Video Squeeze Pages that AutoPlay...with No Controls...for 30 Minutes!

[Jesus Perez]

I just received a video from a "super-affiliate" that is 37 minutes long...and does NOT have fast-forward controls.

Basically, I'm being "forced" into watching a 37 minute long advertisement for the sake of a "bonus announcement". Last time I checked, that's longer than a TV sitcom!

Question: How do your react to long 20 min+ videos with NO fast-forward controls?

I suspect it's a visitor-killer. But maybe I'm wrong.

P.S. I download the video in the background using DownloadHelper and watch it later with the free Wimpy Player.

[AllanWM]

This seems to be a common practice and evidently very effective. The 'gurus' are using this method quite often.

[Kim Davis]

I don't mind the auto play and the length but I would mostly like click out if it. I don't like not given the option. It doesn't suit everyone.

Sorry didn't see the vote right away.

[John Piteo]

I hate it when people take away my choices!

Sometimes I start watching a video and don't always have the time to finish it, so if I go back later I don't want to start from the beginning again.

Also those video's without controls don't let you jump back to a segment to listen to it again if you want to get some clarification.

[LB]

I can tell you that these are being used because they work like crazy!

Yes, it's counter-intuitive but it converts and that's why you'll see more of this in the future.

[Jill Carpenter]

Originally Posted by LB

I can tell you that these are being used because they work like crazy!

Yes, it's counter-intuitive but it converts and that's why you'll see more of this in the future.

I think as a marketer I'm not impressed when I see these because honestly I am looking for the punchline and don't have time for all the in between stuff. I want to know what you have (bullets work) how much is it and what do I need to do - end of story.

This method is more like the mafia working someone over.

There they are in the chair, wrapped up in duct tape not knowing what is coming next. I KNOW what is coming - just don't have a half an hour to get to your punchline.

[A Bary]

Who said it is working?

Just because some gurus use it , you assume it's working like crazy?

List one name of a respected marketer who use this sick method?

All those who use it are the "mid-level" marketers who mislead others to think they are gurus while they are just.....

No names for no offense....

The point is...all the comments so far are saying that people just leave this type of videos and never bother watching it...

Then, who on earth watch it and "it works like crazy" on them...

Believe me, this is the problem in IM, when something that's wrong and not professional (an yes, I mean it, these type of videos are unprofessional and plain marketing flop) used by many people we just say"yeah , if those much people are using it then it must be working"
And that's, as I believe, is absolutely wrong..

Do you know how many sales or how much money these people make using such type of videos?

Video marketing is great, and it works very nice for those who use it correctly (ok, right, this battle again)

When you receive a video from someone you respect, or when the very first few moments of the video got you "involved" you'll continue watching, no matter how long the video is, and you won't search for the controls...

Give your prospects the respect they deserve, marketing isn't about twisting arms and forcing people to watch or read your message...

[mikeyman120]

I am on DSL and if this happens to me they lose a visitor. If I can't hit pause and let the video load a bit it just stutters.

Mike

[Simon Stanley]

Hmm I know you guys may be suggesting it as some "clever" marketing tactic, however I truly believe many will simply get aggrivated and leave the site (I know I would!).

But then... I have no statistics to back my claim up. Very interesting topic though, I wonder if he actually banished the controls intetionally.

[Joseph Park]

I think it really depends...

If I was watching the video after much anticipation built
with many emails, I may watch it despite how long it is.

But if it was just one time email and I was forced to watch
it, I may just either leave it or open up another browser
and do something else while still listening to it.

[bkdubs]

I have volume control. I just turn it down. Unless i want to learn something I am not so much interested in video

[vagabondette]

the fastest way to make me leave your site is to have audio/video that starts automatically. I *HATE* it. It can be a pain because I often scroll through results and open lots of different tabs while I go. Then someone has feckin music playing and I have to figure out which tab it is. On one the script was broken and it kept playing even after I closed the window. It wasn't until I closed Firefox that I saw the error box and closed it - and the music stopped. Ugh!

