by Ana Hoffman 51 comments

Content Recycling: How to Turn Articles into Videos in 5 Minutes

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how to turn articles to videos image Tame the beast…

Ever feel like all you do is write blog posts for your blog?

And what about making videos, podcasts, etc?

Who has time for that???

That was precisely my sentiment until I learned something that made me realize how easy it was to do all that with just a blog post…

Content recycling is a brilliant concept not talked about enough.

Or much at all, I should say.

It never occurred to me until I spent $2K on a traffic generation course.

At least, I learned something, right?

So what exactly is content recycling?

Quite simply, it’s taking your blog post and turning it into an article, into a video, into a podcast, into a PDF, into a…

I am sure there is something I am forgetting, but you get the point.

Let me show you how simple it is to convert your blog post/article into a video WITHOUT buying into any monthly subscription service that drains your pockets and produces dreadful results.

You, most likely, already have what you need to make this work.

How to Turn Articles into Videos

First, let me start with a video to show you how it’s done.

You’ll also find the step-by-step directions below the video.

Step 1:

Start by copying your article/blog post into a Word doc or any text editor. Don’t forget to include the title!

Step 2:

Make sure to separate each sentence with a blank space. Remember, each sentence will become its own slide, so plan accordingly!

Step 3:

Save your document as “Text Only” or whatever other equivalent your specific program provides for saving it as a text file.

Step 4:

In your PowerPoint, go to File->Open. Open your newly saved text file containing your article. If your article does not open the way it’s shown in the video (each sentence in its own slide), then you didn’t save it in the correct format – go back and resave it.

Step 5:

Quickly style your slides according to your preference. Time-saving tip: select ALL slides to the left and style them all at the same time.

Step 6:

Record your presentation with whatever video recording software you already have, like Camtasia, Screenflow, or Jing.

Step 7:

Distribute your video to as many video sites as possible to maximize your potential for quality one way link building.

I use TrafficGeyser for that.

There was a time I used TubeMogul, which has a free version, until they closed my account; their reason was that not many sites want to publish internet marketing tutorials these days – I beg to differ.

TrafficGeyser seems to be doing just fine with that. But that’s for you to decide!

You are done!

Now, a bonus tip:

How to Turn Articles into Podcasts

This step is so simple that it’s a shame to ignore it.

All you do is go to http://ListenToYouTube.com, enter your video URL, and press Go.

This free service will quickly strip your video voice-over and turn it into an MP3 ready to be distributed to various podcast sites.

Marketing Takeaway:

Video sites provide quality SEO backlinks. Plus, it’s not too difficult to get a high search engine ranking for videos – thus creating a whole new venue for your site to be ranked.

My strong suggestion is to make it a habit of turning your blog posts and articles into videos the day they are published.

traffic generation cafe

traffic generation cafe comment below

{ 51 comments }

Regina Floyd July 3, 2012 at 11:12 pm

Love Love Love your suggestion. I’ve been spending $95 a month to turn my blog posts into videos and really appreciate your more affordable alternative to increasing my reach with my Internet Marketing and blogging.

thanks so much!

Ana Hoffman July 10, 2012 at 1:38 pm

Do I get a cut of your savings? lol

You are welcome, Regina.

Danny December 11, 2011 at 6:51 pm

Hi Ana. Great tips! To recycle articles have come to my mind since a long time ago, but never spend time to manifest it into action until lately. This post of yours truly enlight me how easy it is. Leads me to explore the alternatives. Thanks.

Ana Hoffman December 11, 2011 at 8:46 pm

Glad I could help, Danny.

Janis Piksens September 6, 2011 at 8:30 am

Hi Ana,

Thank You for such simple tips how to turn my articles into videos without additional resources.
It works even with text in MS Word format and in other languages (not English) also.

Ana Hoffman September 6, 2011 at 1:09 pm

Good to know, Janis, and you are very welcome.

Laura March 14, 2011 at 5:43 am

Great tip for making videos! I’ve been experimenting with PowerPoint and ended up giving up because I felt like it was taking a lot of time. This is so quick and looks like it would work well to drive traffic. I plan to add this link to my site for my readers. Thank you.

Andy Rockwell January 20, 2011 at 11:07 am

These are some great tips. I’m going to get Powerpoint. Openoffice doesn’t make the cut lol. Thanks for the tips!

Ana January 23, 2011 at 9:43 pm

Powerpoint makes it a cinch, Andy.

Alan @ Work From Home November 16, 2010 at 2:59 pm

Hey Ana,

Awesome tip. I haven’t even thought about doing something like this. It’s so simple, though, and wouldn’t take much time at all. Thanks for the tip!

Ana Hoffman November 16, 2010 at 6:24 pm

Hello Alan,

It is really very easy to use and you can surely do it within 5 minutes. You can try it for yourself.

