Since its modest founding in 2005 by then Paypal employees Chad Hurley and Steve Chen, YouTube has come to revolutionize and define the online entertainment industry. The website holds rich content from around the world. It is a repository for both entertainment and education. Most importantly, it is a forum for free speech and this fits well with its tagline "Broadcast Yourself." Out of all the uploads on YouTube, it is the the videos created by ordinary people on the amateur level that tend to have an endearing appeal. The following are six kinds of made-at-home channels available on YouTube:
1. The Tutorial
This channel must be gradually putting the "For Dummies" book series out of business. Created by those with expertise in anything, the tutorial is a good resource for anyone learning a skill. DIY-ers particularly benefit from this. As is expected there's often more than one way of doing something and so these kinds of videos tend to offer several styles for doing one task. Some suggestions border on the bizarre and so the viewer must learn to make good judgement when watching tutorials. This category teaches nearly everything: AutoCAD, home decor origami, hair styling and even computer repair!
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2. The Parody
Who doesn't enjoy a good laugh? On YouTube, parody channels take satirical or comedic twists on a different subjects. While most videos in this category center around movies, songs or well-known figures, some are social critiques of every day life. Parody videos are a break from mainstream comedy that allow creative entertainers, many of whom would otherwise remain unknown, share their humor with the world.
3. The Testimonial
This is a channel where someone discusses their experience and before/after stories on how they achieved a certain goal. It would be safe to assume that these kinds of videos have their most views in the first few months of the year when a lot of people are trying to make lifestyle changes. Although most are positive, negative or warning testimonials are created by those who prefer to talk about their failures.Testimonials when done best are short and sweet; preferably under 6 minutes. A poor testimonial is one that drags on for too long or lacks a clear organization. On the comment section, testimonial often takes a life of its own when viewers heavily debate on what was said.
4. The Cover
These kinds of videos add good variety to the music on YouTube. While they are typically released by existing or upcoming musicians, there is a good number of covers are done by non-professionals who simply enjoy music. The talent displayed in the covers is immense with some stellar renditions of popular songs gaining a large viewership. Once in a while, some cover's fail to strike the right cords with viewers and instead are received as parodies, although in this case unintended ones. The result is that such videos find their way to Facebook and Instagram as comedy.
5. The Couple Vlog
This one here is a hybrid- a cross between a reality show and soap opera with the bonus of authenticity. Mostly unscripted, it offers a sneak peek into the lives of couples living around the world. Those producing these videos are ordinary people brave enough to share their lives online. These videos are one of the few most scheduled videos with couples releasing videos at specific times of the week. Offline, the couples organize meet-and-greet events with their subscribers, demonstrating that virtual life can transcend into real life.
6. The Review
A review channel offers helpful feedback on different products and is worth viewing before making an investment. Although its based on opinion, the review is a good reference for anyone looking to buy a product. For electronics, there's a special kind of review videos where people try out a product straight its box. These videos are worth trusting, as those who make them are not trying to promote a company and their opinions can be taken to be honest.
