I'm not sure how this happened, but there is an error in the original version of the "Electing a US President" video. The original version says that there are 3 congressional districts in Kansas. As we discovered today, via a nice email from Gerry Deman of Kansas, there are actually 4 districts.
Here's what we're doing about it:
We have created a new, corrected version of the video. It's embedded below and we have replaced the video on the original blog entry (and embed code) with this new version. We've also replaced the downloadable versions in the Store and other places where it is shared.
Unfortunately, this means that two versions will exist on YouTube, because it's impossible to replace a video. By deleting the original version, we break the connections to the You Tube players on blogs that embedded it. If you embedded the original version, please do replace the video with this new version.
It's a good thing that folks like you keep us in check so we can limit the potential confusion. We'll count better next time, I promise.
This evening we've taken the wraps off the new CommonCraft.com and we'd love your feedback and help.
The biggest change is the new and improved video Store, which is fashioned after the shopping experience on sites like NetFlix. As I've said before, we see the Store as the centerpiece of our future business and we're so excited to have a foundation on which we can build.
To go with the new Store, we've made a video (below) that explains the way our video licensing works. "Common Craft Licensing in Plain English" also appears on the Store's front page.
Share this video using this code:
You'll also see that the site has a similar but improved interface.
We'd love your help!
With Reporting Problems...
As you know, we don't have "testers" or "QA professionals." If you see anything unexpected or erroneous, please do report it. You can leave a comment here or contact us. With Building Awareness...
We've heard positive feedback from Store customers and we're very confident in our product, but awareness remains as our biggest challenge. People know the videos, but few understand that we offer them for licensed use in the workplace.
This is where you can help. We would be forever indebted if you could help us spread the word. The next time you talk to someone who says "I need an easy way to teach people at my company about social media", you might mention our Store. Of course, blog posts and tweets help too. :)
Ultimately, our potential rides on the Store's success. As it succeeds, we can devote more and more of our time to creating a growing library videos that are useful for non-commercial purposes on the Web and licensed use in the workplace.
Apparently, May 1st is RSS Awareness Day! I had no idea such a day existed, but it has it's own site at RSSday.org . Thanks to the nice folks at dailyblogtips.com for making our RSS in Plain English video part of the site - and day for that matter.
I agree that RSS is one of those special technologies. It has the potential to positively impact virtually every Internet user at no cost. A big problem is awareness - it's hard for people to see how it could impact them until they give it a try. Hopefully we've been able to turn some people on - but there are still about 94% of Internet users that haven't seen the light. The challenge continues.
A couple of weeks ago, we announced The Common Craft Store. It was a pretty soft roll-out, but was a huge moment for us. Not only did it mark the end of a lot of preparation, but a new business model. So far, so good. Plus, the more-ready-for-prime-time Store will soon be coming to an Internet near you.
A big part of preparing to open the Store was making new versions of each video in both Windows (.wmv) and Mac (.mov) formats. This gave us a chance to make improvements across the library - especially to our first few videos, which has sound and color issues.
The first example is a major update for the "licensed version" of RSS in Plain English video, which is only available in the Store. We recorded a new voice-over and re-edited it to be more efficient and have improved color. The content is nearly identical to the original, free version. Below is the updated, licensed version:
The second example is CFL Light Bulbs in Plain English (formerly New Light Bulbs in Plain English). When we originally published it, it did not contain a warning about mercury and disposing of the bulbs properly. This new version of the video contains a mercury warning. This updated video is now available in both free and licensed versions. Below is the updated, free version:
We're so excited about this new direction. We'll be providing all future Common Craft Show videos in free and licensed versions - and the licensed ones will be displayed in full length in the Store.
What is the point where many projects get off track? We think it's when decision making becomes a burden. Indecision, lack of ownership and unclear reasoning often means stasis and frustration. Over the past year, and likely through traveling together, Sachi and I have evolved a system that helps us be productive without wasting time. It's a system of ownership - of being personally accountable for the small decisions that contribute to the overall goal.
Early in the process, we talk a lot about the goal - the big ideas, the vision. Then, we can see how our independent roles will contribute. For example, Sachi (among other things) is our editor. From cutting the audio to stop-action to color correction, she owns it. Once she starts the process, all the decisions are hers. She can always ask for my thoughts, but my input is not required. By the time I see something, it's mostly done and we can iterate from a big picture perspective.
The same is true for me with the art work. I own the process of storyboarding and creating the artwork. I conceive the scenes and how they all fit together. Only after the bulk of the creative work is done do we come back together to make decisions before production. This way, I have a chance to own the vision of the video - a vision that may not be clear until all the pieces come together. I don't bother Sachi with the details - I own them.
We expect the same from our clients. The best projects, the projects that stay on schedule and produce the best outcomes are the ones where the project leader on the client side owns the project. They have the ability to make decisions and be accountable for their outcomes.
The lesson here? Ownership = efficiency, for us at least. Ownership mean understanding the goal and having the confidence to make independent decisions that contribute to it. It means not wasting time discussing every step along the way. It means getting work done quickly so that it can be evaluated as a whole. It means being accountable and ready to stand up for why we made the decisions we did.
Of course, this isn't to say we don't collaborate. When I wrote about being a video making team, iteration was a big theme. When we do come together to review, and especially to shoot a video, everything is subject to change. What we own are the chunks that make up the whole.
This makes me wonder if people, 12 years from now, will look back at our videos and laugh, saying "Hah! Can you imagine? That's what they thought blogs and RSS were all about! Sheesh!"
