New system to consider: Spliting youtube videos

I think this idea would be a major mistake. Almost everyone won't even click on the video that is just the discussion. I only would do it on some episodes myself. Not getting watch time after the episodes ends and the discussion starts is just part of the reality of doing reaction videos.

Mekar

I like the videos how they are now, always watch the whole thing. That's why I became patron :)

ReyMed

I think you made your point already across a lot of comments, bud. This is the way this patreon works and as long as we're in the loop and know what to expect each month, no real complaints here,.

fr0st

The more reactors i follow, the odder i find never having a schedule lol.

Peter Film

Plan is to watch demon slayer 1x7 and 8, Arcane 1x6, and FMAB 1x24 on Saturday, and release all of those asap!

Letts React

So what's the plan for watching and releases now, Kenny?

fr0st

I say... Try and see what happens! Obviously, most of the people on Patreon probably watch until the end. I know more frequent uploads on YouTube helps, so even if only 5-15k people watch the separate videos, that's still a win. Also, there's a market, or audience, for reviews as opposed to reactions. So maybe it would bring even newer viewers. Who knows???

HIM

Honestly, I don't think splitting it would help with that. Some people just don't want to watch the end discussion. For me, I prefer it if it's not super long. 10-15 min would be good, in my opinion. That's why I like your end discussion. Blindwaves discussions are too long for me, Normies are ok, and Yaboyroshis' are great.

Sou saetern

The discussion would get even less views It's extra work that doubt would be received well.

Karston James

I love your discussions at the end, and if I were on YouTube and you split it into two videos where I had to wait a day for your theories and whatever, I'd be incredibly disappointed. And even though your discussions are one of my favorite things about your channel, I sincerely doubt I'd watch the second video, because by then I would've lost interest/investment in your reaction for that episode. And for new viewers, I KNOW they won't go seeking out a second video, which would be a shame because, again, your discussions are really what make your channel what it is.

Leighton Williams

I don't know if you'll read this, but tbh I think most people watch for the reaction to the episodes not the theory crafting (myself included). I think most people watch reactions to re-live our first time watching the show and some want to watch what you guys come up with.

Orochimaru has a giant snake 😳

I’m pretty sure that’s what happens in most other reaction channels too. The beginning and the end are the least watched parts 99% of the time. While it is an interesting idea to split it up, honestly I don’t know how many people would actually tune in to another video just for the discussion. I honestly don’t mind seeing 1hr+ reaction videos but having to wait another day for the reaction might lower the interest of some people who would’ve stuck around for it if it was in the same video. Just my thoughts

Angel Hernandez

Perhaps, but I’m willing to bet the majority of their patrons began as YouTube only. So it’s not like there is a complete lack of perspective.

John M

Can confirm, I have accidently gone to a channel when searching for a reaction, stumbling across the discussion first and then end up looking elsewhere. I now know to look a bit deeper, but everyone is new to reactions at some point. And although it is only anecdotal, I don't think I could name one of the bigger reaction channels that separates things like that. Discussion portions are always going to be lower than the reaction and if they aren't splitting the videos, must be a reason. And hey, maybe someone will have the reaction on, get distracted and end up listening to the analysis and find they liked it.

ArtOfAdequacy

Yeah can confirm, tried to say as much above hopefully it makes sense to Kenny!

Peter Film

Yeah really depends what you want like if you wanna optimize there's people you can talk to or pay to look over channels and help. Mr Beast used to do that b4 he was huge. If you care about 30% but if u just wanna make good videos i think everything as is, is fine.

Peter Film

Exactly what i was thinking. If the discussion videos won't get much interaction, the whole channel might suffer from it

Retrogamefan1217

I urge you to do some more research into the Youtube algorithm for this; I am not an expert in it, but I am aware from what some other creators have said, that the algorithm can see low engagement / views on 1 video in a channel and end up bubbling the entire channel down. Something to do with it trying to capture viral stuff, if somebody puts out a single video that goes viral and then the next one gets much less engagement, the algo thinks it's a fluke. What I guess I am saying is, this shouldn't be entirely up to what patrons and viewers would like, but what the algorithm would like.

emelsi

Love this comment. It's like when research is investigated by a population that has bias

christian

I think if you go into a general episode verdict (note down while you watch what you want to comment on later and then have a general thoughts about the ep), that may be more engaging. The questions are good but since YT people can neither see, add, nor vote on them, they may not be interested as much.

fr0st

I'm personally for keeping it all the same, although I'm a Patreon watcher anyway and typically stay for the discussion unless I have other things to do. I saw someone mention chapters to show how much time is left for the episode verdict. That might be a good addition. I'm wondering if there could also be a way to get the commenters that watch the episode verdict involved? Maybe if people are reading the comments they could be more inclined to stay if there seems to be other viewers involved in the episode verdict and then drive up engagement.

christian

I like the chapter ideas too

christian

Yea if you do want to keep the questions change the segment name to Q&A or just throw in a grading scale before jumping into Q&As. lately there hasn’t been any verdicts coming in the episode verdict section.

