There's no doubt the internet has a strong and unique pull for people of all ages.  About 45 million children and teens have access to the internet and what worries a lot of parents is that they may be exposing themselves to less-than-appropriate media content and videos without their knowing it.  Also, most parents feel left out on all the action especially when the internet has the full attention of their kids. 

This is why it's essential that parents find ways to have fun with their kids with the use of the internet.  With so much learning possibilities, the internet could be harnessed to supplement school lessons, teach proper social behavior and integrate ethics and values without lecturing the child.  It can also be a way to strengthen family bonds by allowing families to work and learn together.

The trick for parents is to choose sites that are reliable in terms of family-friendly content.  It can be a bit confusing to discern which internet videos are appropriate for children of different ages, but with a little prior research, parents will be able to pick which content to show their kids.  Commonsensemedia.org has a grid criteria based on content to determine the age-appropriateness of videos.  You can check out their site to find out which video content to show and which ones to stay away from.

There are many sites that you can check out for internet videos families can enjoy.  Here are some that offer a variety of choices and information:

commonsensemedia.org
This site is run by a non-profit, non-partisan organization and is focused on creating a way to promote family-friendly tools and information.  It does not advocate media censorship, but it does promote internet videos that provide educational and wholesome fun that is geared towards family entertainment.  Videos are rated according to age appropriateness and reviews are also provided on site.

The site also provides sneak peeks of the latest TV shows and movies, along with recommendations for games, stories, shows and other sites.  From kids to teens to young adults, this site offers a good choice of internet videos that's just right for families.

video.aol.com
AOL has also taken cue from the popularity internet videos have been enjoying.  This site contains all the videos you could want, including 'Best of the Web' videos, learning and adventure, special interests, news, sports TV and even the latest viral videos.  Family members will have all the reasons to stick around and watch because there's hundreds to choose from.  The site also features 'Clip of the Day' and 'Hotlist'.

One small issue, though – you'll need a lot of memory.  Some of the best video clips last as long as 2 hours, but they're worth downloading if only to go back to again and again.  Kids' features include animation and well-loved cartoon characters from Nickelodeon and Warner Bros.  There are free clips that can be viewed and others that you'll need to pay for.  Recent features include Madeline, Shrek, The Jetsons, Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd.

Warnerbros.com
Warner Bros. offers variety in terms of mixing entertainment, learning and problem solving.  Many of the videos on its site are downloadable for free and much of what's available are animated features.  Aside from the more famous characters in the Warner Bros. lot, there are also other video heroes, heroines and villains that are just waiting to be discovered.  You can download short video clips and games that are age-appropriate since many of the videos are rated and come with a short content description.

familyfun.go.com
For families who like to do activities together and for those who like crafts, this is a site to check out.  There are lots of 'how-to' videos to choose from, including crafts, weekend projects and simple hobby tips.  There's something for every member of the family to enjoy and learn from.

National Geographic
National Geographic is more famous for its wildlife features, but there are videos that offer a lot of priceless information on geography, travel, world culture and history.  There are short video clips that may be downloaded for free. 

There are also other contents on the site that are flash-animation or slideshow files, but don't discount their value.  They are a great source of information, some of which are not included in the videos.  Kids of all ages have plenty to discover on this site.

metacafe.com
This site features videos that promote learning and fun, such as a clip showing how marbles are made, how to perform card tricks and magic escape tricks.  You'll need to turn on Family Filter though, so you can keep out some videos that kids might find more challenging to understand.  The videos are rated according to viewer preference which more or less gives you an idea whether they're good to watch or not.

veoh.com
This site includes all sorts of internet video topics, such as arts, animation, education, comedy, family, sports, religion, technology, news and travel.  It has a good mix of internet videos with varied ratings, so you'll need to use discretion.  Some videos are about topics that very young children may find disturbing or difficult to understand.

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One of the fastest and easiest ways to make money online is to participate in an affiliate program.  It's also one of the laziest ways to earn cash because once you've gotten the ball rolling, you generally don’t need to do anything more.  These days, internet marketers have stepped up the game by using affiliate videos to attract customers. With affiliate videos, it has become much easier to promote products or services to more audiences by harnessing visual and aural appeal.

CamtasiaCourse.com

The advantage of affiliate videos is that it can present a product visually and sell its features all at the same time.  Potential customers no longer have to read through text and view a two-dimensional picture to learn how they can use the product.  Besides, using an affiliate video is a lot more interesting for its entertainment value.

