Tag: wheninmanila.com

Are you Sexy Enough to be a Video Blogger? (how to Vlog)

I spoke today at the iBlog 6 Summit (iBlog6) held at the University of the Philippines.

My topic was Video Blogging 101 with my own little twist. I titled my segment, “Are you Sexy Enough to be a Video Blogger?” and talked about why people should start a video blog, the power a video blog carries and what it can do for you. I then also spoke about common excuses that people give regarding why they don’t want to start a video blog.

Below is my supporting article to my presentation that appeared in the UP Law Center’s Internet and Society Program “Digit@l” Magazine Volume 9 Issue 1.

Find out more about the iBlog Summits here – http://iblogph.org

digit@l-magazine-digital-filipino-iblog-6-summit-bloggers-blogging-convention

Are you Sexy Enough for Video Blogging?
By: Vince Golangco

Long before you and I were around, our great great great great grandfathers used to live by the saying that goes: “It’s all about what you know!” So they poured their blood, sweat and tears into working 12 hours a day and learning a craft to the point where they were better than everyone else. The problem with this concept is that you can be the very BEST at one thing, but if no one knows you’re the best, then you won’t really get much work.

From that splendid point of view came the old saying our great great grandfathers then lived by, that went: “It’s not about what you know, it’s all about who you know!” This concept of course came to life at the dawn of the marketing and advertising era. It was about making connections and seeking them when you need help. It’s a very basic premise that is still used a lot here in the Philippines, especially in politics (that’s a semi-joke). Knowing someone always ensured you could ask for help when you needed it. The problem was that your ask-for-help currency is usually limited. You can only ask for so many favors and people can only do so much for you.

What would be more beneficial to all parties would be you helping other people to find you, when they need you. Help them help you. Thus, in today’s new marketplace and new globalized culture, the new and most effective way of life goes as:

“It’s not about what you know or who you know, it’s all about WHO KNOWS YOU!”

If Big Widget Making Company needed to get someone to make their new widget, and they somehow heard about your excellent widget making skills, they would surely approach you to seek your guidance. If this said Big Widget Making Company need someone to market their new widget, and they somehow heard about your excellent widget marketing skills… well you get the point.

With the internet, we’re each able to promote our own personal brands and inform others about our personal expertise. The person who better markets themselves and promotes their brand will, more often, get the job. This person will get the job even though there may be others more skilled or qualified than he is. But don’t hate the playah’… hate the game.

Blogging and video blogging are some of the most powerful tools to get your name out there.

What’s the difference between a blog and a video blog? Well, it’s pretty simple; video blogging, or vlogging, is twice as powerful as regular blogging.

First of all, a vlog allows for more avenues to publish your work. You’re able to re-post your creative products on other sites such as YouTube, Vimeo, TwitVid and more. Furthermore, most blogs do not do a good job of putting a face on the writer. Have you ever tried remembering a name without a face? It’s much more difficult to remember someone if you can’t recall what they look like. So not adding a logo, or your face, to your blog and brand is a malpractice that most people overlook.

The best practice I’ve seen with vlogs is still having the blog aspect to your post, but having a video that compliments your article. Having the written part helps you with the Search Engine Optimization (SEO), while also giving more depth to your post. What vlogs have though that regular blogs don’t is the ability to feed the need of people to watch TV, or something like TV. Moreover, videos help you feature so much more about your topic that regular words or pictures simply can’t capture.

When I founded WhenInManila.com, I knew from the start that a travel site featuring the Philippines would not be justified with just stories and photos. I knew that this country had way too much splendor to encapsulate into just letters and static images. There was no question that creating a video channel was the best way to properly build this site. The traffic and positive response we’ve gotten as of today is just a small testament of the power of  video blogs.

You’ve most likely heard about internet sensations turning into global celebrities such as Charice Pempengco or Arnel Pineda. Both starting out as no more than YouTube video diary producers but are now international talents. These two individuals did no more than just post videos of their singing expertise.