Thanks for coming,

Ana

Estava Morioka November 14, 2010 at 7:55 am

Hi Ana, I came here from Basic Blog Tips and my Mom recommended this post. I can see why, it’s a pretty smart idea. I don’t have Power Point but maybe I can use Google docs. I’ll let you know how I make out.

Ana Hoffman November 14, 2010 at 4:56 pm

Hello Estava,

Yes please update me of your progress and if it works fine with Google docs.

Carry on,

Ana

Rick@Website Visitors November 12, 2010 at 1:40 am

Hi again! True, Tubemogul has a free option for video syndication, but only if your content is non-commercial…: ” Free for users distributing media, new media, UGC and other non-commercial content”.

Anyway, manual labour should strengthen your character:-)

Paul Wolfe February 7, 2011 at 2:56 pm

Hey Ana

Another free tool you can use to syndicate video is called PixelPipe. If you Google it, you’ll find it quickly. As far as I’m aware they don’t have any issues with content like TubeMogul do….you’re not the first person in IM I’ve heard of who’s had their account terminated with no notice.

Paul

Namit Gupta@theitechblog November 10, 2010 at 11:38 am

Nice Tutorial. Videos becomes viral in no time, because of low competition. Will surely try this out. Thanks for sharing.

Ana Hoffman November 10, 2010 at 1:02 pm

Good to hear it, Namit.

Let me know how it goes.

Ana

Hector Cuevas November 10, 2010 at 12:02 am

Great video Ana.. this is something I need to start doing – thanks for sharing

Ana Hoffman November 10, 2010 at 2:04 pm

Pleasure, Hector. :)

Peter Fuller MBA November 9, 2010 at 8:26 pm

Hey Ana

I am looking forward to the rest of your tips from that $2k course.

Considering how well you are doing it was worth every penny.

I never looked at it as recycling, I looked at it as content being delivered in various formats, each with its own audience.

I tend to get comfortable with one format at the expense of others, but didn’t I write a post awhile ago about being uncomfortable :)

Peter

Ana Hoffman November 10, 2010 at 2:03 pm

I think I am ready to start writing my own… :)

I am very much like you, Peter – never too eager to start doing something differently. However, you and I both know that it’s imperative to do just that to succeed online.

Pleasure to see you!

Liz November 9, 2010 at 4:43 pm

Hey Ana, yet another great post! I’m definitely interested in using video and there are so many ways to do it without actually getting in front of the camera yourself, particularly if you’re trying to demonstrate a technique or strategy.

Now to put this technique into motion :-)

Thanks Ana, nice post!

Ana Hoffman November 9, 2010 at 5:31 pm

Hello Liz,

Nice to hear from you again. There are indeed many ways to make a video. For camera shy people, they can still do it without exposing themselves if they really didn’t want to.

Have a nice day,

Ana

Kimi November 9, 2010 at 9:46 am

Very interesting Ana,

But i already have my articles mostly with videos LOL.

But i created them manually, i did not convert them.

I also prefer there will be my naration to keep myself “close” with my readers.

Thanks.

Ana Hoffman November 9, 2010 at 10:27 am

Thanks for coming by, Kimi.

This is a manual way of doing it as well; it just saves a lot of time doing it like this. I am all about leveraging time!

As you might’ve noticed, I do my own voice-overs as well.

So we are doing the same thing, just different ways.

Ana

Rick Byrd November 9, 2010 at 6:39 am

Hey Ana:

This is a great way to create videos, especially for those that are not ready to talk live in front of a camera. This allows people the opportunity to get used to speaking while recording the video before they actually step in front of the camera.

I really appreciate you sharing this information. I especially like how easy it is to create a podcast.

Have fun!

- Rick

Ana Hoffman November 9, 2010 at 10:42 am

Very good point, Rick; never thought about it.

This IS great for camera-phobics!

Thanks for the comment and have a great Tuesday.

Ana

Kareem Williams November 9, 2010 at 6:10 am

Now this right here is powerful girl. You kill this post. Thanks a million ana.

Ana Hoffman November 9, 2010 at 10:30 am

Good to see you, Kareem, and – anytime!

Andrew @ Blogging Guide November 9, 2010 at 1:46 am

I confess but sometimes I really run out of fresh ideas for blogposts and this is really a great idea. Why didn’t I thought of this before! Thanks for the advice and for the video too.

Ana Hoffman November 9, 2010 at 10:29 am

You are so very welcome, Andrew!

Congrats on your new blogging course, by the way; must be quite a load off your shoulders to get it up and running.

Ana

Andrew @ Blogging Guide November 9, 2010 at 11:46 am

Ana,

You are so right…it was a lovely feeling to finish but our job is never finished, right?

We provide a lot of suppor for the coursemembers plus I have a new WP plugin coming out soon.

