Are you trusting the most valuable content of your business to free platforms like YouTube? Recently, numerous users started reporting a common issue on YouTube that might be easily resolved for regular users, yet for infopreneurs, it could become a bigger headache.
In this article, you'll learn:
- What issue is currently happening;
- What YouTube’s policy says about it;
- Potential problems infopreneurs might face;
- Solutions to regain full control over your videos.
What’s Happening on YouTube?
Recently, many American users on Reddit noticed that embedded YouTube videos on websites or member areas stopped loading unless the user was logged into Google.
This issue frequently affects VPN users, though there are reports of similar issues for Safari users. (Does this happen to you too?)
You might be thinking, "Isn’t this easy to solve? Just log into YouTube." And, indeed, it is simple.
However, this seemingly minor requirement could affect your students’ experience if your videos are hosted there (we’ll dive into why this matters shortly).
What YouTube’s Policy Says About This
By searching YouTube’s Help Center, we found an article explaining how to solve errors with YouTube videos.
One section about potential solutions suggests “checking if you’re signed into YouTube.” The reason in English is:
“To protect the YouTube community, we may restrict access to videos for users who are not logged in when trying to download material for offline use.”
Based on this, we can conclude that this restriction is in place for two main reasons:
- To discourage illegal downloads of creators’ content;
- To better identify users for targeted advertising (YouTube’s business model).
As of now, no article specifies which browsers are affected or a timeline for wider implementation. Nonetheless, this possibility cannot be ruled out.
Potential Issues Infopreneurs Might Face
Restricting downloads can be beneficial for musicians and artists dealing with digital piracy. However, the same cannot be said for infopreneurs.
After all, they can’t control which browser or device their students use to access the course. If a student accesses it through an app on their phone, for instance, connecting a YouTube account within another platform might be challenging.
But the issues don’t stop there:
1. Student Engagement Drops
If students encounter a barrier to access, like a login requirement, it can affect their motivation to watch the lessons. Some may feel frustrated and decide to stop altogether.
Reduced accessibility can decrease course engagement and completion rates, which can negatively impact:
- Testimonial collection;
- Course recommendations;
- Upsell opportunities.
2. Increased Complaints and Technical Support Demand
When faced with error messages, frustrated students tend to seek help, raising the volume of support tickets and technical assistance needs.
This issue can directly impact the productivity of the support team and lead to negative reviews if support is not swift and effective.
3. Perception of Unprofessionalism
An interrupted viewing experience can leave a negative impression on the infopreneur’s credibility.
Students might interpret these difficulties as a lack of care or investment in the customer experience.
Once again, this issue could reduce the likelihood of students purchasing additional courses or services.
4. Risk of Restricted Access Due to VPN Use
Most cases of YouTube video loading issues involve VPN users.
Although this may seem like a small segment, it’s estimated that as of 2023, around one-third of the over 5 billion internet users globally use a VPN regularly.
This issue could therefore impact a significant portion of students, especially those accessing from outside the country or using VPNs to protect their online privacy while consuming content.
How to Regain Control Over Your Online Course
Having control over video content is crucial for any serious business, but YouTube and other free video platforms keep you at the mercy of their rules and updates.
Your business needs video hosting that offers security, accessibility, and full control, without ads and with artificial intelligence tools to enhance the student experience.
If you're convinced this is what you need, start testing Panda Video for free for 30 days.
