Website Videos - How Important Can They Be To Your Business?

I was looking at our website Google Analytics statistics the other day and was blown away by a statistic I uncovered. It seems that a large percentage of our website traffic in the last month came from people watching our video tutorials. Even though we have a web-based tool that is very intuitive, it's great to have that step-by-step video of how it's supposed to be used so that anyone can learn quicker than trial by fire.

I thought about it more and realized it doesn't only apply to software companies needing to record tutorials with screen shot flows. If you don't think your business lends itself to adding interactive videos on your site think again! In addition to our video tutorials, we publish other videos as well. PLUS, it's easier than EVER to take one. These days you don't need any high-powered video camera to look like a pro.

Last year the IAB reported that 50% of the US population will watch video online this year alone and they're most likely the same people that are buying your products or services.

Step 1: So, What Should You Take a Video Of?

Restaurants - You can give a 360 degree virtual tour of your place or film a video of your chef making one of your most popular dishes.

Real Estate Agents/Hotel Operators - Host a 360 degree virtual tour of the property or specific rooms.

Software Companies - Stop being afraid of the competition getting "access" to your software. If they really want it they will surely find a way to see it. For the mac check out what we use, ScreenFlow ($100). but there is also SnapzPro ($69), and iShowU ($20). In our opinion, the higher the price the higher the quality. Take a look for yourself. For PC's check out Captivate ($600)and Camtasia ($299).

Manufacturers, Designers - Take a video of your work, how something is made or a story of how a customer uses your products.

Non-Profit Organizations - Take a video of those who benefit from contributions and how it has helped them achieve!

And any business can take videos of your customers talking about your products or services!

Resource: How to take great videos - VideoMaker , Wonder How To, CNET.

Step 2: Get It Out of The Camera and Onto The Web!

The next step is to transfer the video first to your computer, then to your website or YouTube. YouTube let's you have about a 10 minute video so it's plenty.

Resource: How to transfer your video to your computer - Google, Rick Says, Expert Village.

Resource: How to transfer from your computer to YouTube - YouTube Help.

Once it's hosted on YouTube you'll need to add your keywords so you can be found when someone searches on them. Then you can link to it from your site and you don't have to host it at all!

Still scared to take a video? Try out the Flip Camera, it's about $129 and it plugs directly into your computer so you can immediately upload your video to YouTube. Still afraid? Check out Animoto it's fun! You simply upload still photos and pick a song. They put it together in minutes!

Don't forget to tell the world about your video. A best practice is to include links in your email marketing campaigns to your video so that all of your recipients can click to view the video!

Anyone have good video stories to tell?

Comments

[Jonathan]

I personally think Web Presenters are crucial to the internet now a days. I went through Webvideopresent.com My site is http://www.pureisbetter.com the presenter I chose did a good job and I have been receiving more clicks. At first I really did not like the idea.

[Chrissy Knaak]

Get it on camera, definitely, but home made business videos don’t make a good impression! Expensive equipment isn’t necessary but style, skill and experience are. Professionally produced web business videos, especially for marketing and sales, are essential to accurately represent your brand. While we accept home video quality for funny videos or candid shots seeing a company represent its products or services this way questions the quality of the product or service the video is promoting. Production Craft, a full service Chicago video production company, has been producing business videos for 25 years. Our specialty is creating videos that represent our customer’s quality of brand and accomplish their communications objectives – a difficult task for business professionals who don’t specialize in producing videos. To view clips from videos we have produced click here.

[Anna Yeaman]

I made an Animoto video myself the other week, took only 5mins. I uploaded it to YouTube and my blog...if your a fashion retailer it's a great way to show of new collections. Stick it on YouTube and link to it in your email newsletter.

Camtasia Studio is great for video presentations, you can download a free 30day trial. No watermarks, so you can create a series of web video for free. I had a play with it myself, it's really simple to use.

I recently spoke to a number of people about what camcorder they are using for web video. You can read the full post on my blog. "8 web friendly camcorders (to suit all budgets)".

I hope it helps some of you get started. We offer no video production services, I just put it out there as my email marketing clients keep asking me what camcorder to buy!

Anna Yeaman

http://stylecampaign.com/blog/?p=13

[Mick Prendergast]

Video is HUGE...no mystery there. If you expect someone to land on your website and spend 3-5 minutes reading about your company...you are going to lose 50% of visitors.