[acrasial]

Yup, if there is a pause button, I wouldn't mind- I have seen one's which have this- it just plays automatically- no buttons ... but you can also double click to make it stop...lol- however there was NO fast forward- and I found it a bit irritating- because what if a person missed a part- then they have to start all over again?


annoying, and time consuming... maybe make it editable after the person has watched it once? then they can come back and fast forward, rewind etc?

[Josh Anderson]

Originally Posted by BlueSquares

I just received a video from a "super-affiliate" that is 37 minutes long...and does NOT have fast-forward controls.

Basically, I'm being "forced" into watching a 37 minute long advertisement for the sake of a "bonus announcement". Last time I checked, that's longer than a TV sitcom!

Question: How do your react to long 20 min+ videos with NO fast-forward controls?

I suspect it's a visitor-killer. But maybe I'm wrong.

P.S. I download the video in the background using DownloadHelper and watch it later with the free Wimpy Player.

I do the same thing using VideoDownloadHelper (one of my all time favorite addons) and wimpy desktop player... especially when I run into those fake live webinars.

Download and save for watching later at my own convenience.

Whether it "works" or not depends on what the goal is...

I am not a fan of videos without controls and I do not believe for a second that it is a proven or adequately tested response booster.

There are too many video marketing products that come out, use a few limited impact small volume case studies and make claims about the viability of certain strategies.

Most of the time these are coming from people with limited experience in direct response web video deployment and with limited knowledge of other more powerful response boosting options out there...

But more often than not the videos that you see where navigation is omitted... is merely because of lack of experience with player technology and just using the first thing that they thought was cool.

Some do it on purpose... but of those very few again have real solid experience or knowledge of enough campaigns with volume and results to really compare and know what works better. They might compare A to B and because B performed better they go with it... but they likely never experienced C, D, E, F and G some of which may pull better.

Too many people get anal about this stuff because some strong promoted guru with a short history of publishing video on the web and little exposure to what is possible made a claim that some strategy that they added a catch phrase to will generate $11,583 in just 7 days or boost your conversion by 323%.

Any time you see claims like that you can just assume they are hyping up something that they have had limited success with and therefor decided to create a course about. Don't accept it as the gospel. It may provide a boost to other methods but there is almost always a better more effective way.

When you have thousands of clients deploying tens of thousands of video campaigns with your technologies and sharing the results of various strategies that they try you get a much different perspective ;-)

Of course that does not mean we do not cater to those who want such abilities... our job is to deliver the technology... not to force a fool to avoid using it in the wrong way if they are dead set on doing so.

Controls and navigation bars are a very good thing when it comes videos longer than the 3 minute or less promo video.

[ebizman87]

Originally Posted by AllanWM

This seems to be a common practice and evidently very effective. The 'gurus' are using this method quite often.

Are you sure,it's EFFECTIVE? I don't think so.It IRRITATES me a lot..

[Kim Standerline]

I vote with my feet and leave

Kim

[Robyn8243]

Definitely not a fan. With a long written sales page, at least you have the option of skimming
through to see if you are interested.

I don't want to commit 30 minutes or more on some unknown content that I am expecting to
be mostly designed as a sales pitch for something else.

Maybe that type of strategy is effective if you are targeting newbies who still think that at the end of the video they will know the details of some "secret" underground technique that will be the key to making money within 24 hours.

Robyn

[winebuddy]

I'm gone - too long - no way I can "get to the punch line" - too many things on my plate to sit for 40 minutes - or even 20 minutes... or even 10 minutes.

If it's only 4 or 5 minutes - they MAY get me. Otherwise OUTA HERE!!!

[Kalidasa]

Most Americans are "belongers" 37 percent. Most of them will put up with such tactics, even be strongly persuaded by them. Most marketers are not belongers, I suspect we may be " the societally conscientious," 22 percent, who are afraid of being manipulated. Of course most of these replies are going to say "leave!" I would and usually do.

[Mr. Enthusiastic]

Originally Posted by John Piteo

I hate it when people take away my choices!

Sometimes I start watching a video and don't always have the time to finish it, so if I go back later I don't want to start from the beginning again.

