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Growing a Youtube Channel as Part of My Personal Brand

Runum

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Could be. You have to be self aware of any subtle messages you may be sending with face or body language. Your total message must be congruent to be believable. Anything that is not in alignment will negate your message. Just food for thought.

I would like to elaborate on this a little.

Speaking or lecturing in public is basically theater arts. You are selling an idea to the audience and your job is to get them to buy in. Your total presentation is the message, your clothes, you body language, your speech pattern, everything. Your audience has been trained since birth to use their senses to observe. They use their eyes and ears to perceive a threat to their well being, fight or flight, or pleasure, or stimulation, or boring content. Your live audience will telegraph their perception to you through their body language and facial expressions. Then you have to simultaneously read that and make adjustments to align with the audience's needs. Failure to adjust will result in the message not being received well and no sale.

Recording a persuasive video is way more difficult, especially if you are not experienced in sales or public speaking. When recording you get absolutely zero real time feedback. You have no way to adjust the delivery to match the audience. The only feedback you get is comments or data. You have to assess the comments or data to make the adjustments.

So, take the example of head movement. Generally, if we move our head side to side it is considered to mean no or negative. If we move our head up and down it generally means yes or positive. If I am trying to convince my audience of the virtues of an idea and my head is slightly moving side to side my voice, oral message, and body language are incongruent. My message and delivery have to be 100% aligned to be believable and accepted.

With a talking head, head movement is probably desired because the movement is visually stimulating. However, that head movement has to be precise. The tilt of the head, the movement, the eyebrows, the shape of the mouth, the wrinkles in the forehead, it all has to deliver the message or the whole thing is a waste of time.

These are skills that are learned and practiced. @Kung Fu Steve is much better at the body language - message connection than I am. He practices this all the time.

I hope this helps. I look forward to your next video.
 
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I would like to elaborate on this a little.

Speaking or lecturing in public is basically theater arts. You are selling an idea to the audience and your job is to get them to buy in. Your total presentation is the message, your clothes, you body language, your speech pattern, everything. Your audience has been trained since birth to use their senses to observe. They use their eyes and ears to perceive a threat to their well being, fight or flight, or pleasure, or stimulation, or boring content. Your live audience will telegraph their perception to you through their body language and facial expressions. Then you have to simultaneously read that and make adjustments to align with the audience's needs. Failure to adjust will result in the message not being received well and no sale.

Recording a persuasive video is way more difficult, especially if you are not experienced in sales or public speaking. When recording you get absolutely zero real time feedback. You have no way to adjust the delivery to match the audience. The only feedback you get is comments or data. You have to assess the comments or data to make the adjustments.

So, take the example of head movement. Generally, if we move our head side to side it is considered to mean no or negative. If we move our head up and down it generally means yes or positive. If I am trying to convince my audience of the virtues of an idea and my head is slightly moving side to side my voice, oral message, and body language are incongruent. My message and delivery have to be 100% aligned to be believable and accepted.

With a talking head, head movement is probably desired because the movement is visually stimulating. However, that head movement has to be precise. The tilt of the head, the movement, the eyebrows, the shape of the mouth, the wrinkles in the forehead, it all has to deliver the message or the whole thing is a waste of time.

These are skills that are learned and practiced. @Kung Fu Steve is much better at the body language - message connection than I am. He practices this all the time.

I hope this helps. I look forward to your next video.
Hmmm I see thanks for this it's given me a lot to consider.

In the cultures I'm aiming to reach moving the head side to side does mean no - although I'm not sure at this speed it means the same thing? Maybe subconsciously?

I understand what you mean by be careful of small movements, I'm going to have to look more into this. Thank you for the heads up for this - these kind of things are easy to miss!

Would be great to get @Kung Fu Steve 's input on this too, and as I said I'll have to look into this more! And maybe join toastmasters or something to learn more about speaking.

Thanks again!
 

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Another week another video!

To be honest, I'm not as happy with this one as my last one, but I know if I break the habit now it will give me "permission" to break it again in the future and I want to avoid that, so I put it out anyway.

I don't think it's bad, and I fixed the white balance issue I had last time, but something just... doesn't make me as happy about it.

What do you think, as per usual constructive criticism is really appreciated?

I'm trying to get better here, so this week feels like a bit of a loss to me, but I will keep on going.

