Everyone knows that having video on your website is essential these days. But what is the formula for getting noticed in today’s social media dominated society?
It is no longer a question of whether or not to use video on your website. In a world where 90 percent of internet users watch online video, the challenge today is making sure your content is dynamic enough to achieve your goal.
Get the formula wrong and you can do more damage than good. Get the formula right and your brand or message can go viral in a matter of hours.
The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge is just one example of how a video campaign can grow, the charity reporting that donations have quadrupled in one week alone, from $22.6 million on August 19 to a staggering $88.5 million as of August 26. So far over a million individuals have posted videos.
But user generated video is not the answer for most businesses and individuals seeking to attract visitors to their website or achieve a specific call to action. You only get one chance to make a first impression. And a poor video will lose your audience in a simple click.
The key is working with a director who can deliver quality and get your message across effectively, whatever your budget. Storytelling and creativity are just two elements that can bring the right results. Another is having the experience and skill to make people look and sound good on video.
Even a simple welcome to my website video hosted by a business owner talking to camera will shine if produced by an experienced operator who knows how to construct this. Anyone these days can claim to be a film maker. But you will see the huge difference when a professional is producing your video.
One of my most valuable skills is the gift of knowing how to make anyone look and sound good on video. This is something that I have mastered through my own experience of performing on both sides of the camera. And this alone can give your film or series of videos that extra layer of quality that will engage and impress your audience.
Whatever your goals, the benefits of producing quality video are priceless. As Dr James McQuivey of Forrester Research evaluates “a minute of video is worth 1.8 million words.”
Here are a few more statistics, in case you are not convinced already, that demonstrate the importance of having video on your website.
:- The chances of getting a page one listing on Google increase 53 times with video. (source: Forrester Research)
:- Online video was used by 93% of marketers from organisations of all types and sizes for online marketing in 2013. (source: eMarketer)
:- The worldwide average in March 2013 found that 90 percent of internet users watched online video content on any device. Brazil topped the table with 96%, Spain 95%, Italy 94%, USA 86%, UK 85%. (source: Statista)
:- Branded videos generated 8.3 billion views in 2013, an increase of 243% in social views compared with 2009. (Source: Visible Measures)
When I started out as newspaper journalist many years ago, the old adage was that a good picture was worth a thousand words. When Dr McQuivey made his calculation that equates to every second of video being worth 30,000 words, I suggest he is basing that calculation on the NTSC format recording at 30 frames per second. But when it comes to promoting you or your business online I believe that quality video is priceless. JOHN GUBBA