We are BOMBARDED with messages...TV, Radio, Internet. Everywhere you turn you are getting hit with a 15-30 second message about something. Hopefully more targeted...but people aren't reading. Text messages are creating a whole new language and attention spans are diminishing...quickly.

Deploying video messaging used to be a challenge. You have YouTube and other video systems...but who wants to run a video message with a YouTube brand (seems a bitch cheap).

NMG's Digital Marketing Center has a build in video messaging system. Much like YouTube...you simply upload the video, system converts to FLASH (swf) and then you jump over into the email system. Create your message, select your video and out the door it goes...with tracking on views, clicks, etc. Users of our system have even started creating video messages and using them on their website...easy way to manage your video gallery.

You website is your 'channel'.

[Expert Village]

Hey, thank you for linking to an Expert Village video in your post. I know it's hard to find some of our series on YouTube, so be sure to check out the whole How to use a camcorder series on our site.

Thanks again for linking to us!

- the Expert Village team

[Monique Caradine]

Fantastic post. I've worked as a producer/writer and on-air talent for years. Clients love our video productions but I never could figure out how to show other potential clients our work without having to send bulky packages by mail (that they never watch) or trying to find a webdesigner who understands how to post video.

After reading this post, i finally converted some of our projects to digital, posted them on youTube and now all my potential clients have to do is click a button to play: http://www.youtube.com/motalks

Also, whenever video is on my blog, I get three times the traffic! http://yourmediamentor.wordpress.com

Video is crucial and I plan to leverage it even more. Thanks for the great post!

[Chris Andrews]

Great Article, iSpeakVideo.com is an online production company with Studios in Florida and New York City. The power of online video and the results it generates is amazing. We specializes in Video Spokespeople, iVideoHeaders, and Video Presentations. We have added the Virtual Spokesperson to Websites and Landing Pages for our clients. The increase in the overall effectiveness for the site or marketing campaing has been extremely positive. We have case studies if anyone is interested.

Chris Andrews
561-922-5226
www.iSpeakVideo.com

[Email Marketing JOurnal]

This is so true - if you can effectively create a decent video that can make your company look good, by all means do it -it's the age of the ideo!

[Russ Jolly]

Agreed - video is an extraordinarily effective means of communication and the explosive popularity of video on the web should definitely be harnessed for business use.

Just make sure that the overall quality of your video adequately represents the image of your organization. Being a producer, I'm naturally biased on the subject, but common sense says go to the pros when communication is critical because a poorly produced, DIY video can potentially do more harm than good.

Russ Jolly
PixelPops
www.pixelpops.com

[Melanie]

Fantastic article on the power of video! It's taking some time to catch on, so it's good for folks to know they can do it more easily than they think.

I run an online classifieds website called Listasaurus.com, and we're one of the first to feature video classifieds. It's such a terrific way to really show the detail on a product or service, or show a little personality to help get the viewer's attention.

Our Business Directory listings also allow the upload of a video, and I think it's such a wonderful tool for businesses to promote themselves--as you said! Video just opens up so many more ways to reach a potential customer, than merely a photo.

Thanks again for a great article!

:-)

Melanie Heywood
www.Listasaurus.com

[Brendan Goggin]

I am a believer in the powerful effects of video for use in email campaigns and web sites alike. I own a restaurant and Pub outside Philadelphia and use video on my website for a broader appeal. Feel free t take a look:
http://www.oakmontnationalpub.com/welcome.html

I also embed video into my marketing campaigns.

[Chris Aguilar]

Thanks for posting this as another video producer, I also encourage clients to take a more interesting approach to their web site videos. How are the videos they are producing compelling to the viewer? Just someone saying "here it the bed room" (in real estate) is predictable. So why not get the former owners to talk about a particular story of the house. Or the builder talk on camera about a particular challenge or event during the construction. For a business - we say go beyond the advertorial/testimonial. Have the client showing the viewer exactly how the product is changing their work place or work flow. With the proliferation of video on the internet and business web sites- the new challenge is how to stand out.
Chris Aguilar

Soul Surf Media Productions
www.SoulSurfMedia.com

[David Cleary]

Here's a stat for you. Using video as part of my last VerticalResponse email campaign QUADRUPLED my click rate. Very powerful and compelling.

I just started a new business and will use video to educate clients, prospects, visitors to my website, and create products.

