So I’ve been taking a training this week about using Videos. I’ve taken one before so I knew I needed a good (not busy and open) background. You should be centered on the screen and not just showing from the neck up. I’m amazed at the people on Zoom meetings who don’t get this concept.You’ll see the tops of heads. Or you’ll see the sides of faces. Or the camera is way far below (because maybe their using a phone or tablet) and you’re almost looking up their noses. I’m not being critical, just observing what I’ve seen. Granted most of these folks are real people and not video junkies or semi-professionals. Some of that I instinctively knew because I notice details, but that first class was super helpful. This is from attempts several years ago. I tried to cover up the busy background using my banner, but you could still see a lot of the background.This class reviewed briefly the stuff I’d already learned and has given us a task every day this week to record and send in. The teacher is Derek Doepker, a marketing guru who has made a ton of money teaching folks. I figure I’d give this a shot.The first task was to do a 30-60 second intro of yourself and why you signed up for the course. We uploaded the video to YouTube with a private setting. But we’re good buds, right? Here’s the link: https://studio.youtube.com/video/WF7qARaxOMg/editThe second task was harder to review a book in 2-3 minutes.  Here’s the link:https://studio.youtube.com/video/bDeRyB7T3tk/editYou notice in both of these I’m mostly reading my comments. Yes, I have pretty good eye contact, but I’m reading it. The feedback I got was to try not to read. Yikes. I like to read. I’m a pretty good reader, if I do say so. LOL Well, for the third video (30-60 seconds) I just talked it. It took lots of practice to get it close to what I wanted, and it went over, but just by a bit.Here’s that link. https://studio.youtube.com/video/PGs_JvS-8Bg/editThe other thing Derek suggested was to get a separate mic from the one on the computer or Surface Pro. So I went out this morning and got one. Came home and set up the surface pro in front of the fireplace for a better background than the screen, which I kind of like). However it didn’t fit so I went back in the afternoon and got a different and more expensive one.The really big deal was saving the videos. It was a royal pain! I ran back and forth between the big Dell and the surface pro. I had trouble getting onto YouTube on the Surface Pro. And then I had trouble saving the vidoes, so I had to email a link to use and…and…and…I mean it went on and on. Finally, I got the stuff shipped off and rewarded myself with a large bowl of ice cream. I know not healthy and not a grown up way to deal with stress, but I was so over all the technology stuff. LOLCan’t wait to see what tomorrow’s task is. If you have time, I’d love to hear what you think of these. Remember, they’re not perfect, but maybe that’s okay. I’m thinking I can do several of these and put them on YouTube to help catch people’s attention, so they’ll check out my books.I do love doing stuff on camera. But reading is soooooo much easier than just talking it. What do you think? Happy to have gotten so many Book Bub followers during the last two weeks from this contest. I think it will be a couple of weeks before we hear who the winner is. I’ll send my book to whomever that is. My new goal is to post at least 4 reviews of books a month on Book Bub to all these new followers.Wonder if I can do video reviews? Will have to check it out.On the Weather front: We’ve had three mornings with the low being in the 70s. So delicious. Made me seriously happy. Now we’re back to triple digits and lows in the 80s. Unhappy camper. But this break gave me hope that we’ll see those temps again and hopefully in just a few weeks.Hope the new school year got off to a great start for everyone. My grands are now in 9th, 7th, and 6th grades! WOW!As always, I love to hear from you.Blurbs for each of my books with links can be found on my website https://authormarsharwest.wordpress.com/ Where you can also sign up for my blog and my   NEWSLETTER   MRW Press LLC (list-manage.com) Contact me at marsha@marsharwest.com , and follow me on…(20+) Marsha Riegert West | Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmnhttps://www.twitter.com/Marsharwest  @Marsharwesthttps://wordbyword.net/category/blog/https://www.pinterest.com/marsharwest/  https://www.instagram.com/marsharwestAmazon.com: Marsha R. West: Books, Biography, Blog, Audiobooks, KindleMarsha R. West (Author of Vermont Escape) | GoodreadsMarsha R. West Books – BookBub