View: https://youtu.be/m2EHiVABEdQ
 

Kung Fu Steve

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Hmmm I see thanks for this it's given me a lot to consider.

In the cultures I'm aiming to reach moving the head side to side does mean no - although I'm not sure at this speed it means the same thing? Maybe subconsciously?

I understand what you mean by be careful of small movements, I'm going to have to look more into this. Thank you for the heads up for this - these kind of things are easy to miss!

Would be great to get @Kung Fu Steve 's input on this too, and as I said I'll have to look into this more! And maybe join toastmasters or something to learn more about speaking.

Thanks again!

When I first started speaking as a career I was told that I "didn't have certainty" -- and I argued about it because I thought I did. I was certain. I knew what I was talking about. I know the words I'm going to say. I know where this was going.

But I've since learned there are MANY levels of certainty.

I'm sure you've heard (just like everyone else on the planet), that our communication is only 7% the words we say, the rest is tonality and physiology.

If we were all sitting in a room and someone walked in who was extremely confident... would we know? (I'm going to hallucinate you're gonna say yes)

How do we know that? Because of the way they carry themselves. The way they are moving. They way they walk and breath and stand, even.

Watch old videos of Michael Jordan. When he stepped onto the court he was a stud and EVERYBODY knew it. THAT is certainty. When you KNOW the ball is going to go into the hoop. When you KNOW you're going to win. You just carry yourself differently and you subconsciously communicate differently.

Take this small bit for instance:
View: https://youtu.be/3Z9cW9JPFWo?t=50


You're telling people "Here's the reason you can't finish what you start... and that is perfectionism..."

Even that point right there you're trying to hammer -- when you SAY perfectionism, there's a weakness in your vocal cords and a tightness in your neck. You're delivering the word but there's no certainty behind it.

You're trying to convince ME that perfectionism is my problem but it SOUNDS like you're trying to convince yourself. Does that make sense?

Even after 2,500 live events on stage I still need practice. I'm working on certainty every single day. First it has to show up internally. I have to believe the words that I'm saying. Then I have to demonstrate that belief externally.

Here's a good practice tool (and if you're up for recording it, put it up here and we can do more).

I want you to say the words "Click the button to subscribe now."

And the first couple of times (3 - 5 times) you say the sentence I want you to basically scream it like you're in prison and someone is about to shank you and the only way you'll be able to defend yourself is by being the loudest, strongest, and angriest.

The second couple times you say that sentence I want you to come from a place of begging and pleading. Really weak and wimpy.

Then the third time find the middle of that pendulum and say it with absolute certainty.

Key notes: absolute certainty is not this I BANG ON MY CHEST AND RAAA I'M SO CONFIDENT -- absolute certainty looks like resolve. Where you're so sure that the sky is blue you simply say "The sky is blue." -- THAT sort of resolve.

Click here now to subscribe.
 
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Andy Black

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When I first started speaking as a career I was told that I "didn't have certainty" -- and I argued about it because I thought I did. I was certain. I knew what I was talking about. I know the words I'm going to say. I know where this was going.

But I've since learned there are MANY levels of certainty.

I'm sure you've heard (just like everyone else on the planet), that our communication is only 7% the words we say, the rest is tonality and physiology.

If we were all sitting in a room and someone walked in who was extremely confident... would we know? (I'm going to hallucinate you're gonna say yes)

How do we know that? Because of the way they carry themselves. The way they are moving. They way they walk and breath and stand, even.

Watch old videos of Michael Jordan. When he stepped onto the court he was a stud and EVERYBODY knew it. THAT is certainty. When you KNOW the ball is going to go into the hoop. When you KNOW you're going to win. You just carry yourself differently and you subconsciously communicate differently.

Take this small bit for instance:
View: https://youtu.be/3Z9cW9JPFWo?t=50


You're telling people "Here's the reason you can't finish what you start... and that is perfectionism..."

Even that point right there you're trying to hammer -- when you SAY perfectionism, there's a weakness in your vocal cords and a tightness in your neck. You're delivering the word but there's no certainty behind it.

You're trying to convince ME that perfectionism is my problem but it SOUNDS like you're trying to convince yourself. Does that make sense?

Even after 2,500 live events on stage I still need practice. I'm working on certainty every single day. First it has to show up internally. I have to believe the words that I'm saying. Then I have to demonstrate that belief externally.

