Why I Hate Video -- Am I the Only One?

by AnneE
53 replies
I just received an email offering me some great information for free.

Hey, cool.

"Just click this link to watch the video."

Am I the only one who doesn't have time to watch a half-hour video to get information that I could read off of paper in under 10 minutes?

Am I the only one who has ever taken the time to watch a useful video and wanted to refer to one step mentionned about halfway through and become exasperated because there is no good way to search through or skim video for one piece of information.

WHY??? WHY???? is everyone using video? I understand there is some credibility factor, but couldn't we get that in a 3-minute video and then a link for the full report?

Watching videos takes TOO MUCH TIME!!!
#hate #video
  • Profile picture of the author Lady_T
    I really get what you are saying...

    I don't hate video, but I'm a "reader" and
    prefer reading a PDF or an article as opposed
    to listening to and watching a video.

    Sometimes I'm not in a position to listen to
    the video without disturbing other people and
    once I've clicked off of it, I never get back
    to it.

    I'm always disappointed when there's an offer
    I'm interested in but I've got to sit through
    a video to get the nuts and bolts of it.

    I'd rather read about it...but heck, it looks like
    we might be in the minority...

    And the ones that really bug me are the ones
    that you can't fast-forward to the end to see
    the price or what the offer actually is without
    all the fluff.

    I guess it has more to do with your own personal
    style than anything else.

    Plus, if it works for your business, and the
    vast majority of your customers respond better to
    video, you have to give the people what they want.

    Bottom line - you are not alone...i don't hate them,
    but I don't love them either!:p
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  • Profile picture of the author SolomonHuey
    I prefer to read personally, but mostly it's because video salespages convert better than copy.

    I haven't created a video salespage yet, but I know of someone who has, and his testing has shown better conversions with just a lone, long video as the salespage.

    I also have ads that I run through tens of thousands of hits constantly, and my videos convert 100-700% better compared to my older ads (depending on which ad).

    Solomon Huey
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  • Profile picture of the author Online Bliss
    I would like a short to the point video
    or none at all. I have too many important emails.
    All that time to create a long winded video
    and most ignore it and delete. Don't they believe in testing.

    If I purchase a training course
    I would like a pdf guide to accompany the video.
    My 2cents.
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    • Profile picture of the author D.lee
      I know me too I have been getting these 30mins videos come on who has time they should give you the option of a pdf. or a shorter video.
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  • Profile picture of the author jdhflip
    If it's video, I believe anything over 5 minutes is a waste. Short and sweet please.
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    • Profile picture of the author Marty S
      I still think having both video and written text is the best option. Especially near the start of the video when you hear the dreaded phrase, "but first, let me tell you a bit about myself". :rolleyes:
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    • Profile picture of the author Mbullard
      YouTube has stats that show videos around the 2:28 range rank the best. If you're going to make a video, shoot for that time. Just because Youtube allows you have 10 minutes doesn't mean you should use it all.
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      • Profile picture of the author Geolina
        I don´t like video either and wouldn´t buy anzthing that doesn´t offer at least a pdf transcript!
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        • Profile picture of the author helicopterplt
          I have a broadband internet connection but I have a few other users on the network who are always downloading something ...I usually scan a sales page to see if it interest me and have made my decision before the video even starts....If i have to click play I usually wait till after I have scanned the copy to get an idea of if its even worth it...
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          • Profile picture of the author Joe Mobley
            And don't even get me started about videos without controls. No way to see how long you are being sucked into watching the video.



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        • Profile picture of the author dika
          Originally Posted by Geolina View Post

          I don´t like video either and wouldn´t buy anzthing that doesn´t offer at least a pdf transcript!
          I appreciate educational videos and I intend to start a site for that, I never thought about PDF transcripts but it sounds very interesting and could have a real additional value.
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          • Profile picture of the author webwriter
            And here I thought that I was the only one who hated videos. I would much prefer reading a report or ebook. I don't need to watch "a talking head" or see how something is being done. Just write clear directions and let me figure things out for myself.

            Videos. Ugh.
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            • Profile picture of the author Rikki_Fawkes
              Well, I definitely despise Yahoo video - what a slug.

              I see where you're coming from. I often pass up a post that has a video simply because I'd rather skim a screen than sit through a video - even if it's only five minutes long.

