Ads in Videos

[Huuwap]

Alright, this might not be the right section but it seems right enough to me. I wish I could add a poll, but it doesn't seem as though I have that ability.

Anyway, the first question: Would you watch vaping reviews with advertisements?
Second: Would you sit through the ads if it meant more variety in items reviewed?

I'm having a hard time deciding this for myself. I have an adsense account, YouTube gives me an option to monitize videos (and I have yet to do it). The benefits to me are obvious - additional income to buy cool / new stuff to review for community members. The detriments are also pretty obvious - a crappy xx second ad before the video and possible overlay ads throughout.

Assuming that all income derived from ads goes to PV supplies, how likely are you to accept seeing advertisements in a video?

Thanks for your honest opinon. I'm not a fan of ads, I have ads blocked in my browser and have blocked ads for close to 10 years. My concern is not me, but being able to explain products to the end user, you...are you willing to sit through ads to see more variance in reviewed items?

 

[st0nedpenguin]

I'd stick the ads on, if anybody doesn't like them they're easy enough to block.

 

[basilray]

I think this question gets to the heart of why someone would be reviewing in the first place.

My contention is that any one who reviews should not be in it for a profit. You can cetainly say that the funds will go to only purchasing new devices or accessories for review, but unless you're providing records of income generated and how it was spent, is that genuine?

As a reviewer, and one who hosts regular live content every week, my desire is simple: I want to help make vaping understood and to help people make educated decisions with their purchases. I strive to provide informative and relatively objective looks at everything I review...most of which I end up purchasing or trading for. At no point has profit ever really crossed my mind. In fact, YouTube/Google email me regularly suggesting I sign up for ad revenue. I have never given it any thought. That's not why I am in it.

There's a certain level of trust that is required from a reviewer as well. There have been several reviewers in the past who were found out to be "on the take" or soliciting freebies in exchange for good reviews. It should go without saying they were flushed out of the mainstream, and most of them hung up their fedoras...or hats. In fact, there are some reviewers out there who's motives and funding I question. Would I ever make a claim without some sort of evidence? Certainly not. In the end, their notereity is worth more to the community than their demise. But this is a common-place in the review world.

When it's all said and done, it's your decision. I have personally chosen not to engage in profit from review. I would never sell something that was provided to me for review purposes either for that very reason. If your motives are honorable, many will look past an ad to get to good content. If the motives are profit, I personally would not tune in.

 

[Huuwap]

I will be completely objective with anything that comes through my hands, regardless of how it came to my hands. Reviewers helped me out immensely when I started this journey, and my only question was "How the hell do they afford to do reviews of all this?". I do want to give back to the community, and right now all the vape equipment I've been buying is slowly starting to dwindle to cartos and juice as I find what I really like and start to turn finances around with savings from smokes not bought.

I have an AdSense balance of $0.43 from 2 years ago when I ran a blog for about 2 months, that came from 3 clicks out of the 2k views total the blog got. I'm not holding my breath for ad revenue here, and even if I get some ad clicks I highly doubt it will be substantial at all. In fact, I'll be open with that figure if that's what my viewers want. I don't see vendors throwing items my way for review, so I need to do something to diversify items I review that doesn't involve getting bludgeoned by my wife for spending bill money. I have the mod I want, I'm in search of a good tank, and I've just about settled on a juice. Would I be opposed to make a bit of money on this? Absolutely not, but it's not my goal. Right now I could stand a webcam upgrade - I've been borrowing one from work that really isn't up to snuff for the job.

I'm going to throw ads on my review videos. If money comes in, great, I'm skeptical that it will. If it doesn't, reviews will just come out a bit slower and be a bit less diverse...but a review is a review.

Thanks basilray, you've been a big help on this one.

 

[FunkyVapes]

I love this discussion. I used to toss the ads on all of my review videos. Albeit I'm not as well known as Basilray, Pbusardo or Grimmgreen, but I have a little following all the same. I look up to those guys and love the message they try to get across while they provide quality content for us to watch. I'd much rather sit back with a few mods and vape away while I watch hours of review videos - even if I've seen them before - than watch TV.

I can set a playlist up on fullscreen and soak in as much info as I can, all day. That being said, it is nice not to have the little ads at the bottom or wait for a video to begin with one of those fullscreen ads, but I don't think it's too big of a deal. I decided to remove all my ads a few weeks ago just to make the experience a little nicer, but I wouldn't hold it against someone if they used them.

Grimm and Scott (igetcha69) could make a small fortune if they used ads and I would still watch.

Just my two (Canadian) cents.

I would never sell something that was provided to me for review purposes either for that very reason

I had to think about this one long and hard too. I was given a Diamante to review and I put it through it's paces. I just didn't like the VV on it, so I traded it for a Reo Grand that I love. I'm not sure how honourable that it is but the way I see it, some other guy got to try it out and I got hooked on the Reo line in exchange.