Now instead of giving you more reasons why you should start a video blog, I’m instead going to give you the most common reasons why people haven’t already started a vlog and also the rebuttal I have for these initial mis-thoughts:

  • “I’m shy”

Let me share a secret with you – Some of the most successful, most popular, and seemingly most outgoing “celebrities” are actually some of the shyest and most bashful people in the world. Being shy is a normal part of being human. Many people are able to overcome this simply by ignoring their internal thoughts or by excessive practice of pretending not to be shy. The secret is that everyone has some level of bashfulness that comes from the basic human need of being accepted. In fact, sometimes the limelight triggers this need for acceptance even more and some people who get thrown into this popularity pool have no idea how to handle all the attention. They eventually start craving the positive attention and slowly start needing more of it to feed and counter their shyness. I constantly recall a friend of mine, named Pam, who’s a professional model. She once told me that she hates dating other models because models are very needy. She said that most other models need you to constantly remind them of how cool, sexy and special they are, or think they are. They need the constant ego boost in order to maintain their level of “unshyness” in order to properly perform their job. They may do a good job at hiding how shy they really are, but the bottom line is that they’re just as introverted as you are, but the difference is that they found a way to overcome this. So if you want to take your brand, or yourself to the next level, then you need to find your own way of overcoming this internal block. Start by contemplating this statement: “Fake it til’ you make it!” Now STOP, and think about it.

  • “I don’t look good on camera” / “I’m not sexy enough to be a video blogger”

This fruitless thought is yet another angle of the shy syndrome that we all need to overcome. We’re fed lies everyday by the television and beauty magazines. They dictate to us the need for excessive make-up and photoshopping skills in order to look like what the ad agencies and big corporations think we should look like. This is a trap that we should not fall into:

“Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking.”  – Steve Jobs, Apple CEO

It’s a new world and the dawn of social media has moved the control of what we think is beautiful from the advertising agencies to the end users. No longer is this an era of supermodels with fake tans and breast implants. Today’s Web 2.0 world dictates that the normal people are the more beautiful specimens. It’s all about what’s real today. Believe me, you are more beautiful and more real than half the fakers on TV today.  Now you just need to adjust your own self to think the same way.

  • “I don’t think I have anything significant to say or share”

Are you religious? Do you believe in women’s rights? Who do you think will be the best president for our country? Do you like cats?

You do have an opinion and you do have something significant to say. Having an opinion of something does not mean you have to be a certified expert in that field. It’s just what it is, an opinion. There is no need for a degree in law or political science to share your opinion on who you think will be the best president for the country. You can vote for whoever you want and have your own thoughts on why this is so. Some people will think you are an absolute idiot for thinking one way, while other will also think that you are an absolute genius for thinking the same exact thoughts. So just say it as it is. Get a camera and let people know what you think. Don’t expect everyone to agree with it. It’s actually a good thing if some people disagree with you. It means you have a good point. It means you’re challenging things. It means you are a leader. Good leaders are the ones who always challenge the status quo. Be that leader!

  • “I don’t have the tools to create videos” / “My camera is not the High Definition / Blue Ray quality that’s needed for online videos”

When I first started my vlog, WhenInManila.com, I thought I needed the best quality cameras and the best equipment known to man. It wasn’t long before I realized that the internet does not have such stringent entrance fees as I thought it would. This is one club that lets everyone in. This is not to say that you should produce material of low quality, instead it just means that sometimes, real videos that are less fabricated and more personal are more appreciated online. So that means cell phone cameras and digicams work just as well, if not better for the YouTube community.  You don’t need an entire production crew. It’s all about producing quality content with the tools you already have. iPods, digital cameras, your phones and even webcams are more than enough to get you started. Worry about content rather than equipment.

  • “I don’t know how to edit a video”

I live by this quote that says: “The man who says ‘I CAN’ and the man that says ‘I CAN’T’ are both right. Which one are you?”

