Open sesame

[gwyn]

Off and on for a while now, I've considered getting rid of the password for my vids site (and also considering getting rid of the vids site altogether and just using megaupload or something similar, since I honestly don't think I get enough hits to warrant spending that kind of money for vids hosting anymore). But I waffle back and forth on it.

Nothing like what happened with killabeez recently on YouTube, or any of the other stealing/posting on YT/hotlinking/whatever, is very likely to ever happen to me. I know people probably say, mais non! But honestly, so few people even know about my vids that I can't see this happening the way it happens to popular vidders -- those of us who fly way under the radar of most fans are just not going to get noticed.

Partly, I like the control over seeing who gets in or not. If something seems suspicious, I can simply not send out the PW. And I don't think it's going to increase traffic in any way whatsoever to remove it; the times I give my password out with the post have not resulted in any greater DL stats than the times I don't. Sometimes I wonder if I even care anymore; the threat of the RIAA/ASCAP/BMI is still a scary one to me, but I'm not that out there. It seems like people who are more public, more rec'd, more visible are the ones who get hit with C&Ds.

But it's a daunting prospect -- I'll need to zip every single one of my something like 25 or more vids, and I don't really relish all that copying from backups on disc and reuploading, which will take me weeks. I wouldn't want to put them up unpassword-protected without zipping them. (That said -- does anyone know of free zipping software for Macs? I will have to pay $25 for the Stuffit zipper if I start using it, and right now, with the full copper repipe and other projects, I just don't want to do that, so some freeware or shareware with a lower cost would be fantastic.)

I don't know what I feel about it. I talked with killabeez a bit this weekend about how she felt about stuff, and I can't say I disagree with her belief that once it's out there, there's not much you can do about stuff being... out there. I don't want to get ripped off or sued or anything else, but the likelihood of that happening to me is so low I guess it doesn't seem worth it anymore.

I'd love to hear your opinions. I didn't do a poll because it seemed unnecessary, but I can provide ticky boxes if anyone really really wants them. But here are my options:
- Leave it as is, since many people already have the PW, and it's safer
- When the next web host vids site payment is due, don't renew and start using a temp site for your new vids (meaning the older vids would go away)
- Take off the password, but keep the vids site

Comments

[kassrachel.livejournal.com]

It's nice to know where your vids are and where I can find them. But I can imagine that the web hosting is a drain on finances, and I can certainly understand why you might decide not to renew the web hosting account.

Zipping and reuploading also sounds like a pain, though I suppose it'd be a onetime pain and then wouldn't happen again?

Oy. I don't know. I say if you can discern what works best for you, do that, and trust that it will work for the rest of us!

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it would definitely be a one-time pain, but damn, it's a LOT of pain -- man of the vids are backed up on discs and not on my hard drive anymore, which means I have to load them back on the hard drive and zip them... and it's hard to keep track, too, after a while. I guess it's really a testament to the fact that I vid too much.

[destina.livejournal.com]

I'd say to leave it as is. It's little enough trouble to write for the password, and I understand your RIAA issues.

[sherrold.livejournal.com]

My take is, leave the password, but make it easily guessable from the front page of your site (really easily guessible, like putting username = and password =).

That way, the wheenies out there that don't want to have to write and ask you can still get to the vids, and you don't really have to do any work.

*And*, most importantly, if you notice a huge bandwidth splurge, like some idiot has mentioned a vid on TWP or Making Light or something, you'd be able to quickly change the password back, and make people write you for it again.

We're currently running without a password, but we'd put it back up in a heartbeat if there was a big run on the site.

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

I think I'm confused by this -- guessable to me means that people would guess from a clue (which I don't think anyone could do, as very few people will ever know the Welsh word for Wales), but it sounds like you mean put the actual password on the front page? Wouldn't that sort of... defeat the purpose of having a password in the first place? I'm probably missing something... but it seems pointless to have it there if you're putting the info right up front.

And now I have to find out what Making Light is!

[sherrold.livejournal.com]

You said (back in your original post):
"Off and on for a while now, I've considered getting rid of the password for my vids site..."

I'm saying, don't *completely* get rid of it. Keep a password -- it makes people go through your front page, and that way it's ready to go in case something bad/strange happens.

