Common pitfalls for content creators on the internet

[Roboshi]

I'm sure there are many of you who have a few people you follow either on youtube, twitch or even the odd webcomic and I'm almost certain most of you will have seen at least one of these projects go into a slow decline, either as a simple hobby someone got bored of or even someone doing it professionally that is now on their last legs.

So this threat is for some common mistakes you've seen Creators make in their practices.

Also lets try and avoid political statements about certain creators like "He got taken in by the far right and went off the rails" or something like that.

So here's a couple I've seen;

-The "Movie" side project-

You have no idea how many times I've seen this, especially with those who create video content. Their Patreon suddenly gets a new tier to start a movie and with a budget that couldn't even cover the costs of "Manos hands of fate". These are almost always either mismanaged or just die silently after taking up so much time from the creator that their original content suffers and they lose viewers.

I believe this is mostly due to so many following the AVGN's example and forgetting how forgettable that thing was. To date I can only think of the Ashens movie as an example of a successful one and that was helped by the fact Ashens managed to still produce his normal content at the same time.


-The Con-Loop-

This one crops up in every type of content site as they get popular, they end up with a few invites to a few conventions and they book one too many every year. This results in a cycle of "Hi going to a convention see you there"->"just got back from the con saw some fans"->"sorry there's no content this month we're getting ready for the next convention"->"Going to a convention this week, see you there"

This cycle repeats throughout the year with many creators having dry periods of up to 3 or 4 months and those fans they go to see start to dwindle.

Now many creators actually make this work for them as they turn their Convention work directly into more content, this is generally the case with the video game side of Content when E3/Pax/Blizzcon comes around, but if you can't do that it can lead to a big void in content for the large majority of those who do not have the option of going to these events.


(I want to stress that this is not an attack on any creators out there but rather a critique of behaviour that can lead to sites and channels withering on the vine.)

 

[Neverhoodian]

Increasing reliance on skits/"save the world" bits that detract or deviate too much from the content. Frankly, it smacks of self-congratulatory ego stroking.

I don't mind the occasional indulgence or parody, but I find it annoying when content creators start shoehorning it in every chance they get. Bonus annoyance points if it's a tale of how said content creator is some kind of "badass" Messianic figure out to save the world/galaxy/universe/multiverse from a cosmic dictator or some such bollocks. Oh yeah, I'm sure your LOVE OF VIDEO GAMES will totally defeat Sinistrar of Apocalypto VII (played by your roommate wearing a $15 rubber mask, naturally).

Oh yeah, and bad Photoshop effects. You gotta have bad Photoshop effects.

 

[Thaluikhain]

When repetetive in-jokes and "guest appearances" by people that work for the same company dominate the shows.

 

[Aerosteam]

I unsubscribed from someone when they started to pretty much only do top 10 videos, and another for Loot Crate opening videos but I guess that just me - some people are bound to enjoy those.

My pick for a pitfall are guest appearances. They are the most hit-or-miss stuff ever, because if you know the guest then you're likely to enjoy the video but if you don't then probably not. Like pretty much all of old JonTron's guest appearances. Whenever one happens I just go "am I supposed to know this person?".

 

[Gorrath]

I agree that one of the biggest issues is with "content" and while not totally immune, I think Seriously Strange did a good job of handling this problem. While he did expand into the dreaded "list" type format for many of his videos, his delivery is great, he bothers to make his videos look and sound like a professional endeavor and you can tell he rehearses and edits his stuff. By focusing on quality over "content" he's kept my attention for two years or more.

I also agree that they should stay away from a lot of self congratulation. Game Overthinker got horrible for this., with Bob patting himself on the back so hard I thought he was going to break his hand. I like his Escapist content though.

 

[Saelune]

When you listen to the wrong "fans" and try to appease people who weren't really your fans before.

Also changing people. YouTube is personality driven, so changing people really damages that. I know one channel that does...stuff about stuff, but has multiple hosts, and when this one guy is host, the dislike bar is automatically large.

Jontron leaving also obviously hurt GameGrumps, though an odd number of haters apparently were waiting for that and swooped into the community, but GG isn't so great anymore (also see top sentence).

And Polaris without Dodger hosting everything is a sinking ship (that and Maker is losing all their people).

 

[SKBPinkie]

1. When the podcast / show just mutates into the creator's regular soapbox. Yeah, we get it. Everyone and their grandmother has "something to say" / get off their chest. But please remember why you're here. You create entertainment for people; you're not Bill Maher or Bill O'Reilly. But hey, if you are either of those two (or your job's related to that), go nuts.