So it all starts with the right attitude. If you’re willing to learn, then I guarantee that you will. In fact, video editing (like so many other things in life) is much easier than you may think. I still use the basic program for most of my video editing needs. You can actually download it for free, just search for “Windows Live Movie Maker.” It’s is the bare necessity / basic video editing program that will not leave you confused like a grandma on Facebook. There aren’t too many options or buttons but it still has more than enough to get you going. You can cut, paste, add videos, add pictures, add music and even put a watermark. It should take you no more than a few tries at this to be an expert at editing videos with this program. All it takes is the right attitude and the initiative to do so.

  • “No one will watch me anyway”

Well what do you have to lose? It may take some time but if you do put out anything with decent quality, you’ll start finding your niche and you’ll start getting the support you need. It’s no secret that every blogger, video blogger, or TV star started out with one fan – their mom. Though with the right marketing tactics and persistence, all these people start building an audience of people who appreciate them for who they are and what they do. You don’t need to have any super talents. Sometimes, people appreciate you for exactly what you can bring to the table. In fact, this sometimes makes people more attracted to you as they feel like they can connect with you. They end up feeling just as simple as you are and thus they appreciate you for what you have to say, no matter how insignificant you may think it is (refer back to advice on you thinking that you don’t have anything significant to say or share).

The relatively low cost of starting an online channel has made video production much easier. In fact, marketers and bloggers today like going by the phrase: “Ready, Fire, Aim.” It’s a statement that means you can adjust your content toward your audience. Just get started with what you have in mind and worry about adjusting and tweaking it as you go along. It won’t cost you anything anyway. Go ahead, fire when ready!

  • “People might say mean things about me and my videos”

Yes they will. I won’t lie, there are a lot of “haters” out there who do nothing but try to drag people down. The one piece of advice I remember from Filipino internet sensation Christina Gambito, better known as HappySlip, was that you need to ignore all the negative comments and downbeat people. They will be out there and you just need to do your best to produce what you feel is quality videos and content. The rest will fall into place on its own.

Most are hindered from starting a vlog simply by their own selves. Well, it’s time to overcome your personal walls and turn yourself into the next internet video producer. With the right attitude and some practice, you’ll be the next video star faster than you can say “YouTube Sensation!”

Believe me, it’s a lot easier than you think.

“The greater danger for most of us, is not that our aim is too high and we miss it,
but that it is too low and we reach it”
–Michelangelo

Vince Golangco is the Editor-in-Chief and Creative Director of WhenInManila.com, a top video blog and digital content provider in the Philippines. Aside from blogging, Vince is also a Radio DJ on Mellow 94.7. Moreover, he is the host of “Tek Tok TV” (Tech Talk TV), a show on the Global News Network (GNN) which talks about the latest trends in technology, gadgets, the internet, blogging and other geeky stuff. You can find out more about him on Twitter.com/VinceGolangco or on Facebook.com/WhenInManila.

IBlog-Summit-Blogging-Convention-iblog6-1 IBlog-Summit-Blogging-Convention-iblog6-2

IBlog-Summit-Blogging-Convention-1

Are you Sexy Enough to be a Video Blogger? (how to Vlog)


Speaker at De La Salle University LEAP (Lasallian Enrichment Alternative Program)

I spoke today at the De La Salle University, Lasallian Enrichment Alternative Program or LEAP.

LEAP is a one-day event that aims to holistically develop Lasallians by offering alternative classes which cater to their special interest.

In front of about 40 students, I discussed the topic of: “Personal Branding & Blogging.”

It was a lot of fun being back in a college / university. I never really realized how different I am today as compared to my college days.

The Lasallian Enrichment Alternative Program (LEAP) is an annual activity during the University Week. It is sponsored by the Council of Student Organizations (CSO) and its accredited organizations, Student Council (SC) and its college and batch assemblies, and some offices in the University.  This annual activity was approved by the Council of Deans in 2001, and has been supported by the university community since then. This year the LEAP is scheduled for Tuesday, February 16, 2010.  The LEAP activity is implemented as follows.

