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This is another article in a series on preparing videos for use on the web. Mobile and regular web browsers are increasingly expecting to find video on your blogs and websites. Video marketing, done professionally, can really help you market your business online. Is all of this free? What skills do you need? What new companies offer helpful services? We’ll examine these questions as we take a look at the fast emerging world of online videos, and here we’ll learn the basics — by example from the humorous Lou Borton of “LouTube.”

by Scott Frangos

Lou Borton hates lousy videos. And, he wants to help you do something about it. So… how can he help? Well, if he’s any good at video — he’d show you what he means.. and that’s exactly what he does in the following teaching video.

Lou has five tips to make your videos look better:

• Consider your background — make it simple and professional (why not shoot outside)?
• Get your lighting right
• How do you look? Are you dressed for the part?
• Your equipment. Lou thinks a web cam works ok. (see this article for a recommendation on cannon cameras).
• Content. Deliver some value. Amen.

Ok… let’s watch how Lou does it, then I’ll something Lou does, but doesn’t tell you about (see if you can guess what it is):

Simple. To the point. Helpful. That’s a good little video. And did you notice that it helps market Lou Borton? I’m introducing him to you, and he didn’t even have to pay me. Nice.

Now… what is one key thing Lou does there, that he didn’t explain, but which we could really use?

Chroma-Key for Magic Backgrounds

Did you hear him mention “Chroma-key,” in relation to the backdrop? That’s the secret of how he looks like he’s at the beach when he’s not. You saw the green screen behind him? Basically, his computer can swap in any background where-ever the green area appears in the video. Pro’s in television use the technique too — but usually the background is blue there. What pros? How about your local weatherman?

So, how do you do it? Well, first you have to order a background. You need a good blue, or green background, and below are some choices for some relatively affordable chroma key backgrounds through Amazon (click one to get more details):

Then you need the software to make it happen:

• MAC: Try the Chromamovie plugin for your iMovie software that comes with your Mac — here.
• PC: Look into Adobe After Effects Software — there’s a tutorial about how to use Chroma Key here.

Ok… and once you get it working, make a youtube video, and let me know. I’ll write an article and feature your video here. And if you know of some other Chroma-key software that works well… be sure and leave us a link in comments below.