2. When the show becomes extremely jaded / cynical. This is more of a personal problem I have with many of the shows and podcasts that I follow.

 

[Fox12]

Oh my God, the con loop! I hate that shit. I would add backer rewards in general. Big companies have people who can handle special promotions while their creators... Create. This isn't the case with small groups. Handling the business side of things gets in the way of actually making the thing I backed in the first place.

Both of these happened to Ava's Demon. The content is great... When it comes out. But every month the writers either going to a con, or she's trying to work on backer rewards. I haven't actually seen any new updates in months, and when we do get an update, it's pretty small. The writer also tends to do new kick starters faster then I'm comfortable with. I mean, the stories barely started and we're already on book two? stop going to anime conventions, and actually get some work done before you ask for more money.

 

[mad825]

Well all I can say is RIP Spoony. The past year all he's doing are "let's plays". Yeah, he rush Rebruary out the door but I doubt we'll see the replacement until Q4 next year.

He also undid the SWAT 4 format with stetchkov syndicate via Let's play because like seeing and listening him getting ultimately frustrated with the game and the fans is fun.

 

[Roboshi]

Well all I can say is RIP Spoony. The past year all he's doing are "let's plays". Yeah, he rush Rebruary out the door but I doubt we'll see the replacement until Q4 next year.

He also undid the SWAT 4 format with stetchkov syndicate via Let's play because like seeing and listening him getting ultimately frustrated with the game and the fans is fun.

Spoony was a big inspiration for this, after his last month of reb brown videos lasted all of one video.

Patreon in general has it's own pitfalls from keeping too much content in your rewards (meaning your non-paying audience is seeing no updates and so they have no idea what quality to expect from those rewards if they do pay up) to putting one-off rewards you can't give out each month (like DVD's or autographs).

To me the best patreon reward is getting the same content just early, so that those who don't pay still get to see your stuff, just not as soon as backers.

 

[Redd the Sock]

It's easy to be snarky and just answer: don't do what Moviebob does, but let's be constructive:

1) Do the skits well or don't do them at all. I get many doing these videos are aspiring film makers, but I'm not sure they do. You aren't likely to get discovered and given film projects because someone saw your videos in the first place. making them poorly acted one man shows with horrid green screen effects just cements the idea you shouldn't be behind the camera. Given the tech has evolved to make film making and editing easier than it's ever been, I greatly lament the high water mark is the bumpers from MST3K.

2) Make content worth watching and unique. This cuts a lot of ways, but as I see it, online video has gone on long enough for simple videos to not be as interesting as they once were. Do were need yet another "best games on playstation" list or " hardest video games" list or "my thoughts on [controversial subject]" rant or "unboxing my swag" video. It's a saturated market full of people not really just copying each other. And while doing so might get you lucky enough to go viral, you're more likely to get lost in the stream of the same old same old and only gets compared to the established popular youtubers. Getting noticed now means going above and beyond, so unless you really have the comic talent, time to make the information better: lists that haven't been done, or lists filled with the non standards (ie: hardest game lists will always include Battletoads, Dark Souls, Mario Lost Levels, Ghosts and Goblins, Ninja Gaiden, etc.), primers on niche titles instead of the popular ones (cover the Tales series instead of final fantasy), or more in depth coverage of the minute details of the popular ones. Don't add one more voice to some controversial subject unless it can say something someone else hasn't.

3) Actually, unless it is the whole of your show, avoid the politics. You aren't Jon Stewart. You don't have a research team to do your research and fact checking, and the end result is being antagonizing with an opinion full of holes. If your political opinions were formed with the same care as the skits people complain about, they probably aren't that good and shouldn't be presented as if you know much of what you're talking about. Same as rule 1, if you're going to do it, do it right.

4) watch the ego. internet creation is possible by virtue of the fact that you don't have to prove to anyone you have talent to put something out there direct to fans, which due to the scope of the internet, means anything will find a fanbase of some sort. It probably doesn't mean you're brilliant so much as you are re-affirming the opinions of people looking to have them re-affirmed, or just find you funny. From fanfiction forward I've seen to many online creators thing their small fanbase gotten though simple projects will lead to big things, only to find out that they stagnate under the belief that people just need to discover them and their fanbase will grow so improvement or even professionalism isn't necessary. I'm waiting for the first one of these long termers in youtube video to have a breakdown when they realize what started as a time killer for exposure in their 20s has gone on into middle age and they're still just scraping by.