Also those video's without controls don't let you jump back to a segment to listen to it again if you want to get some clarification.

Good point, John, even if someone is very interested, they might have something else to do or might even want to hear a point again.

Originally Posted by avenuegirl

I think as a marketer I'm not impressed when I see these because honestly I am looking for the punchline and don't have time for all the in between stuff. I want to know what you have (bullets work) how much is it and what do I need to do - end of story.

This method is more like the mafia working someone over.

There they are in the chair, wrapped up in duct tape not knowing what is coming next. I KNOW what is coming - just don't have a half an hour to get to your punchline.

Nice BENEFITS ya got here, I t'ink ya gotta agree. Shame if ya lost 'em from not ORDERIN' right today, ya gets me? Now where was we, bring up my projector there Guido, slide 85 of 192, look at da EXAMPLE of how this is gonna make yer business great, okay...

Originally Posted by goldmind123

Who said it is working?

Just because some gurus use it , you assume it's working like crazy?

It's definitely popular, but is that because it works or because the lemmings like to follow each other to the same cliff?

Originally Posted by Joseph Park

I think it really depends...

If I was watching the video after much anticipation built
with many emails, I may watch it despite how long it is.

Well, that's something completely different isn't it? If you know what it is, expect it and are looking forward to it? Even then I'd really prefer a player with controls as John pointed out.

Originally Posted by Robyn8243

Definitely not a fan. With a long written sales page, at least you have the option of skimming
through to see if you are interested.

I don't want to commit 30 minutes or more on some unknown content that I am expecting to
be mostly designed as a sales pitch for something else.

Robyn, you got it. I don't like long sales letters either. When you send someone a letter in the mail, there's no choice but to have line after line, page after page. On the Internet, you could just as well have a testimonial or two that's clickable for the full testimonials page.

Michel Fortin thought this was the future of online marketing and I'm disappointed that hasn't happened.

I realize that the mindset is "don't let 'em do anything but leave or buy." That seems as disrespectful and controlling as the old casino idea that there's no natural light so you can't realize you stayed all night. How old school! The newer ones actually have windows.

Originally Posted by Kalidasa

Most Americans are "belongers" 37 percent. Most of them will put up with such tactics, even be strongly persuaded by them. Most marketers are not belongers, I suspect we may be " the societally conscientious," 22 percent, who are afraid of being manipulated. Of course most of these replies are going to say "leave!" I would and usually do.

If you're like most people in Internet Marketing, an ad that starts "if you're like most people" makes you change the channel!

[Daniel Rickfold]

Originally Posted by avenuegirl

I think as a marketer I'm not impressed when I see these because honestly I am looking for the punchline and don't have time for all the in between stuff. I want to know what you have (bullets work) how much is it and what do I need to do - end of story.

This method is more like the mafia working someone over.

There they are in the chair, wrapped up in duct tape not knowing what is coming next. I KNOW what is coming - just don't have a half an hour to get to your punchline.

these are usually not really aimed at marketers... unless they are... but it's still a powerful strategy and people use it...

of course these videos should be aimed to the audience that doesn't mind them...

usually, they must make the impression of it's not something to be sold...

[TChiu]

i usually cant stand anything longer than 15 minutes... i think it would be nice if at the beginning of the video the speaker stated how long the video was going to be so i could at least prepare myself mentally.

[donhutchinson]

Ever sat in your home and listened without interjection to a non-stop salespitch for 30 minutes?

[Richard Van]

I have to say I can't stand them. As for them working, well according to the poll so far over 80% leave, some download for later but probably don't watch it later. A small percentage (6.45%) watch it.

Not exactly working too well. Think about it, if 100% of those that watch it bought it (highly highly unlikely) then the highest conversion rate they could ever get is 6.45% I guess it's a numbers game but it still irritates hell out of me!

[Kevin AKA Hubcap]

How about this.

Instead of wondering if it works for someone else, which really is inconsequential, test it for yourself.

You'll have the answer as it relates to your business and not what someone else thinks or does.

Just a thought....