Ann Reardon

12 easy pie crust ideas to decorate you pies

Twelve creative pie crust ideas for you to make your pies look amazing. These are all fairly simple and just use store bought pastry. I usually always make my own pastry but there is a bigger picture behind this video that I’d like to discuss.

Let’s have an honest chat together about the reason for the experiment with this video format. I complained to youtube, again, about the diminishing views on all the biggest baking channels over the last couple of years. This has all happened since youtube changed to an artificial intelligence algorithm (the algorithm decides which videos are suggested for people to watch).

Here’s the views per month on the top 5 baking channels on youtube. Prior to the algorithm change all these channels were slowly growing month on month.

youtube baking is dying

the biggest youtube baking channels are dying

youtube baking trending down

youtube algorithm kills baking videos

youtube favouring content farms

I could screenshot more and show the same downward trend but thought this was enough to illustrate the point. For those who don’t understand how youtube works you get paid a portion of the fees paid to youtube for adverts on your videos. So diminishing views is directly proportionate to a diminishing income. This is not so much as issue if it is a side hobby, but if it is your main income source at some point you have to move on and find another job. Some large baking youtubers have already stopped creating videos and subsequently I get comments every week from people saying ‘please don’t stop uploading’.

At the same time there has been a dramatic surge in views seen on clickbait, compilation, copying, controversial topics and content-farm videos. Here’s some content-farm views per month over that same time period. Can you believe 5-minute crafts is now getting 800 million views a month!

Screen Shot 2018-11-26 at 6.21.23 pm

Screen Shot 2018-11-26 at 6.21.02 pm

youtube content farm views skyrocket

youtube algoritm favours content farms

To my absolute surprise youtube’s reply after doing a ‘deep dive’ into food content on youtube was to suggest that I try making videos in the same format as channels like so yummy and tasty – huge companies with hundreds of employees. I thought I’d take the feedback seriously and started watching some So Yummy videos. I quickly noticed that only the first 3 minutes of their videos was new content, the rest was a reshuffle of their other videos. By reshuffling they seem to bypass the ‘no duplicated content’ rule on youtube that doesn’t allow you to upload the same video twice. Not only do they duplicate on the one channel they also upload it onto blossom, another channel that they own. They do this on order to pump out as many videos as possible for the lowest cost. They are all made in square format because that is what facebook apparently prefers. Is youtube encouraging me to make videos perfect for Facebook? Dangerous move considering facebook is now starting to monetise videos.

The current youtube algorithm favours constant uploading and ‘new’ videos. My type of videos take a week to film, edit and write the recipes out. So I can’t do multiple videos in a week. But just as a test I thought I’d listen to feedback from youtube and make a video in this style to see what people actually prefer – do you like full cooking videos with recipes and instructions or do you want fast forwarded compilations of easy baking with no written recipes? I did notice that the square format video takes up more realestate on the screen when watching vertical on a mobile – so that could be a good thing. I actually like making videos and seriously won’t be offended if you prefer simple, to music, same as seen everywhere else content. I will be surprised but not offended.

I predict that this video won’t get more views than a normal video, because I think it is not the style but the frequency of uploads that is the issue. But surely the youtube algorithm is based on what real people like, right? Not just how often you can upload.

I should make a video about this issue so people know why youtube bakers are disappearing.

ann reardon pie topper recipes

My Cookbook

ann reardon crazy sweet creations cookbook
Stores that sell my book listed by country: http://bit.ly/ARcookbook
All recipe quantities in the book are in grams, ounces and cups.

55 Comments View Comments

  1. Rating: 5

    All of these pie crust designs look interesting, but I think that I’ll stick with the traditional covering. It’s usually the pie crust that I want to eat more than the filling…😅

  2. Rating: 4

    I understand why people enjoy such a video. I liked it very much too. It is entertaining – there are a lot of ideas in a short space of time. It’s nice to see all the different effects that are possible. The difference from the clickbait videos is that we already know that you don’t lie. Your longer videos – with temperatures and times – are more useful for people who seriously want to know how to do something but this kind of short definitely has a place as a source of inspiration – which can then be followed up in more detail on your website.
    Thank you for making it. I enjoyed watching.

  3. Rating: 5

    Can you publish your pie crust recipe? I know you said this video was made with store bought, but I’ve been trying to find a good recipe for a while!

  4. Rating: 5

    Hi Ann!

    Love you and the videos. Just watched the 12 easy pie crust ideas video, the dough looks so supple and holds up to all of the manipulating. I would love to have that recipe…please!

  5. Rating: 5

    Honestly, Youtube has fully abandoned what they set out to do with the website – produce a site to upload creative videos with genuine content. It’s like how Twitch has lost its purpose of being an actual streaming site for gamers and just become a way for people to get money fast by uploading cheap content. I really think it worth trying out Patreon Ann; you have a lot of loving subscribers from various age groups who would love to support you. I believe that a Youtubers subscriber’s are an extension of the Youtuber itself, what I mean is that; people who subscribe to cheap complication channels want quick entertainment that satisfies impatience. I think your style of heartfelt and explanatory content has appealed to an audience who also enjoys wholesome, real, content. I think a large portion of them would be happy to help you continue to do what you do in a way that makes you happy! It’s sad to see how Youtube has essentially abandoned the people who helped create their site. My two cents of course, all the best!