In lieu of regular classes for the Tuesday, February 16, undergraduate students will attend one seminar/workshop as an alternative class.  They can attend a morning session from 0900 to 1200 hrs. or an afternoon session from 1300 to 1600 hrs.  Students are expected to have pre-registered for their preferred class.  At the end of the session, students would be given certificates, which they would have to present to their teachers as proof of their attendance.  Students who fail to attend an alternative class will be marked absent in all their regular classes for that day.

Anyway, I’ll post more about what I talked about and how it went on a different blog post.

Hot Air Balloon Festival LEAP 028

Hot Air Balloon Festival LEAP 042

DLSU-De-La-DeLa-Salle-University-LEAP-Lasallian-Enrichment-Alternative-Program-Vince-Golangco-Speaker

evolution of man leaping soonSpeaker at De La Salle University LEAP (Lasallian Enrichment Alternative Program)

Asking the Right Questions

Random Person: “So what do you do?”

Vince: “I do a lot, but mostly I’m a creative writer and a travel blogger.”

Random Person: “Oh… so how do you make money with that?”

Vince: “Ummm… lots of ways. What do you do?”

Random Person: “I’m an accountant.”

Vince: “Oh… so how do you have fun with that…?”

Random Person: ” …… “


accounting-boring-job-boringest-in-the-world

VS

Vince-Golangco-fun-job-fun-life-blogger-writer-adventure-junkie

Top Filipino / Pinoy Twitters to Follow on Twitter

OK, so if you’re living in the Philippines and hanging out in the Twittersphere, then you know that Twitter was the number 11 overall site that Filipinos were hanging out at for 2009. Personally, I get so much news, cool links, funny videos and just plain awesome tweets from here, all condensed into 140 nifty characters.

Though, I must admit, it took a while for me to find out which Filipinos / Pinoys from the Philippines are cool or fun to follow. So here’s my favorite Filipino Tweeple that you definitely need to be following on Twitter!

funny-twitter-birds-philippines-top-tweets-people-follow@mistygirlph – I already talked about Misty on my previous post, but really quick, if you aren’t already one of the 18,000 people following her, then you need to start. She’s one of the co-founders of the “2009 Best New Blog” award recipient BitRebels.com that boasts viewers from 189 different countries and authors from all over the world as well. She’s a techie, a graphic artist, a “twitterholic” and just an overall nice person.  (Oh and you should follow @bitrebels too)

@ninaterol – Nina is the author of the blog ChangeMakersPhilippines.com. I know…!!! Don’t you hate people who want positive change and empowerment of the powerless through social entrepreneurship and affirmative action! So yeah…. anyway, when this change maker isn’t doing all that change making, she’s tweeting about advocating causes, evangelizing ideas, working with civic groups, or blogging and social networking.

@jimparedes – one of the members of the legendary Philippine music trio – “The Apo Hiking Society,” Jim is one of the most fun and creative Tweeple to follow on Twitter. He’s a singer, songwriter, author, photographer, teacher, writer and more. Best of all, you can sense all his creativity and talents within his 140 character Tweets. You need to follow this creative guru!

@jasonqua Jason is one of the founders of Fantastik!Manila, an integrated marketing communications agency. He’s a genius at helping clients properly communicate with their audiences to ensure a direct link between the brand and its consumers. His experience with events marketing and internet / social network marketing is highlighted in his tweets. He’s very selective with his Twitter links as well and only tweets the most informative, insightful and/or funniest links. He’s a future marketing and social network superstar. Start following him now.

@flaircandy – FlairCandy, or Hannah as some non-netizens may call her,  is one of the top bloggers in the Philippines and Asia with her blog FlairCandy.com. She’s got a good following from Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and a lot of other countries other than the Philippines. Though a self proclaimed geek and Certified Public Accountant, she often manipulates time and space to fit in crazy escapades like surfing, skating, cheerleading, karting and eating cow testicles. With so many new experiences and discoveries, it’s no wonder people love following her candy sweet Tweets.

