There
have been several reports from various social media analytics companies
and organizations that indicate the increasing popularity of videos
in websites, blogs and other online portals. The reason is very
clear as website viewers prefer the high interactivity that online
video players provide in getting information about almost anything.
Just take the booming popularity of YouTube for example, where millions
of clips are watched on a daily basis -- from amateur, boring home
video images to amazing product presentations of various commercial
brands and products.
Video is a very compelling medium to use to showcase any product
or service that it would be to a webmasters advantage if they have
some form of video players that could run automatically while the
site uploads, or engage customers with an interactive thumbnail
playlist allowing them the option to choose which particular video
they would like to view.
The Benefits of Using a Video Player with a Thumbnail Playlist
The staggering popularity of video sites such as YouTube as well as its impact on social media networks like MySpace or Facebook is a clear indication of the power of video marketing. Videos can be set-up as viral, meaning viewers can share them to friends or their networks. This would be a great way to share information about your product, at very minimal cost, to an almost unlimited number of potential viewers and customers.
Products and services can be presented more efficiently through a video player much better than any write ups can portray. Given the option, most web visitors would most likely be attracted and view a video presentation rather than reading through a lengthy article that contains the same information. The compelling images, music and other audio elements can engage any viewer, making them want to know more about a product -- and eventually convert them into paying customers.
Ways to Put Video on Your Website
Basically, there are two ways how you can put up a video on your website: hosting the video itself on your own server or embed a link to the video to a third-party host such as YouTube. There are pros and cons in using any of these resources and it would depend on the how your website is set-up, and how you would like to showcase your product. For many, combining elements of these two options would be the best way.
Many websites now use streaming Flash Video (FLV) because views can already watch the video clips instantly while they are being downloaded. Conversion among different video formats can be done by using downloadable video converting software.
Many website owners embed videos on their website as hosted from
another video site such as YouTube. The problem with such arrangement
is that people would usually follow the link going to YouTube and
watch the video from there -- not on your website where they can
gain more information about your product and services. ![]()
It would be more effective however, to have a short version
or a teaser of your video on a 3rd party video platform and have
it linked back to your main website where the full, high-quality
video is hosted and watched in its entirety. Coupled with a thumbnail
playlist, such set-up can create a compelling and interactive
user experience -- that they would want to know more about your
product.
Things to Consider when Putting Video on Your Website
The following are some tips and tricks on how you can effectively use video on your website.
*
Keep your videos short. The attention span of most people
are short and would usually drop watching videos if its too
dragging or would take too much of their time. 3 to 5 minutes is
the ideal length and would depend on the type of content you have.
* The type of content that you could use for your videos include: a) documentary style where you can show the product in action; b) informative style where you can explain features and benefits of your products in detail; c) viral or humorous videos where your products are presented in part (and would compel viewers to share to their friends or network.
* Be original and authentic. Avoid using corporate style presentations that many people just shun. Keep it simple and viral, showcasing your product in its most compelling essence -- how it can benefit the customer.
* Add a call to action. Your video would be useless if it does not compel the viewer to take action, either to inquire more about the product, or make them contact you for potential business.
Clearly, having a video player and a corresponding thumbnail playlist can do wonders in making a more effective presentation for your product or service. There are various tools available at your disposal and it would be very wise to try them out and see which would be best to use for your website -- and take it to the next level.
NEWS FLASH: Adobe has introduced a new custom Open Source
Media Framework (OSMF) that can dramatically lower the time,
costs, and risks of creating video and media players, help organizations
to quickly distributing and publishing video, audio, or other rich
media on the web and to mobile devices. Find more information about
how OSMF
Player can help you monetize and protect your video assets,
and make it easier to create and maintain the rich media experiences
of your audience demands. Custom OSMP player supports all popular
video formats.
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