Video VS Text

by 43 replies
49
Provide your final judgment!

Which is more effective in YOUR eyes?
#copywriting #text #video
  • I vote text.

    When you read something, it's like you're thinking it in your mind. If the words don't get in the way, the message is much, much easier to claim as your own thought.

    And it is quiet - you can read stuff almost anywhere, anytime. Except, perhaps, when your boss is looking over your shoulder. ;-)

    And personally, when I find video playing that I never asked to play, I TURN IT OFF FAST. It's too startling, too public, too much what I did not want to see.

    IMHO.

    Dot
  • Depends on numerous factors... but one being not everyone is able to watch it. Plus what you say is less relevant when someone sees you (look at the studies).
  • Obviously both work, but sales pitches are going to be going more and more towards video for 2 reasons.

    Easier to provide proof.
    Builds trust and credibility faster.

    It is also the media people get their news and entertainment the most now a days.
    • [1] reply
    • I really dont like video unless it has a real purpose.

      In place of sales copy does not seem a real purpose to me.

      using video to demo something is very good.

      What bothers me is sitting and watching a screen that doesn't move while someone spends 2 minutes telling me what they are going to show and then doddling along.

      Show me the meat or break it down into several 1 minute blocks with some text to suppor/explain what you are going to show.

      You can also put text on the screen in between clips . It may force you to get to the point quickly with words so I dont have to listen/watch presenter stammer - boring...

      k-
  • Definitely text.

    You can't watch video while you're at work. You can't scan the text. Video takes ages to load. Think about Ryan Deiss's Continuity Blueprint video launch -- the videos were of very high quality and I couldn't comfortably watch them with my 1mbit dsl. And I believe that at least 10-15% of Internet users still use dialup.

    Video needs flash/plugins. If you're marketing with video to non-computer-savvy people then you lost them completely.

    Video resembles TV commercials so much. TV commercials are screaming "I'M ADVERTISING, TURN ME OFF" and there's no real content in them. Long sales letters are more like articles and giving information.

    With videos you have to be a really good speaker while with text you only need to be good at swiping ;-) It's so easy to bore the pants off people (think about Bacak or Jordan Hall's Turbo Continuity launch).

    Video might be good only as a supplement to a long sales letter. That's just my opinion of course.
  • If you can't read and if you can put up with the banality and inconsequencial dross that introduces many videos (and causes me to turn them off), video may well be best.

    For myself, I do not like to be patronised, I do not like peculiar local dialectic accents and I do not like unscripted drivel that does not deliver a punch.

    Flash videos giving only screen shots as instructions for particular actions are OK but I would much rather have a series of jpgs to view at my own speed.
    • [1] reply
    • I'm going to go with video. Just go to Alexa.com and see the fact that after over a year YouTube is still number one in their search rankings which shows that video advertising is on the rise.

      • Video builds credibility and lets people see you. They can tell if you are being sincere or being phony. If you are sincere expect your leads and opt-in to skyrocket. It also brands you as an expert and makes you credible in just a few seconds.
      • A recent study I read that prospects retain 50% of the information through video as opposed to text.
      • You get to cut down on objections about your product or services. You will never have to worry about handling objections of your leads. We all know the usual "it's a pyramid scheme" crap that we face on a daily basis. That nonsense ends with video.
      I actually wrote an article on Video and Web 2.0. It gives my personal insight on video.

      Five Hard Hitting Reasons Why Videos Are the Most Effective Tool For Building Your Internet Network

      FYI. I don't want people to think that video should totally replace copy writing. Everyone won't be good at video production and if you are an superb copywriter then it won't matter. Because the pen is still mightier than the sword.
      • [2] replies
  • I'd have to pick an option that's not there - a mix of both. I find that better than either by itself.

    - Russ
  • Both work. You simply need to track and test to see which works better on a specific page and go with which delivers. It's not as simple as choosing one over the other.
    • [1] reply
    • Video is a useful tool for both product delivery and brand-building.

      You can use it to develop brand-identity and credibility (as Katie whatshername does) and you can use it to create sales interest (as many Internet marketers do).

      Video, by itself, rarely produces "buy right now" sales. You need copy for that.

      Additionally, as someone pointed out above: depends on your market. Some markets are heavy on dial-up customers. They're not likely to sit around for 15 minutes waiting for a 3 min video to load.

      And some prospects (like yours truly) spend so much time already staring at a computer screen, that the LAST THING they want to do is spend ANOTHER 40 minutes staring at the computer screen. Such prospects are going to need a hellavua incentive to convince them that they should rest their weary eyeballs on your shaky cinema verite camerawork with the dull roar of I-95 in the background.

