Friday, November 30, 2007

The Importance of Knowing and Following All YouTube Rules

Are you interested in joining the YouTube community? If you are, you will need to register for a free YouTube membership account. To register, you need to fill out a short form, which will ask you a few personal questions. In a matter of minutes, you can be on your way to rating or reviewing the YouTube videos you watch or even uploading your own videos! How fun does that sound?

Although YouTube is a lot of fun, whether you are only interested in watching videos or if you want to upload your own, YouTube, like all other online websites, has a number of rules and restrictions. It is not only important that you know those rules, but that you follow them, as there are a number of consequences for not. Just a few of the rules enforced on YouTube are outlined below.

If you are only interested in watching YouTube videos, not necessarily uploading your own, you will find that there are less rules and restrictions for you. One of the most common rules surrounds registering for a free YouTube account. Only a minimal amount of personal information is asked of you, like your name, country, zip code, birth date, and gender, but you are advised to be truthful. Also, there is no need for you to create multiple YouTube accounts. Should you forget your YouTube login information, you should be able to follow YouTube’s instructions to retrieve your YouTube sign in name, as well as your password.

Another rule that many YouTube video watchers have to follow concerns leaving comments on YouTube video pages or participating in the YouTube forums. Whenever you leave comments for a YouTube video submitter, you are advised to use your best judgment. Of course, you are able to leave negative feedback, if you want, but you are advised to do so in a tasteful matter. You will want to avoid foul language and definitely do not threaten any other YouTube members. Doing so, will likely not only get your message revoked, but you may also have your YouTube account suspended.

As it was previously mentioned, if you are planning on uploading videos to YouTube and sharing them with other internet users, you are more likely to find a larger number of rules to follow. One of those rules involves the content of your video. You are advised against posting content that is illegal in nature. YouTube encourages you to use caution when making your videos, as you never really know who will be watching them. For instance, now many police departments are starting to use the internet to help them solve crimes. So, not only do you have to worry about online predators viewing your YouTube videos, but you also have to worry about law enforcement doing the same thing.

In connection with your YouTube video content, you also need to make sure that your video content is actually yours. In recent times, there have been many instances where YouTube made it on the news for having a large number of copyright materials on their website. This is illegal. You will want to make sure that videos you post online were actually made by you. Before using music clips, television clips, or movie clips, you need to get permission to do so. If you fail to get permission, you are, essentially, stealing someone’s work.

The above mentioned rules are just a few of the many that you may be expected to follow when using YouTube. As it was stated above, one consequence to violating the YouTube rules is having your account suspended. If you submitted a video that went against YouTube’s guidelines, your video may be removed. Should you be caught committing a crime, whether it be using drugs, drinking underage, or taping a robbery, you may also be prosecuted for your actions. That is why, for your own safety and wellbeing, you not only need to know all of YouTube’s rules, but you also follow them at all times.

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Pros and Cons of Making Your Own YouTube Videos

Are you one of the millions of internet users who enjoy watching free videos on YouTube? If you are, the thought of creating your own YouTube video may have crossed your mind; has it? If so, you may be wondering whether or not you should make your own YouTube video and then upload it to the YouTube website. When making your decision, it is advised that you can examine the pros and cons of doing so.

When it comes to making your own YouTube video, there are a number of cons or downsides to doing so. Perhaps, the biggest downside to making your own video and then uploading it to YouTube is that you are essentially sharing the video with the whole world. Many individuals mistakenly believe that their videos will only be seen by YouTube members, but that isn’t the truth. Any internet user, even those without a YouTube account, can view videos on YouTube. In fact, it is not uncommon for YouTube video viewers to email a YouTube video link to those that they know. Therefore, the views that your YouTube videos may get may be more than you ever expected or wanted.

Since any video that you upload to the YouTube website can be viewed by just about anyone with an internet connection, you may want to be careful with the amount of information that you disclose. For instance, if you are doing a video blog, you might not want to give your real name or at least not your full name. It is also important that you don’t mention where you live. If you want, you may want to outline the state that you reside in, but never give the city or town, especially if you disclose your name. You will want to try and refrain from giving any personal information to any YouTube member, even those who send you personal messages asking for information. As with most online website, YouTube can be a dangerous place, but you should be able to stay safe as long as you stay aware.

Although there are a few downsides or cons to uploading your videos to the YouTube website, there are also a number of pros or plus sides to doing so. One of those pros is ease of use. Even if you consider yourself to be unskilled with computers, you should still be able to make, upload, and share your video or videos on YouTube. In all honesty, all you need is a video recording device, like a camcorder or a webcam, and a movie editing software program, which now comes standard with most computers. Once you have your video on your computer and edited, if you wish to do so, you will just need to follow YouTube’s step-by-step uploading instructions and then your video should be ready for sharing, in as little as a few minutes.