              Plus, between buffering times, ads and what not, videos are more of a waste than something I could've read in 30 seconds or less.

              Articles are also less intrusive than video. If anyone else is around, you feel obligated to put on some headphones or turn the volume on the speakers way down so you don't bother anybody.

              I'd much prefer articles in most cases, unless something really can't be explained any other way besides by video.
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  • Profile picture of the author ~kev~
    Some people that make videos just do not know how to get to the point. They drag it on, and on, and on,,,, not knowing when to shut up and finish.

    As a video publisher most of my videos are around 3 - 11 minutes long. Most of the time I think most of the important topics can be covered in 10 minutes or less. One video I'am getting ready to publish this weekend, its only 3 minutes long. For the content, I think that is about right.
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  • Profile picture of the author MichaelHiles
    Even incredibly complex products that cover a ton of areas should still break the video marketing down to shorter vids.

    Some people can pull off much longer ones, but even those tend to drag out far past the average prospect's attention span.
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  • Profile picture of the author tamiro1992
    some videos are short and to the point and a lot of people dont really enjoy reading. videos attract me a bit more in sites and i click on them a lot
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  • Profile picture of the author Johnny Slater
    Originally Posted by AnneE View Post

    WHY??? WHY???? is everyone using video?
    To answer that question, a lot of people see the big players using video and just follow what they see and slap video on everything they can.

    Yes, video is an effective marketing tool. Yes video can help conversions. Yes, video is a great way to get prospects interested in your paid product.

    Yes, video is useless and a waste of time on the vast majority of free offers. If you are giving a product for free to get the opt in, then it's very conter productive to force people to sit through a video that doesn't really give any useful information just to get to the opt in form. Just my opinion of course and everyones results will vary, but I personally see holding people hostage and forcing them to watch a video just to get to an opt in form as bad marketing.
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  • Profile picture of the author JB
    I hate video too, if there no option on a site but watch a video to find out about a product etc I will just click away. I prefer to be able to skim past the marketing hype and bull that most sales talk is comprised of and get to straight to the price with a couple of concise bullet points along the way. I do admit that video can be a useful tool depending on the product but all of these marketing interviews and screen captures of someone moving a mouse around their clickbank statement bore me to tears. A video showing how a technical piece of equipment is used is one thing but some guy blabbering on about secret SEO techniques is a waste of bandwidth IMO.
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    • Profile picture of the author Jerky
      Agreed.

      What really gets my goat is those "Making a video for the sake of making a video" sites/books/whatever. I can't count how many times I've sat through a 10 minute video of some numbnuts reading from the exact same Powerpoint slides that he/she's showing on the video screen.

      And the vocal quality of their voice is... well... horrible. Most of them have probably been recorded on laptop microphones during a windstorm with the person actually holding their nose closed with a clothespin.

      It annoys the living daylights out of me. But then again I guess I'm not their target audience. I guess their these audiences can't read, and that's why they feel the need to narrate through ten slides, word for word, and make it last 10 minutes.

      ... Maybe they made them for me after all
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  • Profile picture of the author dbarnum
    Reader's Digest condensed version, please, to see if I'm interested: 30 seconds is fine.
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    • Profile picture of the author netkid
      Yeppers,

      Long video + no controls + rambling on + delayed "buy now" button = Me be Gone!

      I would rather see a long sales page with a video (with controls) just below the header....that's all. Gives me instant reaction time to either stay or leave. Otherwise these are time wasters
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  • Profile picture of the author Laura B
    I much prefer reading copy to watching a video - part of that is due to the fact that I've always been a reader more than a watcher, but the other part is the fact that many have mentioned above: Very few videos get right to the point. I am too impatient to sit through a recitation of things you're GOING to tell me - JUST TELL ME!
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    • Profile picture of the author JakeRhodes
      Whether it's video or written as long as it's quick and to the point I'm fine with it.

