Http://LeonardSipes.Com

This site specializes in public relations and social media for government, associations and nonprofits but the bulk of innovation in the use of video or audio to explain and sell websites comes from the commercial sector.

The question is whether non-commercial sites should adopt the same strategies?

The bulk of visitors to any website (regardless as to how good the site is) leave within seconds. Even when relevancy is established visitors often see a confusing mess of options and choices.

Web visitors are flat-out unwilling to invest time in your website unless you make it ridiculously simple for them to understand that:

1. The site contains the information they are looking for.
2. The information matches their learning style (i.e., short-easy-friendly).
3. They will be able to find the article, video or audio they seek in five seconds or less and it loads very quickly.

The Vision and Solution:

The solution is a very quick and well-done video or audio presence. The vision is that visitors immediately get a video or audio explaining the page and what’s offered. Visitors instantly know that the site (or page) offers the information or solution they seek.

The Problem:

Once you have site administrators who are willing to place video or audio on their site the question is how.

The answers have never been simpler. Most smart phones shoot very high quality video; the major problem is audio—you NEED a microphone on your lapel attached to the smart phone or video camera. Do some trial runs, load it on YouTube and you are off and running.

The question becomes, “If billions of 14 year-olds are capable of doing this via YouTube, why aren’t you?”

It’s an Issue of Quality:

But there are issues with your ability to create short and great messages via vide0 or audio and there are endless sources teaching you how to do this with the best at Steve Garfield.Com (link below).

Statistics:

Per http://www.remodeling.hw.net/ “According to a recent report sponsored by Social Media Examiner, 76% of businesses surveyed plan to increase their video marketing efforts and use of YouTube in 2012, making it the No. 1 area for marketing investment. This is no surprise, considering that studies show more and more people are downloading and streaming videos on sites such as YouTube.”

As to the future of website use, take a look at the information below regarding youth use of video. “In a survey of 799 teens conducted by the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project teens were asked about a number of online behaviors. Among the findings:

• 37% of internet users ages 12-17 participate in video chats with others using applications such as Skype, Googletalk or iChat. Girls are more likely than boys to have such chats.
• 27% of internet-using teens 12-17 record and upload video to the internet. One major difference between now and 2006 is that online girls are just as likely these days to upload video as online boys.
• 13% of internet-using teens stream video live to the internet for other people to watch.
• Social media users are much more likely than those who do not use social media to engage in all three video behaviors studied.”

LiveOnPage.Com:

LiveonPage.Com does website-based video better than anyone I’ve seen. This is not an endorsement and I don’t get a penny for saying the above but it’s an amazing capacity that immediately tells visitors the value of the site or page. Check out their example videos.

With 60 to 70 percent of site visitors leaving quickly, it seems imperative that we hold them as long as possible ESPECIALLY when the value of the site or page is not immediately apparent.

The vast majority of money and effort on internet marketing is spent on having a statement of value for your product or service appear precisely when somebody has a need–when they are searching.

If you met one of your search engine visitors on an elevator and had only a few seconds to explain what your organization does, you wouldn’t hold up your brochure or technical papers for them to try to read in that short time.

Strategically placed video is just like standing in the elevator talking to visitors for a few seconds. Do they need to see a commercial, or would your immediate goal be better accomplished with an expert who offers them something of value in twenty seconds?

I’m not trying to sell you a company but Live On Page offers a glimpse of the future of video-based internet marketing done well.

Best, Len.

Sources:

http://www.stevegarfield.com/Site/Welcome.html

http://www.liveonpage.com/

http://www.remodeling.hw.net/marketing/creating-a-video-for-your-business-in-two-easy-steps.aspx?cid=RDU:050312:FULL

http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2012/Teens-and-online-video.aspx

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