It's content that counts (as if we didn't know)
Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2012 4:19 pm
In November 2010, I posted a short video on YouTube filmed by our then Chairman, Jeremy Holder, and edited by me.
Apart from posting on the Digital Director forum for feedback, our own club website and maybe emailing to one or two others, the film has had no marketing whatsoever.
In September 2011, the film had received 10,000 views.
It has just (September 10th, 2012) exceeded 50,000 views.
It includes no chart topping music, no shots of celebrities, no stunts, no trains, planes or automobiles (or boats), no humour, no beauties in bikinis or less, no porn, no cute kids, no furry animals, no stunning landscapes and there are no "tags" which are designed to appeal to people searching for such subjects.
What's more, viewer retention is the highest of any of my videos, staying above 90% until the playout/credits.
I'm just wondering whether we can draw any conclusions.
I'd suggest the main one is "choose a niche subject" if you want views. Whilst I think the film is well narrated (no rehearsal - the guy is a natural), well filmed and recorded and, without wishing to blow my own trumpet, well edited (all of which must contribute to the viewer retention) the fact that it has been so successful in terms of views in comparison to my other films, must surely be down to the content - it's a sort of "how to" film, although it explains a process rather than tells you how to do it.
Had this film been posted on Vimeo, I doubt whether 10% of that number of people would have found it, though those who did, might have left comments on the film construction rather than the subject, so they might have been more useful to me.
This is the film;
youtu.be/
Apart from posting on the Digital Director forum for feedback, our own club website and maybe emailing to one or two others, the film has had no marketing whatsoever.
In September 2011, the film had received 10,000 views.
It has just (September 10th, 2012) exceeded 50,000 views.
It includes no chart topping music, no shots of celebrities, no stunts, no trains, planes or automobiles (or boats), no humour, no beauties in bikinis or less, no porn, no cute kids, no furry animals, no stunning landscapes and there are no "tags" which are designed to appeal to people searching for such subjects.
What's more, viewer retention is the highest of any of my videos, staying above 90% until the playout/credits.
I'm just wondering whether we can draw any conclusions.
I'd suggest the main one is "choose a niche subject" if you want views. Whilst I think the film is well narrated (no rehearsal - the guy is a natural), well filmed and recorded and, without wishing to blow my own trumpet, well edited (all of which must contribute to the viewer retention) the fact that it has been so successful in terms of views in comparison to my other films, must surely be down to the content - it's a sort of "how to" film, although it explains a process rather than tells you how to do it.
Had this film been posted on Vimeo, I doubt whether 10% of that number of people would have found it, though those who did, might have left comments on the film construction rather than the subject, so they might have been more useful to me.
This is the film;
youtu.be/