Jack Lennon, who does the engineering on all my videos these days, pointed out recently that we now have 5,000 subscribers to this channel. The late Mark Cooney, with whom I began it, would be chuffed to bits. I admit that Jack and I are too. But after making videos for more than a year what's the future for this channel?
I started the channel by talking about a lot of the themes then current in my work, and a reasonable number were fairly topical as a result. However, over the last year my approach to social media has changed a bit, whether on my blog, YouTube or Twitter, where I probably have the biggest outreach. What I have realised is that a great many people are quite eager to learn about what goes on in our economy, and not many people are willing to sit down and tell them in what are meant to be fairly straightforward terms.
Overall that is where I see this channel going. Surveys on my blog suggest there are many themes people want explored. A recent series of videos on money was a part of that process of explanation, Another coming up on tax havens is similar in style, even if on a very different theme.
It has always offended me that the professions of which I am a part - whether as an accountant or economist - seem anxious to exclude outsiders from understanding what they are all about. The videos that I make are meant to provide an insight into the workings of both professions. Which have a critical impact on our collective wellbeing, whilst also providing tropics for debate. If they do that they will have succeeded. Thanks for viewing them and subscribing to the channel.
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Wouldn’t get too excited.. need to stick 3 zeros on before can monetise and need listening time around 10 mins
We have never aimed at monetisation
Any more than I have ever taken adverts on this blog
That great Irish an, George Bernard Shaw, once said professions were conspiracies against the laity.
What’s the name of that Professional organisation of economists of which you are a member?
I readily admit I am not sure what you are asking
It’s a shame that so few of your subscribers watch the videos. Viewing figures seem to be about 300-400 views. It’s almost as if having subscribed and watched a few videos, people lose interest.
Now, being constructive (because I am taking your first comment at face value), what do you suggest? I’d be curious, because that number is a lot more than many organisations that spend a lot more on video production than I do get.
In answer to Timothy Willis, I do not enjoy following videos or podcasts, I prefer reading which is usually quicker but enables me to look back and check on a point. I may not be alone in this.
I hope that you will back up future videos with the printed script, Richard. I do appreciate your site and the enormous effort and expertise that you put into it.
This tax haven series seeks to do that
Another forthcoming planned series actually uses the video to back up the written explanation
Finding the right balance on this may be key
But, I stress, the two are always complementary: everything said on the videos also appears on the site. I have no problem with duplication. Effective communication requires it.