Quit Using Video for Sales!

I agree completely!!

I'm in agreement here. I get why video is so compelling, but I end up bookmarking various video sales pages so I can watch them on the weekend because I just don't have time to sit through them during my working week. I would love to see actual text on some of these sites.

I agree, each visitor should be given the option to watch the video or read what you are promoting. Taking away the choice can potentially lose a lot of sales.

Kim

I tend to drop vendors that use only sales videos. Especially ones that you cannot pause / fast forward / rewind / skip.

Im weird, I would still rather have a long sales page because I love reading. I look at video as a plus that I never sit through I listen to more than watch it because Im reading the sale page lol.

Yes, and to make matters worse, many marketers now use the kind of sophisticated videos that are hard to pause or move forward. Videos are, and will probably always be a central part of marketing but the novelty factor has worn off, so before I watch a video I at least want to be sure it's on a topic I have some interest in.

The real kicker for me is when they don't have the pause, rewind, or forward button as JamesDW mentioned but ... they don't even put a contact form to maybe perhaps send the video link to watch later where they could market from still? I don't see the benefit, I really don't.

Those are great points you all make!
I have a video testimonial half way down my page, but it is mostly focused around text info. From what I've read here, I think I will just scrap the video completely, as I hardly watch videos on other peoples offer pages as well.

You are spot on IMO,

Think they DO work well but it would be nice to have a link saying "Haven't got time to watch a video - click here" - you could even modify the copy for someone in a rush:

"OK, so you haven't got time to listen to my life story!"

No problem let me get to the main points and tell you WHY this product works:

* My product will help you skip long sales videos

* No more having to wait until the end of a long story to find out what I am talking about.

etc...

Chris

If you can't be arsed to watch my video, you must not want my product.

So don't buy it. Problem solved. Off you go, then.

I am saying though, add content too. Video is an excellent sales and marketing tool, but don't try to force everyone to go strictly by video because they wont.

I will typically click away from video only sales pages. Not interested, I got stuff to do too.

If I can read it, I can read it at my own pace.

Yeah, videos get quite annoying at times, but on the other hand, they can be very convincing. I think they do a better job of convincing non IM'ers than traditional IM'ers.

me too. I can read a lot faster than any video can play and I want to know NOW what this is about - not in 5 minutes when you get around to telling me. I always click off when there is just a video.

Just cause you don't like them doesn't meen they don't work (i hate them too) but think about it they are engineered to firstly appeal to those who do like them THEN when you exit you are offered a sales page at a discount that you may prefer.That way both avenues are covered.(and also exit popup x5 just encase )

Peter

I agree, just yesterday I was REALLY interested in a product (only a video with no links) and everything sounded great.

"This is just a short video to... blah blaah.. blah... blah..."

After about 10 minutes with no end in sight I had to give up as time is money for us as you know. Good point Aaron, listen to him guys, that video from yesterday probably lost the guy $200+ dollars from the sound of the program

If only one could sit on the monitor! Maybe read the daily!
joe - that was funny!

I left a video presentation from Ryan Deiss yesterday because

1. there were no controls
2. It was mega mega mega long and because I couldn't pause it or rewind my only choice was to stop and walk away
3. I am not going to watch it again because I have to start all over from the beginning
4. There was no text for me to review or read

You need a hybrid -- especially if it is long
You can NOT assume someone can listen to it because it may disturb the people around you
Let me know some info and then I might watch it
Let me know how much time it is going to take and how much time is ticking by

I think they have so many tricks that they "trick" themselves out of their audience or at least some of the audience

Well said Chris,

Only took me the first three years of online marketing to learn that MY opinion
is worthless.....and so is everyone elses......ONLY the customers get to
tell me what to do these days.

They are my greatest marketing tool....d'ya know what....they actually VOTE
for what they like best.....by hitting the buy button.

So far THEY like video best....so...until they change their minds.....video stays.

How many of the people saying that THEY don't like video...have actually split test to validate their own personal opinions I wonder?

If you are not split testing with and or without video...how can your opinion be valid?

Seriously folks, personal opinions are NOT the way to run a business.

It's horses for courses but I think every niche massively benefits from using video sales letters, whilst a small amount of niches will benefit even more from a combination of video sales letter and written copy.

I have to agree here 100%.


Well... I am a self-admitted video JUNKIE (yeah, you send me an email with a link to a video, I will probably watch it and I prefer video blogs, video instruction and well, videos LOL).

But I would prefer that video sales pages have the controls so I can pause it if I need to. If it doesn't have the controls, I'll either bookmark the site so I can come back to it, or I'll launch good old Audacity and record it so I can listen to it later at my leisure and have my own controls.

My 10c - If the only thing on the sales page is a video with no controls, I'll just skip it AND then unsubscribe. If you don't have the courtesy to value my time, I'm not going to give you any of my money. I'm not going to sit through 20 - 70 mins of a presentation for something that I may not be interested in.

Maybe it's time to tell all those TV executives who sell gazillions of product with videos that they should stop right now......and fill the screen with words.......I think they may laugh.....all the way to the bank.

.

This is a great point! I have left many a page due to the same reason.

