Darren Rowse's Thoughts on Video

When it comes to creating content for your blog or other Website, few people can claim more authority than Darren Rowse of ProBlogger, whose online community reputedly numbers in the tens of thousands. Rowse has written a book on his experiences and shares his expertise, including the below video, on the front of his Website.

If you need to know more about why it's so important to get started with video on your Website just check out this post.

Meanwhile, to review, here are some of the suggestions Rowse shares:

It's very, very simple. Rowse admits its he's not a technical guy and tries to keep his setup simple.

Use a tripod. Any tripod will do, as long as it's sturdy. He likes to use a tripod that at least reaches eye level, since he feels shooting that way gives videos a more personal feel.

Keep things on the level. He also uses a tripod with a gauge to make sure the camera is level.

Lights, camera, action. Rowse uses a Panasonic Lumix GF1 to shoot his video, which he says is good in low light levels and has a fast lens that blurs the background a bit, creating a less distracting image.

And more lights. Even more important than the camera you use is the lighting in which you choose to shoot your video. He uses the office located in the front of his house where there are large windows with shutters, allowing him to adjust the lighting to make it bright but diffuse.

Some added notes. Other video production tips Rowse offers include using a reflector to spread light across your subject more evenly and using a plain bright background when shooting.

Cut! Rowse says he uses iMovie, a Mac product, to make final edits on his video but that a number of inexpensive and easy to use options are out there with which online video producers can experiment.

Final touches. As a last step, Rowse uses an animated graphic custom made for him at the beginning and end of each video to give the final product a distinct look.

So, do you use video for your blog or other Website? If so, what tools and techniques would you recommend? Please share them in the comment section below.