how-to Articles

A how-to is an informal, often short, description of how to accomplish some specific task. A how-to is usually meant to help non-experts, may leave out details that are only important to experts, and may also be greatly simplified from an overall discussion of the topic. One of the earliest how-to books was published in 1569 by Thomas Wight and entitled, A booke of the arte and maner, how to plant and graffe all sortes of trees: With divers other new practise, by one of the Abbey of Saint Vin...

Howcast Guides Viewer Interest & Discovery with New Site: CEO Jason Liebman Provides Insight [Interview]

Probably the most unheralded videos on the web are how-to videos, and yet, they are some of the most popular. And it's easy to see why: no longer are people having to rely on written instructions, which can be confusing or be missing vital information, ...

Critics of Organic Content Farms like Demand Media Should Eat Their Own Words

A year ago, I stuck my neck out and defended Demand Media’s approach to developing great content down on the content farm. Last week, I felt vindicated when Demand Media reported financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 and raised its previously issued fiscal ...

Why You Should Be At Streaming Media East Next Week

Streaming Media East is ready to hit New York City next week and we've got the top reasons why you should be attending. As an added bonus, we've also got a discount code for you to shave off a bit of the price to make ...

4 Steps for Shooting Successful Web Video - The YouTube Advertiser Playbook: Part 1

YouTube definitely wants you to succeed. The more that you do, the more that they do. Last year, YouTube gave us the YouTube Creator Playbook, which gave us a step-by-step process in which a great channel filled with great content could reach a wide audience. ...

How to Change Your YouTube Channel's Main Featured Video [Creator's Tip #36]

Last week, we offered up two Creator’s Tips videos that answer some common questions we’ve gotten from you and both tips have to do with the new YouTube channel design. 1) How do I change the featured video on my YouTube channel? Go to the edit button. ...

How to Make a Video Lighting Rig for Under $100: Tutorial

Without light, there is no video. Or rather, with not enough light there is crappy, unprofessional video. So wherever you are, you need adequate light, sometimes, even outside, if the weather isn't fully cooperating. We found this great tutorial from IndyMogul that shows how you ...

Creating A Successful Web Series Requires Patience, Planning & Fun

Web series are no different when it comes to video marketing. You basically have to follow the same rules as outlined in the YouTube Creator Playbook as they're for the most part good guidelines to follow for any online video project. But web series might take ...

11 Tips for E-Commerce Demo Videos That Drive Conversion

From rants to reviews, product conversations have shifted away from brand-sponsored websites and into the blogosphere. Blogs are increasingly where people go for useful how-tos and deep product dives from respected sources. But not all companies are taking this shift sitting down, and the smart ...

Rebel Brings Us Version 2 Of The YouTube Creator Playbook

Over the weekend, a rebel sympathizer smuggled me a new copy of Version 2 of the YouTube Creator Playbook. To protect him/her from any repercussions, I won't disclose this rebel sympathizer's name, other than to say he/she works at a media company that bridges the ...

Zooey Deschanel's HelloGiggles Picks Up Web Series, The Single Life

Last year, Dentyne Gum sponsored a scripted online dating web series called The Single Life. Starring Taryn Southern (The Temp Life), Jeremy Searle, and "host" Leslie Miles (Final Destination 5, J Edgar), the show is a fictionalized how-to in online dating, complete with Blind Date-esque ...

ReelSEO Wants To Serve You Better In 2012

Wow, as the ReelSEO teams reflects back on 2011, so much has happend and changed around here! And we have so much more planned for 2012! We're really excited about all of the ideas we're dreaming to help you with your online video initiatives, but ...

Sharing Your YouTube Video With Blogs--The YouTube Creator Playbook

There's no doubt that getting your video to show up in YouTube and other search engines is important. But when you are first starting out, the search engine isn't going to exactly favor your videos or channel because you aren't popular just yet. Getting people ...

How To Optimize Your YouTube Channel Page--The YouTube Creator Playbook

Your channel page on YouTube is where you can brand your videos through attractive packaging. It creates an insular experience for your videos, one without all the distractions of suggested videos and that plain YouTube white background. A channel page is invitation into your home ...

Free Social Video Webinar: How To Build Better Customer Relationships With Video

This Thursday the video solutions provider Liveclicker will be hosting a free webinar, "The New Social Video - How to Build Relationships with Shoppers through Video." I interviewed Liveclicker's Justin Foster for a sneak preview on this event. Social Video Commerce Webinar Info November 17 ...

Using YouTube Annotations To Create A Call To Action - The YouTube Creator Playbook

Annotations are an often overlooked aspect of YouTube videos. They can lead the viewer to a number of actions, whether it's directing them towards other videos you've created or brings attention to a call-to-action such as liking, favoriting, subscribing, or commenting. However the annotations are ...