When I was in Hawaii at the American Counseling Association’s annual conference presenting in March, the conversations I overheard over and over again were related to video blogging (otherwise known as “vblogging.”) That’s why I know you guys are going to love the next few guest posts I’ve lined up for you! Today, I’ve got my e-friend and colleague, Jocelyn Hilling, sharing her thoughts on why every psychotherapist should be using videos on his / her website.
(If you are interested in writing a guest post, check out the guidelines here.)
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A Guest Post by Jocelyn Hilling, MA
Videos are a vital tool in our virtual 
world so it’s ironic that I am writing this instead of videoing. The reason I want this in writing is so you can go back and read one or two lines instead of watching my wonderful face on a video over and over again.
You may or may not know what a video post is. Now I am no expert on videos, but I do enjoy them, and see the value of video blogging, hence this article.
Top 5 Reasons to Use Videos
Reason #1 – You Need Google to Love You!
Google owns YouTube and you need Google to love you! If you haven’t noticed already, Google is very important to your business. If Google likes your site and sees that you are utilizing their tools, then your page will move up in search engine optimization. Once you upload your video to YouTube and then to your blog and then post it on other social media sites such as Google+, your video has just gotten 4 thumbs up from Google!
Using what the internet has to offer and allowing the natural flow of social media can help you optimize your site. If Google is in charge of search engine optimization and is the #1 search engine, I am using all of their services!
Reason #2 – Your Clients Want to See You and Your Personality
This is important because your personality doesn’t always come through in writing like it does in a video. Clients want to connect. They want to know you are human and that you have empathy. What better way to show potential clients that than in a video on your blog?
When you are able to be vulnerable on video it allows your reader to connect with you. And, that allows for you to get the clients you want. If you have a niche, are good at what you do, and are able to show your vulnerability, you will attract the clients that you are marketing to and they will work well with you.
Reason #3 – Videos Allow for Visual Diversity
Some people don’t want to read blogs . . . . They can be boring or too long or look intimating. By adding a funny video or quick clip, you are creating visual diversity on your blog.
Ideally, your website should have as many multimedia links and formats as possible. These increase your search engine optimization and ranking on Google i.e. the more videos, blogs, pictures, and so forth the better. In part, that’s because they allow you to attract a different audience to your blog rather than limiting it just to [visual] followers.
Reason #4 – Adding Videos to Your Blog is Easy
Once you get past your anxiety, it just takes 5 minutes of video time and 5 minutes of editing or adding an introduction if you want to do that. There is no proof reading, no links to other posts or websites, etc.. I use video posts on my blog as a means to connect with my readers rather than rely on tons of information. Information is good but using video is even better when you are seeking connections to your audience.
Reason #5 – Videos Increase Social Media Validity
If you use social media, videos will increase traffic to your website. When you create a video, post it to your YouTube channel first, then embed it into your blog or website. That allows people to watch your video from your own site rather than having to send them a link to YouTube. Behind the scenes, YouTube is transcribing every word you say, so it again adds to your search engine optimization. Remember to include (and speak) your keywords.
After your video is uploaded to your site, remember to also add it to LinkedIn. You can use Hoot Suite to post it to your other social networks. (The exception here is with Facebook – It is always best to post it there manually rather than through automated scheduling software because Facebook will penalize automatic postings.)
Lastly, Facebook and other social medias LOVE it when you post different types of media. Doing so will increase views to your pages. Posting any video to social media will make a positive difference and insure that your readers don’t get bored.
If you are already including videos on your website, please do leave a link below and tell us what we can find there!
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About the Author: Jocelyn Hilling, MA is the owner of At Peace Therapy Centers, a private practice that has affordable, accountable and accessible counseling. Jocelyn specializes in group therapy as well as working with men and women that show difficulty expressing emotions other than anger. She also enjoys working with pervasive mental illness and teaching clients how to lead productive meaningful lives with acceptance and mindfulness based practices.
Jocelyn, thanks for this post! It offers the most clear and understandable explanation I’ve heard yet of how adding video content to our websites can help us get more clients. I have experimented by placing two videos on my blog. I did the first one to increase traffic but was too shy to put myself on camera. The second one, while very short, helped me to feel more comfortable on video. I now plan to do more …I’m getting used to it…slowly! You can see my videos on my website, http://www.laurareaganlcswc.com. One question: do you have any suggestions for protecting our video content? I was surprised to randomly find that someone posted my video on their practice website without attribution. Although my website is shown at the end of the video, there is no acknowledgment on the person’s site saying where it came from. I was honored that they liked it that much but want to protect my intellectual property. Suggestions?
