Introduction
Recently online video has revolutionized the way businesses can and will use the internet to advertise, educate and inform their prospects, customers and investors. Streaming video content has now become easier, more effective and more affordable and is replacing the text and still graphic design templates of yesterday.
According to eMarketer’s Report, 2008 “…represents a mass-market benchmark, as more than 50% of the US Population – 155.2 million people – will watch video online. “ With an increase in US online video on the rise, the next 4 years are forecasted to demonstrate a spending growth rate of 40% year over year. These figures demonstrate that video has already been embraced by thousands of businesses, from your small mom and pop shop to your Fortune 500 conglomerate.
Why Use Online Video?
In the past we were forced to use text and photos to explain a company, service, or product. Websites evolved over time but were still limited to photos and text only. There is a shift taking place today in website design and usage that is occurring in front of our eyes. This shift is a metamorphosis from text/photos based websites to video infused ultra dynamic websites. By adding videos website owners can now explain their message clearly, cut down confusion, and increase conversion rates.
Why Use Video? The reason “because my competitor is doing it” may not justify it for today’s marketer. Better yet, because it works, it’s easy to implement, it’s more affordable than ever before and it will increase sales revenue, brand recognition and online presence when done professionally.
Video communication connects with viewers in a multi-sensory way using sight and sound. It speaks to all our senses. It allows viewers to absorb more information much faster and take action. With crisp audio and clear visual presentation, video can invoke an emotional response to your brands website more effectively than text and still graphics resulting in a more powerful “call to action” message for increased ROI on marketing and communication dollars. More than any other medium, video alters our paradigms, and changes the way we communicate our message. To follow suite, the internet is changing the way we do business by allowing the user to react immediately to the video message.
Madison Avenue has been using sight and sound in TV advertising to spearhead brand advertising since 1941. Billions of dollars are spent in TV advertising each year to support brands and create strong connections with consumers. The shifts in marketing budgets online are reflections that marketers are finding a less expensive way to achieve the same result. Video can now be used online with all the same benefits achieved on TV, but with the added tracking functionality that is available online. When a business marketed themselves on TV they typically use a video format, because it’s available. It’s rare to see a commercial with only text and photos. The reason is because video is much more engaging and effective. This same rationale applies online. Website owners were forced to explain their message through text and photos. Today, the ability is there for a website to be completely infused with video. Therefore, increasing appeal and creating a more effective website experience.
How to Use Online Video?
With many different video production solutions to choose from, how to use online video becomes a matter of many different opinions. One opinion that should carry the most weight is a company that specializes in online video productions. Below are 10 tips to using a virtual spokesperson on your website and the possibilities are literally borderless with what you do with it once you shoot it. A virtual spokesperson is a video of a real actor that can be implemented on any website in any form.
10 Tips to Using a Online Video Spokesperson on a website
- HD Quality- Make sure the videos that you use are always shot in HD. We live in a world where we are judged by our appearance. If you have videos on your website that do not represent your business in an ultra-professional manner it’s waste to even add a video. Quality is key!
- Close Captioning- Adding close captioning is important. The reality is that some users don’t have speakers or are hearing impaired. Therefore, taking into consideration their needs is imperative.
- User Experience- You have the ability when adding a spokesperson to customize it where if the same user comes back to the same page within a 24 or 48 hour period of time, then that user would not get “force fed” the same video again. The user would be given the option to play the video again if they chose to, but wouldn’t be forced to watch it again. It is important to be courteous to your users and look at their experience when adding a video spokesperson.
- Video Length- Keep it brief on the home page: The key component to a video spokesperson is to explain a product or service, but also the goal is to direct traffic to specific sections or specials within the website. Keep it brief on the home page under 45 seconds. The user does not want to watch a 2 minute video on your business. You are much better off with a quick video on home page then elaborating about a specific subject once the user gets to that specific page.
- Actor Quality- Make sure you see the actor you have seen in some other performances. It’s imperative to choose an actor that is good quality and will represent your company with professionalism. Don’t sacrifice on the quality of the actor.
