Are You Over-Using Video in Your Blog Posts?
I have been finding a lot of blogs these days that post videos. Normally, that’s not an issue. However, when video becomes your entire blog post, you can almost guarantee that you will lose readers. I mean, you can’t really be a reader if you are watching a video now can you?
The reason for my distaste for that blogging style is that I often listen to music while I blog hop and read articles. If I am trying to listen to something else, why would I pause it to see what you are talking about?
There is a good way to get around this issue. Be smart enough to actually write an article to summarize the video. That way, those who do not wish to watch the video can read about it’s contents and still leave a thoughtful comment. You should never leave potential readers hanging with such a limitation. There are very few blogs on this earth that will see me pausing my music to watch their videos. That’s just how I am, and so is a significant portion of the internet population.
=== END RANT === … but feel free to leave a comment about it 
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Twitter: Mandy_Allen
says:
Great point to make, Brandon. I do a lot of blog hopping and do indeed find video more common now, however the other day I came across one blog that had a video post that was one hour long! Personally I haven’t got that much time for each blog when I’m blog hopping! I’m a reader, so it’s a written post I am looking for. There’s a place for video and for me it isn’t in place of a blog post. A summary is a good idea.
Mandy
mandy@learn-to-blog.org´s last [type] ..The Best New Product On The Market
Twitter: ben_profitblog
says:
I agree. I usually won’t even play a video if there’s no description or summary of it at all. (Only if the title is compelling enough). It just makes sense. Not only that, there’s the fact that they are leaving out content for the search engine spiders.
Ben´s last [type] ..Quoracom – Is it The Death of Yahoo Answers
Twitter: maria_muir
says:
I use videos quite a lot but still write a post to go with it, giving the reader the info and the option to watch. Some posts are lengthy but others are quick and short.
What do you think about audio posts like AudioBoo? A fellow blogger uses this method quite a lot, adding a few lines for some feedback. It’s not something I would use, just wondered if its something you have ever considered.
Maria Muir´s last [type] ..WTF! 10 Extreme Body Piercings – Are They A Work of Art
Twitter: Brandon_Connell
says:
I am good with audio, but again there has to be text. I used to work with a sales guy who practically lived on audios, but he always wrote gigantic articles to go with them. Audio and video are nothing more than sales tools that make your text pop.
Twitter: Bomb_hipster
says:
Hey Brandon,
I don’t like when people switch from written content to all videos, because just like you I’m usually in my zone listening to my music. That would me for me to every get anything out of their site I would always have to get out of my zone.
A video every once in a while with some content to go along wih it is okay. There are some blogs I had to start following because I wasn’t in the mood to watch. I was in the mood to read.
God bless,
William Veasley
William Tha Great´s last [type] ..To Have It All You Must Let Go of a Lot
Twitter: AlexPapaCom
says:
Hi Brandon, I totally understand your concern (frustration) about video posts. There is an ever increasing amount of bloggers who use them, probably because it is the lazy way out of writing good quality content. I could never substitute my blog posts with a video.
Where I see the advantages of using video in a blog is a sales page. Many times the use of video to promote a product or launch a new product is more effective than writing copy. It engages people more and the idea is that it stops you from doing anything else, so that you get the debit or credit card out! I think sales go up when using video.
Alex Papa
Alex Papa´s last [type] ..GetResponse Coupon
Twitter: rick_byrd
says:
Hey Brandon:
Get down from the soap box will ya!
I hate to say it but Ido agree with you on this one. I will typically not watch a video without at least a summary of the video. Plus it all depends who is doing the video.
I have incorporated a few videos on my blog and I wrtie the highlights of the video below it. And I know that you watched my videos…right?…right!
Afterall, having the written content also helps for SEO purposes.
Anyway, take care!
- Rick
Rick Byrd´s last [type] ..Niche Marketing – Let the Adventure Begin
Twitter: earnbyblog
says:
Hy, adding video is really cool way. But i dont use video in my blog
WOW Great Point!!
Im under misconception that video will have greater impact than a normal article. But now after reading this article, I understood its actual impact on the readers..
Regards
Navya
Twitter: TJ_McDowell
says:
I haven’t done many video only posts. I’m the same way as you are about reading a blog post instead of just watching. Honestly, I feel like a 5 or 10 minute video is too much of a time investment =) Plus, video only doesn’t help out much with SEO.
TJ McDowell@St Louis Photographer´s last [type] ..KEHcom Review
I agree, if there is too much video in your blog there will be no more readers and they will only depend on the video. But sometimes it is nice to put some video in your blog and some text to read about. It’s like the video will be an example of your topic.