Laura, everything you create is copyrighted in the United States the minute you create it – whether you note it on there or not. This is considered plagarism (and duplicate content, by the way). This has happened to me fairly often. I suggest you do everything you can to protect your work including your videos. Here’s one post addressing what to do if your work is stolen.
Tamara, thanks for your reply. That’s reassuring. I’m going to look at your link now.
HI Laura:
Thanks for bringing this up, I never even thought about someone stealing my video or other content. Also, I liked your video – especially your opening hello and smile. You made me feel at ease and I was imagining myself as a client having that reaction. As I watch more of these and pay attention to the discussion, maybe I will gain courage to do one too!
All the best,
Amy
Amy, I appreciate your feedback! I know I was pretty tentative in the shortest video, just trying it out -putting myself out there. A little scary!
Just added my first video today in honor of mental health awareness week! I am sharing my passion for mental health
http://www.integrativearttherapy.net/1/post/2014/05/passion-mental-health-awareness-week.html
Hi, Lanie! Welcome to Private Practice from the Inside Out! I’m so tickled that you guys are sharing your videos! It’s inspiration for us all!
Thank you for sharing! This is something I have been considering doing on my own website. I write a lot of articles for other websites but I have been a little anxious about adding a video. What type of content do you recommend a therapist include. Is it more a meet and great? Or do you tackle subject matter that might be important to client? Or both?
Another question, I am not exactly sure how to embed a YouTube video onto my website. Is there a quick link with instructions on how to do so?
Thanks again for the great blogs Tamara!
Hi Lyndsey, I wanted to answer your questions. When doing a video I have both, If you look on my first page of my site http://denvercounseling.com/
I have 2 videos that are introductions like meet and greets, then on my blog page I have more vulnerable, informative pieces. They are all on my YouTube Channel as well.
As far as embedding a video on your site.
-Click on your video as if it were to play, then click share, there should be three buttons, Share this Video, Embed, and Email,
-Click Embed and it gives you the code to put into your site. That easy!
Lyndsey, the content should be the same kind of content that you would put into a blog post – great info that helps your clients solve problems or inspires them to take action. If it doesn’t interest your ideal clients, then you’re just taking up space on the web. Meet and greet, answering questions that you are repeatedly asked, demonstrating a particular coping skill, interviewing someone who does or knows something your clients want to know, a quick book review, . . . the list is endless. Just put yourself in your ideal client’s shoes and let that camera roll!
Thank you Joceyln and Tamara for the feedback! Your video Joceyln reminds me of my 30 minute consultation that I offer in my office explaining a little bit about me. This definitely helps me know how to direct my potential video! As well as addressing some of the topics I have posted in my articles.
Hi Jocelyn:
I really appreciate this post because I have always appreciated therapists who include video on their site. As you point out, it’s a great way to give a large number of folks a no-pressure introduction to you.
I wonder if you could help address some of the things that have gotten in the way of me doing video:
1. I don’t know anything about editing video and it sounds scary.
2. Writing up the text takes me a lot of time because I want it to be good.
3. I think I would need to do multiple takes.
AKA – it has always seemed like a massively time consuming process: script writing, getting myself camera ready, editing the video, and figuring out how to post it to my site.
Could you address any of this? Thanks in advance. I really appreciate your work here!
Amy
Hi Amy, more than happy to answer any questions. I don’t know about editing videos either, I play in a program called PowToons, or I have I-Movie on my mac, it did take me a minute to learn the program, the video showed in Tamara’s blog had no editing to it for a reason, if you look at other videos of mine the editing has slowly progressed adding titles, websites and other info. But don’t let editing get in the way of you being able to post it.
As for writing a script- DON’T- You will get lost, and lose the effect you want to send to your audience, they want to see a human not a robot, It is okay to have a mistake, or hiccup, this was very hard for me to get over in the beginning but I did because the truth is we all make mistakes and we are human. Clients want to come to you because you are human and you can feel what they feel. Sometimes I have a couple side notes on a sticky note of things I want to cover, just bullet points.
Do not do several takes either because you will spend the next year doing that. You may want to start of with one or two just to feel comfortable, then after that go with what you have. I hope that helps!