      If I see one of the loooonnnnggg sales pages or a 10 minute plus video then I'm off. Otherwise there's a good chance you're going to be dealing with a lot of waffle within the product too.
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      • Profile picture of the author Rikki_Fawkes
        Okay, so considering this discussion, I now have a question:

        I just wrote a script for a promo video for my sales page. My sales copy will stay as is, but I was going to add a video (uploaded to YouTube, so controls would be present)

        Would you guys even look at it, assuming you have the choice between copy and video? (which you would on my site?) Or would it be just an annoyance?
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        • Profile picture of the author InternetM39482
          Originally Posted by Rikki_Fawkes View Post

          Okay, so considering this discussion, I now have a question:

          I just wrote a script for a promo video for my sales page. My sales copy will stay as is, but I was going to add a video (uploaded to YouTube, so controls would be present)

          Would you guys even look at it, assuming you have the choice between copy and video? (which you would on my site?) Or would it be just an annoyance?
          First, don't use Youtube. You'll lose a chunk of traffic if they click on the video and get taken away to Youtube. Upload it somewhere else and give controls.

          Second, the IM market is vastly different from the rest. And what people say and what they do is also very different. So, put things to test. That will settle it for you. Maybe many of the people responding to this thread are not your target market? I don't know so I can't say.

          For me, personally, video is not a problem unless it's really boring, or really lengthy. And buffering isn't a problem for most of the vids, I've got a really fast broadband connection so even a 800 MB vid (like Core Influence, for example) could be downloaded in a few minutes.
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          • Profile picture of the author CarloD.
            I don't see a problem with video, for me depends on the topic.

            I bet it's easier to explain coding tutorials in a video then it is with snippets and paragraphs of text... for beginners anyways.

            But yes, what I hate most is when people don't allow you to click ahead... you just lost my interest... i don't want to wait for a half hour to get to the point... and no i don't want to hear "your story" which was used for your last 2 products.... you get the point.

            If i come across a video I can click ahead great, if I hit a part of interest.. i may go back a bit and watch what I skipped over.
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          • Profile picture of the author mcmahanusa
            Add my voice to those who want it in writing. Or at the least, both video and text. If either is too long, I'm off, as another warrior noted.

            Of course, the reason that so many marketers use videos could be because so many people have difficulty reading. In the U.S,. the average high school graduate seems to read at what used to be considered the third-grade level.
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          • Profile picture of the author netkid
            @Rikki,

            Another reason for not using Youtube is that, the free video hosting feature now includes obnoxious advertisements now that pop up as a slide up ad. Very cheesy I think.

            If you upgrade with Youtube's paid or business plans, then you won't see these adverts.

            Currently, I'm using Vzaar.com to host my videos. I pay $15 per month for a low volume of videos I produce...what I like is it shows no logo or adverts....

            Whatever video you put on your sales page, as long as it's around 2 to 4 minutes long, tops, I won't mind viewing it.

            Hope that helps!

            Bruce
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        • Profile picture of the author Lady_T
          Originally Posted by Rikki_Fawkes View Post

          Okay, so considering this discussion, I now have a question:

          I just wrote a script for a promo video for my sales page. My sales copy will stay as is, but I was going to add a video (uploaded to YouTube, so controls would be present)

          Would you guys even look at it, assuming you have the choice between copy and video? (which you would on my site?) Or would it be just an annoyance?
          Personally, I'd read your salescopy and I wouldn't click the video. But again...I'm a person who "loves" to read and videos don't suck me in the
          way good copy does.

          When given the choice - I don't click on the video. When the video starts
          automatically I click off the page.

          Not because the video might not be good, but I would rather read the copy instead...
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  • Profile picture of the author joshril
    Originally Posted by AnneE View Post

    Am I the only one who doesn't have time to watch a half-hour video to get information that I could read off of paper in under 10 minutes?
    I TOTALLY agree!! When I hit one of those video sales letters with no text below that doesn't even show the "Add to Cart" button I click off.

    With training videos, I normally open them in VLC Player and speed it up to 2x or 2.5X speed.
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  • Profile picture of the author Sonomacats
    Totally agree with everything that's been said.

    PLUS, where I live, we can't get broadband, so it takes HOURS to download or buffer a video. And then to find out it's a frickin' 30 minute infomercial is beyond annoying.

    When a story is on the news, they get the main points in less than a minute in most cases. A lot can be said in a short video.

    So unless it's something I've paid for, or it's from someone I know and I like their stuff, if I only see a video, I'm gone -- especially if there are no controls or it's over 2-3 minutes.

    I can scan a 30 page sales letter in less than a minute. Anything that's going to eat up more of my time and I'm gone.

