I think most of us have sites we turn to in times of need - either for information or practical help.
Mine is ‘My Builder’
I have found 9 workmen through that site (Including my recent hedge cutter) & can’t praise it highly enough.
The site has an insurance policy in case anything goes wrong so you are covered against any mishaps.
I have found handymen, decorators, gardeners, joiners - even a TV aerial erector. Now Tony can’t do anything around the house I use that site a lot.
Yes - I’ve got a son & sons in law who could probably do the job for me but I don’t like to ask them because they have such busy lives. They help a bit but I don’t ask too often. The last job Ady did for me was to assemble a flat pack bookcase. The last job my so in law Nim did was to mend my wing mirror when I smashed it… The other son in law Nick is a bit sarcastic so I never ask him anything…
Personally, my “go to” site for when I need instructions/tutorial on anything is YouTube.
I have to say that at the moment the sheer volume of advertising on that site is starting to put me off when I visit using my TV or tablet. All I can say is thank god for adblockers on my computers and the ability to download videos to play when needed.
You sometimes have to sort the wheat from the chaff (like everything on the Internet) but YouTube is always a great place to start.
Same here
I tend to use Youtube for real people reviews for stuff I’m going to buy.
Game cheats so I can beat the kids at their games…
Putting together flatpack furniture thats another good one.
I recently helped replace my neighbours broken oven element and there was a handy little video there.
Long gone are the days of trapesing down to the local library to pick up a book on DIY,Just YouTube it…
Yep
But I usually watch quite a few of the reviews and then make my own judgement…Plus I’ve got a subscription to Which Magazine and usually compare what they say.That’s probaby why it takes me so long to buy anything
Same - I have begun to hate that site now whereas it used to be a firm favourite.
It all started when they started telling youtubers to make videos at least 13 minutes long, because that’s how they can cram more ads in so whereas before people would make short and succinct how-to videos, now they are littered with garbage just to be long enough to meet that stupid criteria.
I didn’t know that YouTube had done that, there are a number of times recently that I have ignored videos because a simple concept apparently took them 15 minutes to explain and I just didn’t want to waste my time.
Having said that a couple of my favourite channels that I watch every week produce videos between approximately 20 to 30 minutes long. They are Vlogs rather than instructional and I enjoy them very much each Saturday morning.
Apparently channels can decide whether they have ads run during their videos, I tend to ignore ones that do, I can live with an ad before a video but one during tends to make me click “Exit”.
There were a number of articles about it, but can’t find them now (wonder if google has demoted them in search? ) but here’s one:
YouTube incentivized this in more ways than one. Not only are longer videos more valuable, but they’re favored by YouTube. The platform’s algorithm prefers content that keeps people engaged, encouraging them to spend even more time on the site. Company executives have tried to pivot to promoting responsible content, but the algorithm still favors longer content.
The result is a change in the type of videos that are dominating YouTube. Longer video essays, more extravagant vlogs, makeup tutorials, and commentary are all on the rise as a result, alongside political content, lengthy explainers, and documentary series. A recent report from the Pew Research Center discovered that the average length of a video among the top 250,000 channels was between 13 and 14 minutes. Coming across a 30-minute video isn’t out of the ordinary. In fact, it’s become the new normal.
There is also something insidious @Azz about YouTube putting adverts on newbie content creators in order to generate money for the site. So not only do the new creators have to jump through hoops to satisfy YT’s criteria for earning money, there isn’t a defined point at which the switchover is made from YT getting the money, to the creator getting it. I always let ads run on new sites, but now I don’t.
Sorry Carol, yes I go to Youtube quite a lot for guidance and How To’s. or just type in "How To…in the search box and see what comes up.
I live in a ‘gated community’ meaning it’s access controlled with security cameras and guards.
Members of the community belong to a What’sApp group and we usually ask for recommendations on the group.
If it’s really small stuff and I ask a question on the WhatsApp group (e.g. why is my pool pump squeaking) one of the guys in the neighbourhood usually offers to come round to take a look/assist me. So that’s really very handy.
For purchases, I also look up YT reviews and website reviews on the website I usually purchase from since the reviews are completed by ordinary people who bought the product with no incentives .
I also take a long time before I finally settle on an item to purchase because I deliberate and research first.
My favourite site clearly is YouTube with its DIY videos. I don’t bother about advertising as I don’t watch any video from start to finish anyway. I scan the info provided by using the fast-forward function and jump through the video because it’s usually one particular aspect I don’t know and would like to have explained. I usually check several videos that way. Couldn’t have done a number of jobs around the house without those instructions on YT.
Not long after we moved here a pamphlet was put through our letterbox. This pamphlet is published by Checkatrade.com and lists a load of local contractors for all sorts of trades. We’ve found it very useful.
so whereas before people would make short and succinct how-to videos, now they are littered with garbage just to be long enough to meet that stupid criteria.
) but here’s one: