Progress Update: Release, logo, moniker and more...

Hello, Foundry maintenance crew!

So I've been working on this little thing. You might have caught wind of it if you've been keeping your ears to the door, but no big deal, really. It's only...

A new video

That's all.

Let's talk about it for a sec.

Where are we now?

Done. 

The new video is finished, rendered, uploaded, and ready for all of your beautiful eyes, ears, throats, etc., depending on how you consume your media. 

The only hiccup is that I've been tinkering with thumbnail design and trying to figure out how to make Tale Foundry videos more "clickable".

You see, I discovered with the upload of the recent Pratchett video that the channel is kind of suffering from a low "click-through" rate. That video has 400k impressions (people seeing it on web pages, etc.), but only 30k views (many of them repeat views). This means that fewer than 4% of the people who saw the video on their screen clicked on it.

In other words, the packaging isn't working.

The sole reason you aren't watching the video at this very second is that I'm been trying to figure out how to remedy this, which has lead to a delay in the creation of this videos thumbnail.

However, I've finally given Felipe direction on what graphic to make for the thumb, and we should be in business in very short order.

So, let's talk a little about that change...

What's next?

I did a little research into our best and worst performing thumbnails and found a lot of insights into how to catch the eye without abandoning the branding and stooping to more tried-and-true, click-baity, I'd even say soulless, packaging, though. The results are interesting.

What I found, to put it simply, is that taleoids aren't working. Rough, because I love the little buggers, and I love dressing them up thematically for each series. And I'm still going to do that. Taleoids aren't going anywhere. They'll still be all over every video, up to their usual hijincks. 

The trick is, I people who don't already watch the show don't know what they are to begin with. And seeing them gussied up in a disguise doesn't help much. 

At a glance, I can see why a taleoid dressed as the grim reaper dressed as santa clause wouldn't be particularly recognizable to the eye. And catching eyes is one part flare and two parts recognition. They gotta see something they can understand, and they have to have a question about it.

So, in an effort to remedy this, no more taleoids in thumbnails. 

I know, I'm sad about it too, but I think it's going to be a lot better for the show in the long run.

Strange, how much of in impact something that small can make.

Anything else?

YESSS. So much, actually

Well, three things.

Logo, moniker, pin.

First, you guys already know it, but Tale Foundry's logo has once again changed, this time for good. We finally have a design that's nice and condensed, communicates the purpose of the show, and fits well into just about any space.

Big thanks to Chris Moschler for putting this thing together. Couldn't have done it without you.

Second—and you may have already noticed this—we have a new moniker! That's the name you see on our banners at the top of our webpages and such. Check it:

This I love. I've been bothered with the old one for a while now. It was very strangely-shaped, and pretty hard to read. I kinda just had to deal though, because I'm not a calligrapher, and it was the only font I had access to that came anywhere near fitting the bill.

And FINALLY (and this I am stoked for), we have a pin on the way to help us close out our Terry Pratchett series:

He's adorable and perfect and wonderful, and he's also the first of a new line.

I think I've shared this with all of you already, but with every series we're now going to release a limited-time pin to go along with the theme: a taleoid dressed for the part. 

That means, once a series is officially over, the taleoid will no longer be available.

So if you're vigilant and you play your cards right, you can end up with a whole stable of adorable little robits dressed to the teeth; your own little legion of tiny, adorable, fashionable dummies. I know I'm going to. I've already cleared a space on my messenger bag~

Expect an announcement about how to get yours in a few weeks!

—

And that's it for now! 

I might have a question for you all later in the evening, but that'll come when the time is right. For now, know that I am just as excited to release this video as all of you are to watch it.

I'll see y'all at the premiere, if not sooner.

—Benji