Isn't Video Expensive?

I recently wrote that "Web-based video is something for Web-savvy wineries to look at more closely," to which faithful reader Mary Baker of Dover Canyon commented:

I found a blog post on Business and Blogging: Time to Get Serious About Video which references a more full-length article. But $3,000 for the camera and set up? Yikes!

Mary, it doesn't have to cost that much.  Here's a great example of a Flash-based video (created on a MacBook Pro laptop) which didn't require any additional equipment.  The two pieces of software mentioned (ecamm's Conference Recorder 2 and Vertical Moon's Video2SWF ) cost less than $60.  Although the MacBook has a built-in camera, similar hardware for Windows, such as the Logitech QuickCam UltraVision, costs less than $130 (list).

There are even direct-to-digital camcorders like the Flip which sell for about the same price as a Web camera and will store up to 60 minutes of video, without requiring you to be tethered to a computer.  Shoot video, plug the camera into your computer, convert to Flash, and post to your Web site or YouTube.  I saw the 30-minute version of this cam at my local Costco for under $90.

Obviously, it depends on how fancy you want to get.  Sure, you can spend several thousand dollars for a production-quality video setup (most of the $3,000 that Mary mentions above is for the camera alone).  Heck, a new MacBook Pro is only $1,999.  But it's dirst cheap to dip your toe in the water, assuming you have a computer of relatively recent vintage. 

The real question is, "What sort of interesting stories can you tell about your wines and winery with Web-based video?"  Frankly, I don't think over-produced marketing videos are the way to go.  Like blogging, Web-based video benefits from being personal and authentic (and either brief or very engaging).

(Nancy Bentley, do you have any video advice?)

Comments

[rick gregory]

Mike,

I agree. And, if one wants better quality than a $30 webcam you can spend $200-400 and get a digital camcorder. Many have motion stabilizers if you need to be mobile, otherwise pop it ona tripod... transfer the video to a computer and use iMovie on the Mac or... ah... Moviemaker is it? on Windows... both are bundled with the OS. Or get Final Cut Express for $299...

One thing - video can eat bandwidth, so instead of hosting it on your own site look at video sharing sites (Youtube, Revver, etc) and embed the video in your page.