Here's a good practice tool (and if you're up for recording it, put it up here and we can do more).

I want you to say the words "Click the button to subscribe now."

And the first couple of times (3 - 5 times) you say the sentence I want you to basically scream it like you're in prison and someone is about to shank you and the only way you'll be able to defend yourself is by being the loudest, strongest, and angriest.

The second couple times you say that sentence I want you to come from a place of begging and pleading. Really weak and wimpy.

Then the third time find the middle of that pendulum and say it with absolute certainty.

Key notes: absolute certainty is not this I BANG ON MY CHEST AND RAAA I'M SO CONFIDENT -- absolute certainty looks like resolve. Where you're so sure that the sky is blue you simply say "The sky is blue." -- THAT sort of resolve.

Click here now to subscribe.
Ha.... anyone else scared to get @Kung Fu Steve to critique their videos?

Great post Steve.
 

Kung Fu Steve

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Ha.... anyone else scared to get @Kung Fu Steve to critique their videos?

Great post Steve.

Dude, you're telling me. Imagine me having to go up in front of the big guy himself and give HIS words back to him. F*ck me, man. It can be uncomfortable but it made me grow like crazy.

@Prodox I will say I'm very impressed with your videos, they're clean, clear, concise, and the audio and video are fantastic. I'd love to model yours and maybe even get help on my own!
 

Prodox

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@Kung Fu Steve Thanks so much for the reply - this is some golden advice.

Take this small bit for instance: <snip>


You're telling people "Here's the reason you can't finish what you start... and that is perfectionism..."

Even that point right there you're trying to hammer -- when you SAY perfectionism, there's a weakness in your vocal cords and a tightness in your neck. You're delivering the word but there's no certainty behind it.

You're trying to convince ME that perfectionism is my problem but it SOUNDS like you're trying to convince yourself. Does that make sense?

Yeah, I totally get you!

Interestingly when I'm speaking people face to face, I usually get the opposite (confident) to the point where I can say random false things and get people to believe me (for clarity, I do this as a joke and not because I'm trying to trick people).

I don't think that confidence has completely followed me over to the camera yet.

I'll try and focus on my tone and inflexions in my next video.

I definitely also notice my voice getting higher as I go on, that needs to be sorted too.

Here's a good practice tool (and if you're up for recording it, put it up here and we can do more).

I want you to say the words "Click the button to subscribe now."

Oh this sounds fun! I'll give this a go.

I live in Japan so I don't think I'm going to be able to shout at the top of my voice (thin walls, neighbours will call the police) but I'll do my best.

I'll post it on here when I record it.

Thanks again for your input.
 
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Prodox

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Dude, you're telling me. Imagine me having to go up in front of the big guy himself and give HIS words back to him. F*ck me, man. It can be uncomfortable but it made me grow like crazy.

@Prodox I will say I'm very impressed with your videos, they're clean, clear, concise, and the audio and video are fantastic. I'd love to model yours and maybe even get help on my own!
Thanks - I'm really glad you like them.

I put a lot of effort into learning the technicals of recording a good talking head video (and still am), so I'm happy that it's showing.

Modelling my videos? Now that would be flattering, haha.
If there's anything I can do to help, I'd love to - I don't feel like I've given much to this community yet.
 

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Kung Fu Steve

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OK. I'm up for it. Here's me chatting about doing talking head videos. I decided not to do talking head videos for the channel(s) I want to setup. I'll do screenshares and voiceovers instead.

Curious what you guys think @Prodox, @Runum, @Kung Fu Steve.

View: https://youtu.be/ixkvYao2zuk

I mean honestly it's just practice. You can tell this is off the cuff but the MAJOR plus is that you're comfortable. Even when you don't know what you're going to say, you're very conversational. If you're comparing to Prodox here, while his is a little TOO scripted, yours isn't scripted enough.

But here's the thing:

We've all heard people who sound scripted and they think that's a bad thing -- the real bad thing is if they sound scripted, that means they aren't scripted ENOUGH.

Think about the greatest actors of all time -- people like Anthony Hopkins or Robert Deniro or whoever -- they are SO scripted that it sounds phenomenal, powerful, impactful -- they've taken the words far beyond just the words, they've added character, power, and emotion behind them.

I'm still working on it. I've just hit what I feel to be another level for me and that's what I'm working on. Taking the words I have and making them stronger and more impactful so that I can move bigger audiences.

