YouTube - The era of "how to"
I just don't like it's algorithms
If you are like me (and all the other professionals), YouTube is the place where you would go to put your buds and listen to music when you are working. Or watch a good explanation on some tech stuff. Or see better entertainment than what could be seen on TV.
Nowadays, our preferred platform looks more and more like every other social media platform, with shorts, recommendations, and algorithms that destroy your search.
Somehow, the search is now full of influencers who show you the secret of happiness in 3 easy steps! Or wannabe millionaires who just give you their secret recipe for achieving a 1 million Etsy Shop.
This said, maybe you want to drink a coffee when you are reading this article.
Click on the pic below and check our mugs, we currently have a sale!
Or just click this link:
https://tailedmethod.etsy.com
Now, after another coffee, let's get back to YouTube.
If you are also tired of these influencers and useless recommendations from this platform, continue reading this article. We will begin by going into its roots and up to the present day.
Let's Start!
About
YouTube, an American online video-sharing platform headquartered in San Bruno, California, was established in February 2005 by three former PayPal employees: Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, and Jawed Karim. In November 2006, Google acquired the site for US$1.65 billion, making it one of Google's subsidiaries.
YouTube offers a wide range of content, including user-generated videos and corporate media such as video clips, TV show clips, music videos, short and documentary films, audio recordings, movie trailers, live streams, video blogs, original short videos, and educational content.
As of February 2017, YouTube saw over 400 hours of content uploaded every minute, with viewers consuming one billion hours of content daily. As of October 2020, it ranks as the second-most popular website globally, trailing only Google, according to Alexa Internet. By May 2019, over 500 hours of video content were being uploaded to YouTube every minute. Based on reported quarterly advertising revenue, YouTube's annual revenues are estimated at US$15 billion.
Business Model
In October 2006, Google acquired YouTube for $1.65 billion (equivalent to $2.22 billion in 2022). This move by Google broadened YouTube's business model, transitioning from solely relying on advertising revenue to offering paid content like movies and exclusive YouTube-produced content. Additionally, YouTube introduced YouTube Premium, a subscription service that allows users to watch content without ads. YouTube also enabled creators to join Google's AdSense program, aiming to increase revenue for both creators and the platform.
By 2021, YouTube's annual advertising revenue surged to $28.8 billion, marking a $9 billion increase from the previous year. In 2022, YouTube reported revenue of $29.2 billion.
Since being acquired by Google, YouTube has diversified its offerings beyond the website, expanding into mobile apps, network television, and integration with other platforms. The platform hosts a wide array of video categories, including music videos, news, short films, feature films, documentaries, trailers, live streams, vlogs, and more. While most content is user-generated, collaborations between YouTubers and corporate sponsors are common. Major media companies such as Disney, Paramount, NBCUniversal, and Warner Bros. Discovery have also leveraged YouTube by creating and expanding their corporate channels to reach a broader audience.
Youtube Services
YouTube offers several services to enhance users' experiences and cater to different needs:
YouTube Premium
Formerly known as YouTube Red, this subscription service provides ad-free streaming, access to original content, and the ability to watch videos offline or in the background on mobile devices.
This is, without any doubt, the most used service of YouTube today.
YouTube Kids
Designed for children, this app offers curated content, parental controls, and filtering to ensure a safe viewing experience.
For parents, this is one of the best features of the internet right now.
YouTube Music
Launched in 2018, this subscription-based music streaming service competes with platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, offering a vast library of songs and music videos.
Honestly, this platform is not even close to Spotify right now, and sometimes, diversifying is better than having everything in one place.
YouTube Movies & TV
This video-on-demand service allows users to rent or purchase movies and television shows, with a selection of free-to-watch titles supported by ads.
YouTube Primetime Channels
Introduced in 2022, this platform offers third-party subscription streaming add-ons, providing users with access to additional content from various streaming services.
YouTube TV
An over-the-top subscription service launched in 2017, YouTube TV offers live streams of broadcast networks and cable channels, along with optional premium add-ons and access to YouTube Premium content.
YouTube Go
Created for users in emerging markets, YouTube Go is an Android app that offers features such as video downloading, offline sharing, and enhanced mobile data control.
YouTube Shorts
Introduced in 2020, YouTube Shorts is a platform for sharing short-form videos, similar to TikTok, with integrated creative tools and licensed music options.
Useless new age feature. We do not recommend it at all.
YouTube Stories
Similar to Instagram and Snapchat Stories, this feature allows eligible creators to share short videos with their subscribers, but it was announced to be shut down in June 2023.
Hopefully, this will happen with YouTube Shorts too.
YouTube Today
These days, our dear YouTube has become a platform mostly for influencing, and the quality of the videos dropped. Everyone there seems to be an expert, and you could start questioning your knowledge with all of those "power titles".
It seems that YouTube is full of: "how to get rich" and "secret happiness formula" videos.
Wanted to prove this so I made a simple search there. Just look at the titles and the number of views.
If I watch all these tutorials I will become the richest man on the planet for sure :D
Look, at Tailed Method we acknowledge the fact that there was a massive amount of time and work spent on these kinds of videos also, but their real contribution to improving our lives is more or less equal to zero.
Tutorials Now
After I found the "secret" success formula, my life became boring. I had so much money and bought everything that I'd always wanted, but I did not own a website.
As a working man, I couldn't just outsource this to a developer, I wanted to create it by myself. And I wanted it fast! So I searched for another "how to" on YouTube.
So many results, and I did not even have to learn "coding". And there are so many views on these videos. Some even say that it can be FREE. Even though I have money, I do not want to spend it. It's perfect!
Now, I am wondering why there is still a market for companies and freelancers who create websites...
