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Company: Quickrelease.tv
Project: Quickrelease Internet TV
Dates: Jan 2007 to Dec 2008
How did the project start?
I'm the editor of BikeBiz.com, the bike trade website and magazine. I've written text and taken pix for 20+ years. I've now extended my reach into video. Quickrelease.tv was started to host embeds of my online video and other media.
What options did you consider?
Self-hosting, or paying for Brightcove-style video frontage, didn't seem sensible for a start-up so I originally posted to Google Video and YouTube. YouTube has the biggest number of user numbers so it makes sense to be sited here. However, YouTube may one day gum up (it's currently getting 10 hours of video content uploads per second!) and should not be the only gateway to my content. I also send hi-res versions of many of my YouTube videos to iTunes and other podcast sites via Libsyn, and to the hi-res video hosting site Vimeo.com. I also post to Revver.com, partly for the revenue sharing but mainly for the clever coding of videos to both Flash and Quicktime. Being available across a large number of platforms (available on iPods, Macs, PCs, Apple TV, PSPs and iPhones) extends the potential audience and keeps the site flexible. The hi-res options also reward regular viewers.
What help and expertise did you receive?
I received a lot of advice - and some coding work - from fellow bike bloggers and pedalling podcasters in the US.
Did you face any challenges or learn any lessons?
The main challenge was to boost viewers from zero. My top YouTube video has now had 83,000 views. All the videos combined have had 515,000 views. I'm a one man business and to be able to point to half a million+ video views is an amazing sales tool. Quickrelease.tv gets up to 1200 'unique visitors' each day. My YouTube videos can be found embedded on Quickrelease.tv and here: http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=carltonreid&p=v
What are the outcomes and how has it improved your business?
It's tough to make anything other than pin money from Google AdSense or Amazon syndication. My business makes money from videos sponsored by clients. As video views have grown, it's been easier to sell sponsorship and advertising. The site is now making good money. And all from home in the NE of England. Perfect.
What are your plans for the future?
Increase viewers, especially iTunes subscribers. Send more content to iTunes for Apple TV. Internet TV is already huge and is going to get even bigger so it's good to be in at the start. According to the Pew Internet & American Life Project, 57 percent of Internet users watch video online, and among ‘young adults’ aged 18-29 - a key audience for marketeers - that number jumps to 74 percent. Being able to offer content that reaches out to this demographic is a valuable asset. I started out as an amateur, YouTube-style 'user-generated' content provider but have now taught myself how to use the variety of tools out there to look more professional. I have no video background whatsoever but am now selling my services as a videographer. A client based in Italy sent over a product to be filmed being used, and paid well for the work. The future could bring many more such commissions and I'll have to invest in new equipment. I can also see the business expanding, taking on employees.
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