But, make it less of a big deal. A recent survey on (I think) thefourthvine's page showed that 40% of fans will just not dl a vid if they have to ask for the password first.

So, putting the password on the front page is the best of both worlds. The protection is still there if you need it, but it's not the in way when you don't need it.

Is that any clearer? It's kind of a weird concept, so don't worry if it still seems senseless. We can talk more at the bash. (This is my RSVP, since yahoo's hating on me recently.)

[sherrold.livejournal.com]

crap -- I forgot to mention Making Light. It's the combined blog of two very cool SF editors:

http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/

and many of their friends. It has a great comment section, and most of the people who comment there are literate and interesting (and can spell!!!). Seriously, it's the rare Internet site that never seems to get spammed by idiots. Lots of talk about writing and editing and sf -- but lots of general stuff too.

[morgantree.livejournal.com]

I like sherrold's suggestion. But ultimately you've got to make the decision that works best for you (she says, clutching gwyn's DVDs to her chest possessively).

You already know how I feel about your vids, which I pimp wherever possible (not that I'm a widely read gal or anything, because I'm not). I'll seek them out wherever you end up posting them, and bug you for DVDs if they aren't posted at all. Just hope you keep producing -- vids and fic, if it's not too much trouble!

[mlyn.livejournal.com]

You can answer this privately later, but how much are you spending on the vid site? Is the amount of hours you put into and get enjoyment out of the site balanced by the cost? If not, I'd suggest option 2. If you really want to keep the site (and I often go download old vids of yours, not just new ones), then go with option 1 or 3. Sandy's idea sounds good.

As for zipping, I just select a bunch of files and right-click, then select "Make Archive." It creates a zip file of those files. I've never had to buy Stuffit, but maybe it already came with my OS.

[namastenancy.livejournal.com]

Safer is better as my old grandmother used to say. There are enough crazies in fandom to justify the extra bit of work. Of course, I'm being selfish because I already have your password and have downloaded all your vids but I'd hate to see the site go away - unless it's extremely expensive.

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

The amount of hits on the main page vs. the amount of hits on the vids page is hugely different -- meaning that people are going to the page, seeing the password request, and leaving without following through. I'm terrible at math, but one day I tried to figure this out, and it looks like for every 100 hits the page receives when I upload a new vid and/or someone mentions it in a rec or link, I get possibly 3 password requests from new people and nine or ten DLs from people who already have it.

This is the source of my anguish -- the cost benefit ratio is really low, not enough visits to the site means I'm paying for more availability than is warranted, and people will not, generally, go forward if they have to do anything else besides click.

And a lot of this stems from my being an old vidder -- we used to send off SASEs for things, send MOs and checks and get PO Boxes and all manner of things to buy vid tape collections... and now people won't even take an extra step to click on a link for a freaking PW. Sometimes this is hard for me to absorb.

Website and password options

[taverymate.livejournal.com]

I understand the various issues involved, and I know that vidders and viewers often have differing cost-benefit ratios. I'm a viewer, not a vidder, so my perspective is going to differ.

I do think that you would increase the number of downloads and viewers if your site wasn't password protected, as the casual vid viewer is more likely to download if there is only one step involved. However, the current set-up isn't a huge hurdle for more motivated viewers, so it doesn't totally eliminate your potential audience. And people who rec your vids - and you do underestimate our number *g* - always say that the extra step is well worth the effort.

But it seems clear that the amount of work you'd need to do to remove the password protection and still feel comfortable is more than you want to deal with at this time. So I'd say let the site stay as it is for now. If you get a spurt of energy, then Sandy's suggestion sounds very reasonable.

However, as a viewer, I have to say, please keep your website; password protected or not is not a major issue for me (after all, I've got your site info memorized *g*). But please, please, do not go the route of only distributing vids through temp hosting sites. As a dial-up users and vid fan, I hate the trend away from using websites and moving to temporary host sites, especially seeing vids being released only on YouTube - not that I think you'd ever go the YouTube only route.

Websites give a vidder and their vids so much more context than seeing a vid alone. Context matters, it really does - and that context has many positive aspects. On a website you can post lyrics (unless you only vid to the Top 40 - which thankfully you don't - a song will always be new to some viewers), vid notes, vidding process notes, fandom relevant info, links to other vidders and/or authors that you recommend, and - most importantly - multiple vids.

