Creating a web series that people will watch

by Jon Ray on Feb 24 in Video Production

Let’s talk about good practices and strategies to make your video web series pop and rise above the clutter of the web.

The Difference between Video Blogs and Webisodes
Let me clarify what I’m talking about when I say Webisode. For me, a webisode is like a mini-television series that is broadcast over the web. Unlike a television series, though, these webisodes can be put together quickly and easily with just a slight amount of planning. A webisode could be footage from your last tour, combined with footage of you talking about the tour. The key is to always overlap some of the footage of you talking into the camera with footage that relates. You can take a look at a few of the web series we’ve put together recently if you’re curious.

100% Talking Heads = 100% BORING!
Anyone can create a video blog and talk into their webcam about any of an infinite number of subjects. If you’re someone with an opinion that people respect, then this might work for you. But, if you’re a new company, artist or blogger, you might need a little more than just a point, shoot and talk kind of video blog. I’m talking about creating Webisodes, which turn your one-take speech into a multi-faceted reality series for the web. Just overlaying some b-roll on top of you talking into the camera to break the piece up and make it more interesting can make your videos watch-ability increase tenfold. We live in an ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) society, so give us cuts to interesting footage that goes along with what you’re talking about. Even a cut away to a photo utilizing the Ken Burns’ effect is much more visually stimulating than watching you sit in your poorly lit home office. Take your talking head and make it more entertaining. A small amount more of effort gives your video higher production value, which makes you look better and gives people a reason to sit through your entire web monologue.

Add a little drama
This may not work for everyone, but for creative artists I think it’s a great angle. Add a little drama to your webisodes. Sit down and turn your TV to any channel and there’s probably an 80% (speculation) chance that you’ll land on a reality television show. Watch this show and make note of the ways they add tension and drama to the show. Now, implement these techniques into your own webisode. Here are a few techniques you can steal from reality TV:

• Add music to create emotion.
• Make each episode about a challenge that you’re trying to overcome and conclude with you overcoming it.
• Don’t be afraid to show your faults. Everyone has faults and humanizing yourself allows your fans to relate with you and gets them in your corner, rooting for you to succeed.
• Tell us what’s on your mind. Don’t put on a front. Be real with us.
• Create a story arch for each webisode. Act I. Act II. Act III.
• End with a cliffhanger or a preview that makes us want to tune in next week.
• Bring up something controversial.
• Bloopers can be funny to tag on to the end.

All of these things can add appeal to your webisode and keep viewers coming back for more.

We want your expertise!
If you’re a company, as opposed to a creative artist, then you’ll probably want to take a different approach. In your case, you can teach us something that you’re an expert in and show us how to do it. Show us how to setup an office computer network and cut to b-roll footage of someone actually completing each step of the process. Give us a complimentary webisode where you give a client a consultation, so that we know what to expect when we meet with you. Teach me a few strategies for day-trading the stock market. Whatever your expertise, share it with the world and add visuals and b-roll that corresponds with whatever expertise you are sharing.

The Quick Cut – Editing Your Footage
Of course, the biggest obstacle for you is going to be finding an easy to use editing software that doesn’t cost you much. Collecting the footage for your piece is easy if you’ll just carry a small video camera with you from time to time. Now, you need to edit the footage together. There are a million great options, but you might consider iMovie (Apple), Final Cut Studio (Apple), PowerDirector (PC), Adobe Premiere (PC), or any number of other editing applications. The key is finding an editing software that you are comfortable with and then with a little practice you’ll be pumping out killer webisodes by the dozen!

So, start shooting video, get creative and have fun! The possibilities are endless for creating webisodes and content for the internet. How will you promote your self/band/company with online video? What tools are you incorporating into your online video creation process? What did I leave out that you feel is important? Stay tuned to see some of the webisodes we are creating for our clients over the next few months.