So time to catch up with what's going on in the land of Video Hero.

Well NUMBER One - I launched a FRESH all In One Video Hero membership and it really took off. More details here.

The Sales Page (packed with Video examples) is converting at over 8% (that's good even if I say so myself!) but hey, that's the POWER of Video!

In other NEWS

I've been watching Louis Cole aka 'Fun for Louis' on YouTube.

A skinny fellow from the UK :) Not that I'm jealous.

He's a Vegan Lifestyle / Travel Vlogger with loads of energy and passion and he's currently cycling from the UK to Africa and raising money for Regenerate.

As well as doing high end Vlogs (including some cool drone footage) he's also livestreaming some of the journey.

That really cuts down on his late night edits .. since it's live.

Here's a Live clip .. switch on the chat .. it's really interactive, you feel you are there, the audience are even warning him of lorries approaching from behind! There's also a donate button too.

An awesome...

Welcome to my thoughts as I sit here sipping my Coconut Milk Latte

If not now? When?

One advantage of getting a bit older is ...

I have become super motivated NOT to put off ideas that I have been prevaricating on. I feel more urgency. That's a great thing!

I wish I had that feeling sooner. Hint: start now.

One thing I have learned is if I actually do get the idea out of my head into a Video (or an email or social post) - 9 out of 10 times it works!

I feel now I am way better at taking action, rather than parking the spark for another day ... a day that never quite happens.

So yesterday .... having thought about it for a while .. I decided to shoot a fun Vlog and crush any doubts I had whether it would work or not .. I went out and shot parts of my day, edited it immediately and it just felt right.

Here's a still frame of me randomly in a Poland shirt - though clearly I am not Polish! (World Cup Merchandise has hit the shelves this week!)

Before you ask .. "Jules, Where can I see...

Give your Webcam some Love

Yes your iPhone (my favorite), DSLR or fancy Mirrorless camera captures excellent footage.

But let's put in a mention for your humble Webcam. It shoots great HD video too... and because you can integrate it with your Screen capture software it's fast and seamless to shoot and edit the footage with stills, screen shots etc.

This Video was filmed with a Logitech C930e HD 1080p HD. I like the wider lens on thismodel just in case I want to shoot wider shots - eg. mid length in front of a white board, or with a guest next to me or in a seminar room. (Bonus still available btw)

I use a Blue Yeti Mic for the audio.

You should add a Ring light (this is mine) positioned behind the camera. Webcams really need good light to get the max out of them, don't skimp on lights. You can use your ring light for all kinds of videos too (not just filmed on your webcam)

I use Logitech's Camera Settings software to tweak exposure and white balance.

Next Up .. (iPhone Wide LENS)...

Ok, a few little Video titbits from this Week ...

This made me want to click!

If you have an email list (hint: you need one!) then your Video views can be kickstarted with a mail out.

You send an email and you ask your folks to clickthrough and go watch your Video.

So the best way to entice them is not boring text ... it's an image you embed in your email.

But what kind of image?

I received an email from Funnel expert Russell Brunson and this was the image embedded inside the mail - it just made me want to click it.

(No need to click - it's just an example)

Take away this:

• It has a play button (so it looks like a Video to play)
• He's animated and pointing at the button. It leads your eyes.
• There is a fat Red button to click (a smart chap like him must have figured that the color Red attracts more clicks)
• It has also has a text link below in case people don't want to click the button
• It emphasises the word LIVE .. so has urgency.

Nice job RB.

Snap your gear!

You can't deny it -...

I have just discovered this new hack using a very well known (free) App to get the DSLR / Mirrorless style Blurred background on iPhone Video head shots!

A still frame from the Video is above. I only used my iPhone but notice the Pro-style blurred background!

This method does have quite a compromise .. but it's a step in an amazing direction for Mobile Video Creators!

 >> Watch my tutorial here. <<

See you over there!

Firstly, if you are new to the Video Hero Newsletter - welcome!

So I was invited (for the second time) onto the Small Business Big Marketing "Australia's #1 Marketing Show"

You can catch my Episode here. Please leave a nice comment if you want :)

I talk about Vlog Style Marketing - which is one of my favorite things right now.

