By Jenner Brown.

When you set out to create a video for your blog, there are a number of little things you can do to make them look and feel more professional. Here are a few ideas to unleash your inner filmmaker:

1) Shoot with a DSLR
If you’ve been shooting with an iPad or a point-and-shoot, you’ll see the cinematic quality immediately when you start shooting on a DSLR. They have become the go-to camera of indie filmmakers for good reason–the gloriously large imaging sensor that provides the coveted shallow depth of field and high resolution picture. You can purchase an entry-level kit for around $800. If you’re taking lots of pictures and video for your blog this is a must!

2) Learn iMovie
Pretty footage is the first step, but a basic knowledge of video editing is required to take your clips to the next level. It’s time to learn the art of iMovie editing. Sign up for the online iMovie For Bloggers course on the Alt Channel where we’ll be covering this software in depth with live tutorials.

A question I often get asked is which platform is best for hosting your online videos, YouTube or Vimeo? The answer is case specific. They are very similar, having the same underlying purpose and structure. The difference between the two is subtle, kind of like Mac vs. Windows. Let’s dive in a bit deeper and look at the comparisons.

YouTube
Like Windows, YouTube has a much larger user base and is more utilitarian. It is owned by the mighty Google and that puts it pretty far ahead when it comes to reach and visibility. While both platforms use search, the YouTube search engine is much more commonly used by people searching for online content. If someone is searching solely from within YouTube, your Vimeo videos will be invisible. The key with YouTube is to take advantage of the keyword tagging to make sure people find you. Start with that and then focus on getting people to subscribe to your channel.