Excuse - I don't know how! What technology to use, what products to buy, etc.

Jim,

When my firm creates client videos, we outsource it to a specialist with expertise in that area. As for me, I do not have the patience or interest in creating or viewing videos.

Occasionally, I find a short one that hits the mark, but mostly I find them uninteresting and prefer the written and spoken word to the visual.

Elaine often reminds us that we learn differently. She is correct. Learning relates to happiness in that we seldom use tools that don't teach us, as they often won't entertain us either. Therefore, to expect every marketer to use every tool is a false expectation.

As a tool, video, when appropriate, is useful. But to use video just because it exists in not a wise use of time or client money.

Thanks Jim for bearing with this most personal of opinions. Good post!

Jim -- Funny timing of this post. I was fooling around with my Flip video camera this weekend when I stumbled upon a few of YOUR Flip videos on YouTube -- your "Flip at the dentist" was pretty funny!

As an editor and writer, I've ALWAYS been a text person, too, like Lewis. But I find that video conveys a lot of subtlety, and can augment what a site is already doing. At least, for publishers like MarketingProfs. (And for people like me, who just like to play around with it.)

I'm digging video personally, as well as trying to get more of it on the MarketingProfs site -- via our friend Matt Dickman's series, of course, as well as Jennifer Jones and a few others. Video will never replace text for me, but it's here to stay. It seems to me that 2007 has been the year that video and audio have joined the mainstream.

Lewis, thanks for the comment. I think my point is though, that as marketers we have to innovate and always be looking forward. We must try I think.

Ann, I have to say honestly that I also never thought video would take over from text for me. But the more I do, the more I realize how much more effective it really is, and how much more comfortable I am getting with it.

I still prefer words right now ONLY because I'm better at typing out thoughts than saying them.

It's hard to be funny and engaging and not nervous on camera. We recently tried to create a "how to care for your furniture" video and it went alright, but our normally sparkly owner didn't have the same charisma on camera. We're going to try again with a professional videographer and see if we can do better.

Successful web video marketing campaigns provide an opportunity for viewer interaction and response. As marketers become more comfortable creating and distributing web video marketing campaigns, the use of online video is bound to grow because video offers an opportunity to engage an audience.

For most of 2007, video sharing sites (such as YouTube) and online video ad units have received the majority of attention from the media and bloggers. Hopefully 2008 will be the year where web video marketing becomes the prominent topic.

Video used in conjunction with direct calls to action can really enhance a marketer's message.

As a company that has created a web video technology platform for marketers, Flimp Media uses a mix of different videos to promote our product. Our videos include traditional spokesperson serials along with product-specific video tours. We found that a series of video tutorials we created helped us better communicate our product's core benefits to our audience.

Visit http://www.flimp.net to see examples of how Flimp Media has used video to promote our company and product.

New technologies, such as Flimp, will make it easier for marketers to use audiovisual content as an integral part of their communications efforts. Much like the growth of interactive communications, marketers will start to integrate video as part of their marketing mix.

Instead of challenging us with reasons for NOT using video, I challenge everyone to define genuine reasons FOR using video.

If there's an authentic biz case for video, great -- leap in. But if not, then it's just another gimmick of the month. Like the hundreds all marketing pros have seen come and go in the course of their careers.

I suspect some folks are still a bit intimidated by video - whether it's the technology or the prospect of being on camera.

The truth is, with the new Flip camera and decent webcams, it's really pretty simple.

I'd suggest that people just fool around, experiment and see how easy it is. Just dive in and have fun with it!

Thanks for starting the discussion, Jim!

Lou

Jim-

It slows down the website loading time. Any suggestions there?

I'm with Jonathan. I don't have the know-how at this point to do web video, and why should I? There has to be a compelling business benefit that would justify my taking the time (and time is money) to learn and then implement this added element in a meaningful and productive way. I expect I will eventually jump on the bandwagon, but I don't have any sense of urgency right now.

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Ok, I purposely did not put up any success stories about my video use in this blog entry because I didn't want to be self promotional. But here's one.

I did 5-videos last spring. Each one is just me standing in front of my home camera, talking to a potential customer, explaining how my services can solve their problems.

From those 5 videos uploaded to YouTube, I consistently get 3-5 phone calls or emails a week from people wanting to hire me for my consulting services.

Of which, I have generated a high 5-figure income from DIRECT attribution to the videos on YouTube.

I've got more success to share as well. Video works, reject it at your own peril.

Thanks for the added info, Jim. That's a genuine business benefit that's good to know.

I'd also like to know if you jumped through any unusual or cool hoops to get your vids noticed, or did you stick to the usual tried and true methods?