You know what???

Yup

This one actually said at the top how long the vid was so I clicked the back button straight away, shame cos it looked as though it may be an interesting product.

It's a system that obviously works for these marketers, however I can't help wondering how many (like me) they are missing out on

Kim

Second that.

It's one thing to watch a sales video and another to not have the time ticker. Not knowing how long before it ends is a turn off. I will never do a video sales pitch without at least a timer on it. I think not having it there is like forcing the potential customer to watch the video and sacrifice their time to do so.

Kim, we've known each other a long time and you know I love you, but this is
what it comes down to.

1. Hopefully (and this is not a given) the person who created the video is either
split testing against a non video or shorter video version to see what converts
the best for HIS market.

2. Is ultimately USING what works best for him or her.

You don't like long videos. That's great. A lot of people, I am sure, don't as well.

I love a long video IF it's interesting.

So...I'll give it a chance. However, if it doesn't really catch my interest right
away, I will turn it off. It's that simple.

Ultimately, the marketer has to feel out his target market to see what works
best. If the long video proves to be the best converter, he'd be foolish to use
anything else.

That just isn't good business sense.

My 2 cents on the subject for whatever they're worth.

PS - I still love ya.

I totally agree. When I was in TV news, we covered the lead story in 2 minutes or less (and that included anchor intros and live shots). If I can sum up the crime and corruption at city hall (and what it means for your property taxes) in 2 minutes, you can certainly tell me everything I need to know about your product in 2 minutes.

If you're going to have me sit through a 16 minute video, it better be darn good. One person who fits into this is Andy Jenkins (the "Video Boss"). I've sat and watched 20 minute videos of his that kept me interested the entire time. Just bear in mind that most of that time was spent providing legitimate facts and information - not just him trying to sell his products.

And, ditto on the folks who want to know how long the video is before they watch it. After all, time is money!

Ron, me thinks I detect a bit of sarcasm here.

You know what else is a waste of time? Eating, drinking, breathing, and sleeping. Eliminate all of those things from your life and you will have much more time to just tell people prices of stuff and make sales.

I don't mind videos per se, but marketers, please leave the controls there so we can rewind, fast-forward, etc. at our leisure.

Taking the controls off the video is, in my humble opinion, like being a marketing bully. When you try to force people to do stuff, you are likely going to meet with resistance with certain types of people.

Like Kim, I too prefer a PDF, for the simple reason that I'm a speed reader and can absorb a lot of information quickly.

Funny how things happen I have gone to a site with just one of these annoying long videos with no controls and started playing it, turned the sound down and hopped onto the forum here and came across this thread, just flicking back and forth and still not got to the actual product still telling his life story of how he was on the street, no money, no prospects and started a business from the Library in between meals at the soup kitchen. went form rags to riches narrowly avoiding the clutches of a prison cell whilst his mother was working 6 jobs to feed the rest of the family. Now hes making a Million dollars a second on auto pilot, living in a mansion with 23 sports cars on the drive - hang on just checked back- just showing off his new yacht with 43 pole dancers at his beck and call.
O hang on hes now slamming the "Gurus" who've been lying to me all the time - I will never make any money - Im just a sucker!
Ah now - he has the answer for me.
Hes going to show me step by step how to do it and better still he met a world class programmer who used to work for NASA when he was working out of the Library he partnered with him to produce an "ATM machine" and I cant believe I can have it too for -No not $50,000, No Not $9,999 No Not even $5,000 even though at that price it would be a steal No I can have it for - wait for it - £97 and he will even through in some juicy bonuses that are worth over $9,000

Just flicked back and hes still ranting on thats 23 minutes and not an order button in site yet - whats he waiting for I ve got my credit card out ready and waiting (NOT)
But wait breaking news spots are limited it may be gone before I get to the check out!! And this page will be gone by tomorrow

Ah Well missed out again what a shame, but wait I try to leave the page and what, I can get a discount - no gone off the idea, try to leave the page again, what another discount down to $77 now. Try to leave the page again what I can get his secret code for making money for free - just give my e mail address and my Name

Just flicked back and the bloody thing is still going. Dont these people that think that we have better things to do with our time?
I am now being bloody minded and want to see what the actual length of this behemoth is - fair play to him must have taken a week just to write the bloody script.

Rant over but I think you know what my view is

I honestly think it depends on your market. And it depends on what type of marketer you are honestly. If you do your testing, longer videos tend to convert better than shorter videos in my experience. And it also depends on the price of the product.

It's impossible to give enough content to get someone to buy a $97 in a 5 minute video. It just doesn't happen. It also depends if you're experienced or not. If you're brand new, I think long videos work better because it's still new to you. But if you've been doing this for a while, then obviosuly u want them to cut to the chase.