Howcast and other Instructional Video Sites
With a couple of million dollars in financing, three ex-Google employees founded a New York City startup called Howcast.;)
The website aims to be the YouTube of instructional videos, only with a bit more polish and with great production.
Jason Liebman, Daniel Blackman and Sanjay Raman left Google Video
and YouTube eight months ago, and, with Howcast, signed distribution
deals with Myspace, Verizon and Joost, among others. While there is
some competition, what Howcast is promoting is their
professionally-shot instructional videos.
These videos have a common formula: 1) the Howcast graphic, 2) an
intro explaining the materials needed for the task at hand, and 3)
step-by-step instructions. Other features of Howcast include letting
users jump to different chapters or steps, zoom, or provide
transcripts.
Viewers can also comment, give tips or warnings, and browse the
video directory without interrupting the video being played. Some can
even suggest more topics to create instructional videos on.
Aside from Howcast, here are other websites dedicated to instructional videos:
Expert Village
This user-generated instructional video site numbers more than 50,000
how-to videos uploaded, connecting freelance filmmakers and
videographers. Basically, filmmakers can get “assignments” based on the
most searched topics on the web. After they create the how-to video,
Expert Village pays for the rights from the video’s creators. This
results in quite a diverse range of how-to videos from eyebrow-waxing,
checking automobile batteries for corrosion to baking traditional
Challah bread.
5min
Based in Israel, the site maker’s basic philosophy is that everyone is
good at something, so people can upload a video to share their
expertise and knowledge. They won 2nd place in the 2007
European-focused Startup 2.0 contest.
Instructables
This was developed by Squid Labs, which is mainly focused on technical
innovation. After all, the founders used to be part of the MIT Media
Lab. The instructional videos here provide a forum for personal
creativity, because it lets users describe how they created something
and give instructions on how others can do the same.
MonkeySee
Here, users can upload and share how-to videos, as well as access
videos created by those considered as experts in the user community. To
be considered an “expert”, a user has to create a video that meets
Monkeysee’s guidelines for submission.
This expert status means the videos created will be accessible from the
homepage or the main categories. To launch MonkeySee, the makers
amassed more than 4,000 videos using Sony HDV cameras to shoot
thousands of videos with experts from hobby and social networking sites.
WonderHowTo
Developed by a former Fox executive named Stephen Chao, this website
claims to be the largest how-to website. It doesn’t host content, but
instead links to around 90,000 of only the “best instructional videos
from YouTube and other sources.” The website is easy to use, loads
quickly, has a diverse range of topics and is well-presented. Users can
also create profiles, send messages to other users and suggest and rate
videos.
Traditional instructional videos on VHS tapes are now being replaced
by online videos. The latter makes it easier for rewinding and pausing
videos, and get the additional features that can be had online.
Sources:
“’Howcast’ Steps Up to the How-To Challenge.” Retrieved June 2, 2009 from
http://www.explainist.com/?p=20
“Introducing the World’s Largest How-To Video Syndication Network.” Retrieved June 2, 2009 from
http://www.reelseo.com/new-how-to-video-sharing-site-monkeysee/
Schonfeld, Erick. “Ex-Googlers launch instructional video site Howcast, raise $8million a round.” Retrieved June 2, 2009 from
http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/02/06/ex-googlers-launch-intsructional-video-site-howcast-raise-8-million-a-round/
“Wonderhowto.” Retrieved June 2, 2009 from
http://econsultancy.com/blog/2134-wonderhowto-an-instructional-video-site
(Published 15 June 2009, Smart Communications, Inc.)
