When it comes to domain industry videos, unfortunately nobody really cares…
I like Morgan Linton and Chef Patrick… They do their own thing with the video blogging and news reports here and there, but lets face it, nobody gives a crap about videos that have to do with the domain industry. At most, there are a few hundred “lifetime” views for any given domaining video produced by Morgan or Patrick.
So is it even worth it producing all this videos? The numbers definitely aren’t pretty… Total of some 200 views on average per video is really really low. There just simply isn’t that much interest in the domain industry related types of videos.
One main reason for the videos not taking off is that the industry isn’t very popular with outsiders; internet marketers and SEO people for example. That we already knew, but it’s pretty clear that nobody shares domaining videos or searches for this stuff either.
Secondly, most domainers aren’t very good when it comes to promoting their own website’s and/or content even if it’s something totally awesome and as I am sure you already know… Unfortunately nothing happens on it’s own here on the net. You gotta get out there and make things happen.
Don’t get me wrong, I like fun videos and all the new cool social media stuff but you gotta look at the bottom line. Numbers tell you a lot about what is going on and what isn’t going on. Last year I even had both guys create some videos for me, which I gladly paid for / sponsored on a few occasions.
So what do you think… Are videos targeted specifically towards the domain industry worthy? Does it make sense from a business perspective to put them out there?? Since you already know that I don’t have ANY daily / weekly video publications… You know my position on this matter. Curious to get your thoughts?
Maybe we’re all missing something or not doing it right, lets hear it. Oh and I even spent $100,000+ on a video based business venture few years back, so I know a thing or two about this stuff… It’s not like I have nothing better to do than ramble about my own and other peoples’ failures, I am just trying to make sense of it all and put things in perspective… Maybe even turn things around! Who knows 
Chef Patrick
April 11, 2010
I’m very satisfied with the number of views my videos get. I’m not targeting the masses, instead a small audience that appreciates the work. Plus I beleive my views would be closer to a 350 average. Of course some videos are more and some are less.
As for you paying me to do any videos, never happened. I think you may be referring to Morgan. On one occasion you did sponsor a models shirt with WannaDevelop.com.
David
April 11, 2010
Agreed. With all due respect to Chef Patrick, I’ve always thought his poorly produced weekly videos were a waste. The information he provides is just “exhaust” from our domain websites, there is little or no unique content, and the need to “spice-up” the videos tells you all you need know about the actual value.
Mike
April 11, 2010
We’re all very busy individuals, so unless really a 5 to 10 minute video has a shitload of unique information… It has no chance. Wonder what the drop rate is even from the few hundred views that the domaining videos do get?
Morgan
April 11, 2010
Always like your posts Mike and great insight! For me a lot of my videos have thousands of views across multiple services since I use You Tube, Vimeo, Viddler and publish on the iTunes store. If you look just at You Tube you only see a slice of the traffic.
My videos are the #1 lead source for my business and really helped me scale and grow the business last year. So as for the numbers being there, it was after my first few videos that I saw from a business-side the videos were well-worth the time!
Now with Domainvestors Television I will be targeting non-Domainers and hopefully inspiring them to join the industry. I have filmed 46 interviews and so far the response has been phenomenal!
So as for these videos not being useful – my business wouldn’t be the same without them! The audience is there but I do agree – it is certainly not as big as it’s going to be in the future!!
As more and more people get involved with Domaining, I feel confident that video content will just make it more accessible.
Let’s face it – online video is winning. You Tube is a HUGE part of Google’s business and with video searches increasing every day the potential for video over time is incredible. Already You Tube’s search traffic alone is greater than all of Yahoo’s!
Once again – love the post and everything you’re doing! I need to get started trying-out Domain Stryker as it seems like a great tool you’ve built!
All the best!
Morgan
Mike
April 11, 2010
I love video and a big supporter of it… Hell, I was even going to run a huge domainer video contest last year but that never really worked out due to lack of interest from peers and sponsors.
http://www.domaincontest.com/
Anyways, all I am saying is that sooner than later something’s gotta give. As long as you are making little tweaks here and there constantly and there is some improvement, it’s all good, one step closer to success.
