Do You Really Want a Viral Video? YES!
If there is one kind of video everyone wants, its a viral video. On the latest Video Creator, Tim Schmoyer talked with Sam & Nia. They had a viral video earlier in the year and it had over 17 million views!
After I saw Tim's video I began to think about having a viral video of my own. At first I thought there is no downside, but soon it became apparent that for my channel and many others a viral video would be a mixed blessing. Of course we all definitely want the views, but subs and views from a viral vid are really different than ones from “real” subscribers. It is a little like a lottery, you know you didn't really earn the money, and now you have all this cash, but you know it isn't good for you, and you end up losing it all in the end.
The other point is money itself. Sam & Nia's viral video was not monetized because of the copyrighted Disney music. Of course you may be thinking that the exposure is worth it. And at first I did too.
So I thought about my latest DIY Making Groot video, you know the dancing tree from Guardians of the Galaxy. I reenacted the last scene of the movie in my own way, but I did not use the music from the movie, since it was copyrighted. That may be one factor, among others why that video did not go viral. But lets assume I did use the music from the movie, shortened the video, got rid of the building part and tried to design it to be viral. And lets say it worked. 17 million views!
But what then? Lots of new subs, maybe 100,000 or more, but what about my next video? Of course I wouldn't have made a dime on the last one because of the copyrighted music. But if my next video would have been a building video, and not a movie-related viral video then I would have quite a few disappointed subscribers. So what would be the benefit? Lots of exposure, no money and a flash in the pan video career. But you know what? I still would love to make a video that went viral!
So I decided to try an experiment. I re-cut my Groot video, shortened it, got rid of the building, but decided to keep the music I originally used. Will this go viral, 17 million views? Probably not. But is 17 million views with no money as good as 100,000 views with money? No way, I, like most of the YouTube creators out there are seriously trying to make a great channel with lots of quality content and are looking to do it full time. So 100,000 views with money is much better than 17 million views and no money.
Thanks for watching and I hope you like and subscribe to my new channel!
When Should You Start A Second Channel?
In this first/second post I wanted to go over when you should think about starting a second YouTube channel.
At first I didn't even want a second channel. I was really shooting for making these type of videos unlisted on my DarbinOrvar channel and just promoting them on the blog and social media. It eventually occurred to me that this was not the best idea. It is so much easier to promote and keep track of subscribers with a second channel. This way YouTube helps promote the video, and helps me manage what kind of content I keep separate from the main channel.
This brings us to the main point: When to start a second channel? There are a lot of opinions out there. Basically my point of view comes down to this, if what set you on the path to your first channel is the same for the second channel, you are ready. Some would say some complicated formula about subscriber numbers or the position of Mercury, but really if you have something to say, say it!
It is just about as simple as that. I think a VLOG is a great complement to a building, or DIY channel. It gives you a place to think, without being concerned with showing a project build. Also it gives you a place to clarify your project and share new tools, which is something I also plan to do.
Well with that I hope you enjoy the new channel and video. Thanks for reading and watching. Don't forget to check out my new channel: http://youtube.com/DarbinNotes
How Much to Speak When Making a Video?
In this video the focus is slow and there is no talking.
A lot of talking in this video, as you are explaining things the audience does not know.
In this video the action and music are the focus.
Story and Speaking in Videos
While not solely the domain of online videos, telling a story is as much a part of good video production as lighting, sound and subject. Sooner or later I will probably address each of those areas as well. For now I wanted to go over something I think about a lot. Whether to talk or not in a video.
Do you speak live, do voice-over or just let the video tell the story? There is not a right answer. Sometimes it depends on the project and sometimes on your mood. I have found that at times I don't want any voice at all, live on camera or voice-over. This is usually because the project is self-explanatory, or it is like an art piece, or just because I want to feature some kind of feel, usually with a specific music piece.
If anyone has watched my Sheet Music Box Video, that is what I was thinking. By not giving a verbal explanation I wanted the focus to be on the feel of working in a shop, and not necessarily on some kind or instructions about how to build a box. That is one of the reasons the project was so simple, if it was complex the audience might be paying too much attention to something I was not planning to explain.
I often consider which projects get filmed which way before the project starts. It determines how I set up the cameras and what ultimate feel I am going for.
To come back to the concept of how much to speak and how to do that, I am struck by how videos seem to break down very traditionally. Male-focused productions tend to be less verbal, while female-focused videos can be pretty talkative. Sometimes the extreme in this is amusing. Males tend to have pretty traditional male-focused subjects and females tend to be the same. Males weld and females have make-up videos. For the most part these videos all tell stories, and that is all that matters. How exactly you do it is your personal preference.
I don't think you can say there is any evidence that the amount of talking correlates with the success of the channel. There is quite a range in the successful YouTube channel category. Videos succeed because of the underlying story and quality, not necessarily because they are overly vocal or overly silent. So when I think about what to say, and how to say it, I often think as long as there is a real story there that is all that matters.
Welcome To The New Video Creator Blog
On this new blog I am going to have a few unlisted videos from my YouTube Channel Darbin Orvar that relate to working with videos, inside projects and just a more informal feel for devoted fans and friends.