There is nothing like the joy of watching a good vid from a vidder who is new to you, visiting their website, and finding more vids to explore. It's like reading a good book and then going to a library or bookstore and finding out the author has more books on the shelf. It's fantastic!

And a website is one of the best tools that a vidder has for generating exposure for older vids and preserving vidding history - their own, and that of vidding as a whole. Vids deserve a lifespan longer than the week or two that a temp hosting site generates. Vidding has a history and damn it all, vids - and vidders - deserve recognition and a chance to be viewed for years. I don't care if it seems like I'm fighting a battle that has already been lost - I want vids and vidding history preserved. Having stable websites is one part of such preservation efforts.

I'm a fan of vids across multiple fandoms, but not all fandoms are equally likely to cause me to hunt down vidders with the same fervor - unless the first vid is extraordinary, then all bets are off. *g* For example, I go to great lengths to track down Pros and due South vids, while I'm much more hit and miss with, say, Harry Potter vids. But if I find a new-to-me vidder's website, I will happily explore all the vids on the site, and often have found vids that I never would have seen otherwise (especially if they are older vids) - some of which have become favorite vids.

And I've found great vids and vidders through links on a vidder's website. If I like a vidder's work, chances are good that I'll like their recs. And given the huge explosion in the number of vidders these days, trying to keep on top of things by yourself is an impossibility. There are just too many vidders and vids for one person to track alone.

Website and password options - part 2

[taverymate.livejournal.com]

Part 2 - since my passion overran LJ's word limit *g*

A temporary host site like YSI or SendSpace or MegaUpload is better than YouTube only or nothing at all. But temp host sites have multiple downsides for viewers - all of which are magnified if you use dial-up, as I do. (And I'll say again, just for the record, not all vid fans have broadband access, despite what many new vidders seem to assume!) It is far too easy to miss an announcement and only read it once the temporary hosting period has run out. Then I have to contact the vidder and ask if they can/will upload again, try and coordinate that window of downloading with my own schedule, and hope like hell that my connection behaves and I can download the vid before the link runs out again.

A vid downloaded through a temp host service has no context, and that makes the viewing experience much less than it could be. It makes finding other vids by the same vidder harder, and it means that the vid is much harder to rec and reach more viewers.

I know that I'm not alone in saving vids to rewatch on a regular basis and recommend to others. It's immensely helpful to have a stable website to which I can refer others. You can forget about reccing vids that are only available through temp sites. Too often by the time a rec is made, the vid is long gone. And if you think you (generic you=vidder) lose potential viewers to a password, I can guarantee that you lose far, far more viewers to temp host sites. It's incredibly frustrating to rec a vid, only to find that the vid - and vidder - have vanished. A temp site may generate a quick surge of viers following the announcement, but is a one time thing. There is no steady stream of traffic.

For vidders with limited time and sometimes a slow connection, being asked repeatedly to upload a vid as the temporary links run out can quickly become untenable. And I've seen vidders become frustrated with repeated requests for uploads, who then let that frustation bleed through when responding which in turn leaves the potential viewers confused and often resentful. It's a situation made for miscommunication and discord.

Conclusion: Leave the site as is until/if you have more time and energy to remove the password restriction. If you remove the password restriction, try Sandy's suggestion. But keep the site - please!

Re: Website and password options - part 2

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

I understand your caveats about the temp hosting sites -- I've never liked them much myself -- but don't people usually link back to the LJ post that announces them? I saw that with Jo's anime vid, and it seems like most of the time people link back to that and then when the link runs out, they request and she links again... and some of the pages I've visited with YSI announcements seem to have way more comments than I'll ever get with my vids site. But I do get what you're saying.

And yeah, I agree about the history (something that you have constantly done an admirable job at cheerleading for, not to mention organizing and supplying info for), it's just that... lately I'm not sure the history of what I've done is of interest to anyone. I should probably have someone who's more competent at math than I am run up the stats and supply me with percentages, but the amount of people who click through for a PW vs. the amount of people who hit the site and leave is astronomical when I just glance at my stats page. And the amount of people who clearly already have the PW and DL the new vid vs. the people who hit that first page on a daily basis is just... again, astronomical.