What's interesting is that in groups of like 500 I can still make every single person feel something -- I can make them all cry or laugh or engage or whatever. I start to lose that power after about 1,000. While I'm still entertaining and good, I'm not MOVING everybody (if that makes sense). I see Tony do it with 15,000 people in an arena. Way up in the nosebleeds you're still like "wow, he's talking directly to me"

Video is basically a one on one communication. It's so intimate. It's slightly different but the principles are the same. Certainty. Emotion.
 
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Andy Black

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I mean honestly it's just practice. You can tell this is off the cuff but the MAJOR plus is that you're comfortable. Even when you don't know what you're going to say, you're very conversational. If you're comparing to Prodox here, while his is a little TOO scripted, yours isn't scripted enough.

But here's the thing:

We've all heard people who sound scripted and they think that's a bad thing -- the real bad thing is if they sound scripted, that means they aren't scripted ENOUGH.

Think about the greatest actors of all time -- people like Anthony Hopkins or Robert Deniro or whoever -- they are SO scripted that it sounds phenomenal, powerful, impactful -- they've taken the words far beyond just the words, they've added character, power, and emotion behind them.

I'm still working on it. I've just hit what I feel to be another level for me and that's what I'm working on. Taking the words I have and making them stronger and more impactful so that I can move bigger audiences.

What's interesting is that in groups of like 500 I can still make every single person feel something -- I can make them all cry or laugh or engage or whatever. I start to lose that power after about 1,000. While I'm still entertaining and good, I'm not MOVING everybody (if that makes sense). I see Tony do it with 15,000 people in an arena. Way up in the nosebleeds you're still like "wow, he's talking directly to me"

Video is basically a one on one communication. It's so intimate. It's slightly different but the principles are the same. Certainty. Emotion.
Awesome feedback.

That’s one of the exact reasons why I stopped doing talking heads - I wanted to follow a script but found it really difficult doing so on camera compared to doing so as a voiceover.

Very interesting that you know you run out of steam when it’s 1,000+ peolle
 

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Awesome feedback.

That’s one of the exact reasons why I stopped doing talking heads - I wanted to follow a script but found it really difficult doing so on camera compared to doing so as a voiceover.

Very interesting that you know you run out of steam when it’s 1,000+ peolle

It's not running out of steam but I notice the difference of impact.

At about 2,000 I catch people on their phones and shit when I'm speaking.

Where as even at 1,000 or so I have the entire room engaged and hanging on most every word.

And truth be told the average person would never notice or care but I'm not trying to be average. I want to be the best.
 

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OK. I'm up for it. Here's me chatting about doing talking head videos. I decided not to do talking head videos for the channel(s) I want to setup. I'll do screenshares and voiceovers instead.

Curious what you guys think @Prodox, @Runum, @Kung Fu Steve.

Nice! I'll comment on stuff that I have some knowledge about, so I'll take a look at your set!

It looks likes you're using natural light, and have the window positioned to the right of you so it lights up one side of your face more than the other which is the kind of lighting I like :).

It does look like the window is quite low though, as the underside of your chin looks more lit up that the top side of your head. People tend to look nicer with light coming from above rather than below.

Your sound is surprisingly good seems as you are recording with a phone. I'm not sure how you did that, but good job, haha. If you wanted to improve it, putting a lowpass filter on to filter out frequencies below 100Hz, and running it through a deesser to get rid of some of the harshness in some s and ts.

If you are going to be voiceovers it might be nicer to get deeper into this, for example taking out some of the less pleasant frequencies in your voice or amplifying some of the higher frequencies to brighten up the sound a little.

One thing that could use work is your background. You want the background to look attractive without distracting the viewer from you and you also want to pop out from it. Maybe choosing a different location or hand up something in the one you are using there?

When you are using natural light it's hard to control the location, because you need to be by a window and have it at a decent angle though. If you are going to have a camera of you when doing voiceovers in the corner, it might be a good idea to get some form of cheap lighting like a cheap LED panel with a diffuser.

Also, by the way @Kung Fu Steve I don't script by videos word by word. I write brought bullet points that I want to hit, then I make up the speech as I go. I do however script my hook (the first couple of sentences usually) because I think that part is important. Maybe I should script it a bit more heavily? I am limited by time though...
 
