I find it quite interesting that my Q&A videos always do relatively well on YouTube — I mean, in terms of viewing figures we're still talking double figures rather than anything grander, but you all know I'm perfectly content with that. But those double-figure figures are noticeably higher than a lot of the other things I do, and I find that intriguing.
What exactly could be causing that? Do people naturally gravitate towards Q&A videos? Is it the fact they're the only videos with my actual face in? As someone who has never had a ton of self-confidence in their own appearance, I honestly find it quite difficult to believe it's that, but I've also seen the advice that you should put "yourself" in your thumbnails, so perhaps there is something to it — particularly given how many other YouTube creators out there do it.
Trouble is, I have a format for my thumbnails right now and I rather like the consistency of them. I've made some minor tweaks to the short;Play and Podcast format ones, but I've always rather liked the simple and to-the-point nature of the various A to Z video thumbnails. "This is a video about Atari," they say, "and specifically this game". Would my gurning fizzog overlaid atop that nice simple layout really make more people come and watch those videos?
I do wonder sometimes, but I also don't want to experiment and disrupt what I've come to think of as the "sanctity" (for want of a better word) of the series that I'm most proud of and how I present them.
Ultimately, as I say, I don't mind too much. I look at YouTube like this: if I was giving a talk on old Atari games in the local village hall and twenty people turned up to listen, I'd be ecstatic. I'm not in this to be "famous"; I do it 'cause I enjoy it.
But that doesn't stop me wondering how doing things a little differently might affect things! 🙂
Discover more from I'm Not Doctor Who
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
