The Prima Data
Wanna get rich? Coax users to post their videos on your Web site
By Heather Hamilton
You may be asking: "How can I get search-engine giant Google to purchase my home business for $1.65 billion?" Good question. The answer to any entrepreneurial quest is: find something no one else does. Do a good enough job or make it novel enough to get people interested. Then sell just before the bean counters realize the revenue stream is harder to tap than the interests of the curious.
Not to say that the recent purchase of YouTube by Google was a bad idea. It certainly wasn't. I have spent hours YouTubing, viewing videos produced and posted by anonymous Web users from all over the world. (No, I don't watch on company time!) It has served me countless times catching up on missed shows and series that aren't shown in the United States. Recently, my husband and I watched two series that are only available in Europe on the BBC. Hope the Brits don't mind!
It's this freedom that brings technophiles like my husband and me to YouTube daily. You might be asking: "I'm not inventing anything today, so how should I YouTube?" Here's my answer: It's great for catching bits of comedy routines or video blogs (vblog). My parents claim to be too old for these fads. I don't believe these excuses; the Prima Data does not buy into age discrimination. To these naysayers, I offer one man who posts a video blog: He's 79 and self produced -- "Geriatric Gripes and Grumbles". Geriatric1927 is funny, albeit a little longwinded. (Heck, when I'm 80, you better believe I will be too!)
In addition to tons of comedians and would-be comedians, YouTube hosts my favorite -- fantastic scenes from cheesy movies! Perhaps you wanted to catch Lo Pans wedding from "Big Trouble in Little China." It's available. I have no idea who takes the time to rip the scenes from movies, so please don't ask. But I sure appreciate whoever posted the movie "KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park." Yes, that's KISS the hair metal band in their 1978 Scoobyesque adventure at an amusement park.
Unfortunately, the biggest drawback to videos is the lack of search keywords. When trying to re-discover that KISS video, I had to sift through pages of couples kissing. (Dear video posters: please, some moments should be left in the moment. Gross!) Seeking movies will not continue to be a problem for too long since Google and other companies are pioneering facial recognition software to revolutionize searching. For now however, the searchability of a video depends solely on the user who posted it. Since YouTube is an open playing field, this could mean any amount of keywords are entered on the video. Beware of those obnoxious few who inappropriately name a video to grow viewership, much like those exhibitionist kissers.
YouTube also has taken the forwarding of funny e-mails to another level. I am constantly sent video spoofs such as Barats and Bereta (whose Mother's Day skit had me in tears) or Weird Al's latest. Funny as those are, the real gems, in my opinion, are the home-spun movies. Grassroots producers who would never have a chance at creating and publishing their art are now in direct connection with the world. I predict spiraling growth of independent producers. At least one can hope.
Is all that worth $1.65 billion when the business has yet to turn a profit? Well, some seem to think so.
My friend has a saying: "Internet killed the video star". While I don't think that's entirely true, it's not far off. I believe personal video recorders killed the television star. But that doesn't sound nearly as catchy.
Video voyeur Heather Hamilton is all eyes and ready to answer your computer questions. Send an e-mail to prima.data@morris.com.