Book Review: YouTube Marketing Power by Jason G. Miles

YouTube Marketing Power: How to Use Video to Find More Prospects, Launch Your Products, and Reach a Massive Audience

Author:  Jason G. Miles

Publisher: McGraw-Hill

Date: December 10, 2013

Length: 257 Pages



About The Author
Jason G. Miles is the author of Pinterest Power, Craft Business Power and Instagram Power. Co-founder and marketer at Liberty Jane Clothing, he serves as vice-president for advancement at Northwest University, where he is responsible for enrollment marketing, branding, alumni relations, and fund-raising.

YouTube has Reinvented the Video Production and Distribution Scene
Mr. Miles has extensive experience marketing with YouTube.  He uses YouTube to market his family's small business and he is on the marketing team at a Christian university.

The following topics are explored in this book:

• Why YouTube is a huge opportunity for businesses.
• Why companies frequently fail at YouTube marketing.
• Some effective styles of video making.
• How to get your videos done quickly and easily.
• How marketers are creating massive followings on YouTube.
• How you can advertise on YouTube to drive traffic to your site.
• How to monetize your YouTube videos.

This book uses research, case studies and interviews to present valuable information on using YouTube as a marketing tool.

My Thoughts
I chose this book because I am a YouTube FANATIC! I started a lifestyle channel on YouTube in 2007 as an online journal to document the places we visited and the activities we were involved in. This channel now has 460 videos and over 1 million views!

I was hoping to learn some new nuggets of wisdom to improve my YouTube Channel and I was not disappointed. Mr. Miles presented information that is helpful for the individual or small business users as well as large organizations.

I really liked the interviews that he used in this book. I was especially impressed with the social media director at Bishop T.D. Jakes' church in Dallas, Texas.
This interview explained why it is important to create "Playlists" on your channel. A Playlist organizes your videos into different subject categories so that people can find the videos they are interested in without having to browse through your entire collection.

I was also very interested in the contests that Mr. Miles created on YouTube to build a following on their Liberty Jane Clothing channel. This book provides many tips to use in developing contests that will attract hundreds of participants.

Mr. Miles emphasizes that YouTube is a social media platform and it should be used to engage with viewers. This is an effective way to gain subscribers and keep viewers coming back for more.

This book provides information that you can use to make your video marketing plan work for you. The information is up-to-date, practical and creative. I highly recommend this book to YouTube newbies as well as experienced marketers.

My Rating: 5 Stars Out Of 5

FYI ~ I received a complimentary digital copy of this book to read and review from NetGalley.

Please share your thoughts in the Comment Section below.

I will post a copy of this review on Amazon. If you believe it is helpful in helping you make a decision to read this book, please give me a positive vote. Thank you!

Book Review: The Authority On Tout

The Authority On Tout

Authors: Gary Martin Hays and Adam Weart

Publisher: We Published That, LLC

Date: October 28, 2012




About The Authors
Adam Weart is an author and key leader in all aspects of Social Media Marketing and Web Usability Design at the Law Offices of Gary Martin Hays & Associates, P.C.

What Is Tout?
Tout is a new social media platform that allows you to share instant messages and information with your audience by using video.

Tout sets itself apart from other video social networks ( YouTube, Vimeo, etc.) by only allowing you to record 15 seconds of content per video post, as well as allowing you to upload video directly from your smart phone. Remember the KISS principle....Keep It Short & Sweet!

I forgot to mention that Tout is absolutely FREE to use.

My Thoughts
This ebook is very concise and informative. I was able to follow the steps for setting up an account. The authors offer good advice for "retouting", following others (including celebrities) and using keywords and hashtags. They also demonstrate how to reply to Touts and share videos with your friends on other social media sites. The authors provide color photos that illustrate everything you need to know to get started on Tout.

Tout makes it easy to BLAST a 15 second video from your cell phone to Facebook, Twitter and email. You can also upload video from your computer and share it with your friends. Tout is great for personal use and can also be used to promote your business. I opened a new Tout account but have not yet posted a video (that will be the topic of a future blog post.)

This ebook is a very helpful introduction to the world of Tout. Get this great little guide and start Touting today!

My Rating:  5 Stars Out Of 5

FYI ~ I received this ebook as a free download during a special promotion on Amazon.Com. Please check the current price before ordering.