I do agree with several of the comments here and appreciate the ideas on video products and services. I have been using Camtasia and Adobe Premier Elements 4.0, with a $400 video camera and chroma key green screen. I will say this, while it's easy to shoot video, the real work is in the editing and production because it will reflect on your business, so be careful what you put our there!

David Cleary
www.davidcleary.net
http://davidclearygroup.blogspot.com (blog)

[Lou Amico - LA Management Co]

I own a multimedia marketing company in Charlotte, NC and we produce videos, develop websites and provide search engine marketing. Video is not only a powerful communicator for you company it should now also be a "must have" component to your search engine marketing strategy. Google includes videos in blended searches and posting your video on YouTube as well as your own site can significantly help you websites visibility. We do this regularly for ourselves and our clients. This article has great advice, just be careful that the quality of your video is comparable to your brand, message and audience.

Lou Amico - http://www.lamanagementco.com

[Robert Perry]

I am in the cemetery mapping and ground penetrating radar business and produce both videos and 360 degree virtual tours for cemeteries. Once the maps are completed, we like the files to the (computerized) maps so that cemetery managers can show customers various burial locations within the cemetery without having to leave the office. For creating the media files we use is 3D Vista (for virtual tours) and Video Studio.

[Dena Largent]

I've recently started a video business card company in Austin ,Tx. It's great to see more and more articles from marketing experts promoting video. I was at the Austin seminar and can't wait till I have enough names in my database to begin using the Vertical Response Products.

Dena Largent
www.infinitemarketing.com/DenaLargent

[Eric Ludwig]

I own a video productions company based out in Arizona and I can tell you that the power of video is extraordinary. People are naturally drawn to moving images and I think deep down they know that a video is going to be a good summary of what they want to hear. Video is proven to be easier to remember than verbal or written communication because it involves more of the human senses (sight & sound including text, stills, moving images, music & narration). To top it off, those who browse your site are more likely to take in the information presented in the video rather than the reading the paragraphs of the very same info so not only is the video easier for them to remember but it will carry a larger audience as well. One more thing to keep in mind is that the more professional the video, the more effective it will be overall. The professionalism of your video message will be a reflection of you. Look up the professionals in your area and talk with them about your video needs. Statistics show that it will serve your business well by better educating your website viewers and calling them to action.

[Jon Bjork]

Thank you so much for the lead on the Flip Camera! I picked up a low-end 30-minute model on Amazon for $87.

There really is no excuse not to make a video now. Even my 3-year-old daughter (that I trust with $87) has made a couple of good videos. Of course each one ends with me saying, "Push the red button."

[Debbie Barth]

Great Article and since video email (vmail) is my business, I obviously felt compelled to reply.

For video editing, just about everyone with a PC has "Movie Maker" on it, and it is free and simple to use. Just go to your microsoft office suite, and it should be there. However my choice for video editing is Cyber Link Power Director 6. I paid $89.00 a year ago, so I don't know the price now, or whether there is an upgraded program. I just know that I love what it can do. And then, of course, you can upload it to what ever program you want. You Tube is great for casual stuff, although you are sharing it with everyone on the internet, and you can't get too creative as for as holiday or business templates, a contact management system, etc., and I agree....it is better to pay for quality when you are trying to impress a prospective employer or client.

I have been using Talk Fusion video email since it's launch last year on a daily basis for business and just "staying connected". I can upload videos to TF or I can simply use my HD webcamera which comes with Talk Fusion and send out crystal clear movie-like vmails, with its simple point and click system.

Anyway, video is here, and it is here to stay. And, it can obviously grab the recipient's attention quicker that conventional email. It is true that "people hear more of what you are saying when they can see you saying it." .....Debbie Barth

[Eli Poblitz]

I'm biased, because I own/operate a virtual tour business, but I agree wholeheartedly that "if you got it, flaunt it".

I've worked very hard to come up with some of the higher resolution tours offered and the businesses I've worked with have had very positive feedback about the addition of virtual tours to their website.

I would say a high quality virtual tour is one of the best investments a business can make. When you compare the costs of traditional print to the virtual tours (and the impact on the the environment) as well as the "skickiness factor" (keeping people on your site for longer), virtual tours prevail.

I'm glad to see an article highlighting how useful virtual tours can be to a company. Of course - I'm already a believer :)

Eli Poblitz
www.bayreavr.com
www.bayareavr.net (blog)