So how can you make money with affiliate videos?  Is there an effective way to monetize visual content and open up a reliable income stream?  Here are a few ways to do it right:

Show a web video on your website
If you're selling products and/or service, this is a no-brainer.  Anyone who visits your site will find your video and be exposed to what you sell.  Keep their interests by using visually compelling and relevant images, great copy and appropriate music.  Provide a link using your company logo or text during the entire time the video plays so viewers don’t have to wait until the video ends before they can buy your product.  Make it easy for them to go from one page to the next.

Include affiliate links
If you're a member of an affiliate program, make sure your video has an affiliate link in it.  Imagine being able to catch the attention of viewers only to have them performing a separate task of getting re-directed just to buy the products.  Make it more convenient by giving them the opportunity to go directly to your affiliate partner. 

For example, if you're promoting a new book release on massage therapy, provide a link to the affiliate online bookstore.  If it's an all-in vacation package to an island in the Mediterranean, let them click on a link included on the video.  Once a link is in place, it will be much easier for you to convince your viewers of the quality and value of the product you are selling because they have instant access. 

Use niche marketing with your affiliate videos
Creating a niche may not be your top most concern when you're trying to reach a general audience, but you might want to know that niches have untapped potential that internet marketers are still discovering.  It is also much easier to market to them because you already have a good idea of what they want.

Try to create affiliate videos that appeal to a certain group – teens, yuppies, single parents, seniors, retirees, military, those in the legal profession, etc.  Don’t ignore certain segments of the market at any time during your promotion period.  You'll never know when the perfect time to sell comes up.

Choose your keywords well
No matter how well-designed and executed your affiliate video is, it will lose half of its selling potential if you don’t use the right keywords.  Try to keep away from redundant, familiar phrases and avoid hype as much as possible.  Your viewers have a good idea of how the internet operates.  You have better chances of earning their trust (and their business) if you show them honesty.

On that note, keep your video short, preferably not more than 2-3 minutes.  There are two reasons for this: 1) you don’t want to bore your viewers with a single video that seems to go on forever and 2) you have to take care of your bandwidth allocation.  Imagine having a thousand internet surfers clicking on your video at the same time.  The number is promising, but you won't keep their attention for long if the system crashes.

Create an opt-in list
Once you come in contact with a viewer, take that opportunity and offer an opt-in list.  It will not only give you a good indication of the kind of market you have but it will also be a future reference and client list you can use if you're selling a new product later. 

Use syndication
You can take advantage of syndication if the content of your video is one-of-a-kind and specialized.  Many site owners whose site content is related in subject matter to your video may offer to pay for the right to show your work from their site.  Depending on your agreement, you can earn a monthly or yearly fee.

Using affiliate videos to make money online is still in its early stages but already, it has shown a lot of promise for internet marketers.  As consumer needs and technology change, marketing also adapts by using better and more attractive tools to generate business.  Use affiliate videos well to your advantage and you'll reap the rewards in no time.

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Here is my new Camtasia video series. This is just and introduction to the series leading up to a 10 part course! This course will focus mostly on online video and how you can use Camtasia to make amazing screen capture videos for your website and/or upload sites like YouTube and Google Video.

Check out Camtasia Screen Capture course here and start producing great online video! I just threw in the fancy border for fun! Any suggestions or ideas please comment. Stay tuned for more….

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Streaming Video Secrets is a site that is an absolute must for anyone that wants to learn about using video. This is a site that mostly focuses on using a camcorder and how to make the best use of home videos so people will actually want to see it!

There a many parts to this site; the first one is a comprehensive video series on the mechanics of editing your video and how to make them more appealing such as green screen effects, microphones, transitions and effects. This series is worth the cost of the site alone!

The second set of tutorials is a complete workshop that Mr. Hooper-Kelly did with his students covering video creation from beginning to end. If all that were not enough there is also a Camtasia and Xsitepro tutorial as well.

All in all this site is loaded with everything you need to get educated about online video and learning the tricks of the trade for creating great videos through your camcorder or through Camtasia.

Mr. Hooper-Kelly is an excellent teacher and really an expert in his field. He is also a nice fellow that will personally answer any of your video concerns and questions. There is a very personal feel to this site the, home page displays an image of him toasting you with a glass of wine, nice touch, this shows that he cares about what he is delivering, all too uncommon within the internet these days.

Finally there is a full page of recommendations and some free video uploading software. I would not hesitate to give Mr. Hooper-Kelly a try if you are serious about creating great videos. Take a look at what he has to offer for great online video production with Streaming Video Secrets.

Tags: camtasia, camtasia recorder, camtasia tips, Online Video, online videos, video memberships, video websites