As a writer, receiving an unsolicited unboxing video of my latest book -- or any book, for that matter -- is always exciting.
And humbling!
Many creatives aren't as skilled at soliciting reviews from our audience as we are at creating what we make.
We certainly don't run around with huge self-promotion banners hoping people will take a few minutes to let us know how much they like-appreciate-respect our work so word (and sales) spread.
We also don't know how many of the reviews we get or names that land on our email lists are from real people who are genuinely interested in our work, and how many are fake.
This is an ongoing challenge for creatives who rely on the Internet as a place for doing business.
Reviews can help drive sales -- or hinder them.
It's no wonder that an entire industry has cropped up that promises to boost reviews and add thousands of followers to social profiles for anyone selling products online.
Fake reviews on Amazon have been a problem for a while. Thankfully, the company is addressing this problem (link to read here).
Unboxing Video from a Real Fan
I have never bought reviews or followers in all the years I've been online.
Plenty of people do, thinking larger numbers will make them look more important.
As a creative, I want people who are interested in my work to buy what I make, as well as review it if they are so inclined. I'd rather have a smaller, more engaged list and following than a bloated number next to my name that is primarily fake.
Last week, I received a text from my best friend that included the following video she posted on YouTube, showing her opening the package from Amazon with The River Only Runs One Way inside.
I love this video for many reasons. Primarily because I know the person who made it and because she made it of her own free will.
To me, videos like this one are in the original spirit of the Internet, and not a reflection of the garbage heap it's become. My hope is that companies who have the power and bank accounts to clean up the incredible amount of Internet nonsense are already getting to work to make it less cluttered with junk and more accessible with authentic content like the video above.
Creatives want and need the Internet to do business. We need real people to showcase our work and why its valuable.
High quality content made with heart should outperform Ai-generated nonsense every day of the week and twice on Tuesdays.
Better Internet Days Ahead?
The Internet is getting more weird every day, especially because AI is now in full force. It's hard to know anymore who is real and who isn't.
What is real and what isn't.
Are robots leaving fake reviews? Making fake videos? Writing fake books under real author's names? (link to read more about this new problem here)
Another reason a video like this one holds as much weight as it does.
I know someone real made it. And her sentiment is genuine.
And I'm grateful she was willing to take the time to put it together and share it with her network as well as with me.
Unboxing videos are still a powerful tool in a creative's toolkit.
May more real people make them, and may the spirit of the Internet advance to something more of us can enjoy again.