I want to find out quickly what it does then investigate further if I am interested. Not spend ages watching a video to find out I already have something similar or it is just not needed.

If you're a internet marketer yourself than of course a video sale won't interest you because you know all the tricks already that they're implanting so it's a major waste of your time. It's even a waste of my time, but the video sale are and should be made for newbies and people that don't use the internet to make money.

Video sale are good for weight loss kind of product and a video sale is a must to make more money, but making Video sale for the best spinner kind of product is a waste of time because that product will only target to money makers.

Many replies in this thread are based on personal preference and opinions and that great. But they are not based at all in fact.

Plenty of research and testing has been done by marketers far ahead many of us and the proof is that video sales letters WORK! Period! Otherwise they would never use them, ever.

There are several types of video sales letters, hybrids, etc. Each are designed for different types of traffic.

The thing about having no controls on the video is all about CONTROLLING the sales process.

I'm going to be implementing various different video sales letters myself in the near future because the math proves that they convert better, period.

Totally agree with you on that one. I don't have the time to watch a video on the product. I prefer bullet points that list the benefits. I only by products based on the benefits.

Keep it Short and to the POINT.
Not including a pause or some form of control
is just plain Rude.

I forgot, I do have some control.
I can just leave your page. :rolleyes:

I don't get it, this is like completely idiotic! You make your marketing decisions based on personal opinion and preference and snuff your noses at the facts.

This reminds of some dude on a thread that was about Facebook and other companies letting their users determine which ads they liked and which ads they preferred not to see while on their sites. The WF member was like that is totally stupid to let your visitors decide what ads to see, I make my visitors see the ads I WANT bla bla bla.

All I could say in return was, when you start making multiple millions upon millions with your online marketing I'll be more inclined to listen to your opinion. Same goes for this thread.

This is just a rant thread anyways so no one is hear to listen to reason or facts.

Video is surely a great tool for marketing and for some it's easier to watch a short sales video than read through long sales pages.

I get that there should be some text too in addition to the video content because all prospects aren't surfing with the same mindset.

However, using short catchy sales videos that could link to another sales video linking to your site or to your bonus page is another way to do it effectively.

I can imagine some people won't sit through a long sales video that begins with over 10mins of your life story with images of your old car compared to your new car....
Get to the point already! Having some text on the page at least will help the prospect know on time if they're interested in buying the product you're selling.

That being said, don't begrudge others, video does work and is still working and I can say for a fact that I'm enjoying video marketing cos it's so cool and I also get to help people who are scared to try it out for themselves

Quit using video for sales?

Seriously?

Um... No.

Self-indulgent, poorly conceived rants like this are DANGEROUSLY wrong-headed in a forum presumably full of people wanting to learn how to become better at profitable Internet marketing.

It's just flat out BAD ADVICE...

As per your request under your avatar, consider yourself kicked.

Nothing personal, buddy. You're making a very, very, VERY common mistake.

Do you know what it is?

It's been mentioned several times in this thread....

Best,

Brian McLeod

I trust testing, not ranting.

Videos for sales CAN work well, but I personally won't sit through one either. I'll use them to promote products, but I don't watch them myself. If the whole sales page is a video, well you've lost your sale. Especially if there's no way to skip it.

I also probably won't buy your product if it's not in a readable format. I don't have time to watch you speak for 4 hours, but I can read the same content in 30 minutes no problem.

I am a video technology provider... and our technology can be used to do those annoying force you to watch it style videos...

Personally I refuse to sit through anything like that, immediately turn them off, and leave without buying every time. I prefer to be able to skim a video, see the order form right off the bat, read some etc.

However, no matter how much I personally can't stand a no control video only sales process... the decision on whether to use it or not should be based on testing.

I also hate those force you to stay on a site when you try and leave windows warning popups...

But I finally saw one used in a way that made total sense...

I clicked a link and landed on a video only no controls video sales page... as normal I immediately tried to leave the site only to be trapped by a windows warning "are you sure you want to leave this page?" exit popup which had redirected me to a full long copy text version of the sales page as an alternative to the video only version!

Although both the video only with no controlls and the exit pop trap that keeps you on a site you are trying to leave both bother me... this was brilliant!

It was also the first time I saw them used in a smart well executed way that actually reduces offense to website visitors.

Hopefully forum readers notice my response and think beyond their predispositions enough to recognize the gold I just shared :-)

Yes use video, video is the revolution, I just beg of you please let it not annoy some of us marketers that would normally have LOVED to buy your products.

Maybe the reason why you hate video is because as a marketer buying marketing products you are tired of being marketed to. Maybe it's the same reason you bought a DVR (to skip the commercials and get back to the program). Perhaps if people using video marketing stepped up their game and had a Michael Bay or a J.J. Abrams production maybe it would keep every ones attention. Can someone add an explosion? Maybe a fight between two robot aliens in the middle of the video sales letter?

All kidding aside, people are different in the way they consume information. If all else fails for you, download the video using the firefox plugin flash downloader or download helper, scrub to the end where they give you the price and then you can decide whether or not you want to buy the product.

Absolutely agreed (concerning original topic), particularly when there's not even a bypass link. Back button... here we come!