Believe it or not, Youtube’s search engine is much easier to “play” than the super complex Google algorithm. Here is my ordered top five list for the most important parts of your video in optimizing for youtube search:

1) Title – Your video’s title is incredibly important. Not only does a title often score (or lose) you a view, but it also is the biggest factor in determining keywords for the youtube search engine to pick up on. Be very keyword heavy and don’t feel as if a lengthy or awkward title name is always bad. Something like “How to throw a football – The Process Step by Step” may be long, but it is dang effective in encompassing key words.

2) Inbound Links – Have you embedded your video on your personal site or blog? Have you shared it on social networks? Are others sharing it as well? This is important to the algorithm because it is a huge factor in determining if the video has good and worthwhile content.

3) Description – Your description should be thorough. Should it be line for line what was said in the video? No. But! It should be a very good keyword based summary of what happens in the video. There is no point in being misleading either.

4) Views – Yes, unfortunately for those who are just starting, not only does the number of views on the video you have uploaded matter, but also the number of views your channel and other videos you have uploaded have. This is sort of the community impact factor of the search. It helps answer Youtube’s question, “are you actively involved in the Youtube community?” This really makes a lot of sense – especially for Youtube (well Google since they own it) – including this as a factor encourages us Youtubers to frequent the site.

5) Tags – The tags are third on the list of text based Youtube SEO (ranking behind the title and description) because these are what I like to all “catch all” key words. Most often this is where I include my name, my website’s name, the city I shot it in, and/or some other random things people might search if they can’t remember what the video was called.

There are other factors and all of the above can be further explored, but this is a general list to get you started.

Never forget that if your video has good content, it will get found and viewed, but you could do yourself a huge favor if you just do a little consideration of the above!

- Ted

The more I find myself browsing through the increasingly infinite web, the less I feel I can come up with something unique.

Or, I should say I thought this.

I was wrong. This beautifully done video turned that idea on it’s head and then some. Is the video entirely original? No. Is the animation the best there is? No. The world has already been created (everything from ideas and thoughts to trees and oceans) so creativity is rarely (if ever) in developing an entirely new concept, but rather in finding a way to contrive something new out of the old. Those who can make what already exists relevant are the people who are going to find success. The one who spends his/her time trying to be outside of the self will only find frustration and disappointment.

This whole post may not be a new concept, or something you have never heard, but you have never seen it presented this exact way. You have never been presented with this combination of video, words, and minimalistic blog design that I hope is an invitation to go create something. Seriously, go do it.

Don’t get stuck 91 centimeters away from creating something.

Shocked? Me too.

Anyway, all of this is going to be coming out in the form of the digital short, Papyrus, shortly. (how’s that for odd sentence structure?)

It’s a little poking of fun at many things: the typeface Papyrus (which is truly horrid), the documentary Helvetica (well done, but an hour and 20 minutes worth?) and the general obsessions people have over the oddest of things.

Click this little image below to see the preview!

Avatar: The Making of the Bootleg

Nativity Dance

Santa Parkour

HP computers are racist

Two quick little commercials made for filler time during a 15 minute live production project for class. Yes, they are made to look like
legitmate copies of Cash4Gold commercials or PSAs, which explains the poor CG work. Just having a little fun with it I guess.

Enjoy it or leave it!

- Ted

(*If you don’t enjoy slow/dry comedy you might as well go elsewhere)

The show is called “Look Around You” and there are plenty to be seen; however here are two that I recommend!

This first video is over ever-elusive word problems, and titled “Maths”

The second is titled, “Computer Games” and is definitely my favorite.

I might add that the videography is stunning as well, incredible shot composition and the editing is well paced to contribute to the humor.

Enjoy!

- Ted