Do you still want videos?

Hi Andy,

In my opinion, videos are the most effective way to explain strategies, regardless of what they are and in whatever niche.

They can hear your voice, see visually what you're talking about and as we've experienced only recently, it can eliminate the rather tarnished reputation that our industry has with the manipulation of screen shots.

On a more positive note, I also think that the more interactive a course or training is, the more fun it is and the more likely I am to take action and want to keep progressing.

So a big thumbs up from me Andy

Cheers

Simon

The problem with video is the time it takes to watch them. MY preference, give me a concise PDF with the info, and within the PDF, tell me at what time point I can watch the specific information.

With everyone and his sister having video, there just isn't enough time in my day to watch.

So, for people like me, the time crunched, the time hoarder, the time keeper, give me the OPTION of video and a good "script", where I can go on the video to find specific answers.

But, that is just me. Good luck with your project.

gjabiz

Hey Andy, I really like videos since I can follow along and take notes where I need to.

One thing that really frustrates me about some videos though, is when you can't move the bar at the bottom to go back or go forward if I miss something. Also it seems a few marketers have had some problems with their videos loading all the way lately. So you watch until 3/4 of the way through where it cuts you off, that's a little annoying.

I think another thing that makes video great is when you are strict to a script and stay on topic. I'm not saying this about you because I'm not sure if I've watched any of yours, but some marketers get lost in their thoughts and start talking about their pets or their house, when all I really want to know is how to do what the video promises.

So I like video when these problems are avoided

Hope this helps,
Tyson

Thanks for those replies - That's given me things to think about already.

gjabiz - Great comments - I hate long videos too and much prefer short and to the point. I don't usually make videos much more than 20 minutes for that reason but I'm thinking now that maybe lots of shorter ones might be even better.

Tyson - I know the videos you mean - I definitely will NOT be doing that. I hate it when people don't give you a way to stop or jump to different points in the videos. If I hate it - I won't do it.

Thanks
Andy

Personally, I prefer videos over any other form.

My least favorite is audio only.

From the feedback I have gotten, video is the
favorite, but there are still some people that hate
it... I have heard from several hearing impaired
people that can't do video b/c they can't hear it.

I like videos as long as they let me forward. Now days people are turning that part off and well.. that causes me to hit the back button or x pretty fast

I am really shocked you are asking this question.

yes a video for traffic generation would be better. I like when someone actually shows me a process as opposed to talking about it. I am more of a visual person myself so it is probably some of my own selfish interests, but IMO I think video would be better.

as a producer...I like video...they are much easier to make than say a text document. I usually do a video and then transcribe it to get the text...and rip out the audio for audio.

as a consumer...I like the text overview and audio. Audio for my mp3 and text when I am sitting there reading...

I normally prefer to read ... yeah I know , I am weird .

Considering the source , I would more than likely not worry about the vehicle delivering the information. I am sure what you have to offer will be to the point as well as point on .

Andy, since you are asking for opinions, I'm skipping the other replies at this point...

I want whatever format will help me learn/absorb/understand the material the best.

For some things, that means video. For example, many web processes can be demonstrated via screen capture in a minute or two, while trying to explain the same thing could take several pages of text and screen shots.

Interviews I prefer to get in audio format, mainly because most of the transcriptions I've read give me headaches mentally editing out the ums and ahs and extraneous chatter.

Whenever possible, though, I prefer text. Something I can search, read, re-read, print out, whatever.

Hope that's what you were looking for...

Honestly, I'm so backed up on video right now that I'd have to dedicate a full weekend just to get through the ones I've flagged to watch...

My ideal? Give me a concise PDF with links to video clips that I can jump to if I need to actually see how something is done

Personally, I would like to have video and web based pdf version so that I can either view it anytime I want or save it into my HD.

Kitty

I might be one of your prospects and I don't like video. I can read faster than you can talk. If you need to show me something, put the image in a pdf.

Time is my most precious commodity and I don't want to watch the video a 2nd or 3rd time to pick up something I might have missed.

This weekend I spend several hours going back over a pdf with instructions. I would have quit if I had to watch a video over and over.