Kyle cazares

Ya, i'd like to add though I don't think Kenny you should focus on this stuff. If Patreon/YT is in a good spot i'd just focus on the videos and content. I'd only dredge into doing stuff like this and going over analytics for hours if u needed to get more income to keep going or something yk?

Peter Film

That's a good point. Early on (ATLA, I think), "Episode Verdict" was K&M's own thoughts on the episode, but somewhere along the line it morphed into not being a "verdict" but instead answering Patreon questions.

JHB

If you want a really easy, genuine tip here Kenny. I think the way your outro is structured is a bit of this issue. Like just looked at Arcane 1x2 and the first 93 seconds is all intro. You might be better served working on that segment than the back end of the video I assume you don't keep 100% of people for that whole intro. And as I mention below u go to episode verdict and immediately answer questions. Setting it up as like, rating the episode then doing something else may be why people dip. Brutally honestly random ppl on YT are gonna not care much about Patreon questions as compared to you saying wow good episode, so sad, 8/10 it's very bland but that's imo the truth of it. (maybe if it was YT comments and Patreon was a place for uncut eps not questions, but that's a whole other suggestion) After an episode there's loose talking, then we go to a title card for episode verdict and then questions. If i am not misremembering lol. So the episode verdict section is answering questions, and you give thoughts before that. I'd suggest cutting the episode verdict and really cutting the whole segment down and when you film it work on being succint with some of this. Repeating this is on Patreon, like, subscribe (I Can't see ur analytics) but I assume you have viewers fall off at these points slightly. Example saying we appreciate the support while text says like and subscribe not only engages a viewer more to read and listen but saves repeating both. If you really wanna dig into this look through each videos watch time and try around different edits and see if you can maximize it. You should aim for 70% watching the whole thing and definitely high 90s for the first 30-60 seconds. If people drop off quick cut the intro, if they leave at the end edit the endings different and see what sticks.

Peter Film

So, I know the "Keep it the same" option is winning. But at the same time the people this poll is aimed towards (the people on youtube) aren't actually voting on it.

PowerElite

OMG Chapters are king for viewers, i dunno how it impacts channels but I legit skip some videos without knowing a different video I wanna see has it.

Peter Film

Got a whole reply answering that :) TLDR not analytically it reduces your channel CTR and Bounce rate if 3/6 vids you post get 30% the views consistently. It's a part of why YTs talk about being unable to change their content, the change has some videos with less views and kills channels. @letts Things change alot on YT, I often look at top people or nowadays Jimmy, you sometimes see no Mr Beast video for 3 months if it's not good enough to get 50m views. He knows a video with only 25m would kill his channel stats so he deletes them. The thing is you guys would get different views for Arcane and FMA I expect so you should be able to see some of this in your own stats if you delve into the hour by hour impressions, I expect when you did AOT back to back the second would get more/faster recommendations?

Peter Film

As a contributor to that phenomenon, I'll just let you know why I do it: I've already seen the full version on Patreon, and catch the TY version partly from general support and partly to check out counters and other stuff that makes up the YT edit. The discussions don't really have any of those "extras", so I'm prone to skipping those on YT, since I've seen them already and will catch them again when rewatching on Patreon (which tend to be full-length rewatches). For the poll, I voted to keep them as one long video because that's how I found out how you did these things, and that's how new viewers might. Though one possibility is picking a short series as a test bed and trying out the split format with that.

JHB

I like the idea I just mean in practice. Some of the other fans echo this sentiment.

Manuel Ayala

It’s more so people who want to watch the reaction only stay for the whole video, and people who like the discussion get it as well

Letts React

I think that the longer videos are the best no need to change it. Lol of course that would be my opinion since i bought the patreon though.🤷🏾

derick thomas

If people are exiting the video when it comes to the verdict I doubt they’ll watch a second video a day later where it’s only the verdict

Manuel Ayala

I love longer videos, so I'd be more than happy to keep watching as is. Not only that, I wouldn't want this to be something good intentioned that ended up with giving Kenny (or either of you!) More work than is necessary.