 

[Roboshi]

This one is more of a personal opinion for me;

-Long intros and intro sequences-

Intro sequences were made for TV when you had to grab the attention of people who may not even be in the room when it's show is starting and to give the credits for the staring cast. However when you're on the internet you've got descriptions for cast and your credits are hardly gonna be more than 5 people. So when I turn on a video on youtube and it's got an intro that's 30-60 seconds long, I'm just gonna scroll through it on the progress bar (unless their player is a load of garbage *cough*channelawesome*cough*).

Again this is something I blame the AVGN for as his intro could often take up to a good 10th of his video length and his aren't even the worst out there, with some videos having intros up to 2 minutes long. These are often in the same vain as the skits with ego stroking parts where they punch hitler or shit on their friend dressed in a costume. It's a nice curve you can follow, the more the ego, the longer the intro.

Oh and most intros you'll find are just begging to get flagged for using music they don't own the rights to as I'm pretty sure intros don't count as fair use (even if youtube cared about that sort of thing)

 

[BrawlMan]

It's easy to be snarky and just answer: don't do what Moviebob does, but let's be constructive:

1) Do the skits well or don't do them at all. I get many doing these videos are aspiring film makers, but I'm not sure they do. You aren't likely to get discovered and given film projects because someone saw your videos in the first place. making them poorly acted one man shows with horrid green screen effects just cements the idea you shouldn't be behind the camera. Given the tech has evolved to make film making and editing easier than it's ever been, I greatly lament the high water mark is the bumpers from MST3K.

3) Actually, unless it is the whole of your show, avoid the politics. You aren't Jon Stewart. You don't have a research team to do your research and fact checking, and the end result is being antagonizing with an opinion full of holes. If your political opinions were formed with the same care as the skits people complain about, they probably aren't that good and shouldn't be presented as if you know much of what you're talking about. Same as rule 1, if you're going to do it, do it right.

4) watch the ego. internet creation is possible by virtue of the fact that you don't have to prove to anyone you have talent to put something out there direct to fans, which due to the scope of the internet, means anything will find a fanbase of some sort. It probably doesn't mean you're brilliant so much as you are re-affirming the opinions of people looking to have them re-affirmed, or just find you funny. From fanfiction forward I've seen to many online creators thing their small fanbase gotten though simple projects will lead to big things, only to find out that they stagnate under the belief that people just need to discover them and their fanbase will grow so improvement or even professionalism isn't necessary. I'm waiting for the first one of these long termers in youtube video to have a breakdown when they realize what started as a time killer for exposure in their 20s has gone on into middle age and they're still just scraping by.

These reasons are why I stopped watching MovieBob, Spoony, & Nostalgia Critic (most of the TGWTHG content creators by extension Boredom played a factor as well.). MB got such a massive ego, and was constantly putting politics into his reviews/overviews/whatever that they became unbearable and really distracting. There are times when you could tell when didn't watch or pay attention to a movie and made shit up or exaggerated flaws or praises depending on the film.

Spoony became a down and out asshole who even attacked the good part of his fan-base. His monotonous, 30 minute long cynical reviews of films got tiring, and just depressing. It was pretty obvious he didn't care by 2012. Nostalgia Critic (Doug Walker) is now a walking talking soapbox saddie who acts likes a complete ***** whenever someone rightfully calls him out. That ************, and his brother for the matter, has a huge ego.


This even happened to people I like or still watch. Korey and Martin started bringing politics in London Has Fallen. I don't care if you like the movie or not, but don't go assuming or calling someone a "Trump supporter" enjoying the movie. It's that person's money and time, and they have the right to enjoy it or not. They had done a video on Trump (pointing out all the idiotic things he's done or said) a couple of day prior before their review, so I understand the frustration, but that doesn't give them the right to be complete kill joys. This the only time I have seen them really do this, but I hope they do not ever do something like that again; because they know they're better than that. I didn't even think the movie was horrible, but just average. I'm aware that the villains in the movie are Arab/Muslims, and I am all for positive portrayals of Muslims in any media, but goddamned; Korey and Martin could've gone about it better.

 

[Godzillarich(aka tf2godz)]

-Selling out on patreon-this is Linkara's biggest problem, ever since he started having patreon sponsored reviews the whole premise of "only bad comics" he was adamant about in the past disappeared.

I actually quite liked his patreon stuff, it make him review interesting stuff, even if it's not all bad but that just me.

