VideoVoo: Online Video Marketing

Make magazine (makezine.com), the growing center of hackers, DIY fans, tech enthusiasts, recycling artists, etc. offers an amazing repository of geek how-tos, (including how-to videos and video shots of Maker Faire events) “loaded with exciting projects that help you make the most of your technology at home and away from home,” as the about page writes. The quarterly journal has been such a great success since 2005 that soon they are coming out with their own national public TV shows, while continuing to churn out exciting projects on the online Make video-channel hosted by Bre Pettis (on YouTube and Blip.TV).

A few months ago at Austin Maker Faire, we have received a mini brochure (needless to say, turned into a no-brainer origami) advertising the HD showcase for Makers (Make TV, more precisely Make:TV featuring half-hour episodes will be presented in High Definition TV and streamed on the web. The executive producer is Richard Hudson at tpt, Twin Cities Public TV (which is behind Newton’s Apple, America’s top-rated family science show, Dragonfly TV, which is a Parents’ Choice Gold Award Winner, etc.). The episodes will feature YOU, Makers, kids and adults from all over the US (and I assume elsewhere too, hopefully). The promise is to “empower millions of TV viewers to take remote control of technology and make it their own.” You can read further info on the makeshift Make-TV.org site. And don’t forget: “Make:TV producers are scouting for extraordinary, fun, and amazing projects.”
Here you can peep into the Watch Make:TV currently featuring the air cannon, the circuit bending, and the cigar box banjo projects - keep in mind please, that we are early bird visitors. I asked Phillip Torrone about how the show is going and he wrote back that “we’re not going to be talking about the MAKE tv show yet. we’ll have more to say about this in 2008 - but one thing to know is we’ll always have video online.”

History of online Maker videos

The first Make video was uploaded on YouTube in March 22, 2006 (if I’m not mistaken), while Make TV show started to run on Blip.TV in July 2006. As for Blip.TV, Phillip Torrone senior Make editor says “we like the player, the high quality playback and the team at blip”. However, YouTube still brings more eyeballs than Blip.TV - maybe more revenue too? Since December 2007 Make magazine has been in the YouTube Partner program, so they will get some revenue from the most popular video social networking site too. In 2008 they are also getting on air more ‘officially,’ harvesting more exposure on more screens, which is a nice example of an online success story spreading out on a national TV channel well-known for educational science programs. What can we expect in 2008? “MAKE has pioneered putting PDFs in podcasts (and 3D PDFs) in our iTunes channel, i think in 2008 we’ll do more great video and video features that blur the line between print, online and web video - and we’ll be working with some new partners to get how-tos and learning in more places.” We can expect more sponsors (besides ponoko.com or microchip.com) waking up and shaking themselves. Why? Just look at the stats below who frequent the Make DIY stage: “science and technology influentials.”

What about makezine stats that the project is based upon?

“After only two years, Make boasts a loyal readership of over 300,000. Over 3,000,000 unique visitors, 7,000,000 page views a month on its companion Web site, makezine.com, and one million viewers per month check out Make’s how-to videos on YouTube.” (data by Phillip Torrone senior editor)

Make viewers, readers, makers:
Make:TV will capture Make Magazine’s existing fans. Market research shows that Make’s readers are:

* science and technology influentials: the trusted advisors who recommend and advocate products and services to their families, friends, and colleagues,
* 20-40 years old, on average,
* well-off: $108,900 average household income, and
* well-educated:
* nearly 90% are college educated, and
* 29% have a graduate-level education.

Attila, my husband, who is a maker too (although a biotech maker) and me are very much looking forward to further great video stuff from Make, Bre Pettis, Phillip Torrone and the team as such. By the way, Mark Frauenfelder, the editor-in-chief of MAKE has just been picked Number 3 on the Top 25 web celebs Forbes list. What if BoingBoing TV is also on the way of getting into a national channel? Sure, it must be. :)