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Runum

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I don't do talking head video because I would rather show them and do the voice over. Some of my earlier videos were me working and talking at the same time, no voice over. It was hard to keep my train of thought and sound intelligent while working.

I also tried recording some of my science lessons and it was difficult for me to get my personality on video. To me, I didn't sound the same nor did I control the audience the same. Probably I was subconsciously trying to convince myself that the recorded lessons would work. I over compensated by trying to be charming and commanding. This was MANY years ago. LOL

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3ASCMGHPUM&feature=youtu.be
 

Runum

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OK. I'm up for it. Here's me chatting about doing talking head videos. I decided not to do talking head videos for the channel(s) I want to setup. I'll do screenshares and voiceovers instead.

Curious what you guys think @Prodox, @Runum, @Kung Fu Steve.

View: https://youtu.be/ixkvYao2zuk

You come across as very relaxed and natural in front of the camera to me. You are convincing about the point of just having a casual conversation. Not sure of your target audience, it was very good information and on point but I didn't feel any emotion for or against the topic. Not sure if I was supposed to though. I guess my philosophy is I am always trying to get buy in, emotional buy in. Maybe I need to rethink my approach.
 

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Also, by the way @Kung Fu Steve I don't script by videos word by word. I write brought bullet points that I want to hit, then I make up the speech as I go. I do however script my hook (the first couple of sentences usually) because I think that part is important. Maybe I should script it a bit more heavily? I am limited by time though...

I think your stuff is actually really good. And the more you practice -- the cleaner it'll get.

While you may not be scripting it... you are doing cuts every few seconds and I can tell that the purpose is not just to re-engage the viewer.

I agree your call-to-action need to be the strongest part so I would practice and script that with more certainty. The better you know your subject matter, the more confident you will sound with or without a script... but when you know your subject matter that well -- you tend to say the same things over and over again... so even without "scripting it" you are definitely "scripting it" -- you just might not be writing it down.

Here's a super brief video I did off the cuff:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2x1Irvq1bA8&t=5s


The context is that someone just opted-in to get training for their team.

You'll notice I'm looking away and doing some stumbling... I actually did that on purpose for this video because when I did it straight through it seemed really robotic and too fast. It's certaintly not my best video but what I wanted to point out was the part "after doing so many of these, there's really only 3 problems. 1. 2. 3."
 
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I didn't feel any emotion for or against the topic. Not sure if I was supposed to though. I guess my philosophy is I am always trying to get buy in, emotional buy in. Maybe I need to rethink my approach.
Hmmm. I don’t know what you mean about “I didn’t feel any emotion for or against the topic”. I just wanted to get my tips recorded for people who want to do talking head videos.

The audience I had in mind were people too shy to get on camera because they’re tangled up thinking about themselves. Specifically, I was in a Facebook group of people doing a daily Facebook Live challenge and lots of people (adults) were nervous doing their videos. Hence me showing myself fluffing words and not being perfect but still prepared to put the video out there.

Does that make sense?

I’m curious about the emotion part. Maybe it’s because I’m from a paid search background. I’m imagining someone asking for tips about how to do talking head videos, and I created a video to answer it.

My primary goal was to help people get started. To “show, don’t tell” ... what it looks like when we “give yourself “permission to suck” ... and how if you’re goal is to help others then people will see that and not mind you not being perfect. I even specifically said I don’t care about lighting, backgrounds, or shadows changing. I’m not trying to create a perfect video, but to record a natural video like when I FaceTime someone.

Oh, and to lead the way by putting myself out there first.

The goal for me was (still is) to find a way that I can allow myself to ramble but still stay on topic. That’s how I normally present to groups... thinking on my feet, a bit excited, and interrupting myself.
 

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I don't do talking head video because I would rather show them and do the voice over. Some of my earlier videos were me working and talking at the same time, no voice over. It was hard to keep my train of thought and sound intelligent while working.

I also tried recording some of my science lessons and it was difficult for me to get my personality on video. To me, I didn't sound the same nor did I control the audience the same. Probably I was subconsciously trying to convince myself that the recorded lessons would work. I over compensated by trying to be charming and commanding. This was MANY years ago. LOL

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3ASCMGHPUM&feature=youtu.be
Ah. I’ve just remembered you are/were a school teacher. I presume this was aimed at kids in school?
 

