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...

This week I noticed a lot of buzz around a thumbnail creator .. so I bought it for myself to give it a spin!

www.videohero.com/thumbnailblaster 

It's a super low fee .. but, beyond the hype - is it any good?

The Sales Page is a little over the top .. with a typical 'Voiceover for hire' on the Sales Video.

BUT .. who cares? All I wanted to know .. does it work and is it useful to add to your Video toolkit?

The answer from testing it within the last hour .. is YES!

The one below was my first attempt :) (joke test)

Thumbnails are crucial to get your Videos watched .. wherever they may be .. it's not just on YouTube, you can use this tool for your Online Course and Sales Videos too.

I bought the FE (front end) offer .. just so you know ... there ARE a few reasonably priced upsells to a template club, agency rights and training so please do not get MAD at me because you have to click through several upsell pages! The pain is worth it!

I got over 100 templates in the front end for...

Firstly, Happy Easter if you are celebrating ...

Today I was on the hunt for a gluten free, dairy free, sugar free Easter egg for myself!

Oh look ... I found one ... :)

So some quick tips:

Watch Videos out of your niche!

I've recently been watching a bunch of 'Mr. Beast' Videos on YouTube.

My kids don't get it .. Why would an old dude like me :) watch 20 year olds mess around and spend money like there is no tomorrow?

Did they forget I used to be a freelance MTV Director when I was younger? I love this style of video.

Even if you are an Accountant or a Funeral Director who uses video, you should always expand what you watch online to get fresh ideas.

I do admit, after a while all the fooling around in Mr. Beast videos can get tiring ... but the titles of his videos are very intriguing and the editing is very smart! Y

You can learn from his Videos even if they are not exactly your 'cup of tea'.

Take this Video 'I spent $50k on lottery tickets and won __'

In...

So from Friday to Sunday I went to the first VidCon London .. and it was also my first VidCon too.

I am still recovering!

In case you don't know what VidCon is .. in their words: "VidCon US, VidCon AU, and VidCon LDN are the world’s largest events for fans, creators, executives, and brands who are passionate about online video and building diverse communities."

Pictured below ... my fans waiting for my autograph and a selfie. (Ok that's a joke!)

There were 3 tracks .. Community (fans), Creator and Industry. I went for the Creator option since Industry seemed more focussed on big brands and also the tickets were way cheaper :) £145 vs around £700 (without early bird)

The speakers were a mix of experts .. I heard from Facebook & Instagram staff, creators and more.

Downside .. You had to choose between one of three simultaneous sessions .. a little tricky to decide.

Overall it was great .. What was lacking? .. not much reference to building an email list with...

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:...

So time for a catch up ..

First ...YouTube

At the recent VidCon event, YouTube made some announcements .. I'll keep it brief:

1. Premieres - A landing page you can build in anticipation of a new Video release, then watch the video with your audience (the Premiere can be monetized via Superchat donations)

Is it useful? Is it mainly for Premieres of Music Videos, Film trailers or for famous Influencers? Good questions.

Maybe .. but how about using it for a peak at your new course or upcoming event or new behind the scenes of your business Video series? We'll wait and see.

Since the Video showcased is edited and polished .. there is none of the pressure of Live. You can focus on the interaction.

2. Channel memberships (100k subs required) - Eligible Creators can offer paid for ($4.99/mo) subscriptions right inside of YouTube for their tribe to access exclusive content, like posts, live streams, videos and emojis.

This comes hot on the heels of Facebook enabling select FB Groups to...

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...