Andrew

Lori McNee November 9, 2010 at 1:08 am

Ana,

I’m so impressed with your site and the quality of the articles and am so glad I found you recently! Everything I know about blogging, I have learned from great blogs like yours.

Being an artist who blogs about art tips, I make demo videos quite frequently, but your tip about recycling older content via video is something I can’t wait to try. Oh btw, thanks for the podcasting tip too! I didn’t know about that…BIG thanks.

Lori

Ana Hoffman November 9, 2010 at 10:38 am

Absolutely, Lori!

Isn’t blogging amazing? On the surface, our niches have nothing in common, yet we can learn so much from each other. Love it!

Ana

Amy Spreeman November 8, 2010 at 9:35 pm

I’ve bookmarked your blogs so many times you ought to charge me rent for hanging out here Ana. Seriously, another great post with useful info we can all put into practice.

(Hey, I shared your site with my readers today!)

Ana Hoffman November 9, 2010 at 10:25 am

Thanks for sharing, Amy – the best compliment I could get!

I hope you don’t just bookmark them, but use them as well. :)

Ana

Mavis Nong @ Attraction Marketing Online November 8, 2010 at 4:24 pm

Hey Ana,

Great tips and tutorial… Looks so easy to do! :)

In marketing, leverage is everything. It’s important to learn how to recycle your content so that it can be accessed by as many readers and viewers as possible, and as quickly as possible.

This is essential in order for you to get the traffic you require to create and keep momentum in your business.

Thanks for sharing this.

All the best,
Mavis Nong

Ana Hoffman November 8, 2010 at 7:08 pm

Hello Mavis,

Thanks for stopping by to read my blog. This is really easy to do. You can also try it if you have time. A great way to keep that momentum.

Cheers,

Ana

Matthew Needham November 8, 2010 at 3:09 pm

Hi Ana, what a great tip you’ve shared here. This is really useful. I’m on the case and generating videos/podcasts as we speak!

Thanks, Matthew

Ana Hoffman November 8, 2010 at 7:07 pm

Hello Matthew,

Thanks for the comment. I’m glad you’re now starting to generate videos. I’m sure the result will be great.

Have a nice day,

Ana

Tristan@Blogging Tips November 8, 2010 at 12:55 pm

Awesome tips! This is the best method I’ve read about so far that details how to turn blog posts into videos.

And I love the Listen to YouTube link! I’m definitely going to use that…

Ana Hoffman November 8, 2010 at 7:05 pm

Hi Tristan,

I’m glad you love it. Me myself find these method fascinating and I’ve been very excited about it.

Thanks for dropping by,

Ana

Jonathan Sweeting November 8, 2010 at 10:24 am

I love article marketing but it can get real boring, which is one of the biggest reasons I started video articles. You can pretty much do anything with video these days. I love this post, because video is so much more fun!

I Am going to be doing some advanced videos soon Ana, I would like to have You do some guest cameos if You don’t mind…

Talk to You soon,
Jonathan

Ana Hoffman November 8, 2010 at 7:04 pm

Hi Jonathan,

You’re absolutely right. If I only knew then what I know now. Anyway about guesting, I’ll talk to you soon and we can discuss it.

Take care,

Ana

John Soares November 8, 2010 at 9:22 am

Ana, excellent tips here. Video and podcasts are on my marketing to-do list, but there’s a few other higher-priority items I need to first. Good to know it’s easier than I thought.

Ana Hoffman November 8, 2010 at 10:57 am

I certainly understand priority, John. :)

The thing is I never used to do this because I thought it’d be too difficult or I need to spend an arm and a leg on different programs; however, turned out I had everything I needed plus found a few minutes of my time to figure this out.

Hope you’ll find time to try this soon!

Ana

Michele @NewBizBlogger November 8, 2010 at 7:05 am

Hi Ana,

Fantastic tutorial! I have to admit I have not used this technique before. Goes to show you there’s always room for growth and to learn something new. =)

Take care!

Ana Hoffman November 8, 2010 at 7:38 am

Our lives would be so boring without anything else to learn, Michele! :)

I love keeping myself and my readers on our toes.

Ana

Oliver Tausend November 8, 2010 at 6:05 am

Hi Ana,

this is a powerful post stuffed with exactly the type of information I was looking for. It’s about being all over the place without too much additional work, isn’t it ?

Thanks for sharing.

Take care

Oliver

Ana Hoffman November 8, 2010 at 7:37 am

Exactly right, Oliver – leverage your time and effort is always the key to working smarter, not harder!

Ana

PS I bet German countryside looks enchanting these days… I miss it!

Oliver Tausend November 8, 2010 at 12:28 pm

Hi Ana,

thanks for your reply. To your PS: The nicest days seem to be over…

Cheers

Oliver

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