I would love for you to FOLLOW this blog. You may use either the Google Friend Connect or the Networked Blog widget to show your support and encouragement.

Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.

Video Marketing with Animoto

Would you like to spread the word about your book, business or blog? 
Is video marketing right for you?
You don't need an expensive video camera to make a video for YouTube, Facebook or Twitter.
Camera shy? You don't have to talk in front of the camera.
Today I will share a video slideshow that I made to promote/advertise this blog.



I designed the following slideshow with Animoto. I think a picture/video is worth a thousand words so I am offering this video as an example of how you can use a slideshow to tell the world about your business or product.

Do you use video marketing? Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.

Book Review: How To Shoot Video That Doesn't Suck

Are you ready to take your videos to the next level? "How To Shoot Video That Doesn't Suck", by Steve Stockman, provides valuable information that will help you understand video better and improve your video production skills. This book is written for video amateurs who want to cultivate their skills and produce professional quality products.





About The Author
Steve Stockman is the founder of Custom Production, Inc., in Los Angeles. He is a producer, writer and director of hundreds of commercials, Web series, music videos and TV shows.

Entertain Or Die
A video must give the viewer an enjoyable experience. Every video, no matter how long or short, will be better if it tells a story. The author explains that the four elements of story are (1.) a hero, (2.) a beginning, (3.) a middle and (4.) an end. Story structure makes the video easier to understand.

The Rubbermaid Rule
Mr. Stockman relates a story about how he uses Rubbermaid containers to store leftovers. After several years of using these plastic containers, he has noticed that he always pulls out a bigger Rubbermaid container than he actually needs. Sometimes twice or three times as big.
The lesson we learn from this story is that we tend to overestimate how long our video needs to be. Brevity is always better. The author suggests that we use the Rubbermaid Rule and cut  the length of our video by two thirds. This will result in a tighter and more entertaining video.

How To Shoot Video
This book is not about video equipment and how to use it. The majority of this book teaches the reader how to plan, design, shoot and edit a quality video. There are chapters on how to shoot video at your children's parties, vacations, weddings and graduations. There are also chapters on shooting interviews, testimonials, instructional videos and advertisements for your business.

My Thoughts
I have owned a Flip Mino video camera for three years and enjoy making amateur videos. I also enjoy creating video slide shows and music videos. I learned a great deal about the structure of a good video and how to shoot it from this book. The book is fun to read and illustrated with line drawings that complement the text.
I am not crazy about the title of the book because I don't care for the term "suck" in this context. However, the content of the book is excellent and I recommend it to anyone who is interested in refining their techniques in video production.

Check-Out This Blog
Mr. Stockman has an excellent blog that supports his book. If you can't get the book, I highly recommend this blog.

FYI ~ I checked-out a Kindle version of this book from my public library.

Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.

Make A Video Book Trailer With Animoto

The newest way to promote your book is with video. A book trailer is a film or video advertisement for a book which employs techniques similar to those of movie trailers. The main difference is that a movie trailer already has visual images to work with - clips from the film. With a book trailer, the maker has to convert the written words into visual images.

My First Book Trailer Video

I just created my first book trailer. I still have many things to learn about making book trailers, but here are a few tips to keep in mind for your own project.

• Open with a picture of the book cover. I believe the viewer should see the book at the beginning of the video. You want to convey the idea of your book, and get people excited about it - excited enough to want to buy it!
• Choose still images and/or video clips to illustrate the theme of the book. I used stock photos and videos from the Animoto library. I use Animoto to create video slide shows from still photos. I highly recommend this service.
• Choose a musical background to add interest and emotion. Animoto has hundreds of copyright-free songs that can be used for personal or commercial video productions.
• Use special effects and transitions to add excitement to your book trailer. I love Animoto because it automatically adds special effects that are coordinated with the music. You just push the "Create" button and the software does the rest.
• Add quotes, testimonials or your personal comments about the book. This is a great way to add more information about the book. You should provide just enough information to make the viewer want to read the book.
• Most book trailers run from one to three minutes. The video should offer a short preview of your book.
• Always add purchase information. Be sure to let the viewer know where they can buy the book. This should be at the very end of the book trailer.
• Post your book trailer on video sharing sites. I always post my videos on YouTube but there are many others to choose from. Be sure to share the book trailer on your social media sites.

Please view my first book trailer project and share your thoughts in the Comments Sections below. I truly appreciate your feedback. Thank You!