I know video is all the rage these days — and I don’t honestly “hate-hate” them — but they do present a huge challenge all the same. Here’s what it is (and I bet I’m not the only one with this complaint): I don’t have time to watch all of them!
Watching videos takes time! Photo by abu
See, the way I like to work is to cram some of my learning into odd moments, while I’m in transit for meetings, or between client appointments, or just to clear the air between projects. When it’s something I can read, I can choose when to do that, stop any time I want and pick it up again later on. Cool.
But not so with videos. And that’s why I hate them. Let me count the ways:
- With a video I can stop and come back later, to some extent — but in some videos, you can’t stop where you are and go back when you’re ready; next time you have to start all over again! Arrrrgh! I hate that.
- Some courses come in video format only. There are upwards of 12-25 videos in some of these courses, each of them longer than 15 minutes. Do you have any idea of how many watching hours that is? More than I have available! I hate that. Gimme the book I can read! Do you (Mr./Ms. Product Creator) have any idea when I will be able to view these videos? Real answer = NEVER! Makes me not want to buy the product, even if it’s something I’m desperate to learn. That’s just plain sad — if not stupid marketing.
- Some videos take a long time to load. That cuts into the time I have available to watch them. I am simply NOT going to sit around waiting while the dang thing loads — before I even get to see it. I hate that.
- Some videos stop frequently during the streaming, which again eats up the available time I have to watch it. If the video is 15 minutes long, I may set aside 15 minutes to watch it. So then it takes 3 minutes to load, and stops 6 times. Now I’ve invested twice the time I allotted to it. All together now: “I Hate That!”
I have yet to make a video. I will probably do it sometime this year. But you can be sure I won’t make it the only way for my customers to get the information! Given what I’ve just said — and regardless of which guru is touting what — it just ain’t gonna happen that way here. My videos will be like tasty condiments — or the dessert you just have to try. That will be my goal. Right after I learn how to make a video. Oh and that will NOT be during this 30-day blog challenge, either. . . I may be ambitious but I’m not crazy 
Don’t worry, I’ll let everyone know when I finally have a video of my own that I can show you.
Meanwhile. . . I’ll be happily reading everything I can get my hands on as my preferred learning style. I know that isn’t going to make some of you marketers very happy — unless you are already savvy enough to present your material in multiple formats. If you will do that for me, you will have a happy customer. For life. And I won’t be the only one. You can bank on that
So. For anyone who is thinking about whether or not to use video, remember message-to-market match! Get it right and your sales will soar; get it wrong and you may not know why it’s not working the way it “should”.
What do you think of this post? Please leave a comment.
Hi Nancy,
You make all great points! These are the same reasons I “dislike” videos
My main pet peeves are that they are just too long (and I’m a visual learner too) and it takes forever to find a spot you want to review. And like you said, having too many can be too overwhelming. For someone who doesn’t like to read (myself), I actually prefer a well designed ebook.
The reality is video isn’t always necessary, but people want to do it because its trendy.
I’m really glad you made this post!
Gwen
Hi Gwen,
Thanks for your comments! It’s not that there is anything so wrong with videos, but if you’re going to use them you have to have the right market-to-media match. Many of the people who could really use and benefit from your information, products, or services may have multiple ways they like (or need) to receive it. I figure why not make it easy? Sales are hard enough without setting barriers.
I took a risk to post this topic, since it’s counter to the trend. But that doesn’t make it any less true
Glad you agree!
Along the same lines, I have many author friends who are heating up the list-serv with discussions about Kindle — the consensus seems to be that we still like bookmarks and the feel of paper under our fingers — plus, you can’t exactly write in the margins of the Kindle when you HAVE to make a note
Nancy,
I feel the same way about video…with one exception: if you’re trying to show me how to do something on the computer. THEN I’ll sit through it, but you better make it something I can pause, do what you just told me to do, rewind if I didn’t get it right, and continue on when I’m ready.
Otherwise, give me text!
Nancy,
Its perfectly fine that you give your feedback! I’ve written a response to your post and will post it on my blog a little later
Gwen
Hi Suzanne,
You’re right — but you know what? A very high percentage of the videos I have on my hard drive right now do NOT pause and allow you to return; they just start over, which is one of the biggest wastes of time I ever heard of.
The saddest thing is, most of them have content I want to learn! If you are showing me how to do something, yes video really does help with that. Just make ‘em short and to the point please — get the job done but don’t preface it with 30 minutes of the history of video and why you are the best person to tell me about it; if I were reading that’s the part I would just skim over to get to the “good stuff.” If your explanation makes any sense and it helps me, that’s all you need to convince me you know what you’re talking about. I’m not dumb; I can draw conclusions (even if I can’t draw an apple on a piece of paper. . . )
Thanks for your comment!
Hi Nancy,
Personally, I love videos, especially ones that teach. However, you’ve made some great points on why videos can be a bother and I agree with you there. But more people love video than not. Just take a look at YouTube! There’s an average of a billion views every day… and growing.
I too dislike it when the video player controls are hidden and you can’t stop, pause or rewind… also when they hide the length of the video. Ugh!
So I agree with you on those points and enjoyed your post! Nice work.
Hi Deb,
Thanks for commenting. There certainly IS a place for video — I just want to advocate for those who are making videos and using them for marketing to be aware of where they are missing the boat. Done right, and with the right mix of other delivery systems, video rocks. (I’d gladly trade the ones I have on my hard drive for ebooks to study, though.)
Hi Gwen,
I often wondered if I was alone in feeling the way I do about videos. While I do not really dislike them, I wish we were given options. My car is my mobile university and I love to be able to download training to an MP3 and play it in my car especially when I take long trips like the one I took today for almost 200 miles.
I’ve been a paid member of some sites and every training is on a video; some of these lasting 75-90 mins. Who has time for that in one sitting? I like training where you have the option to listen to the audio or print the report, etc. and when I have some time I can watch the video. And yes, I still like my paper where I can make notes, highlight and underline.
Thanks for this post.
Hi Yvonne,
Thanks for your comment! I agree. Give us more options! Maybe if we all take a stand on this, we can change things
[...] just wanted to share a post from Nancy from Bright Wings. She gave some reasons why she hates videos from a customer perspective. And I agree for all the same [...]