What we learned from your feedback on the contest, and how we will do better next time

#1 Posted by emilylime on October 7th, 2009 11:37 am | link

Well…when I read “We want videos, approximately one minute in length, *telling* us something about what’s wrong with the world…” I definitely got the impression that it should basically be a video of me talking. Maybe it was a problem of lack of imagination on my part, but I think to realize that your expectations were really broad on this, I would have needed that really spelled out for me. Not sure.

Anyway, I’m pretty sure this is my first comment here, but I’ve been reading for a while after finding y’all through Havi. Hi!

#2 Posted by Rachael on October 7th, 2009 12:12 pm | link

Same here as @emilylime – I read the words ‘telling us’ and assumed it meant that I personally need to TELL YOU something, with my words, in my voice, probably with me speaking to you. Since that’s generally what I do when I am telling someone something.

I see now, by reading more carefully, that I had a misconception of what you meant. But it took me THREE TIMES reading it in this post to see that. Heh!

I wonder if you might have put it more like this, perhaps it would have made more sense to more of us:

“We want you to submit a video that demonstrates what you think is wrong with the world, and what can be done to change it. It might be you, or someone else who’s doing the changing.”

(Or something like that.)
Rachael´s last blog ..Um, Yay, It’s Friday?

#3 Posted by china on October 7th, 2009 12:17 pm | link

i like written things and drawings. maybe a comic for a comic.

#4 Posted by Pam (@moonslark) on October 7th, 2009 12:20 pm | link

I was thrown off by the whole “video” aspect of it… I mean, I would have really LIKED to have entered because the prizes were things I would have used and likely couldn’t justify signing up for on my own… but… VIDEO??? I suppose if I had thought of something that wasn’t ME sitting in front of the MacBook chattering about the mistakes of the planet, I would have been able to cobble together images and music and type and submit it…. but it was the “tell us” thing…

I guess when I think “video” I think of the kind of things people submit to YouTube — sitting in front of a web cam or hanging out with a camcorder talking to someone “out there” — and that’s not something I am completely comfortable with… sound, music, pictures… crafts… that I can do… but video is scary because people can SEE me!!
Pam (@moonslark)´s last blog ..It’s been a while

#5 Posted by Lydia, Clueless Crafter on October 7th, 2009 12:29 pm | link

The analysis of how the contest broke down is a really valuable learning tool for me. When I think why I didn’t even enter, it wasn’t because I didn’t see the value in the exercise it was because I was turned off by the title.

Changing the world sounded so out of my scope of ability, that even if I were to give a submission, I would feel immediately like a poser. Changing the world reminds me of the big, empty promises of politicians, and that triggers my distaste. Could it have been advertised differently?

Beyond that, I am also limited with the webcam part. So, I figured I was sidelined anyways.

Sometimes it’s hard to get participation. I have a fun post up asking readers to remember/share what outfit they wore during a significant moment in their life, a question I thought would be fun to play with. So far, people seem afraid to think back. . .

Hope to have helped. .
Lydia, Clueless Crafter´s last blog ..Love, Loss and What You wore?

#6 Posted by Megan M. on October 7th, 2009 1:11 pm | link

For some reason, that reminds me of the Chinese proverb “The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person doing it.”

OH MY GOD. FAVORITE PROVERB EVER. Thanks. ^_^
Megan M.´s last blog ..From Social Work prn: Social Organization, the Great Clay Shirky, and the Rules of the Road

#7 Posted by talia on October 7th, 2009 2:26 pm | link

I didn’t even realize there was a contest till the winners were announced. I guess I glossed over it when it was originally posted. though, seeing the entries/winners makes me wish I had entered, as it’s easier than what the instructions made it out to be (when I just now went to look at them) and I think making video’s with my webcam is fun.

I’ve got a bunch of awesome blogs that I follow, and don’t have time to read everything. I normally glance at the first part and read the rest only if it piques my interest. Just changing up the formatting a bit may grab the attention of glancers like me :) As looking at the announcement entry and first seeing “Rules” and “Deadline” makes my brain shut off. Seeing maybe “Quick & Easy Video Contest” and “Rock our World by telling about the way you make the World Rock” or something equally catchy (bonus points for puns).