But if after a year or more the numbers aren’t there, something ain’t right. Gotta know when to pull the plug in any business. Things get old really fast on the net. Can’t forget that!
Obolob
April 11, 2010
Chef Patrick is nothing but a talentless newbie with a big mouth and loud shirts. Unfortunately, pushing your way into hundreds of photos with successful people doesn’t make you successful by osmosis.
Ross
April 11, 2010
@Morgan
YouTube is actually a small part of Googles business and in fact they really make no money from it.
B @ MindMaps.tv
April 12, 2010
For one, many domain investors understand that in an information-sensitive business, it pays to stay in the background. Look at Yun Ye. He is like Keyser Söze from Usual Suspects. Secondly the industry really needs a more proactive trade organization that promotes the asset class just like Solomon did back in the day when it came to Mortgage Backed Securities. I know it’s a touchy subject right now but what I mean is really pushing domains among institutional investors as legit alternative assets. The guys at SimpleDomains and Rick Latona are doing their part but there needs to be more done. Lastly, ask domainers to classify domains as an asset and you are likely to get 100 different responses by 100 different people. Everyone knows that any product that doesn’t have a clear, concise USP, won’t get sold too much. So I guess a lot of us stick to ourselves and do what we can behind closed doors trying to education institutional investors. I know it’s taken a while for us to even get out there – not that we really have…
Stu
April 12, 2010
It sounds to me like Obolob has a case of sour grapes. Patrick may not have the portfolio of other domainers, but he knows how to market himself and his product. By saying he is a talentless newbie, in essence you are saying he is a marketing wizard as just about every domainer knows who he is.
Jesse
April 12, 2010
Everyone has their take on these things, but as many have stated videos are here to stay. As for the value or them, it all depends on your persepctive nad your level of experience, someone like you may already know it all but there are many people out there who are new that can benefit from having multiple sources of imformation in different formats, to each their own I guess.
I am no expert in this industry, I am just getting started actually and I have found the videos that Patrick, Morgan and others have done to be very useful and entertaining at times, so I for one appreciate them.
As for the comments from the bashers on here if you can’t man up and use your real name and/or site your comment is completely worthless. One thing I can’t stand is people that troll around bashing people or talking like an uneducated fool and are too scared or weak to put their face behind their mouth.
Mike
April 12, 2010
Let me put it this way… Recording a video about blah blah isn’t a talent. A 12 year old can do this nowadays. There are millions of people on YouTube and the other video sharing sites that do this day in and day out and they get more views + more recognition / respect from their peers.
So from all of the noise out there, you gotta self yourself apart all while producing quality content. I think Morgan is really onto something with his educational series’ and interviews, but Patrick’s old programme is so yesterday and should be retired. A new format should be introduced, and who knows… Things may just get cracking
Intangible Properties
April 12, 2010
2000 views to my video on youtube. Now has this made me money?
Hard to say, however it has got me noticed at some conventions (TRAFFIC and Domain Roundtable)
Networking is a very tricky art form, that is hard to measure results sometimes.
I gave my opinion in video form. Now I’m doing it in a text form. Will this post make me money? Again hard to say. Someone may read this post and see my URL visit it and may even buy from me.
Blogs, Videos, Tweets, whatever your medium, if it works for you, more power to you then.
Video works Mike! I think the key is you just need to find a way to get it to work for you.
Intangible Properties
April 12, 2010
I guess I should have posted a link to my video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmGP_oazrHE
Mike
April 12, 2010
Hey Eric.. Good to see you here
Video definitely works if it’s marketed towards the right audience, it can be very engaging and do wonders.. The whole point of this “discussion” is to find a way to get it to work a little better with some optimization. First step is you have to analyze the numbers… Being in denial is not helpful.
We posted a video almost a year ago and it has almost 10,000 views now looks like and I even got some business directly from it as well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Itvds9k7bpc
Joseph Slabagh
April 16, 2010
OK I may be the exception to your rule, but my 2 top domaining videos on youtube totaled over 1.5M views so far, and still doing 1800 to 3000 views a day. (it is not a good video, but it does get views, and as a youtube partner, I earn money from all my monetized videos now)