KT Bees

I suppose so 🤔 I feel like if you wanna go that route and make it a separate video, in that case it might be helpful to edit in little screen shots and stuff like that of the scenes you’re mentioning or discussing to give people reference

Nigel Douglas

hadnt considered this aspect, standalone the discussion would get less views, but isnt that worth it to get more views on the main reaction while still letting those who want to see the discussion see it?

Letts React

I think this is typical of reaction channels, especially with overlap in patreon viewers. Some viewers just like the initial gut reactions and others stick around for analysis. As someone who studies interactive design and media composition, I'd typically avoid having your viewers go to multiple places for content. Clicking or having to navigate to new videos could potentially hurt overall engagement. You want low effort on the users end. Multiple videos could also lead to confusion if say a new viewer accidentally clicked on a discussion video and turned away from the channel not realizing there was a live reaction on the channel too. Overall, I'd say keep it as is. I get that you want more uploads and shorter videos to have people watch all the way through, but I think seperate videos would cause more harm than good. If any thing, condense transitions and condense end discussions for YouTube. - 🎃

Pumpkin

Ngl I wouldn't come back the next day Just for a discussion keep them the same

MWS

Nah copyright can happen for only a 5s clip doesn't matter video length. Harder to argue a strike if it's a large percent of the video tho but Kenny only had a strike for Demon Slayer and it sounds like he didn't argue it.

Peter Film

I personally really enjoy your format. I think its super unique and a way more engaging way of looking at reaction videos. I will say do what's best for you and your channel and i will continue to watch regardless. But ill miss the format if it goes.

Leilah Ruan

Yeah unfortunately the question Kenny gotta ask is content or views here. More views? Easy cut the discussion, cut down reactions aim for 80 percent retention and adjust the thumbnail a bit for CTR. Content then ignore the 30 percent and do it how you want. Posting separate discussion videos I think will hurt both.

Peter Film

Hey Kenny youtube insight here since you're looking at retention aiming for 70 percent I assume. Sure cutting that is a great idea. However having a separate discussion simply analytically speaking is horrible. Youtube factors each videos return viewership in recommendations having say 100 people watch a reaction and 50 watch the discussion would significantly reduce Impressions through search and recommendations. Its the same reason channels focus you don't post a let's play and a vlog you want one content the same audience watches each post. What you could do is have the discussion on Patreon only. The real recommendation I'd give for what you're trying is to intersperse comments fully. Leaving only a short review at the end. Questions on patron only, pause and chat during the episode and after it's done say it was good, why and keep it super short.

Peter Film

Chelly

I agree with this. For you guys, I stick around for the discussion, because it's already part of the video. With other reactors, I'm guilty of cutting the video as soon as the show ends, just because I don't find their discussion as valuable. Since I already don't watch their post episodes, I'm almost certain that I wouldn't watch if they made a separate video.

imcalledgpk

I’m now watching through Patreon so it sounds like nothing changes here. But when I was on YouTube only, I loved hearing your discussions immediately following the reaction. I can’t speak for all reaction channels, but from the other ones I support and follow using a similar posting model it seems like that 30% metric is common. The majority of people just want to see a reaction and then quickly find some other bit of content. It’s certainly not the best situation, but people watch what they want to watch. And doing that extra work to split the videos doesn’t sound like it will give as equal or more value to you as opposed to leaving as is. Though I would suggest adding chapters to the video giving the markers for Intro, Reaction, and Discussion. In my experience, it helps the viewer gauge how much of the video is post-reaction discussion and can sometimes keep them engaged a little more past the reaction alone. It doesn’t always work, but it could help and doesn’t take too much effort. Just my 2 cents.

John M

seems like a decent idea. I wonder how much of that is people who watch on here already knowing the verdict. I know I hasn't been catching up on arcane on youtube as much because of time and busy at work and outside of the premiere i'm not likely to watch an episode I saw already on here.

Suplee215

I think in theory adding a separate videos for the discussion part would bring more views to it, but for me personally, I stick around for the discussion part because I just watched the episode with you. but I definitely wouldn’t just click on a just a discussion video without the reaction. I don’t see a lot of people doing that.

Nigel Douglas

I don't know enough about YouTube and how it works to give insightful advice. Feel like alot of people might just not realize how awesome the breakdown is

Bradley Hall

I would suggest whatever gives the less work for you guys

Calvin