What Makes Quality Content?
YouTube Chimes in With Insights for All Creators (not just video)
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But What Makes A Good Show?
I’ve heard that question before, and a new study of 1000 people from YouTube lays it out. You might think it’s an expensive studio, a team of 15. It turns out it’s not the tech.
The one stat that I love is this one:
"The number of viewers who only care about visuals is now vanishingly small, at less than 1%.
So maybe it’s time to stop obsessing over the background and get back to focusing on content.
Great content is not just about technical excellence—good visuals, clear audio, and high production budgets. While these factors still matter, they are now seen as a baseline rather than a differentiator.
The good news is with a microphone that is less than $100 and your phone, you can make decent videos.
What defines high-quality content today is its ability to create a genuine emotional connection with viewers. Audiences don’t just watch; they engage, anticipate, and build relationships with creators they trust. Studies show that viewers value compelling, relatable, informative, and meaningful content—qualities that make them feel understood, inspired, and emotionally engaged.
Authenticity plays a crucial role in this, with creators perceived as real and trustworthy fostering deeper connections than highly polished but impersonal productions. (So that person who took the top three videos and transcribed them, and had AI write a video script… um… you can’t be a thought leader with other people’s thoughts.).
At the same time, content must balance both technical and emotional quality markers to be genuinely effective. Attention-capturing storytelling, originality, and usefulness are as important as clear visuals and good sound.
Trust is emerging as a key expectation, with platforms like YouTube ranking higher in credibility among younger audiences than traditional broadcast media.
Broadcast media treats us like idiots, and “Safe content” leads to commercials that say things like “Don’t take xylopic (- making this up) if you’re allergic to xylopic. I personally am tired of the news (both left and right) telling me what to think about the news. Just give the news, and I can handle the thinking part on my own.
Ultimately, great content isn't just about looking good—it must resonate, inform, and enhance the audience’s experience in a personal and valuable way.
My favorite insight from the study is “High-quality video content means content that makes the audience feel like their time was well spent.” In other words, don’t waste their time. So don’t be boring, and don’t waste their time.
Podcasters Happy Hour
Mark Your Calendars! February 24th at 7 PM ET
Mike Dell from Blubrry will be showing off their AI tools (which can now be purchased separately). As always, there will be open Q&A.
For more information about Blubrry, check out my affiliate link
https://supportthisshow.com/blubrry
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Stuff That Caught Me Eye
Captivate - No Payments Until April
Captivate (the media host I use the most) is having a sale where you can sign up today and not pay until April. (this is not an April fool’s joke).
Midjourney AI Artwork
My friend Jeff Sieh has really cool artwork for his YouTube channel, and I asked him what he was using, and he said, “Midjourney.” So, it’s on the list of things to learn.
Beehiv
There is a new /Newsletter feature at Podpage, and if you’re on the Elite plan we can pull in previous newsletters. If you’re using Beehiv, Substack or Kit. I had never heard of Beehiv, and they have some cool tools to manage your email list. You can have up to 2500 people on their free list. They have a built-in advertising network, so if you’re looking to monetize your list.
What’s Coming In The Future
Next School of Podcasting
I’ve got some good interviews lined up. Got anything you’d like me to talk about? I’m always open to suggestions
Need Help With Your Podcast?
Whether you’re just starting or a seasoned podcaster, the School of Podcasting can help. Helping podcasters is what I do, and I’ve been doing it since 2005
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