In the tech industry, it’s pretty easy to write gift guides comparing the best machines, accessories, and tech toys around. Not so when you write about online video like I do.
Sure, I could write a gift guide about some of the best cameras, webcams, microphones, editing software, etc. on the market, but since I rarely write about the equipment and software end of online video production, I’m not up-to-date on what products are best. Besides, an online video fan may not also be a video creator, so it’d be silly to recommend a great camera they might never use.
Instead, I’m going to provide you some other ideas for that online video lover in your life. You know the one, too — that quintessential viewer who can’t seem to avoid YouTube for a week without feeling the pain of video-less boredom. The one who gives you a look of disbelief (or maybe disgust?) when you say you haven’t seen the latest viral video.
So without further ado, check out these five gifts sure to delight any online video fan this holiday season:
Video Subscriptions
It’s likely your online video fan already has Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, or even YouTube Red, so look into niche subscription services they may want instead. You fortunately have a plethora to choose from, like the light-hearted Feeln service from Hallmark or anime- and manga-based Crunchyroll.
Need even more niche service suggestions? Check out these genre-specific options:
- Acorn TV (British programming)
- Chris Cox Horsemanship (equestrian-based content)
- Hungrymonk Yoga (yoga, martial arts, and tai chi routines performed by a Shaolin Kung Fu master in California)
- Drumming4Life (drum lessons and content)
Seriously, you can find pretty much ANY niche subscription service for the topic your online video fan obsesses over on a daily basis. Use Pivotshare’s discover page to see what you can find, or conduct a good, old-fashioned Google search. Tip: format your query like “[your topic] video subscription service” (i.e. “horror video subscription service) for the most accurate results.
YouTuber Books
Over the last couple of years, digital media stars have become published authors at a rapid rate. YouTubers like Grace Helbig, Shane Dawson, and Tyler Oakley have even landed on several New York Times bestseller lists.
So what better gift to give an online video fan than a book, one of the oldest forms of media around, written by celebrities of online video, one of the newest forms of media around?
Your online video fan may have already given you an idea of which book they’d like from which YouTube star. If not, these links should help you out:
- Barnes Noble has a list of some books written by YouTube stars here.
- Bustle has some more titles not covered on Barnes Noble’s list.
- Teen.com provides a few more selections for YouTuber books.
Event Tickets
Online video creates an odd phenomenon. Most viewers who watch their favorite YouTuber feel like they are best friends with the celebrity, and yet they’ve never actually hung out with this person in real life.
So when your online video fan would like to meet their favorite digital star in person, they need to turn to the tried-and-true method of attending live events. Since the inception of online video, several conferences, conventions, events, and even camps (yes, like traditional cabins-by-the-lake-style camps) have arisen to bridge the gap between the screen and the people watching it.