Started a YouTube channel, would like feedback.

[Almost Like Life]

My buddy and I started our YouTube channel - DUMPSTER GAMEPLAY - last December. We have 22 videos up and just passed 500 total views today. We have 9 subscribers but they're all our personal friends. Most of our videos struggle to get to 15 views. I would like to take the channel to a new level, but my friend doesn't want to change anything.

We don't record in HD and we play some no-name indie games just for laughs. One person I talked to suggested getting a HD PVR, taking all the existing videos down, and starting fresh. I came around to the idea fairly quickly, because we have no subscriptions outside of our circle of friends so it doesn't really matter. My friend on the other hand feels that removing all the videos is a bad idea because he wants to show "how we evolved" and doesn't feel HD is necessary because "we're known for crap quality". He doesn't want to wait to do new HD videos because "we don't get views if we don't have any content up", even though we hardly get views now. He also doesn't think word of mouth promotion ever reaches past our circle of friends.

I have been trying to talk him to at least a middle ground, but he's steadfast on not changing a thing and being content with only 10-15 views on any video we post.

Anyway, I digress. Please, if you have some time to kill, could you look up the channel, check out some of the videos and let us know what you think/how we can improve.

[Orange]

Am watching your most recent right now, and here are some of my thoughts.

First off, your videos do go up to 480, so I don't necessarily think HD is a must have at this moment. Now, if they only went up to 360, then I'd say get the PVR and HD it up - but I think 480 is fine. So long as people like your content, I don't think it's going to matter that much that they can't watch in HD.

Second off, I think it might be helpful if you got (and I've no idea how this works, so excuse the lack of tech talk here ) one of those things that records you and the game at the same time. I think, no matter what your channel is about, people want to actually see you and connect with you. I'd worry about that way more than I would getting an HD camera right now.

Past that, the video is actually really funny and you guys have great comedic chemistry together - but I think it'd be a huge help if people could see you.

[VKMTV]

Wow, another Youtube channel thread. Now mine doesn't feel special. officialfan.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=offtopic&action=display&thread=465636

So I checked it out, I noticed a lot of dead air. You should tighten it to just highlights of interesting stuff. Also HD is a MUST, It can look low budget, but not crappy. I'd let your friend know that if you only have fifteen views then you really aren't known for anything. I'd go solo or take the reigns of production work if you are serious about making this work.

While you are at it check out my show I linked.

[Yami Daimao]

I applaud you for even having a gaming channel. Me and my other friends are are in the process of the doing the same, all we need is the equipment (HD PVR, quality mic, video editing program).

It seems like you and your friend have two different "visions" for your channel. You want to upgrade quality and expand to create a bigger fanbase, while your friend is perfectly fine where it's at and just wants to do this as a hobby. Before doing anything, you and your friend have to talk about the goal of the channel. Once you guys settle on an agreement, you can take the right steps.

I'd say an HD PVR wouldn't hurt. Yes, 480p isn't terrible, but most people are so use to HD nowadays, that it almost feels like a step back. I know when I was watching some of your videos, that the quality could have been a little better. They weren't flat out bad or unwatchable, but since my eyes are so accustomed to HD, that it feel a little weird, especially with the older games. With only 9 subscribers, all of them being a circle of personal friends, you're not really "known for crap quality", and that's not a good mindset to have.

I do like your friend's idea about keeping the older videos to see how you guys evolved, it's good to look back on and see where you made your changes in both quality and even commentary. It could also lead to look at your current stuff and see if it's time to "evolve" from there and bring in new ideas. So he has the right idea about that.

Any kind of promotion is good promotion, Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, whatever, anything works. Just don't whore yourself out on other people's videos, no one likes that. I've seen it done before and it comes across as pathetic.

Try playing a lot of newer, popular games first. More people are likely to search for the newest Halo game than an obscure or 10+ old game. Not saying to completely stick to new games, you can mix it up every now and then, but if you're trying to gain views/subscribers, you should focus on current gen games. It can help build a core fanbase, even if it's not huge.

That's all the feedback I can give as of now.

[Orange]

All of Yami's post is great, but the point that really jumped out at me is the suggestion that you get together with your buddy and talk about what it is you want out of the channel.

Trying to expand the channel with those radically different viewpoints is trouble, so if you're looking to grow this thing and make some money off of it someday while he just wants to keep it real low profile, that's going to pose some problems.

[Deleted]

Oh - is this where we're posting our youtube channel? www.youtube.com/user/WrenDeLosMuertos

I mainly do short videos with Maria (co host of the Freakin' Awesome Podcast) and try to be funny. I should probably try to pack more jokes in, but who am I? Don Rickles. whateva.

[Orange]

I'm not in a place where I can listen to videos right now, but I'ma check out your channel later, Numero.

I would plug my channel, but alas, I've no videos at this time. I plan for that to change in the near future, and when it does I'm bumping this bitch.

[Deleted]

Cool - I do some videography work on the side, so that channel's a mix of stuff I did for fun and some stuff I did for either for spec or for-hire. So don't be surprised if you see some weird stuff for a coffee bar or herbalist on there.

[Almost Like Life]

Thanks for the feedback and compliments, guys. We appreciate it.

Yami Redgrave: Good luck with your channel, if you and your friends go for it. I talked to my buddy and he says he's already reached his goal for the channel, which is to just have one that uploads content each day.

VKMTV: The dead air is something we really try not to have. We're trying to get better.


I'm really looking at getting that HD PVR, however, my Vizio doesn't have RGB components on it, so I'd also have to buy a new TV.

[VKMTV]

Feb 15, 2013 18:49:45 GMT -5 Almost Like Life said:

VKMTV: The dead air is something we really try not to have. We're trying to get better.

It's not so much having Dead Air, it's more about tight writing to make every second of screen time mean something.

Like for example, in my Halloween Episode
www.dailymotion.com/video/xuhqc8_vkmtv-show-to-be-named-later-episode-8-halloween-edition_fun#.UR7LSOj-v0A, I really only used like 10 minutes from a 42 minute episode after editing it down to the best of the best stuff.

I'd be way opposed to a daily content release, it's taxing and waters down the overall product.

[Almost Like Life]

Edit: nevermind. we got it settled.

[Throwback]

including a link while talking about the channel will make a difference. people are more willing to click something rather than look it up. Go to other gaming channels and subscribe to them. Make your videos as video responses to other videos. Add as many tags as possible when uploading.