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Friday, February 27th, 2009
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Create a Video Three Times as Fast?

Create a Video Three Times as Fast?

mindmap 150x150 Create a Video Three Times as Fast?Whether you are creating blog content, a sales pitch, or a product, the fastest way to create content is with video — no writing required!

If you want to create a fancy-​​shmancy video like Michel and Sylvie, create a PowerPoint slide and record your screen as you talk. This is my preferred way of recording video, but if I’m in a hurry, I can whip up a mindmap presentation in one-​​third of the time as a PowerPoint.

The easiest kind of video to create is screen capture video. This is where a program records your desktop and you talk into a microphone. Use Camtasia if you’re working in Windows, or ScreenFlow if you’re on a Mac.

Both come with 30-​​day trials and there is a free version called Jing which is limited to five-​​minute recordings, so nothing is standing in the way of you creating screen capture videos.

Size your resolution down to the smallest possible (I reduce to 640x480), start a PowerPoint slide show, record the screen, and start talking. (If you can’t afford $79 for Microsoft Office, use OpenOffice.) That’s all there is to it.

Pretend you’re recording live at a seminar in front of a crowd and explain what you have to say in one take. No one says it has to be anything near perfect.

The only problem with recording those presentations is it sometimes takes a while to make them. For a 20-​​minute presentation, I have to make about 15 slides with a headline on each slide and three bullet points. That can take a while! So when I want to whip up an interview quickly, I create what’s called a “mindmap.”

What’s a mindmap? It’s basically a brainstorm with thought bubbles, like you use to draw in grade school when you took notes or outlined essays. You have the root “node”… or thought bubble, which is the title of your presentation, and other children “nodes” (thought bubbles) under them, thought bubbles under those, and so on.

Because it’s on a computer, you can expand or contract mindmaps to only show the one subject you’re talking about. It’s a perfect way to quickly organize your thoughts, and makes it perfect for audio interviews, webinars, or standalone videos.

Unlike a PowerPoint presentation, you can present items in any order and skip over items if you run out of time. You can also export your mindmaps into PDF or HTML form so your attendees get the exact notes you used to present.

Here’s how to get started:

  1. Grab a mindmapping tool. I prefer FreeMind because it’s free and works on both Windows and Mac. (Go to that link and find the “Download” area.)
  2. Get an idea for your 10 to 90 minute presentation, rename the root node to the title of your presentation.
  3. Right click and choose “New child” to create a child node under the root node. Use this as your subpoint and create other children under the root node for additional subpoints.
  4. For each subpoint, create a child node under that to provide details… usually a couple of keywords or some VERY concise sentences.

It’s not rocket science. Once you’ve created your nodes, you can drag them above or below other nodes to rearrange them in the map. You can drag nodes into other nodes, and so on.

I recommend you move all nodes to the RIGHT side of the root so they all appear as a “list”… and limit yourself to 2 to 5 children per node to keep the map from getting messy. Never go more than three levels deep.

I can whip up a mindmap presentation in just a couple of minutes this way. Using mindmaps, I use several keyboard shortcuts like the Insert key to add new child nodes, the Enter key to add a bunch of “sibling” nodes at once, the F2 key to rename nodes and the arrow keys and spacebar to navigate between nodes.

For a well thought out but easy to create presentation for videos, webinars and interviews… create a mindmap and expand on each point you’re trying to make one at a time as you present. Combine this with desktop recording software or built-​​in webinar screen capture software… and you’ve got yourself an instant product, blog post, or interview.

About the Author

Robert Plank is a computer programmer and Internet marketer. Even master copywriter Michel Fortin quadrupled his signups by adding Robert's simple exit pop-up email form to his blog. How many more subscribers and sales will it get you?

Category: Productivity
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View Comments

February 27, 2009
Reuben D. Rock

Very nice. I knew powerpoint/​keynote slides were a quick way to do vids, but the mindmap idea is great. And since I already use mindmaps regularly, it should be easy to get started. Thanks for the idea, dude.

–Reuben


February 27, 2009
Lexi Rodrigo

Thanks for these helpful tips! I can tell that you always over deliver. Btw a cool alternative to Powerpoint is Apple Keynote. It’s amazing and reasonably priced.


February 27, 2009
Hamant

Hi Micheal.

That was a great idea -
I have Mindmap myself but never thought of using it for creating quick videos.
Many thanks for the “lateral thinking”

I have a few of Roberts products and they are great

Thanks again for the little gem!

Hamant


February 27, 2009
Don Deller

Thanks for bringing this to my attention. I am eager to try it! Your explanation was very simple and easy to follow.