It's not a cheap proposition and as I get closer to running out of space (which means either taking off the least-DLed vids or buying more space) I feel even less enthusiastic about this. The cost-benefit ratio is just... not even there for me. There *is* no benefit, it feels like, lately.

[thefourthvine.livejournal.com]

It isn't clear to me what you want out of this. And my answer depends on what you want. (Unless you're asking me what I want. If you are, I will happily tell you, but otherwise - well, what I want is not really relevant.)

If you want maximum control, then go with the current setup. (Keeping in mind that Killa's right - control is something of an illusion on the internet. But this setup lets you control what you can.)

If you want maximum ease, then go with the current setup - it's always easier to keep it as-is then change it. (Unless what you're looking for is maximum ease in the long run and password requests are a burden, in which case go with door #3.)

If you want maximum audience, try sherrold's suggestion (making the password really obvious, like Barkley does, so that people who don't want to take the Big Step and email you - and I do not mock, for I was one of those people for a long time, and I understand very well how they think and why - don't have to). Or try running without a password and see what happens, but I think that might be too work-intensive for a mere experiment. This also has the benefit of giving you reasonable control, with the ability to switch to maximum control mode at any time.

What I would advise against doing in any case is going with the temp site/free host option. You won't get more of anything - control, ease, or audience. And you'll probably feel less satisfied with it, and I think it might be best at this point to avoid things that will reduce the joy of vidding or the feeling of accomplishment for you.

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

Actually, I do want to know what you want. It's what others want that will help me determine what to do, because I really do not know what to do right now. I'm paid up for another year on the web site, much to my dismay, so I'm stuck with it till next April. I just can't figure out what I want to do about the PW -- it at least means that my message gets out a little clearer about the basic expectations, but the amount of people who hit the page and don't ever ask for a PW is insanely high. People are lazy and entitled now, in a way we weren't back in the olden days, and I guess it's just my being old that is discouraging me so much.

Not having a password will change nothing about the amount of feedback I get, it only changes the number of people who see the vids at all, and I suppose in some ways that'll just emphasize how little fb I get even more. So, what I want out of it is of less interest to me, since I won't get it one way or another -- it's what other people would prefer in a vids web site that I would like to know about.

[thefourthvine.livejournal.com]

Well, what I want as a watcher is for you to keep your website. I like websites; they stick around, they're reliable, they're easy to use and download from. They are not the ever-changing challenges of the free download services, and they are not the total and utter crap of YouTube, which I don't like at all for vids. (Low quality, no ability to save to my hard drive, no real easy way to grab a bunch of vids and watch them later, when I have the time.)

What I want as a recommender - well. Check out the poll I just did for vid watchers and notice the more than 30% of people who won't email a vidder for a password. Most of those people are afraid of vidders - just afraid of initiating contact - or impulse downloaders (or they have very inconsistent access to broadband). (And some are, on one level or another, stupid - "But why would anyone password protect a fanwork?" which is irritating but mostly harmless, I think.) Most of them would love your vids. And most of them never will get the chance to, because they stop themselves before they get to the gate. Which, as a recommender, makes me want to beat my head against a wall in frustration, because I understand exactly why they won't do the email-for-password thing - I was afraid of it, too, and even after I stopped fearing the password request I kept fearing vidders for quite a while - but I so, so want them to.

So what I want as a recommender is for you either to make your password super-guessable, like Barkley does, or overtly stated on the page - basically, something where they don't have to OMG email a stranger eeeek if they don't want to - or not have a password.

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

This is all good info. It is odd to me that people won't get a PW, but I come from a very different fannish culture of Really Old People where this sort of thing meant nothing -- Christ, it's a hell of a lot easier than sending out an SASE or international money order for a zine! The entitlement thing just blows my mind in a very bad way, daily.

Somehow I missed your poll, so I will go back and take a look at it.

[laurashapiro.livejournal.com]

I think you should do whatever you're comfortable with, but I hope you won't take the site down. It's such a better experience to download vids from a web page than from Megaupload et. al.

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

That's been the hardest part for me -- I don't know what I want. So I want to know what other people think just so I can make them make up my mind for me. ;-)

[laurashapiro.livejournal.com]

Well, I can only say that I've been happy with my site password-protected. The control it offers may be illusory, but I cling to the illusion. (: It's a good way to start a conversation with the viewer, too.