  6. Rating: 4

    i like your normal style better but i understand why you might change up.
    what if you did a double channel, one with your current style and one like so yummy’s?
    unless it would be too much hassle

  7. Rating: 4.5

    Gee, I just found your site! Hope you can stick to it and still get compensated. Although, I didn’t see any advertisement. That’s a great thing. Anymore, I just end up stopping a video that cuts in for 25-30 seconds. I just love everything I’ve seen so far and I felt bad for your son being so ill. I’ve raised 5 kids and they had issues but thank God not sepsis! I’m a nurse and do know the risk of Sepsis.. It’s hard being the mom and basically having your hands tied as you wait for meds to work. Thanks again for doing videos. You made me laugh doing the tiny ones! Live that little kitchen. Before I was 5 yrs old I use to think about little people, just an imagination. Your little kitchen set me back to those thoughts! It was really cute with the stove that worked and your water at the sink! Funny, recently I bought some things to make my 5 yr old granddaughter a miniature house! I like that too! Hope alls well with you and your family. Thx Kathy

    • thanks for your kind thoughts Kathy. Have fun making a miniature house for your grand daughter I’m sure she’ll love it.

  8. Rating: 5

    it look so yup , i wish i can make it as same as it look , thank you for sharing this recipe , i will try to make it this weekend .

  9. Rating: 4

    These new videos feel a lot less personal, and a lot harder to follow. I hope you can stick to what you’ve been doing since you started this channel. Because I love it. Hearing your warm voice makes my Friday?

    • Thanks Ava. I know Ann has loved hearing that people appreciate the personal style.

  10. Rating: 4.5

    just wanted to say that i really love watching your videos and think it would be a real shame to change the format of them! I can’t stand the reshuffling of content that sites like yummy and tasty utilise. The great thing about your videos is seeing original content with those step by step instructions where you gain a real insight into baking. I hope that YouTube will rethink their algorithm!

    • Thanks Michael, I hope so too. The poll showed that 90% of people prefer more complex recipe with talking instead of short fast forwarded simple things. So the algorithm doesn’t seem to be reflecting what real people actually want to watch.

  11. Rating: 5

    I love the recipe videos, but I see the reason for change. Ochikeron has started to do the same, but is using old video clips in new compilations. I don’t know how well they do because after I started noticing what they were, I stopped watching (mainly because as a long time viewer, I had already seen them). I personally don’t like Tasty-type videos on YouTube (or the twingy ukulele music), but when they autoplay on other platforms like Twitter, I keep watching them.
    You mentioned in your post about having secondary channels for uploading more content. I believe it was discovered through the creepy children’s content debacle that they were developing a network of “creators” so they could manipulate the recommended feature and what would autoplay next.
    You make such beautiful desserts and they are so time consuming. I wish there was more time in the week for you to make both types of videos that are at least 11 minutes long so you can put the most ads on there (lol).

    • Thanks Im, 90% of people in the poll said they prefer the usual type of content. I do too, so that means to continue I need to find an alternate income source to support it. I am currently looking into Patreon.

  12. Rating: 5

    My 2 cents: I really dislike those reshuffled videos, but I understand why they are so successful. Sometimes I leave one on in the background for some ambient noise, but I think I’ll stop so it doesn’t give them fake revenue.

    I love your wonderful videos and I do hope you see that this type of video isn’t suited to your channel.

    Have you thought of patron or the like? I’d definitely support you there!

    • Thanks Orah, thanks for the feedback, yes I thought with youtube saying the algorithm reflects what people want, they don’t like the format that you do – they want it like so yummy tasty etc. I thought that I’d be humble enough to try it. The poll showed that 90% prefer the more complex tutorials with talking over this style. So in order to continue with hat format I’ll need to find an alternative to adsense to fun it – I am currently looking into Patreon – thanks for the suggestion.

  13. Rating: 5

    Oh Ann your so much better than tasty, your so much more creative than 5 minute crafts. But clearly this is a big issue. The fact that YouTube wants you to make videos that replicate tasty is an outrage! YouTube once was all about being you! Now it’s replicate this, copy that, be like this, don’t do that.

    • Hi Emily, yes I replied to their suggestion with similar sentiments – no creativity required just copy copy copy. But I was convinced real people don’t love it – it is just what is being suggested constantly so they click on it. There was no way I was going to get my point across without doing a video and a poll. I still don’t think youtube will listen so I’ll have to find an alternative income source to adsense in order to continue.

  14. Rating: 5

    Your videos take us on a journey with you. The quality of what you make is in the details. I love hearing about how you experimented to get the effect you were after. I like seeing your family join in and the fun you have together.

    I find the music on those compilation videos grating and I’m always annoyed that the content that matches the description is buried somewhere in the middle. On the other hand I save your videos for when I have a quiet moment to enjoy them.

    Thank you for all your hard work.

    • Thanks Melissa, I agree with you about the compilation style. After what youtube said I just wasn’t sure if I was the only one who thought that way. Clearly from the poll and these comments we are not alone.

  15. Rating: 5

    Hello Ann,
    pleae go back to your original format. It feels more personal when you talk us through the recipe and show us what to do.

    This video is good and interesting, you can do a couple of videos like this, but please please return to your original format 🙂 I love all your videos and cannot wait till Friday to watch a new one!

    Greetings from the Czech Republic 🙂

    • thanks Constantine

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