IMPORTANT: Should the EEVblog have separate channels?

[EEVblog]

This should be in the EEVblog section, but it's so important I wanted the widest coverage in General Chat.

Ever since the start I have been of the opinion that the EEVblog should be only one channel, with everything included in it. As it made sense to consolidate all stats and views and growth into one channel etc. But I haven't been really concerned with that for a long time now, and separate channels are really working for Youtubers these days, myself included.

I added EEVblog2 for the extra "dump" content of random stuff, and that's been very popular.
Then I added EEVdiscover because I had the plan to make more site visit videos (that's still on the cards BTW, Rode factory tour lined up). 20k people subbed to that.

I thought about have EEVacademy but decided to trial having that content on the main channel.

The problem with a "broad interest" channel like mine that does a large variety of content is that most people will see a lot of content that they didn't subscribe for.
From my survey earlier this year only 32% said they watch every video regardless. So that's 68% of potentially unhappy subscribers with every video I upload.
There wasn't a single type of video that had over 60% of people agree that they enjoyed that content.

So my question is in three parts:
1) should I split up content into more channels?
e.g. (just examples, I'm not necessarily suggesting all these)
EEVmailbag
EEVreviews
EEVblab (EEVrant/EEVopinion ?)
EEVacademy (EEVtutorial ?)
EEVlive
EEVvintage
EEVteardowns
etc

2) If so, what channels would you like to see split off, and what name should they have?

3) Is more channels, what content should stay on the main EEVblog channel?

Thanks.

BTW, if I went with more new channel I'd copy over existing content to "seed" the channel.

[nctnico]

I voted 'keep it as it is'. I think it is good to show people content which they are not interested in initially. It might spark some new ideas. My reasoning: IMHO the forum is a bit too fragmented as well with too many section. I'm only looking in a few sections but I'm sure there are interesting topics in other section which I'm not aware off.

[Towger]

Keep it as is, unless you are going to (hire staff etc) to dramatically increase your output.  If you want to easly designate different content use the title. Ie [Mailbag], [Rant], [Repair] etc

[Echo88]

Its perfect as it is. Splitting everything up would lead to way less videos per channel and might also make some subscribers unhappy.

[BravoV]

Perfect as it is, and worry you might lose the focus as the diversified channels probably will consume you, negatively.

Like switching loses high vs low freq. at switching power supply, silly analogy of course. 

My 2 1/4 watt resistors worth.

[Richard Crowley]

I voted for more channels. But, as usual, advantages and disadvantages.
Since there isn't any better way to categorize videos on YT, separate channels for mailbag, teardowns, tutorials, etc. would make it convenient to identify content.
OTOH, it would make the different channels to appear "thinner" with the content Balkanized into different places.


Looking forward to tour of Rode.     
It would be great to see inside Blackmagic Design, also.

[JPortici]

I like the current situation.. The main channel, with channel 2 for extras an more unrelated stuff and EEVDiscover for the outdoor

[tautech]

There wasn't a single type of video that had over 60% of people agree that they enjoyed that content.

Hardy surprising.
As you try to cater for such a large audience there's no chance you can produce such a wide range of content that all viewers will watch everything you do.
The topic/content title is our first filter and if we're interested, we'll watch. It's that simple.
Personally I'd rather have on a single list so not to miss any of interest.

Further support for status quo.

[BBBbbb]

Since I just open the subscriptions section on YT and browse what's new and interesting, and don't pay attention to what channel it is, it really makes no difference to me if Dave's content is under one channel or 10.

[hans]

I would suggest keeping it as is. Main channel for normal episodes, side channel for unpolished work.

The ratio you've posted is just what it is. Can't please everyone. I think 30/70 roughly is already pretty good considering how many kind of electronics there is, people interests and backgrounds, types of videos etc.  People always have the option to not watch it. The title and thumbnail clearly if it's a teardown, review, mailbag, design video or repair.

I also don't like split up channels simply because it makes new content harder to find. Does a user have to sub to 10 different channels or potentially visit 10 channels to check for content? What if you decide to add a new channel, will that segment it even more?

[Towger]

It would be great to see inside Blackmagic Design, also.

Agreed, they produce some great equipment.  But, Dave seems to have a 'thing' about them.

[EEVblog]

It would be great to see inside Blackmagic Design, also.

Agreed, they produce some great equipment.  But, Dave seems to have a 'thing' about them.

And what "thing" would that be? 
I've been told by someone in the know that they are very secretive about their design and manufacturing facility and likely would not grant a tour, so I haven't bothered asking. Also, they are in Melbourne.

[JustMeHere]

More channels = more clicks or searches.  KISS.

[voltlog]

I like the current setup, if I open a video and the content is not my thing I just move on to the next one.
I don't watch content as soon as it's uploaded, unless it is a very interesting subject, otherwise I usually catch up when I have a "free time window" so to me it seems like a two channel solution works. One main channel and a secondary one for uploading random stuff.

[mikeselectricstuff]

I think having multiple channels would lead to "dilution" and confusion. With one channel, people see sub notifications and decide whether to watch or not. Would people bother subbing seperately to multiple channels ?
As long as video titles are clear I'm not sure what the benefit would be from splitting any more than the main and sub channels as it is now

[Peabody]

Full disclosure:  I'm a downloader, not a subscriber.  More channels just means more places I have to check for new content.  More trouble.  No benefit.  As it is, I check two channels.  I didn't know about Academy/Discover.  Not sure why I didn't know.  Anyway, I vote to leave as is.

[janoc]

Dave, you aren't producing that many videos for such extensive split to make much sense. Don't over-organize - just tag/title the videos so that it is easy to find (or skip if not interested in some type of content) and be done with it. It is better to spend time on making quality content than on organizing and having 20+ channels with one or two videos in most.