Another pro to using YouTube to share your own videos with other internet users is uses. Although a large number of internet users use YouTube videos for fun or for personal reasons, there are many others who use them for business or at least to up their exposure. You need to remember that millions of internet users watch videos on YouTube. While your YouTube video will be unlikely to get one million views, you could get quite a bit. Whether you are advertising your services, like as a website designer or an online actress, you can do so through YouTube. The only thing that you will want to do is try to not take the spam approach. If you are advertising yourself as a website designer, try taking a few videos of you making a website or use your video to explore websites that you have made. Simply adding your business information at the end of the video is a great way to get your point across, but without making your YouTube video seem as it is an advertisement.

As you can see, there are a number of advantages and disadvantages, or pros and cons, to making your own YouTube videos. As stated above, it is advised that you use your best judgment. Of course, you can post a video on YouTube if you want to do so, but just make sure that you are doing so safely.

Friday, November 23, 2007

Parents: The Importance of Discussing YouTube with Your Children

Are you a parent? If so, is your child old enough to use the internet? If you have a child who is high school or even middle school, there is a good chance that you are concerned with internet safety, as you should be. Online, there are a large number of websites, including YouTube, which appeal to your children. The only problem with these websites is that if they are not properly used, they can be dangerous. That is why it is advised that you discuss popular internet sites, like YouTube, with your children.

When it comes to discussing YouTube with their children, there are many parents who wonder exactly what YouTube is. If you have never heard of YouTube or visited it before, it is advised that you do before talking to your children about it. Once you visit the YouTube website, you will see that it is a video sharing website. Those who are thirteen years and older are able to register for a free YouTube account. Once an account has been registered, those with accounts can watch YouTube videos, rate them, or discuss them with other YouTube members, as well as share their own videos online.

With YouTube safety, most of the focus should be placed on uploading and sharing videos, but it is also important that you touch on watching videos as well. There are a number of YouTube videos that have adult content. While YouTube tries to ensure that each of these videos is marked, in one way or another, not all are. You will want to remind your child they are they are just, a child. You may even want to put limits on the type of videos that they watch. For instance, it is more that possible to find educational videos on YouTube, like how-to guides. It may be a good idea for your children to view those types of videos, as they will likely receive a little bit of education at the same time.

As previously stated, most of the focus should be placed on uploading videos to YouTube. In the past, a large number of YouTube members posted videos that had clips from their favorite movies, television shows, or music videos. Due to copyright issues, YouTube is trying to cut down on these types of videos, as they are actually illegal with out the proper permission. You may want to explain this to your children, as they may not be familiar with copyrights and how they work. In most cases, should your children post a video on YouTube that they don’t have permission to do, the video will likely be removed, but as more and more companies are fed up with their work being displayed on the internet, more serious action may be taken.

It is also important that you talk to your children about safety, when sharing a video on YouTube or even when making a video with the sole purpose of putting it on the YouTube website. One popular type of video that many young adults, including high school students, are making are video blogs. Video blogs are like traditional blogs, where they outline the happenings in ones life, but they are in video format. The only problem with video blog is that many YouTube members are sitting right in front of the camera, exposing their faces for everyone to see. While this can be considered safe, giving out too much information, while showing your face isn’t. You will want to let your children know that they shouldn’t, under any circumstances, give out their full name, their address, or their phone numbers, even cell phone numbers.
It is also advised that you talk to your children about internet predators. Although YouTube members are able to talk to each other, the dangers of meeting online predators aren’t as high as on traditional social networking sites, like MySpace, but the threat still exists. Let your children know that you do not want him or her talking to other YouTube members, as they never really know who is behind the computer. If you and your children cannot reach an agreement, you may want to think about blocking the YouTube website from your computers.

Sunday, November 18, 2007

Making YouTube Videos: Why You Need to Be Cautious of Work from Others

Are you interested in making your own video to be displayed on the YouTube website? If you are, you may be wondering what type of video you should make. While there are a large number of different YouTube videos that you can make and share with other internet users, there are certain types of videos that you may want to avoid. One of those videos involves video content that isn’t actually yours.

When it comes to making your own YouTube videos, you will want to make sure that the videos are actually yours. It is common to find videos on YouTube that have similar ideas or concepts; that is okay. What is not okay is actually using someone else’s work. This is actually illegal, as many videos, television shows, movies, and music videos are protected by copyright laws. Copyright laws aim to protect those who legally own a piece of work, like a television show, movie, or music video. Since someone else’s work is often protected by law, you could suffer serious consequences for using someone else’s work, especially if you try and claim it as your own.

What you need to remember about copyright laws is that they include every second or word of the piece in question. For instance, there are some YouTube video owners who think that they can show different clips of their favorite movies, music videos, or television shows. Many believe since they are not showing the item in its entirety, they are safe from breaking any copyright laws, but that is not how it works. You are required to seek permission from those holding the rights to a music video, movie, or television show before using any part of it, even a clip that only last a few seconds.

