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Why are user created videos not being viewed by the community?

Instructorman

Hi,

 

I'm wondering if anyone that reads Road Test reviews might offer their opinion on the use of video in the reviews.  Last week I went through the listing of all user uploaded videos in Road Test and found that the majority of video segments had zero views.  A few had 1 to 10 views, but the majority were at zero views.

 

I have two discusiion questions:

 

1.  Why are user uplaoded videos not being watched?

 

2.  Do you have any suggestions for making user videos more appealing and/or useful?

 

Thanks,

 

Mark

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  • 0

    Hi Mark,

     

    I recently done a roadtest which included both a review and a teardown on a Keithley 2110 meter and I used video. Here are the videos and the view stats

     

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdqtuHaiVIQ - 1,684 views

     

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QI8s4hignaI - 1,442 views 

     

    Now I have a pretty active blog related video channel so that does count for the majority of the views.  I did get some feedback (and do from time to time for other videos) that some people don't like video content, they prefer to read text and high resolution images and that would appear to be the case on element14 right now.

     

    Another problem might be related to uploading video using elemnt14's own video streaming feature - I guess built into Jive Community (which is what powers element14), I prefer youttube for coverage but I can understand why element14 might like to have the content self-contained.

     

    In summary, there are some things you can do on video that you simply cannot re-create using text and pictures so you need to pick the format that best suites your content and the intended audience. Not an easy task - you cant please everyone sadly.

     

    Not sure thats of any help but its my understanding

     

    Gerry

  • 0 in reply to Former Member

    I've commented on my dislike of videos before and I hope Gerry will forgive me for using his an an illustration image.

     

    The two that Gerry links to above are 25 minutes and 33 minutes long - in round numbers that's an hour. I was a little interested in the meter so I skimmed the two - spending perhaps 5 minutes on the pair. For me to spend an hour on something it's got to be important (or paid for).

    I would much rather look at several short reviews than one long one. If a review is text and pictures it can be skimmed or searched much more effectively.

    If there is something which can ONLY be illustrated by video (can't think of an example other than perhaps Dave the EEV Blog man's bouncing batteries) then by all means include a SHORT video.

     

    In more general terms the other issue is that many review videos are of poor quality - scripting, acting, making and editing  a video is a serious skill and usually requires a team of people to make a good one.

     

    MK

  • 0 in reply to michaelkellett

    MK,

     

    No problem, gald to be of assistance - even if its to demonstrate what you don't like. image I chose to use video because the the medium I prefer myself and actually I enjoy making them and improving on them over time.  Not to everyones liking I know.

     

    Gerry

  • 0 in reply to michaelkellett

    Michael,

     

    I tend to agree with your suggestion that video be restricted to those situations where it is truly necessary.  I have said in the past, if it doesn't move, beep, blink, or blow up, it shouldn't be in a video.

     

    I also agree that quality is a concern.   There is a good reason why the credit roll at the end of a movie is so long - it takes a lot of talented people to make a good video production.  Obviously community memebers are not likely to have access to that kind of talent pool, but there could be some guidleines on what to incliude, and not include, in a road test video.

     

    Keeping duration down to a minute or two might be a good suggestion, for example.  Any others?

     

    Mark

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  • 0 in reply to michaelkellett

    Michael,

     

    I tend to agree with your suggestion that video be restricted to those situations where it is truly necessary.  I have said in the past, if it doesn't move, beep, blink, or blow up, it shouldn't be in a video.

     

    I also agree that quality is a concern.   There is a good reason why the credit roll at the end of a movie is so long - it takes a lot of talented people to make a good video production.  Obviously community memebers are not likely to have access to that kind of talent pool, but there could be some guidleines on what to incliude, and not include, in a road test video.

     

    Keeping duration down to a minute or two might be a good suggestion, for example.  Any others?

     

    Mark

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