Jocelyn, thank you so much for guest posting today! As you can see, many of us are intrigued and scared all at the same time.
I do love your intention to be real – professional but not all glammed up with everything edited out.
Amy, I’ll just dovetail on to Jocelyn’s advice to suggest using bullet points if you think you are going to forget something. Post them across the room so that they are in eyesight just above the camera. And, whatever you do, don’t read them. They are there just as memory joggers. If you keep the video short, you won’t even need the bullet points:)
Wonderful article! Thanks so much for all the good information, Jocelyn. It’s been on my to-do list to get some videos up on my site…this motivates me to really get going on it!
Cherie, I hope when you get that first video up that you will drop back in here to share. You’ll be boosting our courage when you do so!
I will do that! 🙂
Hey, Cherie – I just noticed that you don’t have a gravatar up yet. Here’s a really simple way to get a tiny photo of you to show up next to your comments. How a Tiny Picture of You Can Help Drive Traffic to Your Website or Blog.
Thanks for the gravatar tip…I hadn’t set one up yet for Dare 2 Hope. I’m on it!
Hey! Cherie! I “see” you! Excellent! Now I feel like I know you just a little better! You’re so welcome!
Awesome Cherie! You are already so authentic this will be a breeze!
Thanks, you are sweet, Jocelyn! So I did it…I took Katie’s comments to heart and didn’t get hung up on the perfection. I will probably redo it at some point, but this is a start! Thank you for the info and for giving us great examples on your own site!
http://www.dare2hopecounseling.com/
Hey Jocelyn! I’ve watched several of your videos — on your blog and on your website — and your true, genuine character, empathy, and expertise really shines through. I admire your courage! I have a video on my homepage (www.katedaiglecounseling.com) that it took me a LONG time to finally feel okay with. Lots of anxiety and “messing up” my words. In the end, if you watch it, it’s very real and I talk about how many times I had to do it over and I ended up challenging my perfectionism and just being okay with whatever came! I have heard from new clients that they relate to that honesty and authenticity, so I’m glad that my flubbing around came to something good! 🙂
I did not know that youtube transcribes everything that you say on a vblog, so that is really helpful info. I have a plan to do more vblogs and will make sure to include all of my keywords. 🙂 Is the editing process pretty simple for someone who hasn’t done that before? And adding your practice/details/etc to the end of the video?
Thanks for writing….I always learn so much from you!
Good morning, Kate! Thanks for dropping in today! I’ve seen your video and you’re right. It’s honest and authentic. No flubbing noticed:) Hope you’ll be sharing links to some of your videos as you get them up and running . . . . Ready to commit to when that next video will be up? (Heh-heh-heh)
ohhh boy…accountability! I’d love to try to have another video done in a month. I’m revamping a lot of my website, and another video (or two) is part of that plan! I’ll post it when it’s done 🙂
Haha – I can so relate, Kate! Looking forward to it whenever it gets done. I’m impressed that Jocelyn tries to get one up each month! Like . . . how does that happen?!
Kate, I appreciate your wonderful thoughtful feedback as you are a blogging inspiration as well. I loved your vulnerable video, I watched it before the first time we met for coffee and it was really cool to have coffee with the same person I saw in the video!
Jocelyn, it is refreshing to hear you push the edges of possibilities for connecting to the people you want to serve. Being seen and heard takes courage and your vlogging does just that. In my humble opinion, you are modeling behavior clients quite often desire in their own lives. Cool!
I love PowToons as a way to dip your toes into the video arena. Free and easy. Feels safe.
Also, you are right on about Google loves you more when you post videos. I am luv’n you for setting an example for the rest of us to be more daring.
That being said, as a digital immigrant I do not warm up to technology as quickly as digital natives. I am easily frustrated if I don’t get it and I have to struggle with software and technical challenges. It may sound easy and be intuitive for digital natives. Let me say, it is not easy or intuitive for me the digital immigrant. Sometimes, I say, “give me a piece of paper and a pen. Let me write. Let me create.” Hence, probably the reason I am drawn to book writing which I have been at for the past 18 months. Also, designing therapeutic tools helps me reach beyond the therapy room. I am excited to have one such tool coming to market by June 1st and I will be making a video to go with it
Hey, Brenda! I can so relate to the challenges of being a digital immigrant. After 2 years of presenting BlogStart for Therapists, I still run into unexpected challenges with the technical stuff. Thankfully, the issues aren’t always about me these days. Still . . . it never seems to be easy or intuitive for some of us.
