For those of you who buy WSO's...

PDF all the way.

Hate watching videos I do. IF by chance it's a video product, then at least a pdf of bullet points would be useful.

Mindmaps are also pretty rad.

But yep. Hate videos.

I love both. Videos being the 1st preference.

I prefer PDF.

In general, I prefer pdf based courses. I just find it easier to refer back to certain information if it's in written format.

Trying to go back through a long video to find a certain key piece of information can be really time consuming.

I always prefer PDF because it is easy to find information and take less time. Video for me is totally waste and time consuming.

I like both format. Because both two formats are used in different purpose. So according to your requirements, you can use these format.

I like to have both. Video first then refer back to the pdf

PDF, I just want to quickly go over the information and refer back when necessary. Short videos are okay, but please do make it easily downloadable

It shouldn't be one or the other. Horses for courses.

If I am doing technical tutorial videos then they will always be video. Too much is left open for interpretation if you just do it in a PDF document and it significantly increases the amount of support I have to deal with.

If it's content where I am not having to show you anything on screen then a PDF will do.

Your delivery method should match the content. No one size fits all here. Most of my products will have a combination of theory PDF documents and then training videos that show you how to implement the technical stuff.

PDF by far! Unless the person doing the video inderstands that we don't all want to suffer through long boring explanations that have little to do with the subject ( which could have been read through in 0.67 minutes ��

A PDF that gets straigth to the point.

Pdf certainly, personally would not buy a video product.
Most people in IM (everyone here) is usually quite busy and handling any number of items at a time, a pdf can be easily scanned quickly to see what it has and then read the parts one needs, how do you scan an hour long video?

I want to skim. A video is therefore crappy.

I rarely buy anything now -- not that I did much to begin with. The various plugins/code and template/themes often turned out to be poorly built and maintained, and thus useless. It was never a long-term item, as one update by a server (or CMS like WordPress) broke it beyond use. I truly hate video-based guides for using it. I expected a manual!

I think Link-Assistant was the worst one, and it was a waste of $200. Those guys are sneaky SOBs, as they sell products that purposely break if you don't pay their extortion ("updates"). They DO NOT tell you that you have to subscribe for $$$ to keep it unbroken ("updated"). The non-updated product stops working, as they have artificial kill code. I wish somebody would just crack it, as I paid $200 for something that doesn't work, and that's just bogus.

Most WSO's are huge wastes of money. Videos are just adding insult to injury.

I love reading PDF. I am not into long boring videos

Broad questions... it depends on the topic and type of training!

If your product is a how-to guide that requires instructions and demonstrations, then video!

If your product is a short report on...outsourcing or something, then a PDF guide will work.

When in doubt, provide both!

I like videos when they show specific steps to do something ie:instal a blog. But those powerpoint videos, ugh, then give me a pdf.

PDF for sure, I like to go through things quickly and take notes and skip thinks I don't want to read.

There's a marketer on this forum. Smart guy. Excellent material, all video though. I opted into his list, which I rarely do here. He's got a great traffic/affiliate marketing course. $97. I'm most interested in the traffic. All videos. I would have bought the thing immediately had it been available in PDF. I emailed him and told him so.

Says he's a video marketer and that's all he produces. What's ironic is, many of his emails have information about "tweaking" certain strategies to squeeze out maximum profit. He's leaving a PILE of money behind only producing video courses. Maybe he should consider tweaking or expanding the format in which he delivers his material, huh?

Love kickin' back with my iPhone to read a PDF

But from a sellers perspective, creating videos are more fun

Video is better then PDF!

prefer pdf

PDF or something unexpectable. Mind maps are great.

I prefer video if it's a tutorial, because with a video it's easier to understand and also a lot quicker than reading a long PDF with lots of images. If it's an informational product, then I prefer PDF for the reasons other warriors have already mentioned.