    I would also venture to guess that it's not going to be long before anything over 2 minutes is going to be the kiss of death. I'd be surprised if people continue to sit through all that crap once the novelty of online video wears off.
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    • Profile picture of the author Marty S
      Originally Posted by Swastik View Post

      First, don't use Youtube. You'll lose a chunk of traffic if they click on the video and get taken away to Youtube. Upload it somewhere else and give controls.
      Originally Posted by netkid View Post

      Another reason for not using Youtube is that, the free video hosting feature now includes obnoxious advertisements now that pop up as a slide up ad. Very cheesy I think.
      Nope. Nope. And Nope again.

      Youtube remains one of the best options for free video hosting. No ads, full controls and now UNLISTED HD hosting too!

      If your video is compelling enough in the first place, you won't have to be worried about losing traffic to Youtube, or anywhere else. If someone decides to click away, you were NOT going to convert them anyway. However, having your video on Youtube will show up in your competitors related videos, and if you have titled your video correct YOU will GAIN traffic and conversions from Youtube.

      Also you can option out related videos, and host them UNLISTED as well, like the one posted on an index page here:

      Holdem Indicator

      Did you notice there were no related videos? Did you notice the only other logo was YouTube? Do not disregard Youtube for hosting, especially if you are on a budget and want to get new traffic from YT searches.

      However, this thread was about JUST having videos, which I would prefer, but that would still work better than JUST having text IMHO.
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      • Profile picture of the author netkid
        @Marty S,

        Good points. I know Youtube is great for viral marketing. I used Tubemogul to get my vids out to multiple locations. But for my own "private label" things I use Vzaar.

        I think all of our pros and cons are valid to each of us
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      • Profile picture of the author InternetM39482
        Originally Posted by Marty S View Post

        However, having your video on Youtube will show up in your competitors related videos, and if you have titled your video correct YOU will GAIN traffic and conversions from Youtube.
        Okay, this is something that I had not considered. So, thanks!

        I was talking about hosting them myself, or through Amazon S3. For free, yeah, Youtube is good, but I personally won't use it on my sales pages.


        Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post


        It's bad video that's the problem.
        Exactly! :-)
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  • Profile picture of the author Audrey Harvey
    Originally Posted by AnneE View Post


    Am I the only one who doesn't have time to watch a half-hour video to get information that I could read off of paper in under 10 minutes?
    Nope, I'm right there with ya.

    I homeschool two children, I work part time in a vet clinic, and I have writing clients who want content. I read quickly and I learn quickly, and I don't want to take the time to watch a video when I could read the same information in less than half the time. I never buy a product that is video based.
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  • Profile picture of the author Scootek
    I have to agree with you on 80%, unless we are talking about a training video like someone showing you how to use a piece of software, then it can be very useful.
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    • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
      Know what? I'm going to take a different viewpoint of this topic and not
      because I'm a big video maker. I'm not.

      Show me a video where the speaker says, "This is what I have for you, this
      is what it will do for you, this is why I feel you need it and this is what it
      will cost you."

      Speak clearly and authoritatively and I'm probably going to be sold.

      It's not video that's the problem.

      It's bad video that's the problem.
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      • Profile picture of the author netkid
        Hey Steven,

        Sounds like it was said by Frank Kern
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        • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
          Originally Posted by netkid View Post

          Hey Steven,

          Sounds like it was said by Frank Kern
          I learned a lot from Frank. The guy knows what he's talking about. More
          people should listen to him if they're not already.
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      • Profile picture of the author Spot the Ball
        Completely agree with this,

        I have been watching some videos over the last few days made by a warrior who really knows her stuff and speaks very clearly and concisely, there is never 1 minute in any of the videos you want to switch off and one of them runs 20 minutes.

        If you want to see how a video should be done check "lisaann" out (thats her warrior name) and click the links in her sig to sign up for some teachings, this is not a plug but I havent seen anyone come across so clear and approachable yet.

        Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

        Know what? I'm going to take a different viewpoint of this topic and not
        because I'm a big video maker. I'm not.

        Show me a video where the speaker says, "This is what I have for you, this
        is what it will do for you, this is why I feel you need it and this is what it
        will cost you."

        Speak clearly and authoritatively and I'm probably going to be sold.

        It's not video that's the problem.

