Is This Video Effective For A Squeeze Page?

[J.Knight]

Hey dudes...

I put this video together yesterday for my first ever squeeze page.

Do you think it's effective, or not? Do you think it would help or hinder in getting people to sign up?

YouTube - How To Be Successful Online - Free at...

JK

[J.Knight]

Originally Posted by Victor Santore

JK,

The video had a good story line to it. I don't think it would deter people because you are merely touching a topic that is a reality right now. I would suggest maybe giving more insight into "what" the offer is.

What did you use to record the audio of your voice? I would suggest working on that as well.

Hope that helps!

Well, it's on the actual page and the rest of the page with the headline, etc. So the offer should be clear.

As for the voice. I agree. I've only got the inbuilt mic in my MBP.

Hmmmm... might invest in a decent mic. Could be useful for other stuff too.

JK

[Michael Taylor]

Yeah, definitely spend $30 to $50 on a good USB mic. Don't get a mic that only has the 1/8" audio jack. USB yields a better sound quality.

The video was good. However, toward the end you have three words that build up to form a phrase..."Learn to succeed". I, personally, was disconnected from the flow of the video at that point. Just have the entire phrase cut in at the same time. Also, for visual reasons, consider using title caps for that phrase. It makes it look stronger and more authoritative.

Learn To Succeed

Drop the exclamation mark. You don't need it to convey excitement or authority in this case. The stark black background and title cased phrase would get the idea of urgency and excitement across by themselves.

I like the way the captions came forward and through the screen. There was a portrait of a woman you used...that's a wide-spread picture of her. I've seen it before. You may want to switch that out for someone else. When I listened to the story, I mentally associated her with the family in the story. But, since I had seen this woman before, I was taken out of that story line, since I was immediately reminded you had just taken a selection of Depression Era photos for the video. You had me up until then.

Of course, 99% of you audience may never have seen that pic. I would take the time to find another one, though.

Overall, not bad...not bad.

Watched the end again...good job on the soundtrack's timing with the "Sign Up Today!" title screen.

And one more thing, if you edit the original version, be sure to leave that on YouTube and in the original post so future readers can see any changes discussed in this post.

[Andrew E.]

Hi JK, just some quick notes about my experience:

1. I found myself clicking around the timeline more than I liked - maybe you could speed up those segments where you have text zooming in.

2. The voice is a bit too low and garbled compared to the music in the background - perhaps raise the volume up on the voice a bit, and lower the music.

Good concept, though!

[J.Knight]

Michael,

Thanks dude. Some great tips there.

Have you any suggestions on a particular mic you've used? I'll check the reviews, but if you have one you know works well, I'd love to know.

You're right about the photo and the 'learn to succeed' statement. I'll make the changes when I redo the voice over.

TwoVectors,

I wondered about the second set of zooming text myself, ("what if you're income dropped by 40%" etc). I think I'll speed it up and add a few more short and punchy statements in.

The economy is going to get worse through 2009 before it gets better, so I imagine I'll be able to run this for the guts of a year. So I need to get it right, and then let it run.

Any other thoughts?

JK

[nicholasb]

I like it and I think it will do the job

Just some advice when you put your website page and sign up part leave it up for like another minute or 2 so your viewers wont get side tracked and start clicking on the related videos.

[Kevin AKA Hubcap]

JK

I use a Samson Q1U USB Mic. It works great and costs about $45.00 on Amazon (about 1 year ago.)

[kettlewell]

I'm not sure it was your mic - I think that it was just your accent (if you don't have an accent, then it was your mic) - My suggestion would be subtitles for the little bit of narration that you have - I like the "Omen" type suspense music that you used... is there a place to get these for download? or is is just music you've found & acquired over time?

What are you using for video editing software? you really did a great job, I think that the audio was the big thing - and the things that previous posters have mentioned as well.

As for the message itself, I think you're on target....

[James Schramko]

Let the market decide. Test different videos. Text text versus video etc...

[write-stuff]

Novel idea. I like it, but do think it has some glaring problems. Good news is all are fixable and you may end up with a really nice (and effective) video.

The voice over needs radical improvement. I'd recommend getting someone else to read it (sorry, nothing personal). It's such a short amount, I'm sure you can get a pro to do it for under $50. Otherwise, someone else with a deeper voice. If you do it yourself, absolutely get a good microphone.

I liked the white titling, but did find it a little slow. I know you can't easily shorten the underscoring so getting rid of some of the titles isn't an option. How about flashing in some images between them to keep the viewers interest?

I think you're on to something. Keep at it and show us the next iteration of it. What software did you use to create it? The zooming titling was really smooth and unpixelated.

- Russ

[J.Knight]

Thank you all!

Ok... Take Two!

I still haven't got a mic, but did the voice over again anyway.

I speeded up some of the slower titles, and added a couple of news ones in to fill the extra time.

I also changed the 'Learn to succeed' statement near the end.

YouTube - Succeed During the Recession - Free...

JK

[J.Knight]

Originally Posted by kettlewell

I'm not sure it was your mic - I think that it was just your accent (if you don't have an accent, then it was your mic) - My suggestion would be subtitles for the little bit of narration that you have - I like the "Omen" type suspense music that you used... is there a place to get these for download? or is is just music you've found & acquired over time?

What are you using for video editing software? you really did a great job, I think that the audio was the big thing - and the things that previous posters have mentioned as well.

As for the message itself, I think you're on target....

Sorry dude...wasn't ignoring you. It was just late last night when I got the edited video up.

I got the background music from a site...I'm actually just checking the terms now. I thought it was free to use, but maybe it's not. I'll let you know.

For editing the video, I used Sony Vegas. At the beginning of the year I got a Macbook Pro with Final Cut Pro. I can't for the life of me figure out how to use FCP even on a basic level. It's REALLY frustrating!

I need some FCP guy to come around and show me the ropes in person, but I haven't found anyone I know who has it.

So for this video, I loaded up Sony Vegas onto Fusion (allows me to run XP on the Mac) and used my trusty Vegas to get the job done. Vegas rocks!

Hope this helps!

JK

[YellowDot Software]

JK I would suggest you check out voices.com for a professional, it's not too expensive if you find the right person.

Your video will get a lot of viewers attention, but I would promote your solution a little bit more at the end. Like "It's time to start taking control and paving your own way, Learn To Succeed"

I personally use premiere for video editing, and i found it very easy to get setup, but my original background is art, design, animation etc.

[J.Knight]

Originally Posted by YellowDot Software

JK I would suggest you check out voices.com for a professional, it's not too expensive if you find the right person.

Your video will get a lot of viewers attention, but I would promote your solution a little bit more at the end. Like "It's time to start taking control and paving your own way, Learn To Succeed"

I personally use premiere for video editing, and i found it very easy to get setup, but my original background is art, design, animation etc.

Is the second one still really that bad?

Is it the voice, or the accent? Would it put Americans off because I don't have an American accent?

I was in touch with a voice over professional yesterday, and still might go that route. I'm hesitating because, well... it's not me. I mean, sure I'm no Barry White, but does it matter so much in this Web 2.0 age?

As for the ending. Remember, this is on a squeeze page. It's not primarily for YouTube. Check out Crack Success! to get the context.

I tried Premiere at one time too. It's a resource hog in comparison to Vegas, which is why I didn't go for it.

JK