I have other question, what about an Excel file? Have you ever seen/sold an Excel file in a WSO? I find Excel documents much more handy when it comes to making lists. For example a linkbuilding list with high PR blogs, high PR forums, etc. You can make multiple sheets and avoid the long scrolling you do with a PDF file. There are just so much more things you can do with Excel in comparison with PDF. So what do you think?

While naturally I'm a bookworm and prefer to read...

Here's the golden ticket:

I prefer quality over format.



Deliver content that rocks and I couldn't care less the manner in which it's delivered...

(I've also noticed... That sometimes technical specifications are almost IMPOSSIBLE to teach in the written word; at times your target demographic literally *requires* demonstration in a crisp HD video format).

Just my humble $.02

Both is fine for me. It also depends on what kind of product it is.

In general, I prefer PDF`s although one of the first WSO`s I ever bought was a series of videos put out by Rob Fore and they were fantastic to watch and I loved the way he explained everything in the videos in a slow, thorough, methodical manner.

I sell products.....

They're a mix of video, audio and PDF. It really depends on the topic I am trying to teach. If I can do it with a PDF, I will. If I need to use some videos, I do. Sometimes I use Audio.

I buy WSOs......

I like value, delivered through whatever means. One thing I did for video products was buy a WDTV LiveHub. Now, it shows up as a network drive and if I want, I can save video WSOs to it and watch them in my living room on my. 80inch TV as opposed to my computer which is way better!

WDTV LiveHub:. Made by Western Digital, this device is basically a 2TB network drive that has an HDMI output for an HDTV (also has analog out) and lets you watch media files saved on it. You use with a remote and an interface that looks much like that of OnDemand or DirecTV. It has proven handy for watching all those videos we all buy. Cost ~$200. There are countless other solutions like this available now but this is what I have and it works for me just fine.

I used to love videos but now I prefer PDFs as I'm able to learn much more in a shorter period of time.

Definitely PDF. I despise watching videos (unless there is some specific purpose to them that is illustrated more effectively via video than written format).

For technical training, showing me how to install something, I prefer video. BUT... many video producers do not give any thought to the quality of the sound. I have a hearing problem and find that a lot of videos are just far too quiet to be of any use to me.

If someone is trying to sell me something and all I can hear is GREAT! mumble, mumble, PERFECT! mutter mutter, then off it goes. I'm not gonna take out my hearing aids and find a headset, just to be sold to. If I can't hear it, I won't buy it.

For information I prefer PDF.

Short and straight to the point videos

neither if its software / graphics / audio

I live in the country and have slow bandwidth, so pdf all the way. I won't even bother to attempt watching any videos except occasionally, a short funny one.

This is interesting. You should have created a poll.

I prefer PDF. This way I don't have to be online or wait for a video to upload if I want to go back over the content

I personally enjoy videos more than PDF's and I was actually surprised that the majority of people here prefer PDF's. That's something to think about.

I like video, if it is short and to the point, if not pdf`s are more convenient, because it is easier to scan through.

Really drives me mad when I'm forced to watch a video and am given no option just to read.

I can read quicker than you can show me in a video in most instances.

Of course in some instances a video makes more sense but overall a readable version suits me more, doesn't have to be PDF can just be online on a website.

Um you might be surprised to learn that LOTS of WSO's are not 'training'

PDF is great. The odd video is fine. I hate products that are just video.....I just learn stuff better on PDF.

Video for the more complicated parts, I find it easier to understand if I can watch something being done. and Pdfs as a reference or cheat sheet. Audio is good to listen to in the car.

It really depends on the subject matter and what kind of information is being provided.

Generally, I prefer the PDF format.

RoD

Videos are ok if they are short and waffle free. No idea how anyone can watch hours of video training.
PDF's are better.

I don't know if it's because I always have so much going on or that I have A.D.D., but I can't hardly ever sit through an hour and a half or two hours of video. It very rarely happens and with most things, you want to go back to a few key points in the material and that is much harder to do with video. I love to be able to go to a table of contents and skip to what I want to see in the PDF, it just saves me so much time and effort.

i love both...if the video is done right....some of the biggest names suck at video teaching.
pdf off course becuase i always take notes when i watch video

another thing ...if you do pdf..............
please
please
please
summarize what you just taught at end of every chapter so your students do not get over whelmed....

