing video), than your video better show marketing process that engages your prospect.

There are 5 qualifications of a great video; Creativity, video production quality, audio quality, graphics quality and sustainability.

Creativity is the backbone of your video. It’s the spark that brings your idea to life. Some people feel they can create their video on their own and save money. That works some of the time. Most successful videos that sell have a creative team behind the video production; a creative director, project manager, graphics designer, video editor, audio post producer, and producer. The creative director is the person who pulls all creativity together and organizes the design, look and feel of your video.

Video production quality is the look and feel of your video footage. “You can’t make a purse out of a sow’s ear” is true especially when producing a video you want to make a great first impression. However if you know what you are working with going into a project, there are skills that can be applied and planned for in advance to improve the quality of a poor video like color correction and other adjustments. Video restoration is an art that Primeau Productions founder Ed Primeau as perfected. Several of our clients send us DVD’s as a master video source which is not optimal. We extract the DVD video footage and import into one of two video editing systems; Final Cut Pro or Premiere Pro.

The audio is then exported from the video editing program and imported into an audio program like Pro Tools or Sound Forge to optimize the volume, reduce background extraneous noise, and add equalization. The outcome is an improved video source for your production.

When we are provided existing video, we always begin the production process looking at all video footage provided. Rating is based on video and audio quality, composition, number of cameras, level of energy and performance. If we are hired to record the video footage, all these items are covered well in advance.

Audio quality is an often overlooked characteristic of video production. There are some basic fundamental requirements to great audio for video. First, volume should be in the -15 to -6 range on digital video; peaking no more than -3. In the old analogue days, over saturation was more forgiving than on digital video. Over saturation or audio that is too loud will become distorted when recorded to digital video. Keep in mind that if you are recording audio to video through an audio mixer, these same volume characteristics still apply. Maintain the same volume levels on the audio mixer as you do on the video camera (video recorder).

Background audio noise is another characteristic that can ruin audio quality on video. If a mixing board is too noisy because of unnecessary inputs that are on and not being used or electric buzzes and hums are present, background noise will be present creating more work in the edit suite. Primeau productions and other professional production houses have a part of the video editing and production process called audio post that minimizes background noise, optimizes volume and sound quality and evens out all audio from the many video sources.

Graphics quality has become a very important ingredient in video. If you look at some of the graphics and motion graphics you see in television programs and other Internet videos, you will notice a level of quality that must be acknowledged. People may not dissect your video and point out that your graphics are poor but subconsciously poor graphics contribute to lack of interest in your message. When professional graphics are added to a video production, it lifts the overall quality of the production.

Sustainability is a video that lasts and will stand up to time. If you are going to create a professional video that brings in prospects and generates leads, then you want it to last a long time so you get a good ROI (return on investment). Great video production companies know how to create videos that are not only effective but have sustainability; they hold up over time.

Here is a video Primeau Productions, Inc recently completed for Walter Bond:

Walter Bond-Mr. Accountability from Ed Primeau on Vimeo.

Father’s Day-Ten Tips to Being a Good Father
By Ed Primeau

As far back as I can remember, my father was the biggest influence in my life. Since I grew up in the late 50’s and early 60’s, tradition was different then it is today. Fathers were the main support and income for the families as mothers were the caregivers and nurturers.

This is very different today. Both parents work to support the family as expenses and cost of living are greater. It seems that people want more than the simple life we had when I was growing up. Much has been forgotten about good simple family values.

Some of you reading this know I have four children. Well, young adults may be a more appropriate term to describe them. I am very proud of their accomplishments and proud to be their father.

Not everyone grew up with a positive father experience. Many grew up with abusive fathers or even no father at all. This article is for the men that want to know what I know about being a good father. It is also for daughters who want to learn how a man should treat a lady. It’s for boys who didn’t have fathers to better understand how to become a father and for single mothers trying to find a father for their children.

It is very important for fathers to teach their children about life, love and intimacy. When a boy grows up without a father, how does he learn how to be a man? When a little girl grows up without a father, how does she know how men are supposed to treat them? How do they learn how to be in a healthy relationship? Parents have to demonstrate healthy relationships. What does a good marriage look like?

It is my opinion that boys learn how to be fathers from their father. If the father was abusive, the boys probably learned to be abusive. Sad but true.

Why is it that many men turn out to be lame fathers? Do they lack the courage to be strong for the children? Did they learn what courage actually is? Do they know how to balance their life between family and work?

