Ever since @Mikeinthefalls raised the question: Photos or Videos -Which shall I post? I have been trying to answer it. I’ve doubled the number of videos I have posted on Maps from about 60 to 130. A couple of days ago I wrote a post: Photos or Videos -Which shall I post? Part 2 where I posted a table summarizing the recent videos and photos I had added to over 20 POI’s on Maps. But to be honest, it looks boring even to me and it is hard to read. I was hoping that guides would dig in and explore and give their thoughts on what I have been doing. I am still hoping that you will. For an easier to read table try this link.
I decided to make some video albums showing a few of the categories I have been experimenting with. The description of each video gives you some info about the video and current (as of today) number of views. If there are similar videos, take a look at the number of views to see how they differed in success.
I have started with 3 categories that I think have potential:
This is amazing @Rednewt74 . Truly, you are so detailed in your work. I love for the table that you shared that you included so many different locations to allow you track an even larger amount of quantity.
Nice effects on the videos too, and I can see how you pour your heart into filming them- making sure the angles and view are all perfect. They are so wonderfully produced. I especially like the pastry and candy display ones. I’m a snackaholic so they spoke to my stomach too.
I loved your comments about our friend @Rednewt74 's videos…
Though, the current trend of 10 & 15 seconds videos, I find videos like “Coffee Making” need at least 20 seconds or more - otherwise an anxious viewer won’t be happy…
I have been analysing the videos of many LGs… I couldn’t yet conclude any opinion…
However, my most viewed video is a Gandhi Statue/Beach/Lighthouse shot… Another drone shot is of a temple Gopuram… So, surely there is a regional / local ‘Sensitivity’ component in it - we need to study in detail. (getting postponed because of shortage of time).
I agree about certain videos, such as the coffee making ones, needing to be longer. When I created one of the coffee making videos, it was originally 49 seconds long, so I divided it into 2 parts.
I think most of my videos are between 10-20 seconds, but I don’t hesitate to use the full 30 seconds that are available if the subject warrants it.
Love the thoughts you shared @TravellerG . That is interesting how there could be that local “sensitivity” to it- which makes sense- more people may search for coffee shops in the US so those videos may have more views.
I agree as well how some videos may take a bit longer especially if more content to capture.
If you cover the frontage of a monument or a statue and it’s surrounding, then the 30 seconds is fully useful.
However, displaying a single dish doesn’t need more than 9 seconds.
Regional Sensitivity:
This point is equally applicable for stills also.
There is a UNESCO Heritage site (a beach town) by name [Mahabalipuram.](http://Mahabalipuram,%20Tamil Nadu 603104) (Tamil Nadu, India l
Here there are many monuments (almost 50) are available - to be frank with you, the Monuments promoted by the localites (Guides of local origin) get more viewers though the other monument may be more important.
“… more people may search for coffee shops in the US so those videos may have more views…”
This is also equally important…
If you see Google Maps, I believe that the most reviewed PoI will be Restaurants/Coffee Shops/Eateries… This should be equal for the Global Google Maps Community…
@tony_b and I have discussed this as well. I do think that location has a great deal to do with what businesses get the most searches and therefore the most views. Not only by country but by region in the US (Fried Chicken in the South and clam chowder in the Northeast), and especially the difference between Metropolitan areas and small rural towns. But I would bet that coffee shops are the number one search in the US. I don’t suppose we’ll ever know. What say yea, @AZ_2021 ? Maybe food locations get so many views because most people care a lot more about how good their meal is going to be then where to buy some shoes or whatever.
Hello @TravellerG . I’m a bit confused about your mention of a current trend of 10 to 15 seconds. Surely 4 seconds was recommended when this new focus started. Am I wrong on that? I almost thought some of mine were too long.
@Rednewt74 This subject always fascinates me. I well remember when @shunsader explained about his son doing a search for “dinner near me”, to find a restaurant to visit for the evening meal. Nobody in my family ever does that search, and I still find it hard to understand the reasons why people look at various Maps POIs in my particular country. And while his son would view the photos and videos of the food and the interior of the restaurants, I’m still a fan of the Storefront Series by @MortenCopenhagen , and generally get more views for the exterior of a place than of what’s sold inside.
Thank you for bringing up that discussion we had about Steve’s description of how his son uses Maps and how different it is from the way you and I do. I’d been focusing on the difference location and region makes, while forgetting about the difference between generations, etc.
You have this great ability to remember tidbits from past discussions and then add them in to bring more depth to the current conversation.
I guess it’s lucky for Maps that guides are so diverse, and can learn from each other.
Thank you for sharing @TravellerG . Great observations and you are right how stills are based on what is popular in the region, and I agree- you are right how in the US food and drink, and plaza/mall photos get more views. Just more foot traffic there too so I think more people look those places up and see the photos listed there as well.
Love what you shared as well for the video timing- you are right- depending on the type of the video and what’s filmed it may or may not need to be as long.
Love your thoughtful discussions, and good point yes! I feel coffee shops are popular in the whole US and get a lot of foot traffic going there. Our culture is so fast-paced and go-go, so our days revolve around coffee. That could explain how you noticed a lot of views for your coffee place. I think you are right about food videos in general getting more views. That or museums too get a bit of views (provide museum is smaller and not super famous and oversaturated with videos). I think because for those two categories, people want to see what it’s like before going in.
I’ve also noticed too that for other places if no video is posted yet- even if it’s a store or gas station, the video tends to get more views since it’s the only one.
“I’m a bit confused about your mention of a current trend of 10 to 15 seconds. Surely 4 seconds was recommended when this new focus started. Am I wrong on that? I almost thought some of mine were too long.”…
There are many, many shots, less than 10 seconds… According to me, most of the useful clips are of " Food" only…
Again, my feeling… Pan shots needs to be more than 10 seconds…
If I stand shoot 360 panoramic clip, it fits in in 26 to 30 seconds… You too may try this… This is very useful when shot in front of Monuments/Beach, etc.
I general, as mentioned by our @AZ_2021 , the duration is highly dependant on the scene/subject.
Certain places, fast-speed recordings also is helpful…
In practice, I have rarely felt the helpfulness of SloMo…
Thanks for your helpful comments @TravellerG . Not boring at all. It is good to see the range of different applications, and what applies in each different scenario.
I agree with AZ_2021 that there is no correct length. The combination of
Subject
Location
Technique
How busy a POI is
What you are trying to convey
All of these factor into the length.
I’ve seen 10 second videos that were too long and 20 second ones that were too short. I’d guess my shortest one has been 0:08 and I have a few that go the full 0:30. So far I haven’t seen anything to suggest the length is a big factor.
Most of mine run 10 to 20 seconds.
I do a lot of “composite” videos where I combine 2 or 3 videos together. I find it’s easier to stay smooth and focused for a few seconds at a time.
It also allows me to use different angles and to combine closeups with wider pans. TravellerG, as to slo-mo, I shoot almost everything in “cinematic pan” which slows the video by 50%, which makes it look much smoother. If your camera has slo-mo or can shoot at 60fps, you can get the same effect with editing.
Pan speed is an art. Most of the time we go too fast and in portrait mode it is even harder. I still use landscape for exteriors
The food video challenge is up to over 70 submissions. I have been looking at every one and the range is wide.
@Rednewt74 Can you please give the process or app you use to edit the videos. My apologies if you’ve already covered this, but I’m a couple months behind Connect-ing. The effects and smoothness of the photo montages are fantastic.
