creating engaging content for the web and social media
TRANSCRIPT
Creating Engaging Content for the Web and Social Media
• 25+ years experience working in the fields of Technology, Digital Media, and Higher Education.
• I earned a M.P.S. in Interactive Telecommunications from the NYU Tisch School of the Arts.
– Concentrations in: • web design and development • video and audio production • project management • digital publishing • e-commerce strategies • gaming theory and design • online communities (social media)
• Managed the deployment of programs and
initiatives for companies such as MetLife, Century 21, ADP, Bankers Trust, Suze Orman Inc., and the City University of New York.
About Me
James Richardson Academic Director
Communication and Media Program
• Developing a strategy • Selecting your hardware
– PC, Mac, or Linux – Accessories
• Video • Audio • Images • Text • Interactive
• Selecting your software – Commercial or Open
Source?
• Hosting your content
Today’s Agenda
Content Strategy
Developing a Plan
• Identifying your strengths – How can you best communicate?
• Audio or Video • Images or Text • Interactive Multimedia
• Defining your goals – What do you what to achieve? – Who is your target audience and
demographic? – Create the content your audience
wants! – Choose how to display your
content.
• Determining your budget – Take stock of available resources,
then purchase or acquire the rest!
Developing a Strategy
Key Considerations Before You Get Started
• Deadlines – Set a publishing schedule • Budget (equipment, software, hosting) • Ideas regarding the creative approach (brainstorm) • Content Plan - Scripted/story boarded/spontaneous? • Talent – Feature yourself or get models/voice-
over/actors/professionals • Location for shoot? (consider lighting and noise) • What is the purpose of the content? – Key objectives you want to
achieve from the exercise • What key message do you want to convey? • How can you monetize (profit!!) from your content?
Why is it a Great Time to be a Content Creator?
• The tools have progressed to the point where you can create your own video, audio, or interactive production for very little money.
– Fewer barriers to entry (i.e., lower startup and equipment costs).
– More powerful software and hardware.
– Fewer hostile institutions to overcome as financial barriers drop (i.e., the elimination of the “middle man”).
– The Internet as an effective means of distribution.
– Numerous channels in which you can monetize your content (YouTube, AdSense, etc.).
Hardw are
Getting the Job Done without Breaking the Bank
Computers
• Laptop or Desktop? Apple or Windows PC? – Doesn’t matter as long as it
is reliable. – Invest in:
• A lot of RAM and a big hard drive.
• A fast multicore processor (Intel or AMD).
• A dedicated graphics card.
Digital Cameras
Canon Vixia Camcorders
Canon T2/3/4/5 DSLR Cameras
Canon T2/3/4/5 DSLR Cameras
Contour Roam 2 Camera
GoPro Hero 4 Action Camera
HTC RE Camera
• Built-in Mics – Part of the camera or computer.
• record general, not selective, sound
• Attachable Mics – Microphones that are clipped to a
surface or a person (lavaliere or lapel mics).
• External Mics – Microphones attached to the
camera or computer. They can be connected via a cable or wireless. They can be handheld or mounted shotgun style to a boom pole.
Microphones
Samson C01 U USB Studio Mic
Rode Video Mic
Audio-Technica AT2020 USB
Logitech USB Desktop Microphone
Examples of Microphones
Smartphones
Most modern smartphones and tablets can capture and manipulate photos, videos, and audio.
Accessories
• Soft box Lighting equipment. Entry level lighting kits can be purchased from Amazon or EBay from $50 - $250. Many use standard fluorescent bulbs and come with Chroma key Green screen backdrops for special effects/virtual sets.
• On-camera lights are great for filming outside of a studio.
• Tripods and mic stands are recommended for capturing quality audio and video.
Accessories
On Camera LED Lights
Standard Tripod
Mini Tripod
Soft box Light Kits
Softw are
Open Source or Commercial?
No Cost Software Option • Apple
– Free content creation software included with the system purchase.
– iMovie, Garageband, iPhoto, Pages
• PCs – Notably there are better options in
the Mac environment unless you combine Windows built-in software with open source and freeware options.
• Windows Movie Maker or Lightworks
• Photo Gallery or GIMP • Audacity or Sony Acid
Express
–
Medium Cost Commercial Option (PCs)
• Sony Movie Studio Suite Edition – Vegas Studio 13 Platinum, ACID
Music Studio 10, Sound Forge Audio Studio 10, Boris FX Continuum, FXHome Hit Film plug-ins, iZotope Vocal Eraser, NewBlueFX 3D Titling and Video Effects, 50 Sony Sound Series: Production Music Soundtracks
• Adobe Photoshop Elements – Scaled down version of
Photoshop for content creators that do not need to become professional graphic designers.
High-End Commercial Option
• Adobe Creative Cloud – Subscription-based software
service that bundles nearly all of Adobe’s major products together for $50 per month. Students and teachers can subscribe for $29 per year.
• The open source video editing and effects software .
• The open source world's answer to Final Cut Pro and Adobe Premiere.
• Currently available for Windows, Mac and Linux.
http://www.lwks.com/
Sony Acid Xpress
• Freeware version of Sony’s loop based music creation software offering 10-tracks for music recording, editing and mixing. It's easy to use and similar in functionality to Apple’s Garageband. .
• The commercial version starts under $80 with an educational discount.
• Windows only.
• http://www.acidplanet.com/downloads/xpress/
Inkscape
• Vector-based drawing and graphical design program.
• The open source world's answer to Adobe Illustrator.
• Available in multiple languages.
• Available for the Windows, Mac and UNIX/Linux.
http://www.inkscape.org/
Scribus
• Desktop Publishing software. • The open source world's answer
to Quark and InDesign .
• Available in multiple languages.
• Available for the Windows, Mac and UNIX/Linux.
http://www.scribus.net/
GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)
• Image and graphical editing software.
• The open source world's answer to Adobe Photoshop.
• Available in multiple languages.
• Available for the Windows, Mac and UNIX/Linux.
http://www.gimp.org/
Audacity
• Open source audio editor.
• Excellent for podcasting.
• Imports and exports most audio file formats (wav, aif, mp3, vorbis, etc.).
• Available in multiple languages.
• Available for the Windows, Mac and UNIX/Linux.
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
Where should you host your content?
Your own Website or a Social Media Site?
The Answer is Both!
You should leverage your content on your social media sites as well
as your own website.
Why Should You Have a Website or Blog?
There are a number of easy to update sites such as Tumbler and Blogger which can be created quickly. Or you can run your own Wordpress site for greater flexibility and control. • Blogs and websites can create more
visibility for your personal brand while building a trust relationship with your audience.
• They create a community and encourage the audience to connect with you.
• They are a great focal point for tying together all of your social media channels for increased SEO.
Exampled of How to Tie Together your Website and Social Media Sites
http://www.jamesrichardson.net http://newyorkcine.podbean.com
Thanks for Listening For more information on the BA in Communication and Media degree
program at the CUNY School of Professional Studies
Please visit: http://sps.cuny.edu
Call:
212-652-CUNY
Write: [email protected]
Feel free to contact me at:
Visit my website: http://www.jamesrichardson.net