It’s been said if a family were a business; the father is the CEO, chief executive officer. He may also be the CFO, chief financial officer (although today many moms handle the family’s expenses). Being a father is much more than running a business. It is about love and leading by example. It’s about teaching and directing lives. Fathering is about guidance and free will. It is about helping children understand life.

It is also about fun things like bar barbequing, bowling and camping. Canoeing, playing cards and cooking as well as entertaining, being a leader and decision making. Bottom line, children learn more from their fathers than any other human being in their lives! So why is fathering so important? It is a huge responsibility that many men don’t realize they have.

Nobody hands us a manual when we become fathers. We take our collective knowledge and experiences and do the best we can. Here are ten tips to becoming a good father based on my experience:

1. Heal your relationship with your father the best you know how.
2. Children spell LOVE - T-I-M-E Do things with your kids often, not just watch TV.
3. Help your children learn about things not taught in school (like spirituality).
4. Always take time to enjoy your children’s accomplishments and praise them.
5. Teach your children about music especially your favorite songs.
6. Criticize in private, praise in public. Never yell at your children in front of people.
7. Teach your children how to choose friends and avoid trouble.
8. Talk to your children about drugs, alcohol and sex.
9. Take family vacations.
10. Be involved, not controlling in your children’s lives.

Ed@PrimeauProductions.com

Some Things Should Be Free!

a) Content providers want to (and incorrectly think they can) monetize the actual media they are distributing over the Internet.
This is a flawed belief system. In the past the internet existed as a means for information gathering, evolved into a means for communicating and evolved further as a means to enjoy media such as movies, music, tv, etc. The current state of the internet is a complete integration of all three: Information, Communication and Media. All three concepts boil down to content. And with so much content available to satisfy those three main aspects, instantaneously, for free, ask yourself, why would anyone PAY for yours? The answer is they wouldn't.

While it is possible to monetize certain digital PRODUCTS, it's nearly impossible to monetize CONTENT. However, without CONTENT you won't sell PRODUCT.

It's Growing, It's Growing!

b) Content providers falsely believe that podcasts are limited to iTunes and generally not a popular form of media consumption.
This is incorrect. As seen in the graph below, the U.S. podcast audience has been steadily increasing since 2008 and by 2011 will reach over 30 million people:

Because of this steady increase in audience, the sooner you get into the game the better.
Podcasting is an amazing way to engage in all three areas (Information, Communication, Media), while simultaneously: Increasing the value of your brand, positioning you/your brand as a thought leader, providing a medium for engagement in social media and most of all making your presence MOBILE! Chart below demonstrates the increase in the increase of mobile's share of internet usage:

The mobile web grew 110% since 2008. This means that more people are on the go while on the internet. Podcasting is a perfect companion to this phenomena. Predominantly because almost all mobile web devices can receive, play and store podcasts, making your valuable media available to consumers while driving in their car, jogging, etc.

Add to the above statistic the fact that iPhones/iPods, devices that are designed specifically for easy access to podcasts, make up 65% of mobile internet usage and you've got a recipe for success.

A rapidly expanding audience + growing ease of access + great content + free = Marketing Machine that will only bring you good fortune.

This post is from our Swiss friends at www.acrproductionservices.com
by: Carsten Rauin

Switzerland is a small country. 41‘285 sqm, only 1/10 the size of California and with 7.8 M inhabitants less than New York City. Though with 4 different official languages!
Beneath German, French and Italian is Romantsch (don‘t even try to pronounce!) the 4th language. Ok, almost nobody speaks it (except a small amount of people who are really proud about) and less people understand, BUT you can see what this small country is able to undertake.
Well, we‘re not finished yet. There is a 5th language, the ,Swiss-German‘. This is kind of special pronouncing of the ,normal‘ German language which is - even for Germans - difficult to understand.

You see: it‘s a mess!

Nevertheless Switzerland is a beautiful and charming country. Amazing landscapes, beautiful towns, historical buildings and - not least - very nice people. Although Swiss are very formal and a bit - let‘s say - donnishly, they are acutely friendly and obliging.

With one word: Swiss is worth a trip!
In the future, Swiss‘ film industry and it‘s role in world‘s film biz
Visit: www.acrproductionservices.com

You never know when somebody will come into your life that is fun to talk to and so engaging that you have to get them on camera for your friends to see. Meet Cactus Joe Davidson and learn about Tightwad Missouri. I met Joe on a recent trip to Las Vegas just a spell past Red Rock Canyon (one of my favorite places on earth).