I'm selling a huge lot of stuff that I just don't use anymore, along with 400ml of juice, 30ml or so of it was juice that I was given to review but don't want to vape all day. I'm not sure how you guys feel about that one, but again, it will just sit there and expire. I suppose I could just give it away but I threw it into my garage-sale lot which is priced very fair, and was sure to note which juices I got for free.

 

[st0nedpenguin]

Realistically ads on YouTube have nothing to do with reviewer integrity anyway since the ads would be for Kias and feminine hygiene products and not vaping kit.

 

[basilray]

Grimm and Scott (igetcha69) could make a small fortune if they used ads and I would still watch.

Just my two (Canadian) cents.



I had to think about this one long and hard too. I was given a Diamante to review and I put it through it's paces. I just didn't like the VV on it, so I traded it for a Reo Grand that I love. I'm not sure how honourable that it is but the way I see it, some other guy got to try it out and I got hooked on the Reo line in exchange.

I'm selling a huge lot of stuff that I just don't use anymore, along with 400ml of juice, 30ml or so of it was juice that I was given to review but don't want to vape all day. I'm not sure how you guys feel about that one, but again, it will just sit there and expire. I suppose I could just give it away but I threw it into my garage-sale lot which is priced very fair, and was sure to note which juices I got for free.

I don't see anything wrong with trading devices you received for review purposes, or even gifting them to another vaper. It's the selling for profit that I would struggle with.

Realistically ads on YouTube have nothing to do with reviewer integrity anyway since the ads would be for Kias and feminine hygiene products and not vaping kit.

Scott does have ads now.

I asked Nick about this the first time I met him in person about a year ago, around the time my videos began garnering enough views to be offered revenue. Ultimately, he said about the same thing that I mentioned earlier. To him, the small amount of profit he might have seen wasn't worth tarnishing his name, or potentially tarnishing his name.

It's a matter of profiting from your status as a reviewer...not the source of the ads themselves, IMHO.

 

[FunkyVapes]

I don't see anything wrong with trading devices you received for review purposes, or even gifting them to another vaper. It's the selling for profit that I would struggle with.



Scott does have ads now.

I asked Nick about this the first time I met him in person about a year ago, around the time my videos began garnering enough views to be offered revenue. Ultimately, he said about the same thing that I mentioned earlier. To him, the small amount of profit he might have seen wasn't worth tarnishing his name, or potentially tarnishing his name.

It's a matter of profiting from your status as a reviewer...not the source of the ads themselves, IMHO.

Couldn't agree more. You guys have been such influential presences for myself and I'm certain thousands of other vapers out there and I really appreciate the integrity you guys have.

Vape Groovily

 

[5cardstud]

The problems I see with so many reviews lately is they are obviously biased towards the reviewers likes from so many of them that I pretty much quit watching them. There are a few like Grimm Green to mention one that give honest and unbiased reviews and they are the ones I seek out for product reviews. Not to say yours would be biased. Just giving my view on reviews.

 

[Sense Field]

This is something that I've thought about in the past, particularly when Scott started doing it. It's also something that nonvapors have brought up when I tell them about my review channel...particularly, they say "Why aren't you putting ads on there? You should be making money off of this".

I have to agree with Basil on this...it has the potential to ruin your rep and your rep is worth more then the few dollars you'll probably make off of ads, and I mean that, it's literally a few bucks a month.

On the other hand, talking about free products, I don't know any industry with a big review scene that doesn't give out free products for evaluation. Every single video game review site gets free games for review, and if for some reason a publisher doesn't provide a free copy for review, they buy it. Of course, video game review sites are funded by ads but the advertisers don't have such a one on one relationship with the actual reviewers.

I'm very open about my review policy...I buy about 50% of my stuff and I do ask for the other 50% as review units. From what I've been told by venders, most of the review units they send out are because a reviewer asked for it, so I see no problem with being upfront about it.

The truth is...as a reviewer...I don't get to use a unit that I might really like for all that long...which some would think the variety is great, but when you find that really great vape (Darwin, LavaTube, Mini Provari (review coming soon)) it sort of sucks to have to put it aside and spend two weeks vaping something that isn't as good for one reason or another.

That brings me to another point that perhaps is off topic...I don't think you can get a good feel for a device without at least 7-14 days of really living with it.

 

[basilray]

I agree. I use a new device for 5 consecutive days prior to even thinking about a review. When I say consecutive days, I mean days where that is the ONLY device I use for 5 consecutive days.

You can't assess it if you haven't lived with it.

 

[Huuwap]

You guys rock, thanks for all the input.

How do you approach vendors to ask for products to review, and how often do they send something along to you? Is this something that does happen spontaneously without asking for it, or do you often need to approach a vendor to get a review item in hand? Does it happen proportionately with channel views?

 

[Sense Field]

You guys rock, thanks for all the input.

How do you approach vendors to ask for products to review, and how often do they send something along to you? Is this something that does happen spontaneously without asking for it, or do you often need to approach a vendor to get a review item in hand? Does it happen proportionately with channel views?

Honestly man...It's not the main focus of reviewing...most people just want to make sure that other people don't buy crappy devices. If somehow people like your reviews and continue to watch, you might get some free stuff sent to you...but again, this isn't the goal of doing reviews. It goes without saying that reviewers would go broke if they purchased everything they review.

