I could barley contain myself! The YouTube gods rained down hard on me the other day! It was my day off and I was headed to Central Park by way of Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. This time of year, there are always tons of tourists clogging the streets. Mostly Europeans who think they are getting a good deal by shopping in America. As I was up the block from Henri Bendel, I saw a crowd of people all gawking towards the store's windows.
This just wasn't any crowd of tourists - something was going on. The media was actually there. I'm not talking about freelance photographers or hobbyists, but the NEWS. As in the local TV stations and newspapers. "OK, this has potential," I thought. Good thing I had my trusty camera, since I'm trying to build a YouTube audience.
I made my way to the front of the crowd and I got a good look at the target of all this attention. A tall blond woman was there posing for photos and signing autographs. I'm not really a celebrity watcher, but I can tell Sarah Jessica Parker from Angelina Jolie. This woman just didn't ring a bell.
Then somebody passed me a bag of candy called "Sugarpova." OK, that was enough to jog my memory. Indeed it was Maria Sharapova, in the flesh mere feet away from me. Of all things, she chose to launch a candy line at Henri Bendel on Fifth Avenue. I was shocked at the whole thing. It seemed like an unwise choice for an athlete to put her name behind junk food. And Henri Bendel certainly wasn't known for selling tacky $5 bags of candy.
But who was I to judge. If I could get some decent footage, then I could have a viral video on my hands. Although I was utterly unfamiliar with everything about her, a blond Russian tennis player could only help my YouTube stats.
I broke out the camera and attempted to hold it over the crowd. There was quite a bit of pushing and shoving. Everyone was clamoring for a photo or an autograph. I seemed to be the only "amateur" who was recording the entire thing. Most people were only flashing photos. I knew I had to do something. In a preemptive move, I decided to head to the back of the store. It seemed like they had small table setup upstairs, and I figured she would probably make her way there eventually.
Usually, I don't get these things right. But this time I did! With two huge bodyguards at her side, she trudged a mere foot away from me. I tried to ask her a question, but was shut down by one of the bodyguards. It will be interesting to see how many die hard Maria Sharapova fans bother to watch the video I post on YouTube.
It's actually quite interesting. I got some good shots of her face and body, and she looked much different than on the court. Her face was a bit more weathered than I would have thought. Possibly because of all that sun exposure! She wore white jeans that seemed to be slim cut. Her jacket was fashionable and hugged her body, although I didn't get to see the designer. She looked taller in person. Overall, I'm glad I got the chance to see Maria Sharapova in person. I won't be eating her candy or watching her tennis matches, but it's clear that she's a good businesswoman. She sure sold lots of candy to her fans!
Showing posts with label YouTube. Show all posts
Showing posts with label YouTube. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Monetization Issues With Stupeflix and Windows Movie Maker
Hey everyone! I know it's been a while since my last post, but I wanted to address some questions I've been getting about my YouTube videos regarding monetization. Monetization is a really great benefit from YouTube and encourages regular people like me to share interesting things in my life with the world.
Most of my YouTube videos thus far have been just that - videos. I've had no problem monetizing videos I've made, they are approved immediately. I've encountered some issued when making slide shows using photos I've taken. To make the slide show more interesting, I use royalty free background music. There are many websites providing royalty free music, some for free and some charge for it. One website I've found to be particularly helpful is www.musopen.org.
Anyway, all of my slide shows using royalty free music have been flagged for review by YouTube. After the initial flagging, YouTube sent me an email asking to detail the music, where I got it from, and a link to the license. As many others have pointed out, YouTube has been extremely slow to approve flagged videos.
I'm not blaming YouTube, I understand that they are trying to protect themselves and me as well from lawsuits copyright holders might file. But still, there has to be a better way. A few days ago, a friend sent me a link to www.stupeflix.com. Stupeflix is very similar to Windows Movie Maker, however they have stock music available. They also have a very cool robotic voice that will speak the text you type. Although Stupeflix is not owned by Google, they seem to have some sort of a business affiliation.
I thought that by using Stupeflix, I would be able to avert the monetization delay. I was wrong. Although I enjoyed using Stupeflix and it's very user friendly, my slide show using the provided background music was still flagged for review. It's been a day and the video hasn't been approved yet. This is all the more frustrating because Stupeflix costs money. Not much, only $5/month or $29 per year for the cheapest plan, but so far it seems like a waste of money when Windows Movie Maker is free.
I'm not giving up on Stupeflix yet, maybe they're just working out some kinks in the system. I also expect YouTube to get better at approving flagged videos more quickly. YouTube was undoubtedly inundated with content when they opened up monetization to the masses. In the meantime, all we can do is wait and hope for the best!
