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What to Blog About

A close-up of a fist wearing rings on four fingers, each adorned with a letter to spell BLOG. The letters are embellished with rhinestones, and the photo focuses on the rings with a blurred background.

After one of my students asked me “When choosing what topics to blog about, do you consider what your peers are blogging about or what inspires you?,” I typed “what to blog about” into the Google Keyword tool and discovered that over 20 million people/month are searching for this phrase in the United States alone…

Blogging has become a part of doing business and even a part of living in the year 2013.

But so many people get hung up on what to say, so they stop before they’ve really gotten started.

There’s nothing worse than staring at a blank screen. And nothing more fulfilling than firing up your computer and having that blog post flow right out of you because you know exactly what to write about — or exactly what to say when you push record on that video camera.

In this video, I let you know the 3 key considerations for figuring out that content marketing strategy:

1. What you want to become known for
2. What topics relate to the products and services you’re offering
3. What your target audience wants to know and may even be searching for.

DIY 3-Point Lighting for Video

A photography studio setup with a white umbrella light on the left and a rectangular softbox on the right. A black chair is positioned near the center against a dimly lit background.

In this video, I focus on how to create 3-point lighting using lamps and light sources you already have laying around the house.

3-point lighting is THE standard when it comes to lighting for video, photography and other visual media. It’s a super simple, no fuss, tried-and-true solution that always looks good.

I shot this video on the road and i didn’t have access to my fancy softboxes and umbrella lights, so I simply used the lamps I found in our house rental plus our overhead lights. It really can be that easy. You don’t have to buy anything to make this solution work for you.

How to Structure Content on Video

Close-up of a camera lens being held by a person wearing a gray sweater. The camera is facing the viewer, with a blurred background, suggesting a professional filming set.

In this video, I answer your question: “I’m struggling with making 2-3 minute videos. One question I have is, how to talk in a video — e.g. ad libbing, working off a script or notes — how do you remember what you’re saying and what to say next and what you already said??”

In other words, how do you structure content on video?

It’s super easy to hit record, start mumbling and lose your audience immediately if you don’t think through what you want to say before you begin.

The easiest formula I know for quickly creating short video content is to simply identify the main topic or point you want to make in your video, then brainstorm 3-5 supporting points, and a call to action.

If you open your video powerfully by letting your audience know exactly what to expect and why they should keep watching (i.e. your main point), then address your points in order, then summarize what you taught them, and leave them with some kind of call to action (to get started, to leave a comment, to subscribe to your channel) — you’ve got the makings of a great video.

The Power of Video + An Invitation

A person stands behind a professional video camera, which is focused on a distant scene. The person is wearing a scarf and the atmosphere appears calm and misty, suggesting early morning or late evening.

It was the weirdest thing.

The day I worked up the courage to step in front of the camera, my business changed.

All of a sudden — I felt different to my tribe. They could connect with me, look into my eyes, and feel what kind of person I really was.

They started engaging with me and buying from at levels I couldn’t imagine before.

And when I sent out an invitation last month inviting them to join me in a 30 Day Video Challenge, they responded in droves.

This one simple invitation got 464 likes and 69 tweets without any advertising. And, best of all, 297 people joined our Facebook group and committed doing the Challenge with me.

At that moment, I realized without a shadow of a doubt that Video is the Future of Marketing.

I believe in this so much that I’ve gathered the top 10 Superheroes of Video Marketing for a FREE 10-Day Summit starting May 13.

If learning the tricks to driving traffic, forming relationships, and making serious bucks in your business with video is something you’re interested in, then claim your free pass here:

http://www.videosuperherosummit.com/

“The Compound Effect” – How Small Actions Produce Big Results

A stack of smooth stones is balanced on a tree stump by the beach. In the background, theres a sandy shore with grass and a calm sea under a cloudy sky.

It takes 30 days to form a new habit — whether that’s exercise, meditation or making videos…

The 30 Day Video Challenge is all about getting comfortable in front of the camera and turning video marketing into a habit in your business. So you feel confident enough to record yourself anytime and anywhere — whether you’re launching a new product or simply want to share an idea or message.

Success Magazine editor, Darren Hardy, wrote a book called “The Compound Book” which is all about the power of forming habits and making conscious decisions…. in this book, Darren shows how the small actions and decisions you make on a daily basis add up to huge results.

Simply by changing how you spend 15 minutes a day will add up to over 90 hours a year. Instead of watching TV or surfing Facebook or flipping through the pages of your favorite guilty pleasure magazine, what if you spent that time watching training videos or reading books related to your industry?

In this video, I talk about the systems and habits I’ve put in place in my business to keep me moving forward regardless of how I’m feeling.

Product Launch Example: What Worked & What Didn’t (Message to Money 2)

A blue hot air balloon floats in the sky above a field of tall grass and trees, under a clear sky at sunset.

Last October, I gave you the no-holds-barred low-down on what worked well and what DIDN’T in my first big product launch.
You loved the “inside” look I gave you into how that launch went down.

You loved my brutal honesty into the stuff that worked well and the stuff that almost killed me. 🙂

And from your comments it’s clear that not a lot of people share the honest, unadulterated truth — numbers and all — of what they’re really making online.

So here it is — round 2.

The complete, honest lowdown on my second launch of Message to Money.

Choosing Video Backgrounds & Locations

A blurred cityscape at dusk featuring circular bokeh lights in various colors. The scene includes indistinct shapes, possibly a road and a vehicle, set against a fading blue sky.

You’ve asked me, Marisa, how do I choose the best background for my videos?

So today’s video is focused on the pros and cons of indoor and outdoor locations.

Your background can make or break your video — either stealing the show from you or enhancing your performance and giving you a level of professionalism and credibility.

Find out exactly what to do and what not to do to to make videos that look pro.

How Long Should My Videos Be?

Close-up of a computer screen displaying audio tracks in a digital editing software. The timeline shows a mix of pink and green waveforms with multiple tracks and layers, indicating a complex audio or video editing project.

How much is too much or not enough? In this video, I answer a question you’ve been asking me and that is: “How long should my videos be?”

The answer is, “it depends.” It depends on what kind of video you’re making and where you’re going to put it.

In this video, I go over 4 types of videos — blog videos, home page videos, about page videos, and sales videos — and suggested lengths for each kind of video.

Heavens to Murgatroyd: The Origin of Me and My Name

Close-up of vintage typewriter keys with the letter M in focus. The keys have a metallic, worn appearance, with the background keys blurred, giving a sense of depth and age.

In this video, I share the origin of me and my name.

So if you’ve been wondering who the hell has a name like Marisa Murgatroyd… or how do you pronounce it… or what does it even mean? Then you gotta watch this video.

Or if you’ve ever found yourself wondering… where is Marisa from? She looks _____ (insert adjective of choice). I’ve gotten it all: Funny, different, exotic, unique, Chinese, Latina — you name it!

Believe me when I say that I have some crazy stories to tell about spending 35 years with a name like “Marisa Murgatroyd.”

You know what they say, “short girl, funny name, big ideas.”

These days they’re even calling me the shortest girl in marketing…. the good news is that I’ll hit a million before I hit 5′ tall. Some goals are just outta your control… 🙂