Runum

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Ah. I’ve just remembered you are/were a school teacher. I presume this was aimed at kids in school?
Yes, just retired.

Your video makes more sense to me if it was intended for a subscriber.

From my perspective, if I really want to convince my audience that a point is important I have to engage them not only intellectually but emotionally. The emotion can be the whole range and needs to vary quite often. So, if I make my audience giggle they will engage and maybe remember something of value. They may want to come back again. If I make my audience sad they may remember something of value and want to come back again. I always wanted my classroom experience to be the subject of evening conversations. I wanted my audience banging on my door demanding more and it worked for me.

However, I see different audience, different message, different speaker, different approach. That's cool. Again I am reminded that we all see and experience things through our own lens. Interesting.
 
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Yes, it’s interesting the different mindsets. I didn’t realise/think about my own until you noticed how ours were different @Runum.

From my perspective, if I really want to convince my audience that a point is important I have to engage them not only intellectually but emotionally.
That’s likely from being a school teacher. Your job was to keep everyone’s attention and leave no-one behind.

My mindset is that I’m not there to convince anyone of anything. They’re adults and if they want to learn something then it’s on them. Sure, I’ll meet them halfway and try to not ramble and creat a video with some helpful points.
 

Runum

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I think your stuff is actually really good. And the more you practice -- the cleaner it'll get.

While you may not be scripting it... you are doing cuts every few seconds and I can tell that the purpose is not just to re-engage the viewer.

I agree your call-to-action need to be the strongest part so I would practice and script that with more certainty. The better you know your subject matter, the more confident you will sound with or without a script... but when you know your subject matter that well -- you tend to say the same things over and over again... so even without "scripting it" you are definitely "scripting it" -- you just might not be writing it down.

Here's a super brief video I did off the cuff:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2x1Irvq1bA8&t=5s


The context is that someone just opted-in to get training for their team.

You'll notice I'm looking away and doing some stumbling... I actually did that on purpose for this video because when I did it straight through it seemed really robotic and too fast. It's certaintly not my best video but what I wanted to point out was the part "after doing so many of these, there's really only 3 problems. 1. 2. 3."

Looks authentic. I like the energy. Great focus on the camera. The stumbling adds to authenticity, looks like you are thinking while talking. Very strategic. Every nuance of the video is dedicated to its purpose, no wasted time or energy. I like it.
 

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This week I tried to focus on keeping my throat relaxed to get a better vocal tone... I've never been happy with my voice (it's pretty high), but I'm working on trying to improve it.

I also tried to put jump cuts in more deliberate places, rather than just using them as a thing to cover up mistakes (although I still cover mistakes with them, haha).

I still need to level up my broll game - I'm finding it hard to think of good broll ideas to film myself in my one room... but maybe using more stock footage would be a way around this.

I feel like sometimes my energy is low in the video, although it didn't feel like it when recording, maybe I need to overemphasise things a little?

I've also started to think that maybe some quiet background music would make the video more engaging...

View: https://youtu.be/jan-L1u76vE
 
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This week I tried to focus on keeping my throat relaxed to get a better vocal tone... I've never been happy with my voice (it's pretty high), but I'm working on trying to improve it.
View: https://youtu.be/jan-L1u76vE

First off - keep it up - the practice and rehearsal will continue to help and you're delivering some valuable information - I can also see you have well thought out your branding colors

Couple nuances I noticed for maximizing and improving upon:
  • Solution Expectation @ Intro ( what your addressing in this video to the viewer at the beginning) is a tad bit long-winded. Possibly shorten the pain points (hit top ones), make it more punchy, & concise
  • The Subscribe and Like CTA I would suggest after the main content is delivered to allow people to consume content to make that decision after you have provided value not before
  • This one is just a presentation itch - the orange lightning bolt doesn't flow with your branding which I notice is more of a blue/black lightning bolt. Subtle but keeps your image in coherence and keeps people focused on you with ambiance as a complimentary.
 
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First off - keep it up - the practice and rehearsal will continue to help and your delivering some valuable information - I can also see you have well thought out your branding colors

Couple nuances I noticed for maximizing and improving upon:
- Solution Expectation Intro ( what your addressing in this video to the viewer at the begining) is a tad bit longwinded -Possibly shorten the pain points (hit top ones), make it more punchy, & concise
-The Subscribe and Like CTA I would suggest after the main content is delivered to allow people to consume content to make that decision after you have provided value not before
-This one is just a presentation itch - the orange lightning bolt doesn't flow with your branding which I notice is more of a blue/black lightning bolt. Subtle but keeps your image in coherence and keeps people focused on you with ambiance as a complimentary.

