It's super sunny here in London and coupled with the 'Unlockdown' happening .. it means that outdoor filming is back!

As long as you keep your social distance of course.

Now to be a Video Hero .. you don't just shoot boring iPhone Videos like everyone else .. you get creative to win more attention, views and clicks.

Here's what I call a 'Supershot' for you to use the next time you film.

Watch Video.

'Supershots' are easy directing tips I picked up from my work as a Freelance TV Director in the UK (MTV/BBC), plus by watching what's happening in the YouTube community too.

If you LOVE filming Video on your iPhone .. then I invite you to take me up on my $1 offer :)

Watch my tutorial.

Video Dashboard

This week I was sent Video Dashboard for a test drive

Video Dashboard is a Video creator with a twist. You can create Videos in different aspect ratios for the various platforms .. but the magic is that you can hook up all your accounts, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn even Tik Tok (11 in total).

You can have the app create the video (or import your own videos too) in multiple sizes (square,16:9, vertical etc) and publish (or schedule) them to all of your linked platforms in the correct format with a few clicks. There is a free Mobile app that syncs with the desktop app where you can view your TikTok / Instagram videos for publishing.

One cool feature is you get pre-made videos, so you can easily edit them and set them to publish every day via the 'Social Calendar' to your chosen network.

You can use this for servicing clients too.

I am still testing, but seriously, for less than $50 it's crazy good value and worth a spin!

I joined the Facebook...

Time for a catch up in the world of Video Hero!

Switch to the SwitchPod?

Did you see this new Kickstarter project for a Vlogging tripod called the SwitchPod? (there it still an opportunity to back it!)

It's for holding your camera out in front of you as you Vlog, or putting down on a table, ground or wall etc. for steady shots on the go.

I own a bulky Gorilla Tripod similar to this one - but it is fiddly to set up quickly and can fall over when placed on a surface.

Yes - it's flexible but can be awkward .. so how about the SwitchPod ...

The SwitchPod (note: I haven't used one) .. looks slimline for slipping into your bag and pops up and down in a jiffy.

The downside? No adjustable head for altering the angles, or bendy legs to attach to a lamppost .. you could add your own ball head.

Possibly a little bit oversized for smartphone shooters? (as opposed to DLSR, mirrorless and compact camera users) .. though that doesn't worry me personally

Back the SwitchPod on Kickstarter

Video...

Before we get onto Drones ..

Did you watch the fight last night?

Did you pay for it? :)

KSI v Logan Paul I am talking about of course.

I am making no judgement here on the two individuals and whether YouTube should have banned Logan Paul after his terrible Japan Video.

BUT .. all I can say it that the Event was quite a phenomenon .. two YouTubers who built 18 million (!) or so subscribers each on the platform .. created a HUGE 'Pre-launch' buzz around a Live event using their Vlog channels and fans .. that crossed over to mainstream News Media and they monetized via Pay Per View on YouTube.

$10 a ticket with an estimated 800,000 people paying to watch the Live stream, 15,000 tickets sold to watch inside the stadium! ... That's a lot of $$$$$$$!

(Apparently another 1.2m watched pirated streams on Twitch and elsewhere)

To me this just embodied (albeit on a huge scale) the Power of building your own audience and interaction via Social Video and then charging for Premium Video!

Hint:...

I hope you had a great week ...

Here's a catch up ..

I found this Post really interesting .. it's an income breakdown from Kara and Nate who are Full-time Travel Vloggers.

There are a few Internet Marketers who share their income reports, but to see how it breaks down for these Video Creators is useful.

They have 220k YouTube subscribers which is big - but not that big!

In short .. (I'll mention just 3 of the Income streams)

First quarter (Jan - Mar) 2018

YouTube Ad revenue $14,184

Patreon & Paypal $6,501

Travel Hacker Online Course $8,675

You can check the rest and also the expenses yourself .. but I think you will be inspired by their multiple sources of income, lessening the risk.

Yes, the Ad revenue is impressive - but I think having an Online Course with an email list of buyers (they promote as an affiliate too) is great insurance against any sudden changes with YouTube that could crush Ads revenue and dent their income!

Hint: that's one reason why I teach my folks to...

This week I caught a great Interview with Scott Devine who runs a huge How to Play Bass - 7 figure Membership site that has grown to 30,000 paying Members.

The Big Video Takeaway I picked up (which totally aligns with my own experiments) ...

Informal Vlog style Videos mixed in with Tutorials and Education WORK!

Scott mentions how he used to shoot his Free Video tips & tutorials for YouTube in a glossy style, DSLR, multi-camera sometimes, well lit, formal.

But he noticed a lot of people doing the same thing and his channel growth had slowed too.

He then got inspired to go more casual, Vlog style, show some behind the scenes & glimpses of his family and mix it in with his Free Educational Videos (that drive masses of traffic to his Membership site)

Watch an example here.

He uses a Point and shoot camera (sometimes recording Audio separately) - but your iPhone would do exactly the same job :)

After he made the style change .. his stats shot through the roof!

His channel grew ...

So time to catch up with what's going on in the land of Video Hero.

Well NUMBER One - I launched a FRESH all In One Video Hero membership and it really took off. More details here.

The Sales Page (packed with Video examples) is converting at over 8% (that's good even if I say so myself!) but hey, that's the POWER of Video!

In other NEWS

I've been watching Louis Cole aka 'Fun for Louis' on YouTube.

A skinny fellow from the UK :) Not that I'm jealous.

He's a Vegan Lifestyle / Travel Vlogger with loads of energy and passion and he's currently cycling from the UK to Africa and raising money for Regenerate.

As well as doing high end Vlogs (including some cool drone footage) he's also livestreaming some of the journey.

That really cuts down on his late night edits .. since it's live.

Here's a Live clip .. switch on the chat .. it's really interactive, you feel you are there, the audience are even warning him of lorries approaching from behind! There's also a donate button too.

An awesome...

Welcome to my thoughts as I sit here sipping my Coconut Milk Latte

If not now? When?

One advantage of getting a bit older is ...

I have become super motivated NOT to put off ideas that I have been prevaricating on. I feel more urgency. That's a great thing!

I wish I had that feeling sooner. Hint: start now.

One thing I have learned is if I actually do get the idea out of my head into a Video (or an email or social post) - 9 out of 10 times it works!

I feel now I am way better at taking action, rather than parking the spark for another day ... a day that never quite happens.

So yesterday .... having thought about it for a while .. I decided to shoot a fun Vlog and crush any doubts I had whether it would work or not .. I went out and shot parts of my day, edited it immediately and it just felt right.

Here's a still frame of me randomly in a Poland shirt - though clearly I am not Polish! (World Cup Merchandise has hit the shelves this week!)

Before you ask .. "Jules, Where can I see...