Increasing reliance on skits/"save the world" bits that detract or deviate too much from the content. Frankly, it smacks of self-congratulatory ego stroking.

I don't mind the occasional indulgence or parody, but I find it annoying when content creators start shoehorning it in every chance they get. Bonus annoyance points if it's a tale of how said content creator is some kind of "badass" Messianic figure out to save the world/galaxy/universe/multiverse from a cosmic dictator or some such bollocks. Oh yeah, I'm sure your LOVE OF VIDEO GAMES will totally defeat Sinistrar of Apocalypto VII (played by your roommate wearing a $15 rubber mask, naturally).

Oh yeah, and bad Photoshop effects. You gotta have bad Photoshop effects.

The only one I've seen do this well is Linkara, The rest of the time I've seen this it's always been cringe-worthy to me.

 

[Roboshi]

The only one I've seen do this well is Linkara, The rest of the time I've seen this it's always been cringe-worthy to me.

I'd personally disagree, linkara's skits were what made me stop watching as he tried to make you feel for his blue cardboard box or talk about having his own spaceship and magic gun and how he was a power ranger AND how he was a pokemon trainer AND how he had a sonic screwdriver.

Watching Linkara's skits was just like watching a 5 year old show off all the toys they got from their last birthday party. Yes well done, you found a plastic ring of power in toys R us you're now as powerful as sauron.

I suppose that's the problem, you can't have any kind of drama when your main character can go out and buy a new prop.



Actually that leads into another, similar pitfall;

-"I gots me a gun"-

Again "well done" you can buy a plastic gun and add a gunfire after effect in your editing I'm sure you tought that NES cartridge a lesson. Linkara, Nostalgia Critic and Caddicarus have all been guilty of this.


Which is also related to;

-The Gimmick!-

Why try to be funny/charming/interesting when you can just wear a hood or a mask or always wear some stupid gimmick? Bonus points if it's your channel name and in your logo.

Choosing what to call your show can be tricky and you can often be left wishing you could change it (I know Totalbiscuit is pretty embarrassed by his biscuity name). So it makes sense that your name should be more than just what you were wearing at the last fancy dress party you went to.

 

[Godzillarich(aka tf2godz)]

/

I disagree on you about that but what ever.

-"I gots me a gun"-

Again "well done" you can buy a plastic gun and add a gunfire after effect in your editing I'm sure you tought that NES cartridge a lesson. Linkara, Nostalgia Critic and Caddicarus have all been guilty of this.

okay now you are just nit picking with that. having a prop gun doesn't seem that big of a deal.

 

[Roboshi]

okay now you are just nit picking with that. having a prop gun doesn't seem that big of a deal.

It CAN be done well and as long as it's used sparingly it can add some fun to the show, but when it's a line in your intro song (another reason intro songs are bullshit) or you use it every episode. You're just posturing with a fake gun and it just makes you look like a kid trying to look tough.

EDIT; Again, a lot of these problems are down to the creator's ego slowly inflating to the point where they feel they have to show how "powerful" they are with their props. The character of Linkara quickly turned into a bad self insert character with a million abilities.

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

I have to say the two worst ones are:

1. Making too much content.

There are a lot of times where a series is clearly only continuing because the creators are scared of ending it and it brings in money. They don't have any new ideas, they seem tired, but the show drags on because making it is just what's "expected" of them at this point. Then there's the content that takes no effort. Point a camera at yourself for 5 minutes of you making another video, call it "behind the scenes" or something like that and BOOM, you have another video you can monetize. Now flood your channel with those and one decent video turns into 3 or 4 even though they have almost no actual interesting content.

This is what's really turned me off of rooster teeth and achievement hunter. There was a time when they would upload 1 or 2 videos a day and that's it. Now they each upload 10 a day, most of them are uninteresting crap and them just dicking around in their offices, and their Minecraft and GTA lets plays have become repetitive as hell. Ray saw this trend, he wasn't happy and he left, my viewership followed soon after.

2. Becoming overly political.

Listen, we get it, you have an opinion, but if you start shoving that opinion into every piece of content you make it becomes annoying even to the people who agree with you. You're scaring away possible viewers/readers who don't agree with your politics and annoying the viewers who do agree with you because you're so incessant. No one needs to be hit over the head with your political agenda every 5 minutes.

I'm looking at you Sinfest. You used to have jokes, sometimes even clever ones, now all you have is an unfunny comic strip about gender and women's rights.