I would like to share a video...but how?

[GuideYouOutdoors]

So I have a youtube channel and our mission is to inspire others to get outside and experience the benefits of nature first hand. We are based out of Vermont but I am currently on a cross country road trip and fell in love with hiking in Arizona. I have a video in superstition wilderness and outside sedona with a few climbing videos in the works. I tried posting it here but it got deleted because there can be no link that leads away from this site. So is there a way to embed it or post it some location meant for that?

[chumley]

HikeArizona is a community of people who participate and contribute to the site via photos, triplogs, gps routes, comments, suggestions, etc.

The forum rules clearly state that

5) Linking offsite is spam unless...
5a) You currently and consistently over time post triplogs or photosets to the main site.

I'm sure that your videos are interesting, but because you have never previously participated in the hikearizona community, your off-site linking is simply considered to be self-promotion or spam.

We'd love for you to post some photos or trip descriptions from the trips where you fell in love with hiking in Arizona. We all love it here too! Feel free to use the POST button found at the top of the home page!

[GuideYouOutdoors]

I totally get that...but I spend days editing a video that is a virtual triplog that takes the viewer there and inspires them to do it themselves, therefor I would argue it is much more powerful than a written triplog with some pictures. Why don't you just create a place for this kind of media?

[GuideYouOutdoors]

If this sites mission is to share trips.....then I'm clearly within that realm still. I find it bogus that there is a difference between taken still shots and writing vs a series of images linked together while reading what you wrote. I could understand if the video were look at me but it is look at how awesome superstition wilderness is. So I think there needs to be discretion, its your site though I'm just trying to inspire more people to come to your state and check it out but feel very unwelcome because my content is different. Shouldn't it be about the sharing?

[chumley]

First of all, I'd like to clearly state, that hikearizona is not my site, nor am I affiliated with it in any way other than being one of the many thousands of people who participate and contribute.

That said, I think that there is nothing wrong with video sharing at all, and videos can be tremendously helpful and entertaining for anybody interested in a particular hike.

Having not seen your videos, I don't know if this applies or not, but in general, the most helpful triplogs and posts here are specific to a particular trail or a series of trails connected to make a single hiking or backpacking trip.

Overviews of the entire state, Sedona, the Superstitions, Mogollon Rim, etc. aren't particularly useful to people who may be looking to go hiking.

If you had hiked the Flatiron or Canyon Lake to Peralta for example, then you could post a triplog describing your specific hike. That would be useful to other hikers looking to do the same or similar hike. You could even include a video link in your triplog if it was relevant to that specific hike!

But if your goal is to get subscribers to your youtube channel (and make $ ;) ), provide instructional videos, gear reviews, etc., then chances are pretty good that you are promoting your own endeavor. Is there a place for that in the world today? You bet there is! It's just not here on HAZ. Stick to your Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube.

If you'd like to contribute specific details about a hike or backpacking trip you've been on that doesn't promote something, please feel free to post here on HAZ. It's not just Arizona either. We'd love to read about some Vermont hikes!

[GuideYouOutdoors]

Yes thank you that is what I was looking for...If I do a triplog I can post a video to my virtual triplog. Thanks

[chumley]

Just a few things to consider. If a viewer watches your video do they learn:

1. What trailhead you started from
2. What trails you hiked
3. The distance you hiked
4. The amount of time you hiked
5. Where you camped
6. The difficulty of the terrain
7. The condition of the trails
8. Information about permits or fees and other regulations

These things are pretty important to a triplog. After all, what good is inspiring somebody to go outdoors if that person gets no useful information about where you've been to help them follow in your footsteps!?

[nonot]

Probably post a triplog under the hike you did and put a video link in your triplog. Posting a video in the forum is not the suggested way to share your trip details, it makes it appear as either spam or self promotion.