#8 Posted by Pace on October 7th, 2009 3:29 pm | link

@emilylime, @Rachael, @moonslark: Ah, the word “tell”! Of course. That makes a lot of sense. Thank you!

@Lydia: Ah, the title! Yes, I see how that might have intimidated people. Thank you! And as for “Changing the world reminds me of the big, empty promises of politicians, and that triggers my distaste”, have you read our manifesto? In it, we explain the non-empty, non-sucky way we intend to change the world. But yes, we’re definitely open to ways of talking about it that don’t bring up those negative associations!

@talia: Thanks for the suggestions! Also, I love your hair.

#9 Posted by Bob Poole on October 7th, 2009 4:35 pm | link

I needed more time! I knew I didn’t want to video myself. But my dogs and cats are awesome actors. But, they don’t learn their scripts like you and I. They need lots of treats and sometimes they get tired of my directing and I hear rumors of possible unionization. Come on. I keep telling them how good they have it. Why would they unionize. I treat all my employees – even the cats – with love and respect. Fucking cats. Oh….sorry….I didn’t mean for you to hear that. One is sitting next to me right now cleaning his paws. But, I know better. He’s reading this post and he’s going to the organization meeting tonight. So, I have a good excuse for not getting my video done in time. I’m thinking of birds. I don’t think they have a union – yet. And, if I hear any talk of organizing, I’m feeding them to the fucking cats.
Bob Poole´s last blog ..I’ve Fallen and I Can Get Up

#10 Posted by Anna on October 7th, 2009 5:14 pm | link

Wow, I totally assumed this was supposed to be a speak-to-the-camera thing. I wish I had realized – I would have loved to send you ‘Mr Banana changes the world’ or something.

I think one reason I made that assumption is because that’s what’s been modeled on the blog, with Revo Tuesday etc. I’d have dug some simple or silly *example* videos that were *not* talking heads.

I was also one of those who thought the point was to talk about how *I’m* changing the world. I wonder if it would have made a different impression if you’d focused on the kind of impact the video might have rather than what it might say? What I mean is, e.g. ‘send us a video of anything that could inspire people and lift their hearts’. With ‘inspiring and uplifting’ as adjectives, they don’t seem quite as important as your suggestions about *what to say* – you see what I mean?

Also wanna say – I really appreciate the thoughtful, open post-mortem – and I appreciated the contest as it was, too. I didn’t enter, but I was inspired and uplifted by the entries. :)

#11 Posted by Beth on October 7th, 2009 5:30 pm | link

This is such a wonderful example of how to take feedback seriously and with respect. Thank you.
Beth´s last blog ..Reflecting on Parker Palmers ‘Tragic Gap’

#12 Posted by Tanya on October 7th, 2009 6:20 pm | link

I just want to agree with emilylime and Megan M. here.

1. The word “telling” totally threw me, too, especially in context with saying you wanted a video from me. I see that word and I think “oh, so I need to TALK to you.” How about instead using “that demonstrates”?

2. YES! that is the most awesome proverb ever! So going into a sig file somewhere… :)

#13 Posted by Sheila on October 7th, 2009 6:57 pm | link

Well, now that you’ve clarified what you were looking for, maybe you could continue the ‘contest’ as an open-ended call for videos and run them on the blog once a month or something? (Kinda like a guest blog post, only with video.) That takes off the pressure of there being a ‘prize’ (unless you wanted to award one!), people would have time to refine their work and maybe even take inspiration from other people’s videos.

Just a thought. Up to you what you want to do with it.
Sheila´s last blog ..Catbooks and Other Methods

#14 Posted by Julia on October 7th, 2009 9:35 pm | link

I wonder if using the word “showing” instead of “telling” would have helped?

Just a thought….

(I keep seeing these lists of pieces of advice to writers, and one that comes up a lot is “show, don’t tell.” I think that plus the combination of people saying that “telling” gave them a particular impression is where I came up with that.)

#15 Posted by Melissa on October 8th, 2009 12:09 am | link

A writing contest is much more up my alley. Like you said the contest couldn’t be for everyone, but i’m so pleased you’re having another contest, this one more appealing to me.

This is the ultimate way to take feedback, so proud of you two for having the maturity to want to learn why it didn’t turn out the way you thoguht it would. Yay for you! =)

#16 Posted by Melissa on October 8th, 2009 12:10 am | link

Just wondering why other people have “their last blog” beneath their posts and i don’t? what does that mean and why can’t i tell you the last blog i read? Just being curious…. =)

#17 Posted by Pace on October 8th, 2009 12:47 pm | link

@Bob: LOL!