Most of my YouTube videos thus far have been just that - videos. I've had no problem monetizing videos I've made, they are approved immediately. I've encountered some issued when making slide shows using photos I've taken. To make the slide show more interesting, I use royalty free background music. There are many websites providing royalty free music, some for free and some charge for it. One website I've found to be particularly helpful is www.musopen.org.
Anyway, all of my slide shows using royalty free music have been flagged for review by YouTube. After the initial flagging, YouTube sent me an email asking to detail the music, where I got it from, and a link to the license. As many others have pointed out, YouTube has been extremely slow to approve flagged videos.
I'm not blaming YouTube, I understand that they are trying to protect themselves and me as well from lawsuits copyright holders might file. But still, there has to be a better way. A few days ago, a friend sent me a link to www.stupeflix.com. Stupeflix is very similar to Windows Movie Maker, however they have stock music available. They also have a very cool robotic voice that will speak the text you type. Although Stupeflix is not owned by Google, they seem to have some sort of a business affiliation.
I thought that by using Stupeflix, I would be able to avert the monetization delay. I was wrong. Although I enjoyed using Stupeflix and it's very user friendly, my slide show using the provided background music was still flagged for review. It's been a day and the video hasn't been approved yet. This is all the more frustrating because Stupeflix costs money. Not much, only $5/month or $29 per year for the cheapest plan, but so far it seems like a waste of money when Windows Movie Maker is free.
I'm not giving up on Stupeflix yet, maybe they're just working out some kinks in the system. I also expect YouTube to get better at approving flagged videos more quickly. YouTube was undoubtedly inundated with content when they opened up monetization to the masses. In the meantime, all we can do is wait and hope for the best!
Friday, July 6, 2012
How I Made A Viral YouTube Video
A few posts ago, I wrote about my most popular YouTube video to date. It was totally unplanned - I had just exited the subway in Times Square, NYC and the scene basically unfolded before my eyes.
A light rain began to fall, when all of a sudden, a ridiculously tall model ran past me in a bikini. It took me a moment to realize what was going on. It turns out that she was part of a photo shoot, and her hair and makeup couldn't get wet. Despite her high heels, she bolted past me to take cover under the scaffolding.
I have to admit that I was shocked when the video began getting so many hits on YouTube. That gave me the idea: why don't I purposely try to create a viral video. I convinced myself it couldn't be very hard if my effortless video attracted to much attention.
Racking my brain for ideas, I took inspiration from the America's Cup World Cup sailboat races. They were taking place in Newport, RI and there was quite a bit of media attention focused on the event. I have an odd sense of humor, but once in a while, others find it funny. Funny works well on YouTube.
I was familiar with the great yachtsman, Sir Thomas Lipton. I decided to make a small skit with a model sailboat I had lying around the house. At first, I was going to go to a lake and make the skit there. I axed that idea when I realized the logistics wouldn't work. Using a basic Sony Cyber Shot camera, I had to keep it simple.
Thinking, thinking thinking, then all of a sudden, it hit me like a freight train. I was in the bathroom, of all places, looking down at the water in the bowl. The blue cube-like drops that I put into the tank turned the water a brilliant blue. It was perfect! I would use the toilet bowl as a makeshift ocean!!!!
I leaned a painting of a sailboat against the toilet tank while the model yacht was in the bowl. To make it extra special, I placed a few tiny model ships on the toilet sill. It looked pretty good! The script I wrote was ridiculous. Using my best Sir Thomas Lipton voice, I shouted generic yachting commands, while giving the viewer a bit of historical information.
So far, the video is far from viral. It has all of 6 hits, although one viewer was from Australia. I've found that some videos take time to build up steam, while others take off right away. Hopefully this video is a late bloomer. Enjoy!
A light rain began to fall, when all of a sudden, a ridiculously tall model ran past me in a bikini. It took me a moment to realize what was going on. It turns out that she was part of a photo shoot, and her hair and makeup couldn't get wet. Despite her high heels, she bolted past me to take cover under the scaffolding.
I have to admit that I was shocked when the video began getting so many hits on YouTube. That gave me the idea: why don't I purposely try to create a viral video. I convinced myself it couldn't be very hard if my effortless video attracted to much attention.
Racking my brain for ideas, I took inspiration from the America's Cup World Cup sailboat races. They were taking place in Newport, RI and there was quite a bit of media attention focused on the event. I have an odd sense of humor, but once in a while, others find it funny. Funny works well on YouTube.