Totally excited, though, to hear what you’re cooking up and to see your video,too!
Brenda, thanks for dropping in to speak to the challenges for the digital immigrants. You know I can relate!
I’m so excited to hear about the tool you’ve designed and see your video, too! Congrats to you, Brenda!
Jocelyn great blog. You are such a facile speaker. I will probably have to write and rewrite and rehearse enough to speak off the cuff.
Claudia, you go, girl! I know you can do it! Hey . . . where’s your gravatar?!
Claudia, you can do it! I know you can!
Thank You Claudia! I love speaking!
So Tamara, are you going to be doing any videos?? 🙂
(Ahem . . . .)Yes, Jill, I’m getting there. Quivering and shaking but it is on the 2014 (oh-so-vague) to-do list. Thanks for asking. You’ll see it posted here . . . as soon as I unearth my courage and put my big girl panties on.
Tamara – oh please – please – please do a video. You have a lot of good stuff to share. Having seen you present at Colorado Counseling Association I can say your charming style and gracious tone are a big draw to audiences. I know you can ride that horse in like a champ in your big girl panties.
🙂 Thanks, Brenda! Trying to decide which color of big girl panties to put on!
Hi Tamara,
Any time you want to try video you know I would love to have you on my vlog!! People don’t realize how much of an introverted activity it really is 🙂
Thanks, Camille! I’m happy to be interviewed any time and send my peeps over to your site to see it:)
Now that would be wonderful. I know people would love to see you on video. I see them begging you to do it here in the comments. I am going to send you an e-mail to see if we can coordinate something.
Looking forward to learning from you, Camille! I’ll look for your email.
Camille, I’m so excited to be doing this with you! Stay tuned, folks! Camille says we’ll tape in June and post in July!
Here is my latest interview! See….not so hard 🙂 Oh yeah, I think your big girl pants are right next to you. Look to your left. 🙂 http://thecounselorentrepreneur.com/marketing-tips-from-an-inbound-marketer/
Thanks, Camille! I’ve been following your vlogs for a while now and have admired your comfort in front of the camera! Thanks for sharing another great example!
Tamara to be honest I’ve wanted to use video for quite some time especially since I do a lot of interviews on Jill’s Writing and Play Therapy Page but I’m somewhat shy too.
Just created my first video blog post *and* interviewed an expert for Clinton Power’s therapist blog challenge at the same time. The editing was more difficult than I expected, but needed to be done because the interview was longer than YouTube allows.. I’m still not thrilled with the editing, but I’m working hard to silence my perfectionist voice.
http://www.marriagecounselingindenver.com/blog/free-tips-for-avoiding-money-problems-in-your-relationship
Allison. fantastic interview packed full of great tips. Also, congratulations on you first Vlog entry.
Thanks Brenda! I’m thinking there’s an easy blog post that can come out of it as well.
Does anyone know if there are any issues with embedding the vlog in multiple locations/posts as long as the written content is not duplicate?
Allison, this is a good question – so good, in fact, that I’ve taken it into a new blog post. Check back on Thursday, May 29th to find some good info on this topic.
Ha – LOL! Glad to know my never-ending pile of questions has inspired a blog post. I have plenty more where that comes from Tamara.
Feeling so grateful for your expertise, patience and generosity!
Hello everyone. First of all, thanks to Jocelyn for posting this. Video is a great way to not only create content for your site, but to help clients to get to know you. I have a client who is a therapist and she gained a new client strictly due to her video, as it helped the client to make that personal connection. I create videos specifically for social media and have 2 services; LinkedIn Profile Videos (www.LinkedInProfileVideos.com) and video blogging for professionals (www.vlogot.com). I also publish a free newsletter with information about both video and social media. If anyone has any questions about video and/or social media, please let me know. I’m happy to answer any questions, whether or not you become a client.
Thanks, Bruce, for dropping in today! I don’t usually allow folks to drop in to leave links back to their businesses. However, I appreciate that you have noted your free newsletter with information about videos and social media and your recent offer of your services at a reduced rate so I made an exception.
I do hope you’ll be dropping back in often to network with us and share what you know, too!
Bruce Nice seeing you online:) Thanks for all the great resources!