That said, I just dropped a large chunk of change on a Mini Provari and a provari V2. I don't need two provaris...I actually don't even need one...but I wanted to review them, especially because the new V2 fixes some issues that people may have had in the past and the Provape line of PVs interests me due to the following they have.

Generally doing reviews costs me more money then I would ever spend on ecigs and it doesn't get made up for in vender provided review units...I've dropped over $600 in the past month alone.

 

[FunkyVapes]

You guys rock, thanks for all the input.

How do you approach vendors to ask for products to review, and how often do they send something along to you? Is this something that does happen spontaneously without asking for it, or do you often need to approach a vendor to get a review item in hand? Does it happen proportionately with channel views?

Not to undermine Sense Field - especially because I used to watch his reviews all the time and they are great - but I wouldn't recommend asking for stuff. Maybe some juice if you're putting an order through, or mention that you're a reviewer and ask them if you want them to include any information (upcoming sales, ingredients, and so on) in the video, they will usually send you something extra.

When you ask for something and get it, you've already undermined your own opinion whether you are aware of it or not. Again, this is just my opinion, but I think it's pretty important to keep in mind. When I got the Diamante, I just commented
on their video that I would love to get my hands on one when they were ready and they contacted me and sent one out.

Just be friendly with your suppliers, review everything you already own or purchase and once the suppliers see the views rolling in they might start sending you stuff to check out.

 

[Huuwap]

I'm on the same track - just hope the backlash from my amazing, beautiful, supportive, facepalming wife doesn't put me in the doghouse .

I like doing it, so I'm going to keep doing it, whether I have the viewers or not. I just don't want to bore them with juice reviews, or my vaping antics while gaming

 

[FunkyVapes]

Haha, I'm sure you'll be a star. What is your channel called, I'd love to check out your videos and subscribe to start the ball rolling. Us amateurs have to stick together

 

[Huuwap]

It's linked in the sig, so quick an easy is to click the fish. Channel name is I'm A Vaper, username is imavaper. Oh, and I checked your vids out earlier today, and just subscribed before you posted. Thanks mang.

 

[FunkyVapes]

It's linked in the sig, so quick an easy is to click the fish. Channel name is I'm A Vaper, username is imavaper. Oh, and I checked your vids out earlier today, and just subscribed before you posted. Thanks mang.

Ah, that was you!

Thanks for the add, will check you out for sure. Best of luck

 

[Sense Field]

Not to undermine Sense Field - especially because I used to watch his reviews all the time and they are great - but I wouldn't recommend asking for stuff. Maybe some juice if you're putting an order through, or mention that you're a reviewer and ask them if you want them to include any information (upcoming sales, ingredients, and so on) in the video, they will usually send you something extra.

When you ask for something and get it, you've already undermined your own opinion whether you are aware of it or not. Again, this is just my opinion, but I think it's pretty important to keep in mind. When I got the Diamante, I just commented
on their video that I would love to get my hands on one when they were ready and they contacted me and sent one out.

Just be friendly with your suppliers, review everything you already own or purchase and once the suppliers see the views rolling in they might start sending you stuff to check out.

Honestly...I wouldn't have the ability to do half of the reviews I do if I didn't ask for stuff...once in a blue moon does a vender contact me to give me something...and I actually, normally but not all the time, turn them down...I find that venders that are asking you to review a device are probably, in a way, expecting you to do a good review as sort of a "Thank You" for the device.

Reviewers need content, or they will disappear. It's less about getting a review unit and more about keeping content flowing. In a recent conversation with a vender I was told that they have a list of reviewers who have asked for review units. I'm pretty sure it's common...it's just not spoken about.

Of course I could be wrong. Either way...there is potential for a reviewer to become biased even if they are given a free bottle of juice or an extra battery.

Of course...I think that is also up to the reviewer...personally...I want my viewers to be informed of good things and bad things...I would hate to have anyone buy something that I reviewed well only to find out it's horrible. So if your goal is to be a good reviewer and keep people away from bad devices...then you'll gain more viewers no matter how you obtain devices for review and it will be a driving force to keep yourself from being swayed one way or the other.

I would also say that being willing to buy a device simply because you want to review it or want to keep the content coming for your subscribers goes a long way to legitimize yourself in the review space.

 

[LordDavon]

I place ads in my reviews. The money will be going to ECF, when I make enough. If it weren't for ECF, I wouldn't be doing reviews, and I use it's forums to post my reviews. If it weren't for ECF, many of us wouldn't have this knowledge, nor would I probably still be vaping.

If someone doesn't like my ads, then they can block them. But, I am a supporting member of ECF, and believe in giving back. If someone doesn't watch my reviews because there are ads, then it is fine that they don't. Heck, most people don't watch them anyway.

But, if someone isn't supporting ECF, and has issues with a few ads in my videos, when I spend hundreds a month purchasing items to review, and I support ECF... meh, who needs 'em.

Sorry. Just my 2 cents.