It may also dilute your viewership and cause issues with monetization if you don't get enough views on them.

I think the current setup is fine, I wouldn't mind even if all videos were on the main channel.

[lacek]

I added EEVblog2 for the extra "dump" content of random stuff, and that's been very popular.

Great idea it was IMHO.


For the rest I can summarize what follows as separate channel is a good idea if: 1) it has content of a different style AND 2) it has a specific focus (say explaining basics, reviews...) AND 3) you are able to populate it frequently enough: once per week is a miniumum

Then I added EEVdiscover because I had the plan to make more site visit videos (that's still on the cards BTW, Rode factory tour lined up). 20k people subbed to that.

I am not convinced it needed to be on a separate channel, but as long as it hosts not only electronics (such as voyager stuff) it is a fine idea to keep it separate. If you visit Intel HQ, then please make a redacted version for a main channel as well.

I thought about have EEVacademy but decided to trial having that content on the main channel.

To make it a separate channel, you would need much more content. Say once per week in a planned fashion. With the quantity you have now it is perfectly fine on the main channel. You have also playlists....

The problem with a "broad interest" channel like mine that does a large variety of content is that most people will see a lot of content that they didn't subscribe for.

Current system of putting a "keyword" such as EEVacademy, mailbag into the prominent place of the video title works just fine.

From my survey earlier this year only 32% said they watch every video regardless. So that's 68% of potentially unhappy subscribers with every video I upload.
There wasn't a single type of video that had over 60% of people agree that they enjoyed that content.

I skip some videos, but it does not make me unhappy.

1) should I split up content into more channels?

Only if you plan to substantially increase the quantity of the videos.

EEVreviews

This could be separate, but:
- currently your reviews are "spontaneous"/"first impressions" to some degree. It fits nicely with the main channel EEVBlog style.
- I see a place for more "extensive" reviews, akin to Linux Tech Tips style of electronic equipment - more prepared, more benchmarks, more systematic, more... but this would have to be separate, indepedent serious actvitiy, most likely requiring hiring new people. For example comparing signal generators, osciloscopes, multimeters of several brands. Quick justification:  sub $50, sub $100 multimeters videos are out of date by how.

Actually it is similar to all channels: to make "more specialist" channels you need to have much more "specialist" content, which you will be unable to provide yourself. You need a larger team.

EEVblab (EEVrant/EEVopinion ?)

Are you able find a topic to blab about every week?

EEVacademy (EEVtutorial ?)

Yes, but only if you plan to make a systematic course in say "practical electronics" say "Soldering BGA's...", "Programming Mictrocontrollers", "Schmidt triggers for newbies" - this sort of videos.

EEVlive

Louis Rossmann has a shop and he can make live videos about his clients, projects, screwups, "right of repair" stuff. You don't have a company that deals with clients/politics every day. I am afraid that unless I am missing something, it will be difficult to fill this channel with content.

EEVvintage
EEVteardowns

these fit nicely on the main channel.

[Bear207]

Agree with keeping current configuration and possibly adding a title tag as previously suggested MAILBAG, REPAIR, 2MT "2 Minute Teardown", Etc.

Honestly not that difficult to scan your content and decide if I wish to view or not.  Nice to see videos I would not have found otherwise too.

Thank you for your efforts

[drussell]

I strongly prefer one single channel and the use of playlists, etc. rather than multiple channels.

edit:

BTW, if I went with more new channel I'd copy over existing content to "seed" the channel.

Good god, please don't do that!! 

I don't want to start getting recommended videos from a each new EEVblog channel for videos I've already watched.  I would likely end up just having to block all those new channels with the "Not Interested -> Don't show this channel" option to make it stop spamming every place YouTube jams recommended videos.  That would mean potentially often missing things I might actually really want to watch.  I certainly don't want to have to scan 30 different EEVblog channels for something.  Having EEVblog2 is annoying enough already, IMHO. 

Also, +1 for better title tags.

[joeqsmith]

I voted for everything in a single channel but I could see people not wanting to see much of what is posted on the 2. 

[VEGETA]

One channel only but return to do the old content.

[rsjsouza]

I voted for the status quo of mixed channels. With Youtube's merry-go-round of missed subscriber notifications and dropped "recommended videos" from a user's main page (à guise of "experimenting a new algorithm), having all in the same channel will certainly help minimize missed videos from your audience.

One idea that I tend to use in my small channel: I preface the name of my videos differently: something you did as EEVBlog ### or EEVBlab ### and so on. This can help people figure out from the beginning if the video covers something they are interested.

[Brumby]

I'm not against having channels with some commonality - but the danger is to go too far and have a plethora of channels that spread your audience too thin.  Further, that publishing enough material to maintain interest in all of those channels will turn into a life-sucking exercise - the realistic outcome being reduced frequency and, thus, increased disinterest through people getting jaded waiting for material to be published.

The existing structure works for me - and I don't think any departure from it should be too dramatic or you will be making a rod for your back, Dave.

Besides, there is nothing wrong with a bit of diversity.  Keeping focussed on a single theme denies the viewer of the opportunity to be exposed to a variety of subjects - something YouTube does at the end of every video.  I know I've started watching something of Dave's that I might not have made the effort to find, but enjoyed the material enough to watch it to the end ... and I learned something.

That's not to say I watch every video of Dave's.  There have been a couple that I've bailed out before the end - but I usually give each one a chance.

[analogo]

I strongly prefer one single channel and the use of playlists, etc. rather than multiple channels.

Let's quote drussell: Avoid multiple channels and use playlists.

There are many content-filled channels that do a good job of keeping their playlists in order and use them as mini-channels. It is the best compromise IMO.