What video to get maximum views?

[Erik]

Hey guys, I was brainstorming on how to get videos with much more views. Of course I'll not go and take my clothes of in front of the camera so it should be something feasable. What would you think gets most views and still lies within my video-making capabilities, of course I don't want to make something that sets any bad examples.
Vote on the poll or even better post a comment if you have a good idea Thanks!

 

[Stefan]

Other: A good video of your current 3x3x3 WR.

 

[blah]

Other: A good video of your WR (the current 3x3x3 one). Or a compilation of your 2x2x2-5x5x5 WRs.

The current one isn't good?

Edit: Oh wow, this must be the weirdest thing that's ever happened, ever. I'm pretty sure you said "Other: A good video of your WR." when I clicked on the quote button, how on Earth did that edit come in?

Edit: @Erik: Are you asking how to get the most views from cubers? Or from general YouTube laymen? If it's the former, I'd suggest a couple of walkthrough solves for every puzzle that you've ever had a WR for. If it's the latter, just do what Stefan said.

 

[Stefan]

Ok, just watched it again and it's much better than I remembered.

Alright, so I change my vote to "Video of you breaking the OWR once again)". Don't tell me that's not feasible.

 

[Erik]

Well the plan is to get more views in general, but since cubing is what I do I don't think I should just make videos about cooking for example since people don't know me from that at all. So ya, cubers but also non-cubers, maybe something to make cubing more accessible for non-cubers and don't go into the same lame 'how to cube' stuff...

@ Stefan... uhm, yeah sure considering I broke 7.08 at home only like...3 times ever, it should be perfectly feasable

 

[calekewbs]

Yeah, I think the How to cube stuff gets a little old after a while. If you are trying to get the attention of non-cubers as well, try something interesting like a compilation of cool patterns and how to make them. I haven't seen one of them on youtube so it would be unique as well as interesting.

 

[JLarsen]

Honestly I think people like Thrawst and others get lots of views because they make basic tutorials, redundant cube reviews, and videos completely on one alg very often. I don't recommend any of that though. I think your fast solve videos would get you the most views, but then again your how to get fast might get more. I'm not sure.

 

[MichaelErskine]

Other: I like to see the honest, everyday, human side to speedcubers - the compilation video on what speedcubing means to you was very good in that respect.

 

[cmhardw]

I think if you just want to increase the views for a video then your audience needs to be the general Youtube laymen, not cubers. I voted other because I think it might be a good idea to make a compilation of fast solves and bloopers. You want to be entertaining to non-cubers. Consider that non-cubers tend to fall into two groups. Some think cubing is interesting and they will hopefully like seeing super fast solves. Some think we are complete dorks with no life and hopefully the bloopers will be a little bit of self deprecating humor to hopefully get them to change their minds.

Maybe do something like Stefan had on his webpage where you can mix in funny still shots of you doing silly things like a shot of you just about to smash a cube with a hammer, staring down a cube from across a table with only your eyes visible above the table, puzzling over a cube when it is one move away from solved, things like that for entertainment value.

I mean that's just me. Personally I would love a video from the master about how to get REALLY fast times. I think there are probably many of us who can crack the sub-15 barrier on occasion, but are trying to learn how to do it consistently or much better learn how to get sub-14, sub-13, etc.. But if you want many more views, I would go with a video not targeted to cubers at all, but only non-cubers.

Chris

 

[Stefan]

Ok, so a really reasonable one:

From you, just like from everybody else, I'd like to see videos that make sense that you make them. Like because you're a foremost expert in the topic or even the only one who can meaningfully talk about it.

For example: You're no doubt one of speedcubing's megastars. As such, people are interested in you personally, including your personal development, i.e., how you got to where you are as a cuber, and where you still want to go. How much do/did you practice? How did you start? What were you thinking at different stages of your cubing career? What else do you consider important? Where did you fail? What do you do besides cubing? What motivates you? Your personal perspective on the community and how it evolved? Nobody but you can talk about this. And I believe I'm not the only one who would like to see such a little documentary. Especially newbies are perhaps wondering "How can I become that good?".

