Musician Brian May once said, “A good video can make all the difference”. Well, he may have been talking about music videos for his band but the meaning of his sentiment can be applied to the importance of using video as a key component of strategic online marketing and new media.

The July Social Media Club Book Review this month is Steve Garfield’ “Get Seen”.  Steve is an expert video blogger, video producer and has extensive experience in consulting with and advising Fortune 500 brands and video advisor to many of the Web’s early video start-ups.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I receive the book. Flashy cover, busy and kind of what you would expect from an author writing about video. What I found when I dove into the book is not a book that you read for irreverent stories and case studies that you read once and pass on. “Get Seen” is one of those books that should be a reference tool on any online marketing, social media expert’s bookshelf.

“Get Seen” really embraces those new to the online video world and walks the reader through the very basics of making, editing and loading a video on to the Web. What Steve is really providing the reader in this book is a step-by-step, soup to nuts toolkit for online video.  I really liked the part of the book that helps those who don’t actually have real video and addresses using screen capture technology that is super useful for anyone creating industrial, educational or how to videos to share online. I wish more of the instructional videos when seeking information had clear screen capture video. I might send them a copy of this book.

This well written and very textbook like read provides readers with great tips for getting video on the web starting with recommended tools like cameras, the proper lighting and editing. Steve then goes into some extensive walkthroughs with screenshots of how to actually upload and optimize your online videos on a pretty robust variety of video sharing channels. Seriously good tips here, especially if you are new to online video. If you are a seasoned video pro, this book is great to have in your back pocket when you run into snag.

One of the chapters of “Get Seen” that I enjoyed most was focused on live streaming video. Between the case studies and online snap shots and top-line walkthroughs of many streaming sites, just about any skill level can get up an live streaming with little issues.

The interviews in the last section are a good quick read with some great social media leaders like Ford’s Scoot Monty, Jeff Jarvis from Flip, AskANinja.com’s Kent Nichols which is a great way to wrap up the book offering great thought leadership around the current and future state of video on the web.

One perspective that I think could have explored more was the strategic use of creating and measuring online video. For a beginner level book this is like giving someone that has never driven the keys to the car without ever having a lesson. I think the strategy, the why and the video content is just as an important component as the where and the how. Maybe Steve’s next book will dive more into this.

I wanted to write more about this book but couldn’t. I mean that with all due respect but it was like trying to review your car manual or a really great textbook. This is a practical guide to online video that is both simple and effective.

Makes me look forward to seeing what Steve pens next.

**Social Media Club members (Open/Pro/SMB/Corporate) are welcome to participate in a free webinar hosted by Social Media Club featuring Steve Garfield, Author of Get Seen on Wednesday, July 27th at 2pm EDT. Register here!**

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