- Choosing an Actor- Choose an actor or actress that fits your target market. If your market is geared towards baby boomers it makes sense to have an spokesperson that is of the same age range.
- Full Body- Choosing a full body spokesperson will allow you to use the spokesperson to point at various page or sections of the website. It will appear that a small person is on your page.
- Half Body- There are benefits to having your Virtual Spokesperson shot both half body and full body. In the half body format, you will see much more of the actor’s facial features which leads to more sincerity.
- Add a Call To Action- The goal of the script is to not only explain your business it’s also to add a call to action. You want to engage the user to sign up or buy not just talk to them. It is even possible to add a sign up form or contact us button. Example: www.maispace.com
- General Script = Longer Life- Make sure the message is general enough so it stays fresh. Stay away from price points and dates as this will cause your message to go “stale” and force you to purchase more unnecessarily.
Ways to use Video on a website:
Online Video Spokesperson:
One of the best uses of video online is through using a online video spokesperson to help a website stand out, direct traffic to specific sections, and explain a message clearly. No matter what industry a video spokesperson will help a company enhance the website user’s experience.
Examples:
http://www.voteforshapiro.com/
http://www.yourtravelrewards.com/hr/?mrksrc=0532847&xxNodeId=000q74qwp
iVideo Headers
An iVideo Header is an effective way to incorporate a online spokesperson product with interactive flash graphics and screenshots. The key is to incorporate this unique product into the design of the website. This not only creates a sense of purpose for the product but it also provides enough room to drive home the message. iVideo Header is part video, part flash file incorporating graphs, screenshots, images, and so much more into the timing of the video so at specific times an image will correlate with a script read by an online virtual spokesmodels.
Examples:
Video Presentations
iVideo Presentations are a powerful solution that allows your company to explain your message clearly. No borders, no limitations, plenty of space and time to drive home your point.
Are you selling a product that at times can be difficult to explain? Are your prospects confused about certain details in your product offering? Are they bored with reading through confusing brochures or unengaged in long sales calls? Imagine sending your prospects a simple link to a powerful presentation. Watch confusion go down and results go way up.
Examples:
http://www.gomcgruff.com/m/HowItWorks.asp
http://www.apus.edu/financing-your-education/index.htm
Video Banner Ads
Are your banner ads not getting noticed? The traditional banner ad is dead! Today, traditional banner ads have an anemic click through rate and are not getting the results that they once did. An internet video banner ad takes the banner ad concept and adds a new spin on it. Our ads contain video from top to bottom and from left to right…basically anywhere within the ad. It is completely customizable. You can choose to have a person speaking from a close up angle or from a full body perspective.
In addition, we can we film the actual product within this banner with a voiceover. Through research it was discovered that adding a banner that “Speaks” is an innovative and impactful way to get noticed.
Video Product Demo’s
Why use text or photos of your products when you can demo them through video using an online spokesperson? This new video product allows websites to come alive in the form of a “How to” videos. Customers will learn how to use the product which will not only cut down on common questions but also help increase conversion rates. Great for “How to build” Videos, “How to Return” Videos, “How to Use” videos, and so much more!
VIDEO FAQ’s
It’s inevitable that website owners will get the same questions asked over and over again. They are right there listed in a “Frequently Asked Questions” section. But, customers/users are simply not reading them. The answer is an engaging new Video FAQ product. A video spokesperson can help answer any question through video. This will not only make a website easier to use it will also help reduce common questions which can help save time and money.
Examples:
Other Uses:
Check out pages, Video Press Releases, Video Landing Pages, Email Campaigns, Corporate Communications, How to Order Videos, How to Ship Videos, and Intranets.
CLOSING
Very few companies are offering this extensive line of cutting edge online video products. iSpeakVideo is the leader in this young industry. They have an impressive array of products and talent. The client can actually pick their own actor from a portfolio of over 75 pre-screened professional spokespeople. They even have studios around the country so if the client decides to be their own spokesperson they can simply go to a local iSpeakVideo partner studio and become a website star. iSpeakVideo offers a great product at a very affordable price point.
For more information contact them today at www.iSpeakVideo.com or call them directly at 866.443.0862.
