Getting your message the undivided attention it deserves.

Techniques to hold your viewers attention

A critical success factor in any communication is whether you can keep the attention of the audience focussed till you have have communicated 100% of your message. The following discusses the most poignant tips for holding the attention of an online video viewer.

Use Motion
Video is a dynamic medium, so motion is essential. The best way to keep your audience's interest is to keep things moving or keep your shots short. Some subjects are stationary. If you have to shoot a still object, say a Corvette parked at a car show, keep it short and sweet. Don't make your viewer ask themselves, "How much longer?"

Tell a story
Good videos tell a story. A good story has a plot; if you just roll tape aimlessly, without shooting anyone or anything in particular, your story will suffer for lack of focus. And your audience will "check out" until the lights come back on.

Blank videotape from the store has absolutely nothing recorded on it. Play it through a VCR and you get static and snow. Because of this, the recording heads inside your camcorder make sure that, when you pause the tape during recording, they pick up right where they left off. No gaps between shots and no snowy static. But many camcorders have big viewfinders and viewing screens for playing back footage right after you shoot it. It's a great feature if you're on the go and want to watch your videos right away. There is a downside, however. If you playback your footage before you are done recording on a tape you may cue it up wrong and create those dreaded snowy gaps. These interruptions break the continuity of your video and you risk marooning your audience for good. A good way to make sure that you have cued the tape properly is to use the edit search button on your camcorder. When you press this button, which is included on most camcorders, the tape is then rewound or fast-forwarded and cued to the end of the last recorded spot. Take a minute to do this before hitting record to avoid any miscues that could lead to unplanned blizzards in your tape.

Many videographers feel the need to talk about what they're shooting. But all too often the on-going narration from the camcorder operator drowns out the sounds of a shot. The result is a soundtrack jammed with irritating chatter. A jabbering camera person can make even the best footage a chore to endure. Video, by it's very nature, narrates itself. You have the luxury of capturing pictures with their corresponding sounds. Remember, a picture is worth a thousand words and your video is recording thousands of pictures. You could never keep up with this pace. Let your video speak for itself.

Often videographers ignore lighting techniques that are critical for successful video. A big mistake is shooting a subject against a very bright background. The effect? A dark silhouette. As a rule, never shoot your subject with his back to the sun or a window. Most camcorders, regardless of their lux rating, are not very responsive to low levels of light. Try shooting a six-year-old blowing out the candles on his birthday cake. Your camcorder's auto iris adjusts to the bright, flaming candles and leaves your guest of honor in the dark. Instead, turn on a light or two to capture that precious shot.

Remember you're a videographer, not a sniper. Do you see cross-hairs in your viewfinder? Of course not. One of the first rules they teach in Video Production 101 is the "Rule of Thirds." Imagine your screen divided into thirds, both horizontally and vertically. Do this and you get an imaginary tic-tac-toe board. Position the things you shoot on the lines of the tic-tac-toe board, and your shot will have better balance. Don't take it as gospel, but as good advice. Move your subject out of the center of your shot and your scene will be more pleasing to the eye and more interesting to the viewer.

Zoom lenses on camcorders should be used to zoom-in on faraway objects and stay there. Many people zoom-in, zoom-out, zoom-in again, zoom-out again, etc. It's a dizzying habit. We all know what they're trying to do; something looks interesting and they want to draw attention to it. They're really just drawing attention to the lens movement. Use the zoom on your camcorder wisely, and sparingly. When you do choose to zoom, make sure you have a clear beginning, middle and end to your shot. And resist the temptation to back off right away. Try using the zoom to frame your shots before rolling tape.

It's easy to forget something as simple as pausing the tape between shots. Nonetheless, these extended periods of darkness make you look like an amateur, and can put your audience to sleep. So take your time, stay alert and push pause when you've finished your shot.

The biggest mistake most amateur videographers make is not holding a shot steady. A lot of camera movement, and we're talking about uncontrolled movement here, has a dizzying effect. Concentrate on holding the camera steady. Stand still, bend your knees slightly, hold the camera with both hands, and whatever you do, don't turn away suddenly. Hold your shot long enough for you to know what it is. Then press pause before moving on. Steady footage is the first step toward excellent video. If you remember nothing else from this guide, remember to hold your shots steady.