      For those prospects, either pitch to them in copy, or offer them a transcript option. Otherwise, you're gonna lose leads, sales, or both.

      [Side note: There have been times when I have NOT purchased an IM product solely because the only option offered was video. I can read a 30 minute video transcript in about 7 minutes. Life is short, and mine is getting shorter each day. If you're going to suggest that I purchase your video product/course - and you don't offer transcripts - you are going to have to give me a damn irresistable Value Proposition to get me to open my wallet.]

      So, in answer to "which one is more effective" - depends on what your goal is. Use whichever gets you to your goal. Or a combination of them both.

      Whatever gets you to where you're going.
  • Video vs text is an interesting question. For my vote it is video. However, I will say that text is still very powerful as well. I think that you have to factor in the niche that you are in and what exactly you are trying to accomplish. Video lends a sense of rapid creditability.
  • I would say, text. For simple reason text in my eyes provide more seriousness and more information than video. With video in my opinion an element of fun, entertainment and no seriousness peeps in. You can explain your topic, your views more in detail with text. With words written in front of you, your mind grasp more than just watching. When you see and listen, you are not applying your mind, you are just watchinga peice of information. But when you are reading something, you cannot go to the next line if you have not understood the previous one. Your mind will not allow this. Hence, text gives much more strong impression than video. It has a long lasting effect on your mind and memory.
  • Text. Video takes a lot more to get it to come across properly.
  • I use video on the landing page. Page 2: salesletter generated from Eben's PsyhicSalesletter survey software.
    • [1] reply
    • Why do you need copy for "buy right now" sales?

      Because most people just suck at sales presentations and creating an infomercial?

      If the majority of your communication is done through body language and tone of voice, your losing a lot of communication using only text alone...

      And most people don't understand or can't create an effective infomercial, sales presentation, and creating sales copy just the easier way to go, in my opinion and for me.
  • It may depend partially on what you are talking about, either in text or video, but overall I would say text.
    It allows the reader to internalize what is being said in an easier way...kind of like grabbing the text and making it their own. Plus I agree that pop-up videos can be obtrusive and annoying. Now if it was a video that I choose to play that may work.

    ~Mrs. Johnson
  • Text and video can be used successfully together, in fact when you combine the elements of reading, watching, and listening, you're hitting the sensory system on three levels at once. Your message can be conveyed more efficiently and effectively. Try using images that describe your message, along with compelling text (a call to action, or "what's in it for me" statements) and mix it up with appropriate music and you'll see the final product pitches your message in a unique way not seen before. The "laws of attraction" ie: "the secret" community has embraced this and refer to it as "mind movies", although in my opinion it works just as well for selling.
    • [1] reply
    • If you mean "copy" in the video as your presentation, then thats a big assumption.

      I know many sales people who can't translate there message effectively on paper. Just because someone can't write copy, doesn't mean that they can't give an effective presentation on video.
      • [1] reply
  • Banned
    I think it really depends because if your a great speaker video if not the writing
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    • The good thing is, both can be learned if the desire and determination is there.
      • [1] reply
  • Banned
    I think, videos
  • In my eyes....

    Video alone is more effective then text alone.

    But the combination of the two is the most effective of all!

    I like to use videos to touch on highlights of the product or to use to make a site look more professional....
    • [2] replies
    • I second this. The video should support the text and the text should support the video.
    • Definitely. Video adds more credibility, rapport, trust, ect. and "in person" adds even more credibility, rapport, trust, ect. This is one reason why business people, fly across the country to have a meeting instead of doing it over the phone or online.

      The same reason why when you go to a seminar - they pitch you the 25k+ package there. Thats because in person you can influence more effectively and video is more effective than the written word alone.

      And this is part of the reason why you don't see many 25k+ coaching programs being sold in sales letters, its just not as effective as being there in person. And video is the closest you can get than to actually being with the person face to face.
  • Video is pretty compelling, but I like to combine it with text because not everyone absorbs information the same way.
  • You know, it really depends on what generation of viewers we are talking about. Older generation folks seem to be inclined more towards print. It's just a carry-along from the era of newspapers and a largely text-based time spent on the 'net.

    I'd say text is more effective if what you are offering warrants that people make as informed a decision as possible before purchasing. On the other hand, if what people are being offered is something they couldn't possibly know much about (aside from the main theme; ala "The Secret") until they actually watch a DVD, buy a book, etc. then Video would take the biscuit, for sure.

    Rick
  • I say it depends on the market and media. Certain people will not buy anything that's not delivered in text. That's how we've always done things and it's out of their comfort zone to go outside it.

    There are more and more videos now and I think videos may work better in certain markets...but you'll have to test. I think both would be a better Idea because then I can read or watch. Win Win.
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