Video:How to Video Blog

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Transcript:How to Video Blog

Hi, I'm Meghan Lynn Allen with About.com, and today we're going to talk about "How to Vlog."

What is a Video Blog?

Well, before the year 2000, you might have written your thoughts down in a little diary with a lock on it, or maybe you typed your thoughts out in a memoir on your typewriter. After the year 2000, you might have started a blog, sharing your thoughts, your feelings, with the world online in a written format. Well, the newest thing, the newest way to express yourself, is with a vlog, a video blog.

So what the heck should you vlog about? The great thing is the subject matters are endless. You can talk about what you made for dinner last night, your favorite recipe to make in the kitchen, maybe what you did on vacation or even what your favorite TV shows are. You can share anything that’s on your mind with the world by making a vlog.

How to Film a Video Blog?

There are three common ways to film your vlog. And the first could be like this, on a laptop, and use the software and the webcam that comes with your laptop or desktop computer at home.

A second way to film your vlog is to use your handheld digital camera like this. Turn it around and point it at yourself. "Hi! I’m Meghan Lynn Allen, making a vlog for About.com."

A third way to film your vlog is using your cellphone. If your cellphone has video capability, again just turn it around, point and shoot. For example, "Hi, it’s Meghan! I worked a long day today and something really crazy happened. I’m going to vlog right now and tell you all about it."

How to Get Your Video Blog to Your PC

Once you've filmed your vlog, you need to upload the information to your computer. Now, if you have vlogged by speaking directly into your webcam on your laptop or your desktop, you're all set! It's in there. But if you used a cellphone or a handheld digital camera, you'll need to connect a camera with a cord to the computer.

Most commonly, you'll use a cord that goes in the bottom of your camera or the side of your cellphone, and connects to the laptop or the computer through a USB port. Once you've connected your camera or cellphone to your laptop or computer, you'll need to drag those files that you vlogged from your cellphone or camera to your computer.

How to Edit a Video Blog

The simplest way to edit is not to edit at all. Take that two or three minute file of talking about how to make a chicken cacciatore in the kitchen, and straight upload to the computer - no edits at all. But if you'd like to become more polished and have a fancier vlog, you can certainly put in titles, credits and music. And the way to do that is to use the editing software that comes with most computers. For example, if you have Windows, you have Movie Maker. And if you have a Mac, you have iMovie.

How to Share Your Video Blog

So once you've edited your vlog - or not edited that vlog at all - you want to share it with the world. It's time to upload it to the world wide web! There are few different ways you can do that. You can choose a large website with a lot of traffic, like YouTube.com. YouTube has many vloggers just like you, sharing their thoughts with the world every day. The good thing is you might get a lot of hits - a lot of people might see what you're vlogging about.

Now, if you wanted a smaller community, more tight-knit, where people comment on each other's vlogs, share vlogging tips, you might want to try a smaller website like LetsVlog.com, where you have followers who follow other vlogs, and you can share with each other.

Okay! So now you have the tools! You're a vlogging expert. So take that camera, film yourself, and share your thoughts with the world.

Thank you so much for watching, and if you want more information, visit us at About.com.