Videos tips

So, you’ve created a really cool video – all that it needs is some music and some compelling sound effects to take it to the next level. Instead of paying for music and sound effects, you can actually use YouTube’s library of free music and sound effects to enhance your project – and it’s super easy to do. Just go to your Creator Studio, click on Create in the left-hand side menu, and get to listening: You can use the search bar to find the exact music/sound effects you need, and then simply click on them to see whether you need to give attribution or not: Plus, you can click on Attribution and select ‘attribution not required’ to find any completely free music that you can use in your songs without any other steps. The sound effects, too, are pretty good, and you can find effects for most anything you could need (unless of course you’re a professional sound designer), from turning on muscle cards to cutting fruit, and from pouring bottles in dumpsters to a team cheering. #YouTube tips & tricks: how to get free music and sound effects for your videos #videomarketingClick To Tweet

If you’ve watched a few videos on YouTube, then you’ve probably noticed how some leave a few seconds at the end to convince you to subscribe to their channels, to get you to buy something, or to get you to their website. This is called an “end screen” and it’s basically part of your video, showing that last 5-20 seconds. However, be aware that your video needs to be at least 25 seconds long to be allowed an end screen. You can add up to 4 elements to your end screen that help promote your channel, website, or content. To add your very own end screen, go to:

• Creator Studio, after clicking on your account icon
• Go to video manager -> video
• Select the video you want and click on edit
• Click on End Screen (at the top)
• Then, simply follow the instructions to start adding elements; be aware that at least one of the elements need to be a video or playlist Although you can your own elements from scratch, you also have a few other options; for example, look through the YouTube templates to see if you can find one that suits your needs, or if you’ve already created an end screen for another video, you can easily copy it to other videos as well. #YouTube tips & tricks: how to add end screens to your video #videomarketingClick To Tweet

Another useful feature is that you can see the transcript of any video – so long as the uploader didn’t specifically remove it. All you have to do is click on the 3 dots beneath your video, and click on Open transcript: If you don’t get the option, then the uploader took out the transcript. Otherwise, once you click on Open Transcript, the video’s transcript will immediately appear on the right-hand side of your video: Another cool thing? If you need to transcribe one of your own videos, just upload it to YouTube – no more pausing, rewinding, and writing everything down yourself. #YouTube tips & tricks: how to see a video transcript #videomarketing Click To Tweet

Often times when I share a video, I actually want someone to see something specific – and I’m sure I’m not the only one. Whether it’s to laugh at something that happens 1.20 minutes in, or you want to share a certain speech that happens in the middle of the video, you can easily share a link that takes the person to the exact moment you want. And it’s very easy to do: just start watching the video, and once you’re at the time you want to share, click on Share: As you can see, you can check the box next to the time, right under the shareable link. Once clicked, your URL will change to reflect the time in the video: Plus, you can also use this feature to bookmark your videos – kind of like you would with books, articles, and so on. #YouTube tips & tricks: how to share a video at a certain time #videomarketingClick To Tweet

Remember the days when YouTube videos weren’t getting constantly interrupted by ads? Well, they’re looong gone. Now, you’re lucky if you only have to watch one ad per video. But, there is a way to circumvent that – if you’re willing to pay for it, and only in certain countries at the moment. With the YouTube Red service, you can start using YouTube as Google Play, Spotify, Apple Music, and so on – only, you also get videos and shows. It’s got quite a few awesome features; first off, no ads – which is probably the biggest draw – but also background and offline play on mobile devices, and access to original shows (rental, pay per view and so on still need to payed for, though). #YouTube tips & tricks: get YouTube Red to get rid of ads #videomarketingClick To Tweet

If you have a YouTube channel, did you know that you can create your very own custom URL? Well, so long as you qualify. This is super useful for channel owners as it allows you to create an easy-to-remember URL – for example, youtube.com/LilachBullock. In order to be eligible for this name change, you’ll need:

• At least 100 subscribers to your channel
• Your channel needs to be at least 30 days old
• Have an uploaded photo as a channel icon
• Have uploaded channel art Once approved, you can change capitalization and accents whenever you share your URL; and, if you want to change it you’re allowed to remove a custom URL from your channel up to 3 times a year. Back how to create your custom URL though, once signed in you’ll need to:
• Click on settings, and then Advanced under your account name:
• If you see You’re eligible for a custom URL (under channel settings), select the link next to it
• Next, you’ll see the list of approved for custom URLs that you can choose from – if the text is in the gray box it can’t be changed, but you could be able to add a few letters or numbers to it #YouTube tips & tricks: creating your very own custom URL #videomarketingClick To Tweet

If you're making the training video to sell on a disc, adding bonus material to the DVD is a good way to elicit sales other than just views from a free online audience.

• Videomaker often includes pdfs of stories that correspond with the subjects on the videos, as an extra bonus. We sometimes throw in subscriptions, free material like sound effects or appropriate production forms from the Videomaker Book of Forms.
• If your How To video is part of a series, package 4 to 9 techniques or subjects together and make sure they all have the same graphics and look for uniformity.
• If the training videos are online only, be sure to add links to other training videos in that series or post a list of other series you sell.

As mentioned earlier, there are lots of examples of training videos or How To videos online that you can learn from, both good and bad. Critique them for how you think you'd learn to do the technique yourself.

• Are they too sloppy? Can you understand what the message is implying? Do you feel confidant that you can do the process they are teaching? Is it rushed or does it drag to much? Does it have a busy backdrop or distracting background? [image:blog_post:28226] Thai Foodcast, a multi-part cooking series, was put together by a couple former Videomaker staffers right in their home during a few weekends. They cleared an area in their living room of furniture and decoration, put up Asian bamboo backdrop to enhance the show's theme, and used an average mic and two lights. The look of the main introduction is always the same in every segment for consistency with this simple backdrop, then they shoot closeup cutaways of the food cooking in their tiny kitchen, and the presentation is on a folding table covered with a nice solid-colored tablecloth. It's one of many very simple examples to check out. [image:blog_post:28227]"Chromatography Tips & Tricks", from Don Curo of La Habra, CA, is another example you'll find on our website from our old contest series. Don's training video exemplifies how important it is to gather all the right tools and demonstrate the techniques just right to train someone for a possibly dangerous mission. His video trains technicians how to assemble parts necessary to work on a gas chromatograph and he needed to be precise in his instructions and warnings. After watching this, I felt I could confidently "install a column into a split-splitless inlet" on a gas chromatograph, too.

From an Open Graphic that tells the audience what you are demonstrating to a Closing Graphic that tells them where to go for more, graphics are essential for all training videos. Even the easiest entry-level consumer video editing programs can make simple titles nowadays.

• Every How To video should have an Open – even if it's the simplest white type over a black background.
• A closing graphic with your name and/or website ties the whole piece together, especially when video sharing online.
• Like the backdrop for your video, your graphics should be easy to read, and not too busy. You can learn proper titling techniques from many Videomaker features.
• Leave the graphic up long enough to read through twice – not too long, definitely not too short.
• Make bullet point lists within the body of your video when you are prepping a tool list, like we do in this training video on "How to Make your Own Car Mount".
• You can place graphics over video, rather than a solid background, if you keep the video simple, soft or defocused.
• Never use a busy background with wild graphics.
• Make bullet point graphics to drill home ideas, techniques or to emphasize steps.
• Bullet points are also good for recaps.