Joe owns a store that sells (you guessed it) cactus and other western outdoor items. Hope you enjoy the video.

Everyone reading this post has something to say. I believe everyone has a best seller inside them. If you want more business, create a digital download that helps people. No matter who you are, you do something better than anyone else. You might know how to raise kids really well; sell better than anyone; influence and motivate people out of depression. Whatever you do, you have a digital download product in you!
Digital downloads are media products strategically placed on the Internet that serve many purposes.
1. They create visibility for your business
2. They position you as an expert
3. Earn passive income
4. Are easily “sharable”
5. Motivate and excite you
6. Rekindle your business and activity
7. Help you reinvent
8. Drive traffic to your website and blog
E Books are probably the easiest to create and share. They do not have to be long, in fact as long as they are well done, you will be successful. E Books are quickly replacing printed books because there is no cost of printing and Kindle and the I Pad can store dozens of books with easy access without the weight of dozens of books. If you are traveling on vacation and want to take some books with you, they will add weight to your luggage. Kindle and the I Pad make reading easy.
Audio books in the form of podcasts and MP3’s are extremely popular and quickly replacing CD’s. Portable electronic devices have become a way of life. More people access the internet and media content on PED’s today than ever before.
We are living in the “Video Revolution “. Millions of people are enjoying success from worldwide video content on the Internet. If you don’t believe me, then why are there over 80 social networks hosting video? You can make a video and post it on the Internet and have hundreds of views by the end of the day.
To get started or “unstuck”, I suggest you make a list of subjects and titles for future digital downloads and get started immediately. Continue to create content and watch how your life will change as your business grows.

I welcome your feedback and would love to hear your success stories:
Ed@PrimeauProductions.com
800-647-4281

This week we have our guest blogger Carolyn Berg with a very important message on delegating.

Here’s the scenario: You have a client appointment at 9 a.m., a phone call with a prospect at 10:30 a.m., a lunch appointment, then 3 more client calls in the afternoon before 4 p.m. You also have to prepare your online shopping cart for a new product you are about to launch, create the email messages, autoresponders, and articles to introduce the product, write the article for your next ezine, create an event in Facebook inviting people to your next teleclass, and you need to follow up on emails from yesterday that you were too busy to respond to regarding your new teleclass. Does any of this sound familiar? Do you even have to do half of the tasks listed above? If so, then you need to delegate.

The word “delegate” is enough to make people cringe as if nails were being dragged across a chalkboard (or if you are anything like my husband, touching cotton balls and rubbing them on your face). Why is it so hard to delegate? You know there are only so many hours in a day and you are not a super-human no matter what your kids say. The main reason is fear…fear of letting go of the daily administrative tasks that you just don’t have time to do, but you know it needs to get done. Some people just do not want to give into that fear and insist that they can keep doing all these tasks on their own. Yes, it’s your business, but it won’t be for long if you don’t get help and fast.

I can tell you right now that it is this fear of delegation that drives small businesses into the ground. If you have been playing small this whole time by doing everything on your own, you are cheating yourself out of big profits and becoming a bigger company. The more you delegate to an assistant (s), the more free time you will have to focus on those new clients, new prospects and new products you have on your plate right now. That all leads up to dollar signs…and that is the only way you are going to grow your business. You need to have the time to focus more on what you do best, growing our business.

How do you know you are ready to delegate some of those tasks to an assistant? The best way to start is to keep track of all your daily tasks for about a week, or less (some people realize after two days why they need help). If you are focusing more time on non-revenue generating tasks, it’s time to search for an assistant and delegate!

Next time I’ll be focusing on giving some tips on how to delegate and what products you can use to help you get organized. Until then, if you have any questions, give me a shout!

Carolyn Berg
CyberOffice Solutions, LLC
www.cyberofficesolutions.net
carolyn@cyberofficesolutions.net

An Introduction to YouTube Annotations

Share Your YouTube Video Part One

Share Your YouTube Video Part Two

Share Your YouTube Video Part Three

This is an example of how to share a You Tube video on your blog. This video is about editing audio in Sound Forge. Visit our You Tube channel to learn more ways you can share your videos on the Internet.

http://www.youtube.com/user/PrimeauProductions?feature=mhw5

This video is an example of embedding video for Internet sharing.
Primeau Productions, Inc. 800-647-4281