Another year, another Wine Bloggers Conference has come and gone… And instead of talking about the wine, the amazing people, the lack of (some) winery knowledge on social media and wine blogging, the divide in wine bloggers and the people “observing” or the bus sing-a-long / Absinthe trip (thanks again to the rowdy Mutineer Magazine boys, Russ the Winehiker, El Jefe Twisted, Rob Bralow, Thea the Wine Brat and Miss Wenchie for proving some LOUD non-wine fun), I wanted to talk about the one session that inspired me the most.
Sunday’s panel Beyond Words: How Video Content is Changing the Wine World with Bob Asher, Lisa M. deBruin, Hardy Wallace, and John McWeeny which was sponsored by the Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley was the educational highlight of the conference for me.
Each of the panelists had a different perspective of the world of online video and each has equally interesting tips on how to integrate video into the social media landscape.
Hardy first talked about how easy it is to jump in and get started with simple tools like a Flip Video camera and some editing software on your computer (even better if you get a new laptop with a web camera and this software already built in).
“I have 0 talent and 0 skills, but video content is the total future. If you are not doing video, you are not on the edge. Video appeals more to non-wine people….. People might think, I don’t want to reach Wine Spectator or a blog, but hey, maybe I will check that 55 second video out”
Lisa came out stating that she was going to be a Buzz Kill – “Hardy makes it look easy… He is talented even if he says he is not…. And if you are a brand and want to use video to show off your winery, it really is not that easy… The tools make it easy, but to create good content is, you need to know what you are doing.”
She suggested that we need to do our research on what other are doing. Skipping through the vineyards with classical music is a cliché and it has been done.
She also reminded us that brands already have a story to tell through video — Through fun events, new wine releases, good personalities, good customers (all possible talented camera friendly people) all stories that wineries have going for them. There is also no formula for viral.
“Let subjects lead and pull the story.”
Hardy’s final words were that no one started off a “good” blogger – They just jumped into writing and developed their audience and skills over time. His advice to people is to not just sit there and wait till your videos are good, don’t hold yourself back… Get comments and feedback and put yourself out there. Practice makes perfect.
So inspiration kicked in and I decided to create my very first video below.
Cheers to seeing you all next year in Walla Walla.
*shana.
Shana Ray is a Digital Marketing + Social Relations Strategist and food/wine blogger working with wineries, restaurants, technology and local businesses in Wine Country. She is a Social Media Consultant, Manager, Speaker, Trainer and Event Planner. Contact her at shana@shanaray.com or @sharayray.
Everybody is right, and there is more to this than meets the eye.
SoCooLBob has been publishing on the internet since 1995.
SoCooLBob has been creating video since 1975 … has been a video
producer since 1999 .. digital producer since the day after it was invented etc.
It is a wonderful time and it is wonderful that the wine industry is embracing these
new technologies so totally.
There is more to this formula that should be considered .. and SoCooLBob
would very much like to participate and help!
Perhaps, you can help me move from the outside looking in .. to the inside broadcasting out? I would be VERY APPRECIATIVE!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ECS5_nmqMM
Something added to The Flip Cam
Putting sponsor’s names on things that generate additional interest.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWQ4q6iKQJE
1) thanks for the shout out. It was a blast and I am already looking forward to next year. I promise, less singing… ;-)
2) Great first video! Looking forward to the next one.
Bravo! Great job… encore!
Congrats! Good work!
I’ve had fun making videos since I got my MacBook Pro a year ago–mostly spoken word poetry. Time to expand!
You DID make it look easy! Sorry I missed that session… I have had plans to do video for a while. Gotta get crackin’.
Congratulations! In my very biased opinion I think video is a great vehicle for telling a story. I agree that Hardy has the personality to make video look easy, but I think you do as well. In my experience there are a couple kinds of video developing. First there is the flipcam update that takes a couple minutes to shoot, compress and upload. Then there is the story, a more in-depth video that cuts to different clips and tells a complete thought about an event, a release or a person. I think both are great and it’s exciting to see more people embracing video. Again conrats on your first vid!
Great start Shana!
Just keep making them and they start to evolve and get better and better!
Awesome!
That and the awesome face I am making here.