The numbers are in, and the verdict is clear – America’s internet users love watching videos online! How much love are we talking about here?
According to the latest numbers from the comScore Video Metrix service, Americans watched 40 billion videos online in January. And, we’re not talking about a group of nerds, holed up in their basements, watching videos for hours on end. Instead, a whopping 181 million Americans watched some form of online video – accounting for more than 84% of the U.S. internet users.
Now, it’s up to you to capitalize on it!
Make no mistake, online video marketing is growing in popularity. Savvy business owners have figured out that offering their target audience a way to see and hear them is a great way to boost their credibility. And, if people think you’re credible, they’re far more likely to spend their hard-earned money on your products and services!
Now, this doesn’t mean that you can just throw up any ol’ video and expect the traffic and sales to come rolling in.
Just like any other type of web content, quality is king. If your online video consists of you, sitting in the middle of a messy home office, spouting off a bunch of “umms” and “uhhhs”, no-one’s going to take you seriously. Or, if your idea of a great online video is to create some PowerPoint slides and read them verbatim in your monotonous voice, you need to stick to other forms of attracting web exposure.
This doesn’t mean you have to have the budget of a Hollywood blockbuster to succeed at online video marketing, though. Lots of business owners are creating informative, witty, interesting videos in their home offices, without major motion picture equipment.
The difference between them and the guys with the “umms”, though, is creativity.
By having a well-written script that’s chock full of facts, a background that isn’t distracting, a microphone that doesn’t make you sound like you’re talking from the bottom of a hole, and some good ol’ fashioned eye contact with the camera, you can knock your target audience’s socks off.
Once you’ve got a solid production plan, your target audience WILL stick around to listen. In fact, according to the comScore Video Metrix numbers, the videos that Americans watched in January were, on average, six minutes long. Sure, that includes people watching episodes of their favorite sitcom. However, those numbers also show that people are willing to stop what they’re doing, sit down in front of the computer, and stick around to watch a video – IF the video is captivating enough.
The audience is there… How are you going to engage them?
Samuel May 29, 2012 at 11:01 am
I’ve been thinking about this for a long time but I never got around doing. I’m a little camera shy and I don’t see myself promoting stuff with my face on the videos. However, you just gave me a great idea. I like the whole powerpoint slideshow idea. I have a lot of ideas and I know a lot about the niche I blog about it. A slideshow and maybe voice over is definitely something I can do.
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Nicole Beckett May 29, 2012 at 11:14 am
Glad to hear that you’re going to dive right in, Samuel!
As long as you’re not reading verbatim from your slides, they’re a great tool to use.
And who knows, maybe as you get more comfortable doing voiceovers, you’ll have the confidence to go on camera? After all, when people can see you *and* hear you, it’s a great way to prove to them that you’re an honest, decent, knowledgeable expert!
Good luck!!
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Sara April 2, 2012 at 8:09 am
Well I used to put some videos from youtube in order to explain in a better way some gardening issues and I saw some good results but I know that this is not enough.When I’ll finish the script and the whole preparation,I want to create videos and some additional interviews with experts!I think that this is also a very good technique to capture people’s attention.Thanks for sharing.
Nicole Beckett April 2, 2012 at 1:36 pm
That’s a great idea, Sara! Anytime you can give your viewers more information, they’re going to remember you for it (and remember you fondly!) Good luck, and thanks for chiming in!
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Nicole Beckett April 2, 2012 at 7:42 am
Kudos to you, Trung, for working so hard! You’re obviously very dedicated to your work! When you publish some new videos, be sure to post a link here so that we can see how good they look
saha April 2, 2012 at 6:56 am
I had read somewhere that in the world of social media, video is king. Video is very important to catch the attention of reader. Share with people what they want to know. Thanks for sharing.
Nicole Beckett April 2, 2012 at 7:31 am
You’re right, Saha… a *good* video will catch people’s attention. Just like written content, you’ve got to be sure to give viewers hard core facts and figures – instead of fluff – if you want them to trust you and think of you as an expert.
Thanks for chiming in!
Bishwajeet April 1, 2012 at 3:14 pm
Unfortunately me not that good with video ,otherwise we would have been producing videos too. Maybe in future we are going to it
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Nicole Beckett April 2, 2012 at 7:33 am
It’s never too late to get onboard the “video train”, Bishwajeet
Chances are your competitors haven’t started yet, so now’s the time to jump ahead of them! With a little bit of new knowledge and a little bit of equipment, you can do it!
Kimberly Gauthier April 1, 2012 at 1:47 pm
Nicole – I’ve found that video is a great medium to reach my audience and show them more about me. Body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice doesn’t come through in written word.
What I would like to do is make my videos a little more professional and take advantage of a good (easy to learn) video editing software.
Kimberly
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Jack Sander April 1, 2012 at 12:00 pm
Actually, posting more videos was the next step I’ll implement to increase the engagement of the readers to my blog. From what I’ve seen, there are certain niches in which a blog cannot evolve without posting several really good video tutorials. As I want to be competitive, I’ll do the necessary work to create a viral video or at least to boost the traffic.
Nicole Beckett April 2, 2012 at 7:34 am
Thanks for pointing that out, Jack. A video can be a great supplement to a blog post! Maybe you go over the “bare bones” in your post, then go into more detail in your video. Either way, fans of your blog will enjoy seeing and hearing from you!
Marty April 1, 2012 at 8:32 am
I guess users will always prefer visual aids instead of reading and videos provide just that. Let’s not forget that people are pretty lazy and will always prefer to watch a video rather than read 500 words on a topic.
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Nicole Beckett April 2, 2012 at 7:36 am
I don’t know how much it has to do with laziness, but there are lots of people out there who would rather watch something than read about it. Plus, you get the added benefit of viewers seeing and hearing you – which shows them that you’re not some slimy salesman (and can make it a whole lot easier for them to trust you!)
Thanks for the comment, Marty!
Blazing Minds April 1, 2012 at 6:47 am
Creating videos has always been something I’m constantly thinking of doing, specially for some of the posts I do on my Movie Reviews, but I just never get around to doing it, but may be I should really consider getting motivated and start filming
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Nicole Beckett April 2, 2012 at 7:38 am
I think alot of people are in that boat… thinking about videos but not publishing them. But once you see all of the perks that a good video can bring, it gets a little easier to put it at the top of your to-do list
Blazing Minds April 2, 2012 at 10:06 am
Thanks for that Nicole, I’ll certainly have to do one in the very near future
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Ryan Biddulph April 1, 2012 at 1:46 am
I’ve shot a ton of videos Nicole. I am posting more videos to my blog posts too, and placed a neat video on my squeeze page recently which increased my opt-ins. Sometime about seeing the person, seeing that they are real, builds a strong emotional connection and increases calls to action taken. Thanks for sharing.
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Nicole Beckett April 2, 2012 at 7:40 am
Good for you, Ryan!
Glad to hear that you’re having success! You’re right… actually seeing someone brings your marketing to a whole new level. After all, there are lots of shady folks on the web. People want to make sure you’re not one of them!! 
Trung Nguyen April 1, 2012 at 12:51 am
I’ve created some videos but I know that them weren’t good videos because I can’t speak English in these video, so I’m going to learn English to make my video will be better.
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