One aspect of copyrighting, that you need to take into consideration is, which many people are unfamiliar with, surrounds public venues or public events. Did you know that if you take a video of a popular sports event or a concert, you may be unable to post that video online? In most cases, you will find that no issue is raised by opposing parties, but you never really know until a problem arises. In many cases, the venue that hosted the event could claim that they have the rights to your video, as it documents an event that took place on their property. It is also not uncommon for the individual or individuals in question to claim that they own the copyright of any videos taken, as the video focuses on them. That is why you may want to proceed with caution before uploading sporting event videos or concert videos to the YouTube website.

As it was previously mentioned, there are consequences to violating copyrighting laws. In most cases, you will find that the consequences depend on the parties involve, as they often have the most say in what action is taken. If you post a video on YouTube and the video wasn’t yours or contains illegal clips, your video will likely be removed right away. As previously mentioned, the parties involves, most commonly the copyright owners, may wish to have you prosecuted or fined; the decision is often theirs to make.

As you can see, there are a number of different reasons as to why you need to be careful when making and sharing videos on the YouTube website. In all honesty, you just need to use your head. You wouldn’t want someone taking the credit for your hard work, would you?

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Making YouTube Videos: Safety Tips You Should Know

Do you enjoy making short videos or movies? If you do, you will love YouTube. YouTube is an online video sharing website that lets internet users, like you, upload videos that they made to the website, where they can be viewed by others. Although it is fun and exciting to make and share your own YouTube videos, you will want to display some caution when doing so. Posting videos on YouTube can be dangerous, especially if improperly done. That is why it is advised that you always keep internet safety in the back of your mind, when creating your YouTube videos.

Perhaps, the most important safety tip that you need to remember is to protect your identity. You will want to refrain from mentioning your name in your YouTube videos, especially your full name. You will also want to refrain from mentioning your address in any of your YouTube videos. While you may think that mentioning the city or town that you live in is okay, as long as you don’t give your street address, you may want to rethink doing so. There are a large number of internet users who are resourceful; with the right information, they can easily find out important information about you, including where you live.

One of the reasons why YouTube is so popular, aside from the fact that you can watch or upload movies to the YouTube site for free, is the fact that you can rate, leave comments, or talk about YouTube videos with other internet users. If you talk with certain members enough you may end up developing a close online friendship with them. Still, it is advised that you keep the previously mentioned safety tip in mind; do not give out any of your personal information. Whenever you use the internet, whether you are using YouTube or not, you need to remember that it is difficult, if not impossible, to verify who is sitting behind the computer screen on the other end of your conversation. No matter what online exchanges take place, you will want to protect your identity.

When it comes to internet users further researching you, many YouTube video submitters wonder why anyone would do such a thing. While different individuals have different motives, you should always assume that those motives are not in your best interest. As stated above, different internet users have different motives, but one thing that seems to motivate them is seductive or attractive looking internet users. Even if you are creating a video blog or a comedy skit, you will want to keep a close eye on your appearance. Of course, you will want to look your best, but you want to be sure not to take it too far, as many can misinterpret your intentions; possibly putting you in harms way.

It is also advised that you be careful with what you post online, if you are making a video of yourself and your friends. You need to make sure that all video stars know your intentions of posting the video for sharing on YouTube. If you have a video that you shot candidly, you need to use your best judgment. You want to be cautious of ingraining on anyone’s privacy, as it may not only reflect negatively on you, but it may also land you in hot water. It is also advised that you refrain from posting clips of movies, television shows, or music videos that you do not have rights to. This is a violation of copyright. In most cases, your YouTube video will simply be pulled, but, in rare instances, you may be faced with legal action.

The previously mentioned safety tips are just a few of the many that you will want to keep in mind, when making a video to upload on to the YouTube website. In all honesty, it is best if you just use your best judgment. Should you feel uncomfortable doing something, like just making a YouTube video in general, you are advised to listen to your gut, as it is often the best sign of trouble to come.

Saturday, November 10, 2007

Making a YouTube Video: Pieces You Should Try

Do you enjoy watching videos on YouTube? If you do, have you ever thought about making your own YouTube videos? While making a YouTube video may seem like a complicated process, it actually isn’t one. YouTube makes it so easy for you to upload your videos that the hardest part isn’t actually uploading them, but making them.

When it comes to making a YouTube video, one of the biggest problems a person has, especially a first time YouTube video maker, is deciding what type of video they should make. Of course, you have the option to make whichever type of video you want, within YouTube’s guidelines of course, but there are a few video pieces that you may want to closely examine, as they are great for beginners.

