Do you hate being FORCED to watch a sales video?

[N4PGW]

Originally Posted by Robert Plank

I've tested fast-forward vs no fast-forward.

My webinar replay converted at just under 1% with fast forward and just over 2% without.

I haven't tested the delayed order button, all I'm saying is, before you badmouth it so much, split test it yourself.

Also, when I have access to fast forward I do what most of here are saying you do... I skip to the end... I scroll around... I miss most of the presentation.

Go on YouTube, search "google website optimizer" ... figure out how to setup an A/B split test... and try it for yourself, seriously.

How long are your videos? You said you don't lock out the price to the end of the video, and if you were selling the PhotoShop videos, even with the long presentation, you would have made the sale. Lock it out, and you would have wasted my time and lost the sale.

Obviously, the videos have to get someone's attention and keep it. If it does, it likely will make the sales.

Like Zig Ziglar says, "Don't spend five minutes selling the prospect on your product and then 45 minutes talking him out of the sale."

[N4PGW]

Originally Posted by Lance K

So if you're going to use the launch strategy and sell out anyway, you might as well present your offer in a way that puts the most "rabid" buyers on your customer list. And leave the "luke warms" to somebody else.

So, if your prospect determines in five minutes that your product is worth spending $200 on, you would rather lose the $100 sale in favor of a 'rabid' buyer who is willing to sit out 55 more minutes waiting on your price to become available so they can buy?

Please don't ask me to buy your marketing course.....

This is not directed personally at you, you did say "20 minutes". If a video is longer than one minute it really should say how long it is, or it needs to start off capturing attention and providing content.

I am curious to know, how do you address the person who recognizes the value of your product in 5 minutes and is ready to buy? Are they not rabid buyers?

[Valineo]

I hate those videos too, especially because many of them are almost the same... story is the same, guy went broke, he thought of killing himself because of bankrupcy, his wife left him along with his beautiful children, and bla bla bla... story goes on for around 20 minutes, then he "reveals" his secret ... and then you find out that price is just too much for you ... and you just wasted your 30 minutes...
So, for quite a some time now I'm not watching them, especially not in IM niche... I love good old textual sales page where I can got all the info immediately...

[niffybranco]

As a self employed internet marketer my time is money if you think i am going to spend my time watching your long sales video just to spend my money on your product you must be kidding , if you are confident about your product then you should give me the option to watch your video at my own pace.
A sales video with no controls feels like a hard sell and i hate being sold to in that way.

When i see a video like that i just click away it is a big time waster as someone mentioned earlier what happens if the page is closed or the browser crashes ? Am i expected to watch the video all over again ?

[Lance K]

Originally Posted by N4PGW

So, if your prospect determines in five minutes that your product is worth spending $200 on, you would rather lose the $100 sale in favor of a 'rabid' buyer who is willing to sit out 55 more minutes waiting on your price to become available so they can buy?

Please don't ask me to buy your marketing course.....

This is not directed personally at you, you did say "20 minutes". If a video is longer than one minute it really should say how long it is, or it needs to start off capturing attention and providing content.

I am curious to know, how do you address the person who recognizes the value of your product in 5 minutes and is ready to buy? Are they not rabid buyers?

Hey, I'm with you on this one.

Was just pointing out that I understand why some people do what they do.

My point about the chances of those who watch the whole video being rabid was this. If a person watches the whole video, you likely have more influence over them and they're more likely to spend more with you over time than someone who doesn't watch the whole thing.

Of course you'll miss some rabid buyers that don't like the video route. But if the video route puts the biggest % of rabid buyers on your customer list, I won't blame you for presenting your offer that way.

(Of course, I'm using "You" in a general sense here. Not directed @ you specifically)

That said, it would be interesting to see how many people who do the "no controls, no time line videos" actually tested it.

And not only that, but how many people continue to test it. And did they just test it against video with controls? Or did they test it against a written sales letter? Or did they test a page with BOTH a video and a letter. And did they test each option based on traffic source? Etc.

If they're only selling 1,000 copies and they have over 500,000 affiliate emails going out, there really isn't much need to do a bunch of testing.

[Zabrina]

I loathe videos where there's no captions, no transcript, and no option to skip.

Suddenly, the web has turned from a deaf-friendly place to a deaf-unfriendly place because videos are "cool".

[kitkat73]

It does help if you can pause... especially on a replay. I have a baby and sometimes he picks the best times to be loud or want something so I can't pause... and it does sometimes work on the full screen (as someone mentioned) but not always.

Funny that I came up on this thread.... because I was just thinking this! LOL

[Madam X]

Thanks!!! I'll try that. I usually turn the volume on "mute" & speed it up to 3X's the speed (with Enounce My Speed) -- so that a 22 min. vid takes a little over 7 minutes. Who wants to listen to that cr*p? It usually falls into one of three categories: 1. Used to be poor & have a lot of credit card debt, 2. Used to be in prison, or 3. Used to be a detective.

I'll try it your way & thanks.

Marmbrust

[paulie888]

I think this strategy has been used and abused to death, which is why I'm seeing new sales pages crop up that are a little more considerate - they either offer playback controls now, or have proper, full-length sales copy that you can read below the video!

[Madam X]

This has actually happened to me several times on a couple of Fran Kern's long, long, long videos. I almost cried. Since I'm a 'persistent sort' & out of respect for Fran Kern -- I dutifully watched.