        It's bad video that's the problem.
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      • Profile picture of the author Lady_T
        Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

        Know what? I'm going to take a different viewpoint of this topic and not
        because I'm a big video maker. I'm not.

        Show me a video where the speaker says, "This is what I have for you, this
        is what it will do for you, this is why I feel you need it and this is what it
        will cost you."

        Speak clearly and authoritatively and I'm probably going to be sold.

        It's not video that's the problem.

        It's bad video that's the problem.
        Excellent Point!
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        • Profile picture of the author JayKing
          If you ask me, had it not been for videos, the internet may have eventually gone the way of the radio...

          It's a combination of both that makes things interesting...
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          • Profile picture of the author HCLee
            Well whether you liked it or not, videos are here to stay and video marketing is very effective for online marketing. For me I find video presentation easier to learn something that I needed to know. Especially when it relates to a specific strategy or technique showing a step-by-step process that you can see on screen.
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      • Profile picture of the author Don Schenk
        Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

        Know what? I'm going to take a different viewpoint of this topic and not
        because I'm a big video maker. I'm not.

        Show me a video where the speaker says, "This is what I have for you, this
        is what it will do for you, this is why I feel you need it and this is what it
        will cost you."

        Speak clearly and authoritatively and I'm probably going to be sold.

        It's not video that's the problem.

        It's bad video that's the problem.
        That would be a well written and produced video - one that holds the interest of its audience.

        We have all watched movies - sometimes up to 3 hours in length because they were well written, well produced, and edited to hold our interest.

        But most of the junk I have seen coming from IMers is awful! Boring! Goes on forever about nothing!

        [RANT]
        Yesterday I received an email from Dan Kennedy and/or Bill Glazer. It was about what they were touting as Dan's best stuff yet. Hmmmm. I own a lot of Kennedy and Glazer material, but this video was boring.

        There was no way to fast forward or rewind. There was no length given - it might have been 10 minutes, it might have been an hour. I didn't have time to watch. Delete.

        The other eveing, a marketer who I do enjoy watching, sent a link to his latest video. It too had no length indicated, but... there was no way to stop or pause the stupid thing without it starting over from the beginning. AAAAAArrrrrggggghhh.

        I was grilling chicken out on the deck and needed to pause every few minutes. So I decided to watch the video an hour later. Two phone calls put an end to my watching, because there was no way to pause the video.

        What was he thinking when he made that video? He certainly was not thinking about his customers. [/RANT]

        :-Don
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        • Profile picture of the author Robert Puddy
          Originally Posted by Don Schenk View Post

          That would be a well written and produced video - one that holds the interest of its audience.

          We have all watched movies - sometimes up to 3 hours in length because they were well written, well produced, and edited to hold our interest.

          But most of the junk I have seen coming from IMers is awful! Boring! Goes on forever about nothing!

          [RANT]
          Yesterday I received an email from Dan Kennedy and/or Bill Glazer. It was about what they were touting as Dan's best stuff yet. Hmmmm. I own a lot of Kennedy and Glazer material, but this video was boring.

          There was no way to fast forward or rewind. There was no length given - it might have been 10 minutes, it might have been an hour. I didn't have time to watch. Delete.

          The other eveing, a marketer who I do enjoy watching, sent a link to his latest video. It too had no length indicated, but... there was no way to stop or pause the stupid thing without it starting over from the beginning. AAAAAArrrrrggggghhh.

          I was grilling chicken out on the deck and needed to pause every few minutes. So I decided to watch the video an hour later. Two phone calls put an end to my watching, because there was no way to pause the video.

          What was he thinking when he made that video? He certainly was not thinking about his customers. [/RANT]

          :-Don
          even a video with no controls can be paused... just by clicking on the video itself
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  • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
    Originally Posted by AnneE View Post

    Watching videos takes TOO MUCH TIME!!!
    Translation for those using video on sales pages:

    YOUR VIDEOS ARE TOO LONG!

    And they're boring!

    Do something about it!
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    • Profile picture of the author Thomas Stoker
      Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

      Translation for those using video on sales pages:

      YOUR VIDEOS ARE TOO LONG!

      And they're boring!

      Do something about it!
      Right on. And what I really hate is when there is a 30 minute long video sales pitch and you just have to sit it out before even the add to cart button appears without an option to fast forward... I just have to sit out the whole credibility thing, the "Look how poor I was and how much I make now" thing. Then the whole countdown thing. Not $999, not $499, no not even $199.