I recently bought the "frugal" wordpress theme. Like the theme but very disappointed in the video only training. To answer one question I have to first figure out which of the 6-8 videos is the right one and then go through the video.

OTOH, I've gone through Jeff Walkers product launch management course and I have used both the videos and the transcripts. Only because it is foundational to what I'm doing and I made the time to take in the videos. I don't watch a second time, I rely on the transcripts.

Probably more than you wanted to know but you asked.

Lori

Personally I hate video, takes too much time, don't personally learn from it.

But, one group people forget about are those who are deaf or hard of hearing, video is useless for them.

Say the PDF is 100 pages long because a person needs to learn everything about the topic, then it is perfect for them.

But why not also do a cheat sheet which doesn't go into so much detail.

This gives people far more options.

Absolutely not! I'm sick and tired of videos - though I have them in my continuity program. Videos are okay if I have choices whether to watch or to read. Videos waste my time and nowadays I almost always delete them unseen. Give me a good PDF with illustrations any day so I can thumb through it while watching TV, I can highlight it, skip parts in which I am not interested.

Videos are the lazy marketers way of not having to write - but maybe viewers are lazy too and would rather watch than read.

In my view, over-deliver: provide video, PDF and audio then I can't even grumble!

Videos are not my preferred way to learn, they just have too many drawbacks for me.

• You can't print them out to read offline.
• You can't highlight key passages.
• If you need to refresh your memory about something it's hard to find the exact spot you're looking for - sometimes it's hard to even find the exact video you're looking for.
• It's hard to skip ahead if the video is boring or yapping on what you already know because you don't know what your missing. With a PDF you can skim the text and be reasonably confident you're not missing anything important.
• Some video "stars" shouldn't be doing video at all. Their monotone drone could put a guy wired on 9 pots of coffee straight to sleep.

Bottom line for me is, if you want to do video, fine, but I'm not buying unless I also get the same information in a PDF.

If you're showing an online process, an application etc, keyword research and so forth, video for me, anything explaining a process which is done online, should be in video, it's simply easier to understand something being done online when it's shown to you rather than explained in text.

I find PDF's full of screen shots of a computer screen ridiculous when you can use video.

However, and I'm glad to see I'm not alone, I actuallly prefer a PDF for general content.

Easier to navigate, no loading, streaming time, printable for that evening sofa reading, and so on. I'm actually starting to dislike long videos explaining topics which are best done with the written word.

I think it's probably less a case of do I prefer video OR PDF and more a case of what works best with which content.

I don't like vidoes much either because I don't have the patience to wait. And I hate the long videos and the videos where you can't click it forward.

But If it is on how to get traffic than the best way would be videos were you show how you do it.

Musicians learn to play what they are reading. Then they perfect it through sustained repitition. Eventually, in this way, they actually see the notes as they play them with out the actual sheet music in front of them. Then they are able to begin playing variations. Video backed up with transcripts is similar. As well, when being presented with information in more than one format (ie: video & print), it allows the brain to have more than one perspective. This along with repitition allows for natural creativity to pour forth. With this you will eventually make your own version of a product to market.
T J

Why would anyone prefer text or audio if they have a video? But you should try to keep the videos short so it does not get boring.

Well since you asked...

I don't like videos. Don't want them and I don't usually buy them for myself.

On the other hand I do buy them for my members and I will probably start making them, because people want them.

George Wright

I prefer video. But please have a stop,pause,play,etc button. Im tired of these vids that only have a play/pause button

For me...

If you've ever been a teacher or if you currently offer products that are aimed at teaching your target market, you are just not intelligent if you only use one modality to do so, in the light of how technology now allows you to do otherwise.

Some students learn best by reading, some by hearing, others by seeing, many by "kinesthetics" or actually DOING, touching, feeling, etc. and most, in my opinion and experience, by a combination of all or some of the above.

I've coined a phrase called "Full-Media Marketing" and believe that this is truly the way of the future for intelligent marketers looking to leverage all of the tools now available to you.

I agree with several others here who basically say to; "use what serves the information best, in the best possible way... and, offer more than one modality when merited."

