Video from Text and Pictures: a Short How-to Guide
Video from Text and Pictures: a Short How-to Guide
Some people are gifted article writers. They produce new articles at the rate of one per day. But let us assume that you can manage only one per week. Now that is fine, since you can 'spin' the content and submit it all over with an automatic submission software, hence you still get a reasonable 'coverage' out of the exercise. You can also post it on sites such as Hubpages and Scribd, with very little extra effort. Once you're on a roll it does not take long.
Now wouldn't it be nice if you could take that same content and turn it into a video as well? After all, you have already done all the hard work! For some folks it's easy to switch on the video camera and record a two-minute video. However, what do you do if you don't like appearing in front of a video camera?
Let's do it without a video camera! The simplest approach is to use custom-made software for this job. Software products that I have experimented with include MemoriesOnWeb and Online Video Story. However, if you really want control over the process, then I suggest you use a proper video editing suite such as AVS Video Editor, Pinnacle Studio, Corel MovieMaker or Sony Vegas. I happen to use Pinnacle Studio, but there are also products by AVS, Sony and Corel, to name but a few vendors.
Here's how you go about it.
- Take your article and cut it down to about one sentence per paragraph. I prefer no fewer than 5-8 sentences, but no more than 15 sentences in total. Limit your sentences to a few words each. The shorter, the better.
- Create a PowerPoint slideshow. Copy and paste your sentences, in sequence, onto plain backgrounds. Keep it simple, white on black is easier to read than the fancy stuff; I use white Arial 44pt bold on black. Don't forget to put a URL and a call to action on the last slide. When done, 'Save As' individual JPEG files (just confirm when prompted) so that you end up with slide1.jpg, slide2.jpg and so on.
- Now you need some JPG pictures to place between the text slides. Use your own, or check out MorgueFile or Stock.xchng for royalty-free pictures. You can also use Google to search for pictures, just watch out for copyright issues. Store them in the same folder as the text files. Ideally you should name them pic1.jpg, pic2.jpg, etc.
- Run your video editor, and drag the text and picture files onto the story line, in the correct sequence. Following that, adjust the length of each clip against the time line to suit your own taste. Play the video to see if you like it, and adjust the duration of each clip time-wise. We are almost done!
- Pick a nice transition effect and drag it on to each junction between text and image. Don't waste time here, any transition will do.
- Finally; the music. My video editor (Pinnacle Studio Plus 12) has a music library built-in. As an alternative you could look for royalty-free music online. Start with Jamendo. Do not use tracks off CDs as you could be sued for copyright infringement. You need to copy and past, or drag, the music clip onto the sound track, then cut off any surplus, and add fade-in and fade-out at the ends. This should take about 60 seconds.
Done!
Only one more hurdle needs to be crossed. You still have to render the video, i.e. produce the 'output'. I usually take the easy route out and ask for a Flash (FLV) format. Then I make some tea while the video is being built. And that is it!
John Power
John Power, founder of Biltmore Franchise Consulting, has extensive experience developing and marketing franchises and business opportunities. He has been in and around franchising for over twenty years.
From 1980 through 1990 he conceptualized, organized, and developed the American Video Association. He grew AVA to 2,000 national members, before selling the company it 1990. It was later merged into another home video marketing company.
From 2000 to 2005 he worked as a contract marketing and human resources consultant to several local and national companies.
In 2005 Mr. Power began working as a franchise development consultant on a full-time basis. Since that time he has helped more than three dozen companies initiate and develop their franchising program. He notes that there are many companies interested in developing a franchise program, and who need his specialized assistance.
Mr. Power is a “hands-on” franchise consultant. He said, “I am the ‘nuts and bolts’ person who tends to the details for my clients.”
Mr. Power holds a B.S. degree with a major in Marketing.
See: www.biltmorefranchise.com
You may contact Mr. Power at: jpower@biltmorefranchise.co - Visit John Power's Website
Staging Diva
Debra Gould, aka The Staging Diva®, is President of Six Elements Inc., an internationally recognized home staging company. Inspired by many requests from aspiring home stagers wanting to start similar businesses, Gould created the Staging Diva Home Staging Business Training Program. Gould has trained over 1000 Staging Diva Graduates worldwide to start staging businesses. Buying decorating and selling six of her own homes in four years lead to an interest in real estate staging which she turned into a career with the launch of sixelements.com in 2002. Since then she has staged hundreds of homes in addition to teaching home staging training. Gould is the author of several home staging resources including a series of popular ebooks made up of a Design Guide, Color Guide and Portfolio Guide. For more information about Debra Gould visit stagingdiva.com. - Visit Staging Diva's Website
Cheryl is a life skills coach, licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor and a 20 year entrepreneur. Cheryl's dedication to achieving a life of balance led to her expanding her teaching from the simple managing of life's daily challenges to adding financial well being as well. A direct marketer with DrinkACT, she is gaining ground in the online community with her concepts of making sure business owners, entreprenuers and employees have well rounded life styles. She opened up a small affiliate site - The Balance Guide- to help others find resources for mental and emotional well being. Visit Cheryl's blog to see more of the diversity beyond business she has began offering online at www.thebalanceguide.blogspot.com
Subscribe to Deon's articles(Visit Deon's Website)Deon Reynders
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