Why do they do this? I have no freaking idea what this serves? Just write the freaking instructions down somewhere on a wiki, in plain language. I absolutely LOATHE youtube howto videos.
Because its easy. Many of them don't have thorough notes nor do they edit the video. They can take 5 minutes to do a rough outline, then record for 15 minutes and post. Many people take much longer to write proper instructions.
I've had to do both for work, write instructions and do videos. Written is much much more useful to me, and easier to find info, and takes a user less time. BUT, it takes much longer to write proper documentation with screen shots etc than it does to just make a video and post it.
Now, if one if going to do a proper editing and timestamping a video, it takes longer, but no one bothers to do that.
Interesting story, I used to have to do a software product demo. Same demo, 3-4 times per week for about 6 months. Took 45 minutes, everytime, plus a little longer depending upon questions. I was finally allowed to record and edit it. It edited down to a 15 minute video. We got tons more people willing to watch a 15 minute product demo than a 45 minute interactive one.
If they were doing it to get the information out there, that would be one thing. But they're doing it for clicks. A text answer can't make you a quasi-celebrity.
Many of them, at least in FG, are done by community members and not company employees. I also know some of them don't care about the clicks and don't monetize them in anyway. And then their are others that are trying to build an influencer business.