I prefer both. and you can add MP3 as well. It' really depends on what the topic is all about.

If it's is something about telling stories I rather read it on PDF or listen to it through mp3 format

If it's something about manuals and technical setups I prefer video as you can follow through how they do it.

Order of preference:

1. PDF

2. If video is a must, then video + pdf of main points

3. Video + pdf of main points + transcript

PDF !

Much easier to stop and got back and re read

yeah, PDF is the better choice to go...

PDF Only....

Video format is the best for sell the product

I prefer PDFs, as I like reading more than watching long videos. But Videos can be OK, if they are short and to the point.

Hi guys,

This is Alexander Mak here, I'm a newbie to this forum, just wanna say hi to all and I'm looking forward to learn a lot and contribute a lot to this forum.

I prefer pdf because it is always easier to find information. Just press CTRL-F and type in the info I want. For video unless you watch it from the very beginning it is very difficult to follow half way through not to mention to find specific info.

I prefer videos for more complex tasks, along with a PDF bullet-sheet that walks through the steps.

I like both. I learn better from text and video content. I may think most people like it that way too.

I also like having both a PDF and a video course together.

I like to watch the videos all the way through, and then use the PDF as a reference.

Depends on the topic. I'm a visual learner so I like to "see" something being done if it's technical. If it is conceptual, PDF is fine.

PDF!!! I hate WSOs with videos

I hate long sales & hype videos and if you don't have a control set on the video(s) usually I bail on the page quite quickly. If it's a technical video demo or brief overview demo then I am fine with those. I also like having a PDF to refer to so if a PDF is feasible then I say give one when you can.

-don

I personally prefer reading a pdf myself.. But I always appreciate it when both are coupled together..

And if you're a product creator, you know your buyers will appreciate that too.

PDFs are all you need. Selling a WSO means making it easy on your clients. PDFs are better than videos if you ask me. After I surveyed about 50 different IMers, I got about 38 responses saying PDF; and about 7 others said they wanted just an additional video with the main pdf.

PDF every time

Personally I provide both PDF and video. PDF for the main product and video on step-by-step how to do something.

I think a good solid info product should have both video and PDF.

But I really, really hate video that sucks. What a waste of time...

Michael

i prefer video version.

Why not have both so that you will be able to cater to both group of customers?

But I personally like PDF as I will be able to scan down and quickly consume the content

I definitely prefer a PDF, but video can be useful to go a long side. Too many video courses just wander about and not really tackle the issues thoroughly enough.

My preference is PDF over any other format..though with anything technical a short to the point, video would be better.

I retain (relatively) large amounts of information better if I read them rather than listening to/watching a video. Also, you can jump to a particular section of the PDF much easier than in a video.

What I've recently noticed is that a lot of products are in the video format just for the sake of it. I've even seen a product in a video format that was mainly comprised of slideshows with the author's voice-over re-reading the text on the slideshows. That makes little sense to me.

I do, however, prefer video reviews of gadgets and things like that, but that's a whole other matter.

PDF is best one to read

I like both methods but prefer pdf s. Videos are OK if they are short and downloadable. I do not like having to watch videos online, when I have purchased them. I like to think they are safe on my hard drive so I can refer to them again and not be subject to the whims of the internet.

Pauline
Pauline Harris Blog

I prefer PDF. Every time I watch videos in VLC I'd just find myself increasing the speed.

1. Having it in PDF helps me learn on my own pace through my reading speed.
2.Whenever I find an idea that's worth keeping, having the freedom to annotate little nuggets of gold makes it easier.
3. Lighter file size
4. Can be printed for comfortable reading.

PDF offcourse....

I will always prefer PDFs.

Of course that videos have their purpose too but I think PDFs suits almost everyone

As a vendor, I try and do both. You'll never please everybody, but most people like multi media delivery