@Anna: Awesome. Thanks for your valuable feedback!

@Beth: Thank you. *curtsies*

@Tanya: Sounds good!

@Sheila: Hmm, neat idea! I’ll talk to Kyeli about it.

@Julia: Makes sense!

@Melissa: The “last blog” thing is from a WordPress plugin called “CommentLuv” which appends the last blog post the person has written. It uses the URL you enter in the comment field, peeks at that website, and if it looks like a blog, appends a link to the latest post. There isn’t any technical way that I know of for Website 1 to know that you had recently visited Website 2. That would be a pretty gross internet privacy violation. But if you want to tell me the last blog you read, feel free! (:

#18 Posted by Pace on October 8th, 2009 12:48 pm | link

@Melissa: Also, I got so caught up in explaining things that I forgot to say thanks for your feedback! So… thanks! (:

#19 Posted by Amanda on October 8th, 2009 4:18 pm | link

I was intimidated.  I was busy.  I didn’t think I’d win.  I don’t know how to edit video–in fact, I haven’t even *watched* the video I submitted to this day!  I’m not into video, either–it was just the easiest/fastest medium I could find.  I don’t need the prizes–that’s not what got me to submit an entry.

No one said, “I just didn’t want to”, but that’s all I could read in the comments. If you wanted to do it, you would have found a way.

Suck it up, people.  Seriously.  This is your world that you’ve got to change.

#20 Posted by Lydia, Clueless Crafter on October 8th, 2009 4:44 pm | link

Thanks for understanding my reaction. I look forward to a whole new contest, perhaps one that won’t take me hours to prepare;-)!
Lydia, Clueless Crafter´s last blog ..Love, Loss and What You wore?

#21 Posted by Sea on October 9th, 2009 1:48 pm | link

I got the impression that the videos were supposed to be us talking to the camera because of a couple of reasons.

1. All the examples sounded like something you’d do in a face-to-face way like that — singing, telling a story, and even using puppets sounded like that to me.

2. I must have had your videos in mind already and assumed you wanted something similar to those, which was a silly assumption, but there you go.

It’s odd, because when I make videos I usually put text or hand-drawn animation to a song; I never use my own face or voice for them. When I think of making a video that’s usually what I think. This time my first thought was different. Hmmm.

#22 Posted by Marianne on October 9th, 2009 4:06 pm | link

I think you guys rock for taking the feedback seriously and looking at what you could do differently. BIG props for that.

I think the use of “telling” rather than “showing” or “demonstrating” was probably key to my interpretation of the instructions, as was the use of a range of examples all of which are some form of face-to-face. But you see that now, and I think it is awesome that you are taking your communication with your readers so seriously. Again, you rock!
Marianne´s last blog ..Missing the train

#23 Posted by Tiara on October 9th, 2009 6:58 pm | link

Perhaps instead of tying the next contest to a format, set a theme and let people respond however they’re comfortable? Video, text, podcast, whatever?
Tiara´s last blog ..Recent Migrants and Inclusion in the Australian Arts Scene: Part 1 – Education

#24 Posted by Green on October 14th, 2009 10:29 am | link

I’ve already given lots of feedback. But here’s one more point:

I’m not an entrepreneur. I can’t even spell entrepreneur without using spell check. A lot of the prizes were very businessy. As someone who doesn’t have or want a business, that was kind of a reason not to enter. “Let one of the people who actually need tech coaching or idea blueprinting or To-Do list taming win those prizes. Sure, I’d love an avatar from Marty that I can’t afford, but I already have two copies of the Usual Error book, and one already is signed! :)”

I think this is a little different than “not being motivated by the prizes” because I was experiencing a feeling of “thinking someone else would like the prizes more” and I’d be taking their prizes away if I won over them.

Weird mentality, maybe. :)
Green´s last blog ..Daniel Quinn and The Teaching of History

#25 Posted by Pace on October 14th, 2009 1:43 pm | link

@Green: Cool, that makes sense. The people we hang out with aren’t the same crowd as our readers. I’m running out of fingers on which to count the occurrences of the usual error in this contest. (: