Send to KindleShall we talk about video again?
Creating video is either something you love or you hate. Unlike medicine, a spoonful of sugar doesn’t make video go down. If you are reading this, the chances are you don’t like sitting in front of the camera talking, and who can blame you?
There are some alternatives, some very cost effective alternatives to recording a video, and there’s no need for you to be on screen (unless you really want to).
The above video is made using Sparkol’s Video Scribe software, you can sign up for a free 7 day trial of their pro package. The free version of the software is branded, but the unbranded subscription is very low at $22 a month for unlimited videos.
When you join Sparkol you’ll find plenty of training videos showing you how to get started. The above video took 20 minutes, you can imagine how good these look when you spend time on creating them. Music is included in the pro package and there is a market place where you can purchase specific images for your scribes. As video creation goes this is fun and people enjoy watching them.
The above video was created using Animoto, the paid version of Animoto. There is a free version with limited templates and a maximum of 30 seconds per video, the next upgrade is around $30 per year or $2.50 a month. There is the option to upgrade further and remove all the branding from your videos at approximately $289 per year. When you subscribe to Animoto you can choose from more templates and more music. Out of the three sites mentioned in this post Animoto has the best music by far!
Animoto is great for creating slide decks and adding music to them. My daughter created one with her holiday photos, so it’s very simple to use.
And finally…
You see a lot of animated videos around the web, and Go Animate allows you to create them quickly and easily.
Animated Presentations – Powered by GoAnimate.
In this example I’ve used the free version of Go Animate. You are allowed up to 30 lines of dialogue and are limited to the scenes you can create a video with. Business use (and marketing videos come under business use) is just $50 a month.
Whichever option you decide to try you will need a script to create your video from. That means you can re-purpose existing content from your blog and adapt it for video 
All three video services allow you to download the videos and upload them to You Tube when you take out a subscription.
Creating videos has just become a lot easier
What do you think?
Sarah Arrow
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HI Sarah! I have seen these animated presentations around and was wondering how they put these together and you did this one with the free version? Very Cool I am going to go and check this site out. I have used Animoto in the past and found that the free version is good for the beginning or end to your video. Also you did a great jo with the first video Sparkol I have never heard of this either. I guess this is why I love to stop by your blog you are always giving us something we can start using right away. Thanks for all you do Sarah.. Chery
Chery Schmidt recently posted..When Paying Taxes Is There A Secret Code For Online Entrepreneurs?
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Thanks Chery,
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Video scribing is very easy to do, you can have a simple and effective video created in minutes
I love the idea of using Animoto at the beginning and end of your videos, what a great tip – thanks for sharing it with us
Sarah Arrow recently posted..[infographic] Can you overcome your business fears?
Twitter: saraharrow
Hi Sarah, I have people asking what to use when they don’t want to be on camera, but they want to make a video. I often tell them to just get over it. LOL
Screen capture with a voice over is also great if they are not afraid of their own voice. After that…the Animoto or Go Animate was my only other options to offer. So, I will have to checkout Sparkol and maybe suggest that. I think I have heard of it before, but don’t think I have ever even went to try it out. Thanks!
Sheryl Loch recently posted..CommentLuv Works With YouTube
Hi Sheryl, Get over it! OMG, lol. I use Snagit for the few over my shoulder style videos. Sparkol and video scribing is a very effective way to share a message, I’ve found people watch them all the way through. Thanks for stopping by and commenting
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Sarah Arrow recently posted..[infographic] Can you overcome your business fears?
Twitter: saraharrow
Very interesting Sarah, and it’s always nice to have choices. I’ve done video, but primarily book trailers. Just lately I’ve started thinking about creating a couple of tutorials as a follow up to my latest book about online branding – so this is really helpful. Thanks!
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marquita herald recently posted..Celebrating ALL the Loves in Your Life: I Love Books Blog Hop
Twitter: martyinmaui
Absolutely right on, Sarah. Video can seem a monumental task for lots of people, especially folks who really dislike how they look on camera. But now the technology to create and distribute decent videos without standing in front of a camera is right here in the palm of our computer.
I’ve yet to try Sparkol, but I’ve used Animoto and Camtasia, there are definitely a world of choices to allow everyone access to the world of online video making.
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Michael SHook recently posted..Positive Thinking Made Simple
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Hi Michael, yeah I’m one of those people who hates being on camera
, so I had to find alternatives.
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I don’t do a huge amount of screencasting, so I use Snagit to record the “over my shoulder” videos. One day I’ll move up to Camtasia
Sarah Arrow recently posted..[infographic] Can you overcome your business fears?
Twitter: saraharrow
I spent a lot of years in front of groups of people teaching and presenting and quite a bit of time on stage as well in performances, so being on camera doesn’t bother me too much. What I really like about the screen capturing facilities of snagit or camtasia or one of new new favorites Snap from Ashampoo, is that I can blend head shots and pp presentations or any other kind of screen cap and it turns out pretty good.
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Michael Shook recently posted..Positive Thinking Made Simple
Twitter: alifeoflight
Very interesting Sarah, and it’s always nice to have choices. I’ve worked with video, but primarily book trailers. Just lately I’ve started thinking about creating a couple of tutorials as a follow up to my latest book about online branding – so this is really helpful. Thanks!
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marquita herald recently posted..How to Overcome Fear by Living Life as a Remarkable Experiment
Twitter: martyinmaui
Hi Sarah,
thank you for sharing these great options.
The video scribe software looks like a fun one.
I did have a play with ‘go animate’ and there is quite a few things you can do for free with it.
Isn’t it amazing what we can now do with technology, sitting at our computer at home and benefiting from the clever creation of software.
Thanks again!
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Cheers,
Yorinda
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Sarah,
thanks so much for all the great choices to avoid to be in front of a video camera…
I have been on video before… and that would not bother me at all… what bother me is that I cannot follow scripts haha
and so, I like to be as spontaneous as possible… The challenge I have is to upload to YouTube or creating a good video that is worth putting it on YouTube… Ho well, with your choices, I should not complain and just do it, correct? I made a note of them, we see if I get to it.
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Thanks so much for always giving so much of what you know.
nickc
nick catricala recently posted..Everything Happens For a Reason
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This is a great collection of video ideas and tools, Sarah.
I really appreciate you giving us immediate samples of how they work, along with a summary of the investment involved.
Any way you do it, video is not just (as I used to tell people) “powerful” in internet marketing… it is now “essential” (in my opinion).
I suggest that if anyone reading this article is not producing video, grab one of the services suggested above and get started.
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