However, I'm too busy to do that now. I not only 'click away' -- but, then I also unsubscribe.

[ZaraK]

Personal hot button for me too. In fact I posted something about this just yesterday, I believe.

You know. Just because used car salesmen sell used cars doesn't mean you want to invite them into your home.

If you get that.

Originally Posted by twistedpixel

Even long-form Infomercials have calls to action every few minutes, they don't make you watch all thirty minutes before telling you how to take action.

I imagine that something similar could be done with an overlay link in the video every 5 minutes?

I use this type of video sales letter, without controls, and get great results. But there are two very important factors to consider:

The first is to give the call to action several times - the first at about 5-6 minute mark. At this time I have a hidden div appear with the price and buy button.

The reason there are no controls is the most important factor - I make sure I explain EXACTLY what the product is, and what it does in that first five minutes! Then they can consider a purchase. I do not want purchases made by "scrollers" or "fast forwarders", because they almost always turn into "refunders", claiming they thought the product did something else.

They end up with a free product, because of the MBG! Not okay, in my book.

Also, if you can't keep their attention for five minutes with video, the problem is your salesmanship

PS: I do have a pause feature, however, because life has its moments...

[Rob Howard]

Here is the thing guys:

1. People hate upsells/downsells. They are proven to bring in more money.
2. People hate pop-ups. They are proven to bring in more money.
3. People long sales video's without controls. They, for most people it seems, bring in more money.

As Robert Puddy said earlier, what you SAY and what you DO are two different things.

Sure, a video without controls pisses you off. But all, what, 40 of you, do NOT represent the entire market.

In fact, there is a LOT of psychology in this thread -

For example - the thread titled - "Do you hate being forced too...", what audience is that subject line going to appeal too? People who hate it? Or people who love it? Or people who are neutral?

People who DO hate it are all going to chime in and start ragging on it. Why? Because the subject line draws attention to those who are against something.

You read it and go - OH YEAH, I hate those FLIPPIN THINGS. Go add my 2 cents. The guys who are neutral or positive don't bother or it doesn't call to them.

Finally, there is the ol' Rubber Neck response...the title is negative. We humans get entertainment, sadly, more from negative responses, drama, etc. than positive ones.

So, I hope I made my point clear...don't rely on this thread or any thread which starts off "Don't you hate..." because chances are, unless you test yourself, you won't know whether something converts better or not...

Rob

[humbledmarket]

Wow such an old thread lol but I'd ususally press the small little x when I see such sales page. Thanks for the tip.

[MassiveMarketer]

Personally, I hate watching long videos. Maybe I wouldn't mind if it was totally a great product I'm interested in. But to convince me and bore with a long video just doesn't work for me. That's just me. I just sometimes end up closing the window and look for something else.

[GoogleWarrior]

I hate that, too. NOW WATCH THIS: THE RICH ENGLISH TEACHER ESL GAMES

[GingerColeen]

If I don't have the freedom to pause, back up, fast forward, etc. And, if I try to exit the page, they hijack me and I have to hit OK or Cancel 15 times to get out! That's really, really rude and I will never buy from them. I don't care what or how good it is!

I LOVE my freedom and don't want anyone taking it away or wasting my time.

It's just a really poor way to create a great relationship with folks. And, that's what IM is really all about.

[Sardent]

Perhaps it's just an oldschool thing, but I much prefer reading info, get a lot more out of it, than by watching a video. And OMG a whole course on video! I can't take it.
I read fast, and sitting and watching a video is...well 10 minutes in I'm squirming in my chair and tapping my fingers, anything for this video to finish.

Lost a sale to me if they ever had a chance.

[Pollon]

Originally Posted by Sardent

Perhaps it's just an oldschool thing, but I much prefer reading info, get a lot more out of it, than by watching a video. And OMG a whole course on video! I can't take it.
I read fast, and sitting and watching a video is...well 10 minutes in I'm squirming in my chair and tapping my fingers, anything for this video to finish.

Lost a sale to me if they ever had a chance.

Couldn't agree more!

[LasseKohau]

Its both ways, like and dislike,

Sales videos are ok, just as they are not to long to view.

Who has got the time to watch a 30 minute of salespresentation today ???

I think, that a tendency has arised to put many minutes of marketing into them, just borrowring the viewer. I would rather like it, cut to the bones - a hard sales pitch. (more like canvas selling)

regards, LASSE

[Michael Lee]

THE SOLUTION:

Give them the freedom to choose.

Post a video; but below that, give them the option to read the text version if they want to.

[woonkiat]

It's all part of the sales, with videos or testimonials, etc.
Only at the start if it interest me will I watch and read through other than that I usually skip down to the bottom and look atbthe price and if it look ok, I might just watch the whole thing.
As mentioned by many, the choice is ours. Use it!!

[Bill_Z]

Originally Posted by Michael Lee

THE SOLUTION:

Give them the freedom to choose.

Post a video; but below that, give them the option to read the text version if they want to.

Yes this is what I'm seeing alot, and I didn't read all of the responses but my 2 cents is this: You are not your market. You must test to find out what works. What works for one product, won't work for another, even in the same niche.

Most people are too lazy to test, so that is really the big problem. I myself am guilty of it at times as well. I will find one way that works, but instead of continuing to test and maybe get even better results, I stay happy with what I've got.

[ivanadee]

yeaaaa
I am not a fan of video since I live in a country with slow internet connection
for me, ebook guide and traditional sales page still get my attention