February 27, 2009
Forrest Bivens

I am so ALL OVER THIS! Thanks a ton Robert…just saved me a bunch of time w/​ this PPT alternative.


February 27, 2009
Joe Bossuyt

This is wonderful information! Thank you Robert, and Michael for sharing it. I’m on my way to your blog for more info.

Kind Regards,

Joe


February 27, 2009
Claire Jarrett

Fantastic idea, perfect for our industry (training) so am definitely going to look into this. Thanks!


February 27, 2009
Doug at Words Into Money

Awesome information, Robert! Thank you for sharing.

I love mind-​​maps and use them all the time. But I’ve always done them by hand for my own purposes.

But this is a great technique for creating videos fast or for any content that you want to sure.


February 27, 2009
Diet Tips

Great “outside of the box” video idea using mind map software. Jing Pro is only $14.95 a year so you can eliminate the 5 minute restriction and have highly optimized video files for Youtube… A great low cost way of breaking into video.


February 27, 2009
Gerald S.

Robert,
I enjoyed your presentation very much. I certainly will consider using a mindmap approach for future videos. Thanks for showing us how simple this approach really is.

Gerald


February 27, 2009
Peter B Butler

Damn good timing, I was about to start reworking a presentation I do — brilliant, thanks mate.


February 27, 2009
Terrie Wurzbacher

Another winner presentation and right to the point Robert! My week has been filled with you — you’re all over the web this week especially. This is ANOTHER great idea from you and one that I intend to implement this weekend in my 30 day video challenge.

Thanks for an extremely motivational week!!

Terrie Wurzbacher


February 27, 2009
Larry Pelley

Hi Robert

Thanks for this information about creating video by way of:
your mindmap system.

I have not created or used video at all yet, but will give
your system a try.

Best regards
Larry


February 27, 2009
Mike

Thanks Robert.

That just made “product creation” about 300 times faster !

These will also be great content for our membership sites.

I owe you one ;-)


February 28, 2009
David Frey

Great idea Robert! Thank you.


February 28, 2009
Stuart Stirling

awesome video…always learn something new at websites
that Michael Fortin is a part of.…Robert Plank puts it very
clearly..Thanks. will have to look into getting that screen
capture video software and freeminds.

Cheers,
Stuart Stirling


March 2, 2009
Karen

The downloaded Jing app has made a mess of my Mac — any suggestions?


March 5, 2009
Rob Metras

Thank you for such simplicity and step by step. Sometimes that just the kick in the pants one needs in showing how easy it is.


March 5, 2009
Ray Edwads

I have used mindmaps before but never thought of going the video route. I will try this in my next webinar for my copywriting coaching students for sure!

Thanks,

Ray Edwards


March 7, 2009
Thomas John Fisher

Hi Robert,

Thanks for the lesson. I was in need of it. I had seen others who have used this method, and thought it would be good to do, but I had not learn enough of “How To Use Mindmaps”.

I’ve had Freemind for a few months, and was wanting to learn. You’ve given me enough to start to use it.

Your presentation was well done too.

Thanks,
Thomas John Fisher
http://ThomasJohnFisher.com


March 9, 2009
Martina Roters

Thank you Robert,
I just got a booth in a virtual fair and was searching for ways to fill in great content without costing me an arm and a leg.
This IS the best tipp and I will try to make such a video today!

PS: I just hope I wll be able to speak as relaxed and fluently as You did.


May 25, 2009
Ted

Yikes! I really hate to be a downer on this (really, I’m usually very upbeat and not a faultfinder by nature), but using this “mindmap” system is destined to help people create the most boring videos ever.

PPoint has already done enough damage, but as an educator, I say that in the wrong hands (the average person), so many poor online videos will be created that no one will want to watch them anymore… even those few that may be good.

Take a tip from YouTube–the most watched videos are cute animals, the sexually provocative and stunts of various kinds. No one is going to want to watch someone click on an outline as they talk. It is the worst audio/​visual imagineable.

Please Robert, give us a quick method for presenting visually interesting content that helps rivit viewers to the screen. An outline may be quick, but it is boring.


August 13, 2009
Jeff Link

Ted, get a picture and a website then give advice. Video’s like this are making a lot of people a lot of money. A power point video recorded is an instant product to sell. Not every one puts their video on youtube for free.


August 13, 2009
Jeff Link

Ted, get a picture and a website then give advice. Video’s like this are making a lot of people a lot of money. A power point video recorded is an instant product to sell. Not every one puts their video on youtube for free.


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