I was familiar with the great yachtsman, Sir Thomas Lipton. I decided to make a small skit with a model sailboat I had lying around the house. At first, I was going to go to a lake and make the skit there. I axed that idea when I realized the logistics wouldn't work. Using a basic Sony Cyber Shot camera, I had to keep it simple.
Thinking, thinking thinking, then all of a sudden, it hit me like a freight train. I was in the bathroom, of all places, looking down at the water in the bowl. The blue cube-like drops that I put into the tank turned the water a brilliant blue. It was perfect! I would use the toilet bowl as a makeshift ocean!!!!
I leaned a painting of a sailboat against the toilet tank while the model yacht was in the bowl. To make it extra special, I placed a few tiny model ships on the toilet sill. It looked pretty good! The script I wrote was ridiculous. Using my best Sir Thomas Lipton voice, I shouted generic yachting commands, while giving the viewer a bit of historical information.
So far, the video is far from viral. It has all of 6 hits, although one viewer was from Australia. I've found that some videos take time to build up steam, while others take off right away. Hopefully this video is a late bloomer. Enjoy!
Sunday, June 17, 2012
My Most Popular YouTube Video - A Fashion Model In Times Square!
After YouTube expanded its monetization program to everyone, I made a conscious effort to try and create some good content to post. I had no experience with posting videos on YouTube, but I figured that my travels would give me a bit of organic material.
I've had some success with posting videos of airplane takeoffs and landings, especially in the more exotic locations. But my most successful video happened completely by accident. I had just gotten off of the subway in Times Square and was walking uptown, when a light drizzle began to fall from the sky.
I don't mind the rain, so I didn't really think anything of it. I was preoccupied listening to my iPod anyway. All of a sudden, a shockingly tall woman in a bikini ran past me. Of course, this caught my attention, it's not everyday that you see a woman over six feet tall scampering by in a bikini. Strangely, she was running with a guy who was wearing a tuxedo and sunglasses.
As it turns out, there was a professional photo shoot underway behind me, and the model was running to avoid the raindrops. As she ran by, I could tell that her hair and makeup were flawless, and she probably sat for a long while to get it that way. If her makeup got wet, it would probably mess up the entire photo shoot.
With the YouTube monetization program fresh in my mind, I whipped out my digital camera and began to record. By this time, the model was in front of me and headed for the shelter of scaffolding on a nearby building.
Once she reached the dry sanctuary of the scaffolding, the model was exposed to the hoards of tourists in Times Square. Many were undoubtedly from out of town and absolutely thrilled to see a real model in the flesh. Everyone began snapping photos of the model and her sidekick as they stood there uncomfortably, trapped because of the rain.
That night, I posted the video on YouTube and went to bed. I was shocked the next day to find that it already had 84 views! The views have leveled off since then, but it's still my most popular video and "viral" compared to the rest of my videos.
It's really reinforced my view that some of the most successful videos on YouTube are completely random and unplanned. Believe me, when I'm walking the streets of NYC, my eyes are always peeled for the next big YouTube hit! Enjoy the video!
I've had some success with posting videos of airplane takeoffs and landings, especially in the more exotic locations. But my most successful video happened completely by accident. I had just gotten off of the subway in Times Square and was walking uptown, when a light drizzle began to fall from the sky.
I don't mind the rain, so I didn't really think anything of it. I was preoccupied listening to my iPod anyway. All of a sudden, a shockingly tall woman in a bikini ran past me. Of course, this caught my attention, it's not everyday that you see a woman over six feet tall scampering by in a bikini. Strangely, she was running with a guy who was wearing a tuxedo and sunglasses.
As it turns out, there was a professional photo shoot underway behind me, and the model was running to avoid the raindrops. As she ran by, I could tell that her hair and makeup were flawless, and she probably sat for a long while to get it that way. If her makeup got wet, it would probably mess up the entire photo shoot.
With the YouTube monetization program fresh in my mind, I whipped out my digital camera and began to record. By this time, the model was in front of me and headed for the shelter of scaffolding on a nearby building.
Once she reached the dry sanctuary of the scaffolding, the model was exposed to the hoards of tourists in Times Square. Many were undoubtedly from out of town and absolutely thrilled to see a real model in the flesh. Everyone began snapping photos of the model and her sidekick as they stood there uncomfortably, trapped because of the rain.
That night, I posted the video on YouTube and went to bed. I was shocked the next day to find that it already had 84 views! The views have leveled off since then, but it's still my most popular video and "viral" compared to the rest of my videos.
It's really reinforced my view that some of the most successful videos on YouTube are completely random and unplanned. Believe me, when I'm walking the streets of NYC, my eyes are always peeled for the next big YouTube hit! Enjoy the video!
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