On a more serious tone, try and search for yourself There are millions of "beginner-friendly" video tutorials, that say the same things:
Motivational Speech about website creation and its importance
You do not need coding experience if you watch this tutorial
This is the best place to create your website
Look at my video showing you the website
Register here by using this affiliate link.
Accept the terms & conditions without reading them
Press Next
Look at my video showing you how to press the "buy" button on the website
Buy this subscription/product
Press Next
Watch me read the texts from the page
Watch me pressing intuitive buttons as I follow the tutorial from the platform itself
Hurray, you are a master of "insert tool name here"
Press Like & Subscribe to my channel for more useless tutorials
Don't just believe the Tailed Method. Do the "Manual research" and see some of those videos. Use the keyboard arrows to make it faster.
Additional Comments:
The first video is about how to create a website in 2024 and it was uploaded 2 years ago.
Nothing is FREE if you do not host your website on your PC.
The photos look more or less the same.
In the end, it's "a free capitalist world" and everyone wants and has to make money. YouTube knows this and takes advantage of it.
The main idea behind all those "how to" videos is not bad, since they promote learning, so no problems here.
However, with the web being more and more user-friendly, most of these tutorials are out of the initial scope and made just to generate income. Everyone can make & host a website in 5 minutes without any video step-by-step tutorial.
Don't believe the Tailed Method. Do it yourself. If you want, you can go to the "Resources" Page on our website and see every tool that was used to create this entire platform.
If you do not want to click on that, here are the tools and their scope:
Some of these links are affiliates, so if you use the paid versions of those tools, I will get a commission :D Thanks in advance!
Each one of these tools is so intuitive to use that a step-by-step tutorial isn't necessary. However, YouTube has those! Search them! Don't see them! Create by Yourself!
Remember this
These days, The web app interfaces are intuitive so you do not need YouTube Influencers to help you do anything.
Algorithms
Do you remember that everyone has to make money? YouTube makes money by leveraging the power of algorithms combined with Ads.
But what is this algorithm?
In theory, the YouTube algorithm is a set of computer instructions designed to process videos and associated content such as comments, descriptions, engagements, etc., to rank and recommend videos based on relevance and viewer satisfaction.
What has this to do with the topic of this blog post? Well, these "how to" videos are one of the most searched strings on the internet, so... it generates traffic, and traffic generates views, and views have ads (or YouTube Premium Subscriptions), and Ads generate money.... so the algorithm will promote this kind of videos.
There are even lists of Power Words to be used as titles so that the video looks more appealing. Tailed Method made a simple Google Search. Check it: Power Words
The YouTube algorithm is explained more in this research paper, published by Google engineers Paul Covington, Jay Adams, and Emre Sargin.
So, by using what the algorithm recommends, you make money as a content creator... That's it.
If you are a content creator or just want a more in-depth blog post, Shopify made one: The YouTube Algorithm: How It Works in 2024
Should Tailed Method Start a YouTube Channel? If yes, what should it be about? Gaming? Recruitment Advice? Professional Development? Everything? Just mail us at info@tailedmethod.com with your response!
Guided Entertainment
YouTube is increasingly geared towards guided entertainment, making it challenging to find content based on your preferences.
Instead of prioritizing what users are looking for, the platform tends to push recommended videos curated by YouTube itself.
Even after finding a few relevant or loosely relevant results, the page quickly transitions into a stream of recommendations.
This shift towards a recommendation-heavy experience feels intrusive and diminishes the utility of YouTube.
Despite searching for specific content, users are often directed towards recommended videos, disrupting the browsing experience.
This trend persists regardless of the relevance of the initial search term, leading to frustration among users who feel that their preferences are being overlooked in favor of maximizing YouTube's profits.
Bonus
Learn how to use YouTube by following step-by-step beginner tutorials!
Hey Google, did I use it wrong until now? The Play Button is not for Playing? I have to watch a tutorial! My entire life is questioned right now!
The Trending Section (Romanians Only)
This is what was on Romania's trending page on 26.02.2024. If you get there by mistake, just close the page FAST! It's embarrassing and for our country, it should be just closed.
Reddit - The savior
Somehow, after so many years, you still get more relevant content on Reddit than on YouTube.
This platform comes in and gives us a helping hand, as always: YouTube Search Has Been Destroyed
At Tailed Method we have also made a list of steps to do so that YouTube gets a little bit at least like before:
Delete your entire history (search & video views)
Add some web plugins to block the Youtubers that you do not want to see
Check here the YouTube Search Operators: https://seosly.com/blog/youtube-search-operators/
Install uBlock Origin
YouTube will always update and this fight with irrelevant content is a continuous one. What works now, won't work soon, but it is always worth spending the time required to find a new method that blocks everything unrelated to your need!
Tailed Method Recommendations
Don't just take the title as sure. Most of the content these days is just clickbait and it doesn't bring any value to your life. If you want to have fun, or just write an article about it, go ahead. However, don't make yourself a habit to learn from these kinds of videos. You have Udemy, Course, SkillShare, etc.. for proper tutorials!
Conclusion
It's our job to do the due diligence. Now, more than ever, it's crucial to discern between valuable content and sensationalized clickbait on platforms like YouTube. While the platform offers a vast array of services and features, it's also inundated with influencers peddling get-rich-quick schemes and empty promises of happiness.
Despite the allure of shortcuts and quick fixes, true mastery and skill development require dedication, practice, and sometimes, seeking guidance from credible sources outside of the YouTube echo chamber. As the platform evolves and algorithms prioritize engagement over substance, it's essential to remain vigilant and discerning in our consumption habits.
So, as we navigate the ever-changing landscape of online content, let's remember to stay informed, stay discerning, and above all, stay true to ourselves in our quest for knowledge and growth.
,,When quantity goes up, quality goes down.''