This particular idea of a documentary about yourself might be a bit tricky, with a thin line between appearing to brag and offering insight, but I think if done right with a proper introduction and good mood (*) it could be very interesting and enjoyable.

(*) If I remember correctly, in one of your videos (I think the "what cubes I use") you made a terribly bored impression, at times bordering to condescending. Which I can perfectly understand, because newbies asking this over and over again can certainly be annoying, but if you want your videos to be popular, a positive mood can help a lot.

 

[d4m4s74]

I'd like to see a blooper reel
like a set of the most awesome pops ever recorded

 

[F.P.]

Everyone wants tips for speedcubing from the world record holder; so I would say tutorials, one-step-stop-solves, probably slow-motion solves, algorithms.

If you make videos on a few important topics, maybe we could just redirect people from this forum who are asking the same questions over and over again to your videos.

I guess it could be also interesting for some if you tell them about your development, how often you practice, if you practiced different when you started etc.

If you just want to have more views, then I guess you have to "sell" yourself a bit better. Just give your videos names like "10 Tips from the World Record Holder" or "How To Go Really Fast by Erik Akkersdijk".

 

[teller]

- Any whacked out shortcuts that you haven't seen covered elsewhere

- Any opinions you have on various hardware. I see you used an F in a recent video...what are your thoughts on it? As the grandmaster, your opinion is automatically far more interesting than some guy with limited skill and experience.

- I really liked your PLL vid, music and all--it's a favorite...how about some OLL's? Not all of them--just the ones where you do something non-standard or you really like a certain alg.

- And anything you have to say about crosses would be welcome--badmephisto's two cross vids are the only good material out there and I would like to hear anything you have to say about the subject.

In short, all of the usual topics but NOT beginner level. Beginner has been beaten to death. You're the master and you have advanced knowledge you could share. I'm being selfish and greedy here because beginner material might get you more views.

 

[mazei]

I think blog-like videos would get views as well. But compilations of fast solves and bloopers will work better I think.

 

[AvGalen]

I would watch any video that has a cube, a girl and me going whooo-hooo-hooo-hooo in it

Most people would watch those videos, even without my whooo-hooo-hooo-hooo but adding girls wouldn't cause any harm

 

[Erik]

That's some goooood advices people
I was thinking... why not just do all the ideas and see which gets the most views?
Currently I'm already quite far with the bloopers and the fast solves video is progressing too (2 times a 7, a 13 OH etc).
Maybe 3 video types of like:
- how to solve a rubik's cube, beginner style (since I don't have vids of that on my channel yet)
- how do I get faster? (since that's the most commonly asked question)
- and some slow solves one step stop with spoken annotations

@ Stefan, I might make a new video on cubes and methods yeah. I was really annoyed when making that video and I'm actually quite ashamed of it...

 

[Ethan Rosen]

I hear that unboxings and premature reviews are all the rage these days <_<

Seriously though, I am looking forward to a blooper video, and I think that could definitely get some views.
If that fails, you can always choose a random youtube celebrity, and create a series of videos flaming him.

 

[Nukoca]

If you just want to have more views, then I guess you have to "sell" yourself a bit better. Just give your videos names like "10 Tips from the World Record Holder" or "How To Go Really Fast by Erik Akkersdijk".

I agree. It took me a really long time just to figure out where your channel was.

 

[mazei]

If that fails, you can always choose a random youtube celebrity, and create a series of videos flaming him.

Dan Brown??

 

[Dene]

I hear that unboxings and premature reviews are all the rage these days <_<

LMAO, That's brilliant Ethan, very nice.

As for Erik: I think something entertaining is the way to go. It has to be upbeat and funny. But not over the top, and not spoiled with music that no one will be familiar with.