It's like Vlogging - but for lazy people!

TIP: The Pre-interview

Tim Reid - who runs the site and podcast is a Pro, he sounds like one too .. and he made it fun, even if it meant booking a 10pm slot to fit the Melbourne / London time difference.

Tim asked to Skype exactly a week earlier to touch base and go over the topic and best questions to maximise the time we had on the actual recording.

Not many folks do this .. but I can tell you from Directing TV shows - it's common in TV too.

So if you are planning any Video (or Audio) interviews, Promo videos with clients, Live Videos etc. then you should definitely talk in advance (aka do a Pre-interview)...

I was just checking my Vimeo Pro Account.

I have made 1,095 Videos .. but I only have 6 followers!

"What is this madness? What a flop you are Jules!"

Not so!

The reason is .. 99.9% are set to Private - they are Online Course tutorials, or Sales Videos or Welcome Videos related to PAID FOR Online Courses.

What's my point here? Certainly it's not that you shouldn't be creating Free content and Free training and showing your awesomeness.

But what worries me is folks who are so obsessed with creating Free Videos and how many YouTube subcribers they have - they never actually put anything behind a paywall.

They are scared or paralysed by the notion of charging, or they keep waiting until they have 10000 YouTube Subscribers (insert names of other social networks here) before they create anything to sell - or dare mention they have something to buy.

Forget that - you can't truly profit from Educational Video (please don't rely on Adsense) if you don't have this ..

Clue: it isn't a fancy...

Here's some updates from this week ....

• Putting the Show into Business
• Vimeo - Publish to social
• I bought Live Reach

So I have no idea who first came up with this phrase "All Business is Show Business" ... but I agree!

It's a perfect message for Video Heroes .. because Online Video is the child of TV and before that the Movies ... where Entertainment is King.

You need to tap into the Emotion of your prospects and buyers not just provide the service. Video is the best way to do this.

Scott McKain has a book on this topic. To quote an article of his:

"The fact is, people rarely remember the details.
But they will remember how something made them feel.
And that’s why ALL business is “show business!"

So in your Videos:

• Have more fun - use relevant props to illustrate you message. $1/£1 stores are good places to find cheap props.
• Reveal more behind the scenes of your business. If you think you are dry - tap into the talent in your workforce, your family or even your...

I pass on a lot of new products in the Video space .. too much hype and too many copycat Video Creators out there.

But I must say I am liking LiveReach (Take pre-recorded Videos and broadcast them 'As Live' on FB and YouTube)

Go watch my demo Video https://www.videohero.com/p/tools

I bought it a few days back .. and every time I have re-broadcast 'As Live' my email list has grown. A clear return on a small, one-time investment.

Live Videos grab attention in the feed! I was having dinner at the time :)

But to be clear I stated in the description the Video was 'Pre-recorded'. You can answer questions via comments as it goes out (without juggling 2 things at once) or pick them up later.

You can:

• Pre-record a Live Broadcast using your Webcam / Screencasting software or Video Camera edit out the errors if you choose .. then schedule it to broadcast it 'As Live' and repeat whenever you want.
• Re-broadcast 'As Live' a recording of a Live Webinar or Social Live you have previously held...

I got an email this week from Product Launch Guru - Jeff Walker. He uses a lot of Video in his launches and Content Marketing.

The subject line caught my eye: 'six gurus get into a gondola'. He filmed it in a Gondola during his Mastermind. It says 'Bonding' to me - congruent to the notion of Masterminds.

You can watch it here.

The takeaway .. if you are worried your Business talking heads, interviews and chats are boring looking, then try and choose a congruent but unusual location to film in.

On your yacht :), about to bungee, on the ski slopes, or failing that just walking your dog. You get the drift.

This immediately adds some interest and originality to both the Video and the Email subject line - then deliver some wisdom too of course. WIN!

WINNING

Speaking of which .. as as you know I ran a Giveaway Mic Contest (closed). In case you missed it I announced the Winner via this Video.

The Winner was Canadian Correction Officer Shane Anderson.

Shane writes: "This is fantastic...