Twitter-Logo-top-people-to-follow-on-twitter-filipinos-pinoy-philippines@cocoy – not really sure where Cocoy is from or what exactly he does, but one thing I do know is that when he Tweets, he’s right on the money! He’ll usually tweet links to the best articles available for the top trending issue at hand in the Philippines or even around the world. Many times, the article will be one he wrote himself. Furthermore, these articles he writes always leave me impressed and wanting to read more. He contributes to filipinovoices.com, which is sorta like a justice league of Filipino writers, and blogwatch.ph which is comprised of the top Filipino bloggers banding together to blog and watch the 2010 Philippine elections in hopes of keeping it clean, fair and legal.

@momblogger – the editor-in-cheif for that said BlogWatch.ph site, momblogger is also one of the top bloggers in the Philippines who was dubbed a “Tribal Elder” because of her knowledge with social media and her undying support to the many beginners at blogging and online media. Momblogger, or Noemi, is often sought after for advice from the blogosphere all the way to top politicians.

There are many more AWESOME Tweeple out there in the Twittersphere, these are some of the top Tweeters and some of my personal favorites. I’m sure I missed out on many more but will definitely write more about that on part 2 of this list of Top Filipino / Pinoy Twitters you need to follow on Twitter!

Oh and if you want to follow me, I’m @VinceGolangco or I also manage the @WhenInManila Twitter account. I usually tweet about the funniest stuff I find online as well as useful links for social media, marketing, writing, trends and life-in-general. Happy Tweeting!

Carpe Twiem! ~ Seize the Tweet!

Who do you recommend following? #FFF #FollowFilipinoFriday

WhenInManila.com launched!

Dear friends,

My newest project, a site called WhenInManila.com just launched!

when-in-manila-logo-philippinesIf you are wondering why it’s called “When In Manila” The line was referenced from the old saying: “When In Rome, Do As The Romans Do.” So, “When in Manila….” It is our way of saying that if you want to fully enjoy the Philippines and all its wonders, the best way is to immerse yourself into the culture of the Filipinos. From the food, the music, the culture & lifestyle, as well as all the quirks!

When In Manila began as a fun thing for us (It still is!). Our host, Vince Golangco, came back from the US for a visit and started writing about his misadventures here in the Philippines. We thought it would be fun to shoot and follow him around while he gets in trouble, all while re-discovering the Philippines.

Aside from that, we also saw an opportunity to showcase the Philippines, from crazy personalities to mouth-watering restaurants, adrenalin-filled adventures to beautiful sceneries, cool hole-in-the-wall bars to the best dance clubs and so much more! We decided on showing all these through videos because there’s just so much more awesomeness here that can’t be captured with mere words or pictures.

In 2008, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and other Asian countries around this region reported over 15 million visitors each! The Philippines on the other hand, barely had 3 million. What tourists, and the world, may not know is that the Philippines is just as beautiful as Indonesia, just as friendly as Malaysia and just as affordable as Thailand. Though the best part of it for tourists is that most everyone in the Philippines speaks English! Here, getting lost in translation is just one less thing travelers will have to worry about. So we’re a firm believer that the Philippines is still a hidden gem that many jet setters have yet to discover. We’re hoping to change all that.

When In Manila is the first and only online travel / lifestyle video blog from the Philippines. It hopes to highlight the wonderful people, places and events in Manila and around the entire archipelago. We plan to feature the best of the best from all 7,107 islands. This travel show promises to indulge and immerse you into a culture of smiles, a country of fun and a crazy host who can’t seem to keep himself out of trouble.

fake-news-wim-weekend-update-daily-showWhat started out as a fun weekend project quickly ignited a whole new platform for creativity; our other show, WIM News, presented itself as an outlet for both raising awareness and humor. The alternative news reports were created as a means of shedding light onto controversial topics, with a little spice to it. It was a way to laugh about the serious issues, just enough to educate more people about current events while bringing a smile to our audiences as well.

We hope you would enjoy the show and have as much fun as we had while shooting it!

Got a place you want WhenInManila.com to visit? Want to join the WIM Newscast as a “political correspondent” or as a writer? Email us at talk@wheninmanila.com

Don’t forget to leave your comments about show! Please share this with your friends and ask your friends to pass it on!
Thank you for your support!