Thanks!

That's the plan, just keep on going, practising and delivering value! :)

Yeah, I keep to a specific blue, dark grey, and white in all of my content. The light in the background is an rgb one so that light is that specific blue too.

1.) I see, so a more snappy introduction - hit the top pain points, tell them what to expect, and keep it short. I'll aim for this next video@

2.) This makes sense.

3.) It's not aligned with my brand colours, but I'm using it as practical lighting (a type of lighting in film making) to create a more interesting scene - I'm not sure how it would be with just blue. I can experiment next time.

Thanks for your advice! I'll try and implement some of this in my next video!
 

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To me the first part of your videos the flow is off. You have your description of what is going on in this video, cut to subscribe and like, then immediately start talking about the subject in the next cut. If you would highlight the videos topic in the intro and then go into the actual discussion right off the bat on your first bullet I think it will engage people more to listen and not want to fast forward or skip to a different video. If you could "script" the videos into 2, 3, or 4 main parts you could then decide the perfect time to input the subscribe cut. Say you just dropped some high level analysis info and want them to think about it. Maybe you had a very long bullet compared to the other ones you are about to discuss, use it to break them up.
I have been seeing these part way through people's videos as well as asking again in the end.
 
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Kung Fu Steve

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This week I tried to focus on keeping my throat relaxed to get a better vocal tone... I've never been happy with my voice (it's pretty high), but I'm working on trying to improve it.

Here's Roger Love. He's the guy Tony uses, I've done his trainings myself. You can easily change your voice by tightening/loosening, speaking more nasally or deeper.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXdXlUkFmgo&list=PLuIZ6Q0SDiRSXT2GYukyjOKxgxBO3ta4D


But here's one thing I *can* share with you. In the martial arts we always practice yelling (and even talking) from the diaphragm -- not the throat.

When I'm speaking for 4, 5, or even 12 hours a day -- my voice would never be able to hold out if I used my throat AND I'd never be able to project a powerful voice to an audience with or without a mic.

I also tried to put jump cuts in more deliberate places, rather than just using them as a thing to cover up mistakes (although I still cover mistakes with them, haha).

This time around it seemed a little bit too distracting.

Keep in mind, you're not only lapping the people on the couch -- you're crushing them. You're putting out high quality videos and are light years ahead of most personal development folks. Give yourself a little credit but I love the hunger to grow!

I still need to level up my broll game - I'm finding it hard to think of good broll ideas to film myself in my one room... but maybe using more stock footage would be a way around this.

View: https://youtu.be/LCu30W5ijms


This is a video with some B-Roll. It was supposed to be a promo video for private workshops for small companies. I'm not a huge fan -- it was my 4th workshop that day, I had started on the road at 5am and this is me speaking at 8pm after driving from Tampa to Miami (after doing 3 other workshops). I'm sweating through my shirt. I look like a bum. BUT with all that being said I think we got some decent audio and the energy comes through.

Maybe you like this and it gives you ideas -- or maybe you have advice for me here for future videos!

I feel like sometimes my energy is low in the video, although it didn't feel like it when recording, maybe I need to overemphasise things a little?

YES. I'm glad you caught it. Video and audio is tricky to portray energy. You almost have to go overboard. Try swinging that pendulum again and speaking way too loud -- over the top and see how THAT looks on camera.

(But your "over the top" that you're thinking right now is not over-the-top enough. Like REALLY be too energetic, smile obnoxiously, be overly excited to be on camera)

I think if you watch yourself doing this, you'll start to see that there's a middle ground between where you are now and obnoxious level. Know what I mean?

Also -- tonality is huge. So far the videos (this one more-so) have been very monotone. Don't forget you're talking to people, not a camera! How would you raise and lower your voice? When it comes to an important point -- change tones. Go up. Go down.

This is an entire conversation about how to do it well and when's appropriate to do each but play with it and you'll see!

I've also started to think that maybe some quiet background music would make the video more engaging...

View: https://youtu.be/jan-L1u76vE

I'd steer away from it right now.

I think you have some raw talent here and if you hone that talent you won't need music. But if you start using crutches now... you'll never develop the strength to stand on your own.

