Make a Video, Publish It, and Put It on the Internet!

Online videos have begun to dominate online content during this past year's explosion of submissions to sites like YouTube and Google Video. People have moved on from text articles and static photos to satisfy their hunger for a different kind of information consumption - the viral video.

These online video hosts enable any Internet user to post a short streaming video they've created on their site so it can be seen (and shared) by millions of people all over the world. These video sites show all types of videos ranging from the innermost personal thoughts of someone who's feeling lonely to entrepreneurial advice being exchanged among peers.

Smart companies are no longer trying to hard-sell the consumer with hyped up text formats. Instead, they're turning the camera on themselves and building trust and loyalty by letting the consumer get to know them a little bit. The videos that work best hold a viewer's attention all the way through.

They're funny, heart-wrenching, shocking, and even just plain sensible. They get shared via email, bookmarking sites, and through subscribers who sign on to receive future notifications whenever the same individual produces a new video.

The videos drive traffic to other domains, often sending sales of products and services skyrocketing. The videos don't have to stay on the host's site, either. As you'll see in this Squidoo lens, I've showcased several YouTube videos for you right here - and you never have to leave the page to see them!

Word of mouth (or the viral element) plays a very important role with making online videos, so you have to have a combination of skills. You want to enhance your videos by knowing the ins and outs of the video software you're using.

But you also have to have a creative side.

You want it to go viral by infecting the viewer with emotion - whether it's laughter, heartache, or enthusiasm. The video links will get shared in forums, blogs, on websites, and via instant message and email.