It seems that every webpage I open these days has a video. Most of the time I have to make some hardware adjustments before I can hear the video. I ask myself (and the website owner) if the video is really necessary. Sometimes they are, but most of the time they aren’t. I do have a few (very few) favorite uses for video.

Lately I’ve been having problems hearing online audio with my computer. I’ve also been juggling the USB headset with the USB hard drive. This older computer has only two USB slots. One of those is used by my trackball. You better have a compelling reason for me to switch hardware and mostly likely reboot the computer so I can watch your video.

Talking head videos are extremely popular. When used appropriately, they can help you build a relationship with your audience. Used incorrectly, they just irritate your readers.

Does the webpage need a personal touch (like a bio or about page)?

Does the video provide something the read really needs to SEE?

Do you provide the same information in text below the video? If you really want me to receive your information, give me multiple ways to access it.

Video is a popular way to deliver training. Yes, it does help to see screenshots. However, if you have to switch back and forth between the video and the website, it quickly becomes tedious. A PDF with screenshots is more work to produce, but much more friendly for your audience.

However, there is one time that video trumps all other forms of media. That is to keep friends and family connected over long distances. There’s something special about letting your loved ones see your smiling face and hear a personal greeting.

Today I hope videos are winging their way to mothers all over the world. Happy Mothers Day to moms everywhere!

Did you give your mother a card, phone call, or video?

What is your favorite uses for video?

Leave a comment and let me know!

Write on,

Lynn

As writers we are great at setting writing goals. If we have trouble we have critique groups, forums, challenges, word wars, and accountability buddies to help us.

This week has been especially crazy for me. Dealing with email scam problems has really derailed my writing. I need to get back on track. You can use this opportunity to get back on track with your own writing.

Connie Ragen Green is having a 30 day blogging challenge. There is  a post on her blog, and people are posting on Twitter using the #blog30 hashtag. I’ve caught up now, but I know there will be other distractions before the challenge is over.

EzineArticles is holding another 100 articles in 100 days challenge starting in May. I’m determine to do better this time. I haven’t seen what the prizes are this time, but the real reward is doing more writing and getting your work in front of more people. If you are writing non-fiction to support your fiction (and you should be), look into putting your articles on EZA.

National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is the ultimate challenge. Check it out and be ready for November. However, they are in the middle of the Script Frenzy challenge. If scripts are your thing, join now! You may not be able to “win” the challenge, but your script will be further along than when you joined.

Twitter has the hashtag for #writegoal, #writing, #amwriting. Of course there are many more hashtags related to writing, but those are places you can state your goals and be held accountable.

Twitter’s hashtag #wordwar is a great place to find someone to challenge anytime of the day or night. You can set a time limit and compete against someone else or your own personal best.

Of course you can state your writing goals here. I’ll give you encouragement as well as some tools to help you reach those goals.

Whatever you write,

• Leave a comment stating your goals
• Go write!
• Come back and check in with your progress

If there’s enough interest, I’ll start a Ning forum. Can’t do a Facebook group, since I don’t have my account back. (Something else on my to-do list.)

Write on,

Lynn

Noted copywriter John Carlton said, “Nothing happens in business until the writing is done.” That is very true, especially when your business is writing.

If writing is your business, you will have no business if you don’t do the writing. Networking and promotion is futile without writing to promote.

However, you can’t spend all of your time writing unless you have a staff to do the promotion and business activities for you. Most of us don’t have that luxury.

Even if your writing business hasn’t yet started to pay off, you must realize that it is indeed a business. You are the owner of your own small business.

No one (especially the IRS) will take your writing business seriously until you do.

So, how do you treat your writing as a business? › Continue reading…