Make sense?
 

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To me the first part of your videos the flow is off. You have your description of what is going on in this video, cut to subscribe and like, then immediately start talking about the subject in the next cut. If you would highlight the videos topic in the intro and then go into the actual discussion right off the bat on your first bullet I think it will engage people more to listen and not want to fast forward or skip to a different video. If you could "script" the videos into 2, 3, or 4 main parts you could then decide the perfect time to input the subscribe cut. Say you just dropped some high level analysis info and want them to think about it. Maybe you had a very long bullet compared to the other ones you are about to discuss, use it to break them up.
I have been seeing these part way through people's videos as well as asking again in the end.
Yeah at the moment I highlight the topic of the video, do the talking intro (I used to have a graphic intro) and then go straight into the content.

Maybe the talking intro isn't needed yet, I should focus on engagement, I'll try cutting it out next video :)

This video was scripted like this:
Hook, channel intro, video intro, prereq 1, prereq 2, step 1, step 2, step 3, summary.

I'll see what I can do to improve it, I might cut the channel info out for now and focus on engaging content without distractions. At least until I gain some traction maybe?
 

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Wow as per usual thanks for the amazing advice.

By the way I haven't forgotten about the exercise that you set me last week. I'm planning on doing it next week when my girlfriend isn't at home, she works one week at home and one week in the office at the moment, and we live in a two-room apartment, haha.

Here's Roger Love. He's the guy Tony uses, I've done his trainings myself. You can easily change your voice by tightening/loosening, speaking more nasally or deeper.
Oh I've seen a TED talk by this person, it was about varying pitch. I'll see if I can find more of his stuff :)

But here's one thing I *can* share with you. In the martial arts we always practice yelling (and even talking) from the diaphragm -- not the throat.
Ah kiai :)

I breathe from my diaphragm normally, sing from my diaphragm, but when I speak, unless I concentrate, I tend to start breathing more shallowly.

It's something I've been actively working on as part of trying to improve my voice, as well as moving my voice down from the throat to my chest etc., and trying to speak more... breathily? Not sure how to describe it, haha.


This time around it seemed a little bit too distracting.

Keep in mind, you're not only lapping the people on the couch -- you're crushing them. You're putting out high quality videos and are light years ahead of most personal development folks. Give yourself a little credit but I love the hunger to grow!
I see, maybe too frequently... Back to the drawing board, haha.

Thanks for the kind words :)


This is a video with some B-Roll.

That video flows together very nicely, I like it :) I'll see if I can pull some inspiration from it.

I record in a small room and don't have other rooms to record in for variety, I also record by myself so have to simulate panning and such in post. It limits me a bit, but I'm sure I can find something that works.

YES. I'm glad you caught it. Video and audio is tricky to portray energy. You almost have to go overboard. Try swinging that pendulum again and speaking way too loud -- over the top and see how THAT looks on camera.
It's so difficult, I'm speaking pretty loudly, standing up (as it makes me more energetic I feel), but still it doesn't come through.

I'll have to consciously overexaggerate to try and get around this I suppose.

Also -- tonality is huge. So far the videos (this one more-so) have been very monotone. Don't forget you're talking to people, not a camera! How would you raise and lower your voice? When it comes to an important point -- change tones. Go up. Go down.
Yes I do tend to speak fairly monotone to the camera (and when I'm tired), but usually, when speaking to people I'm more expressive. I'm not sure what it is... Maybe because I don't have the energy of other people to ride off?

I'd steer away from it right now.

I think you have some raw talent here and if you hone that talent you won't need music. But if you start using crutches now... you'll never develop the strength to stand on your own.
Understood. I'll hold off on it for now, I definitely want to strengthen my ability to do make things engaging without the bells and whistles.

Again, thanks for all of your input, very much appreciated!
 
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Andy Black

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I don’t want to distract you from your path. I’m going more down the ads route, but some of what I’m learning might help.

This is a great podcast about creating scripts for video ads:

This is someone’s Facebook Live video where her energy, knowledge, content, and desire to help overrides everything else:

View: https://youtu.be/WkFzYct_bFE



Here’s the latest video of mine that took me about a week to create. I’ve yet to run ads to it (actually, it’s been upversioned a little bit):

View: https://youtu.be/BUVSIyVryA8
 

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