One of the most popular video types currently found on YouTube are video blogs. Video blogs seem as if they are taking over traditional, printed blogs. Instead of venting about their day in print, many bloggers are now getting in front of the camera. Video blogs are easy to make, as you pretty much just summarize what is going on in your life. Of course, you need to keep safety in mind, when making a YouTube video blog. If you want to outline your day, week, or month for other internet users to see, you will want to do so without giving up too much information about yourself, like your full name, address, or phone numbers.

Another one of the most popular video types currently found on YouTube are comedy videos. Comedy videos tend to include standup comedy, skits, as well as comedy sketches. If you have aspirations to be a comedian or even if you and your friends just like being funny, you may have the makings of a great YouTube video. Of course, if you are making a comedy video that involves other people, like your friends, you need to make sure that they know that you are planning on uploading the video to YouTube, for the entire world to see.

If you would like to create a more serious YouTube video, one that may be used for informational purposes only, you may want to think about creating a how-to video or a do it yourself (DIY) video. These types of videos are great for first time YouTube video submitters. If you are interested in creating a how-to video, you will want to make a video on something that you enjoy or one of your hobbies. For instance, if you like making your own candles, you may want to think about making a YouTube video or multiple video segments on how to do so.

If you enjoy playing video games, you may also want to make a YouTube video about them. As it was previously mentioned, there are a large number of first time YouTube video submitters who prefer making videos about something that they know or love. If you have an old video game or even just a traditional, vintage board game, you may want to make a YouTube video on it. Your video could include information on the history of the game or even tips on how to play it, and so on.

As you can, there are an unlimited number of video pieces that you can create for yourself and a large number of them are perfect for your first YouTube video. If you are looking for more information on popular YouTube videos, you are urged to examine the YouTube site. You can easily examine a video’s popularity by looking at its ratings or by seeing how much it is being discussed. Examining currently posted YouTube videos is a great way to give you ideas. It is also likely to up your chances of making a YouTube video that will be popular; one that will be watched or one that will be talked about.

The decision as to what YouTube video you want to post as your first one is yours to make, but you may want to think about starting out small. After you have tested the waters, you can move onto bigger and better YouTube videos, should you wish to do so.

Monday, November 5, 2007

How to Make a YouTube Video

Are you interested in making your own videos to upload to YouTube and to share with the rest of the internet community? If you are and if this is your first time trying to do so, you may be wondering how you can go about making your own videos. Although the process of making a YouTube video may seem like a complicated one, it isn’t necessarily. Even those with a low amount of computer knowledge are able to successfully make their own videos, many of which later end up on YouTube.

The first step in making a YouTube video is to get a video recording device. Video recording devices come in a number of different formats. For instance, it is possible to use cell phones, webcams, or traditional camcorders. If you are interested in using your cell phone to help you make a YouTube video, you will need to make sure that your cell phone has video recording capabilities. You will find that most new, modern cell phones do. For the best quality videos, you want to use traditional camcorders, particularly digital ones, but webcams are also nice low-cost alternatives.

Once you have a video recording device in your possession, you can start to make your own videos. Popular videos on YouTube include video blogs, comedy skits, how-to videos, or travel videos. You can make just about whatever type of video you want, whether it is one that is staged or just recording spur of the moment activities or conversations. When making a YouTube video, it is important to remember that YouTube doesn’t limit the number of videos you can submit, but all videos must be ten minutes or less, if you have a traditional YouTube membership account. Therefore, if you want to have videos be longer than ten minutes, you either need to upgrade your account or make your videos in different segments.

When making your YouTube video, you will want to make sure that the quality is good. For this, it is a good idea to speak directly into the camera or else use raised voices. This will help to ensure that those watching your videos on YouTube can actually understand what you are saying. It is also advised that you make sure the lighting is good. The best time to make movies is during the day. If you want to make your movies at night, whether they take place inside or outdoors, you will want to make sure that you have the appropriate amount of lighting. Nothing is worse that watching a video that is hard to see.

Although there are a number of steps, like the ones mentioned above, which you can take to ensure that your YouTube videos are quality ones, there is a way that you can fix problems later on. You can do this with movie editing software. Moving editing software allows you to preview and edit your videos, should you wish to do so before uploading them to YouTube. If you have a relatively new computer, you should be able to find movie editing software already on your computer. If you are unable to find movie editing software, you should be able to get free software programs or even purchase deluxe software programs online or from one of your local media stores.

The decision as to whether or not you want to edit your videos, before sharing them on YouTube, is yours to make, but it is advised that you at least look into doing so, especially if your computer already has a movie editing program. You will want to watch your movies and see if there is anything that you would like to edit, change, or remove. If so, the time to do it is before you post your video on the YouTube website. Editing your YouTube videos or at least previewing them first is likely to improve their quality, which, in turn, will help to improve the exposure that your YouTube videos get. Many YouTube members share videos that they find interesting with those that they know and your videos may be one of them.