In English...

Using video screen captures for showing how to install a script or do something that would be best served by having a "look over my shoulder" view (I use them to critique websites, instruct students, share steps, etc.) is just good sense and really cuts down the learning time for many people.

I use Power Point videos for instructional videos, because when they are done correctly (i.e. Das Video Boss, Mr. Jenkins himself...lol ) they can really engage and instruct very well (of course, doing these, or any video for that matter, correctly, is NOT just a matter of words and voices).

Talking head videos or live videos are great for the one thing can either make or break some marketers, depending on how it's done - relationship building and branding.

No offense, but, uhm... some people just don't need to be in front of a camera or mic. I've NOT done business with some people because of their videos and audios also... so, creator beware.

I'm a reader personally, but even that has gotten me so backlogged so deeply, that if I wanted to stop all forward momentum and work now to just catch up on the GREAT materials that I've accumulated - I'd be here until like - 2014 or something before ever getting back to productive work.

Video, audio, pdf, worksheets, online quizzes (kinesthetic engagement and reinforcement), even something I've been experimenting with related to "edutainment" where games, audio, video, actions, etc. can be used as tools for learning... all should be carefully considerred when putting your new programs together, IMHO.

Look at video games like World of Warcraft which uses all of these also, and you begin to see the possibilities... which, until recently, were just not possible due to technical limitations.

Finally... imagine sitting in front of the TV (which most of your target market does way to much of) and watching a scrolling pdf vs watching an ENGAGING, entertaining, well put together video or movie and the question is really not hard to answer.

Provide as much as you can, in as many ways as is practical, to server your target audience the way that THEY want to be served and will best benefit, based on the information you are providing, and you can't lose.

Like my copywriting... use only words and no video or audio because "that's what works for me" and I'd venture to say that my career will find itself definately drying up a bit due to my inflexibility or inability to change.

Go Full Media, when appropriate, that's my opinion.

Steve Odette

I prefer pdf - I'm a fast/skim reader and hate waiting. My experience is a lot of videos contain a lot of fluff just so they're longer.

I hate the videos where it's just a PowerPoint with voiceover. I am able to read. I don't need someone to read the slides to me.

I like videos when I'm actually learning something I'm interested in and don't know how to do yet. I like to see screens. But most of the time I wish I could 2X the speed and that the creators would just get to the point.

I like watching videos if they have a lot of good info, and even enjoy entertaining side stories. But, I think it's hard to make a great video. Kind of like making movies. Some, people will like. Others, not so much.

Jeff

I would prefer video since the learning would be intense in that case. But I think it is a good idea if you could have pdf files for quick reference. And you can make it more convenient for the viewer my making the videos easily downloadable for offline viewing.

I am of two minds on this. I read fast and can take-in information quicker with an ebook than with a video. And with more marketers using video, there is not enough time in the day to watch many.

However, if I am trying to learn software or some other subject that requires demonstration, video has its advantages.

Kevin Riley usually puts a pdf transcript of his videos in the course, we can go to the ebook to look up anything we missed. As I recall he started doing that when a warrior who bought one of his courses complained because she is deaf which made the videos useless for her.

:-Don

My favorite ongoing training program is delivered as a Podcast. It includes videos, along with a transcript of each video. It also has audio broadcasts on other interviews, etc. which do not include transcripts.

I love the fact of having the video to watch at my leisure, but when I want quick information I refer to the PDF transcript first.

The MP3 interviews are great to take along with me in the car, or on an airplane to enjoy.

My answer is YES, videos are great, but even better with transcripts.

I tend to find a combination of both pdf and video works great for me. A pdf is quick to pick up and read - I can easily skim through information I already know or don't need. And a video would be great to show examples or specific steps.

My biggest problem with video when it comes to finding information is it can be really difficult to refer back, especially if the pace is really slow. And if I see a video thats more than 10mins long, I tend to keep it for later when I have more time - and sometimes I just completely forget about them.

So a good combination of both would be great imo - ebooks to give details and info while videos to provide examples and a look over the shoulders how-to's.