Getting Down to Business
I love screencasting, but sometimes when I have a big task ahead of me I dread doing it. I had to finish about 50 minutes of audio for the newest Technicast about Apache2 HTTPD. I thought it would take days, or even a week to get all of it right, so I kept putting it off.
Once I actually got down to it, I was able to knock it out in about 8 hours. Not nearly as scary as I thought.
Sometimes you just need to get down to business and it’s not so bad.
Photo by laffy4k
Full Screen Screencasting is Bad.
99% of the time you should not record the entire screen for a screencast. Many times I’ve watched a technical screencast where someone is coding and I need to see what you’re typing. But, if your computer’s resolution is at 1650x1080 and your screencast has been encoded and resized to 800x600, I can’t read any of it.
Instead, either change the resolution to whatever your output will be or better yet, record only a portion of your screen and make your windows match that size. Recording only a portion is great - it causes your audience to focus.
You've only got so much free and easy promotion
I talked to a friend about when I should really start trying to advertise and promote Technicasts.
He said:
“You have a limited amount of ammo for easy promotion”
Don’t waste it.
Photo by Jayel Aheram
Business is like running
Building a business requires an eye on the finish line, even if that finish line is months or years away. It’s like distance running. If you ever watch a high school cross country meet, you’ll see the guys who burst off the starting line, balls out, and take the led. Two miles later those guys are bringing up the rear and the guys who pace themsleves are in the lead.
Balls out doesn’t work.
Photo by tachyondecay