      Is there anyone who sits this out? I don't see how that improves conversions because I just close that page right away...

      There are some exceptions to the rule though. There are some marketers out there that actually give good info in their video's and then quickly pitch their product in the end of that vid. all in under 10 minutes...

      and like Steven correctly points out, it is not the sales video that's the problem. I think it can be a valuable asset to any campaign. The problem is indeed a bad sales video.
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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Oksa
    So far, I like what I'm hearing in this thread. I am putting the finishing touches on my first video product. Each one is about 5 minutes long. Each one covers a specific aspect of the overall system. I don't go on and on about who I am - I get right into the info people are paying for. The method I'm sharing is better taught by being able to see me move the mouse around, and so on.

    However, I also have a step-by-step PDF guide that goes with it. Each video translates into 1 page of the PDF, so I hope that means it's fluff-free and gets to the point.

    Now, please don't think any of this is a commercial, that's not the point. The point is that your feedback on this topic is most welcome.

    I, too, have seen some videos that were 30 to 60 minutes long, and it was like torture. I do not need to see you do the exact same thing 20 times in a row to get how to do it.

    The funny thing is that you can usually tell within the first 1 or 2 minutes if the person knows how to get to the point or not. The problem is that if you paid to learn something, you feel obligated to find out what they're really teaching. But WHY? If you are paying to be taught, then how you are taught should be part of the equation.

    This isn't college where you have to pay so much per course credit whether the professor is boring or not. If you aren't learning, or if the person has padded their content to the point of being useless, then request a refund. Leave an honest review.

    Of course, it becomes a different issue when talking about sales pieces. But the solution is similar...as soon as you lose interest...stop watching the video.

    Finally, for those who have a hard time limiting themselves, but would like to, you may want to try the pro version of Jing. It automatically limits each video to 5 minutes, and is pretty easy to use. They have a free version as well, so you can try before you buy. (I am not affiliated with the company in any way).

    All the best,
    Michael
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    "Ich bin en fuego!"
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    • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
      Originally Posted by Michael Oksa View Post

      Each one is about 5 minutes long.
      Under five minutes: Great.

      Five to ten minutes: Good.

      Ten to fifteen minutes: Okay. Can't put it on YouTube now, though.

      Over fifteen minutes: NO! WRONG! BAD MARKETER!

      If your audience is not actively involved in your presentation every fifteen to twenty minutes, they will lose interest.

      In a video, you can't actively involve them. There's no way. They're stuck sitting there watching your video. So once you cross that 15 minute mark, you're heading into "boring crap" territory.

      The big problem I think a lot of people have with video is that they treat it like a webinar, and the kind of people doing these videos tend to be the kind of people who love to hear themselves talk.

      Who wouldn't want to listen to me for an hour? I sure as hell would! I'm awesome!

      But your audience, your prospects and customers, are - amazingly enough - BUSY. They have things to do. And while it's easy to find five or ten minutes for your video, finding an hour in your schedule is a lot harder.
      Signature
      "The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers
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  • Profile picture of the author gsuccess
    I like watching it in video form if it is a step by step process, that way I see exactly what to click on. Having said that it is better to have the info in both video and ebook formats.
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  • Profile picture of the author Gene Pimentel
    I use Enounce to play videos at 3 times the speed... sometimes 5 times the normal speed... even those that don't have controls. It's a beautiful thing.
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  • Profile picture of the author Bruce NewMedia
    I'm coming to see the best results with a SHORT video and copy as well.
    I'm a reader myself and prefer the copy approach. BUT, I see more and more evidence that fewer people read today. Its shocking, really.

    I think you have to meet the audience where they are, so to speak.
    ____
    Bruce
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  • Profile picture of the author AnneE
    Funny I posted the note on my lunch break from day job after receiving that email and then just logged in now to see if anyone had replied. Holy cow! So it's not just me.

    Many interesting points by many people though.

    - that it's not video, it's bad video
    - that if conversion testing shows better conversion you can't really blame someone
    - that even a topic where a video demonstrates a process well, that breaking it up into bite-size chunks makes it easier to go back and find information and also shortens the download
    - that a PDF transcript option basically gives readers the choice of reading

    Thanks for all the good thoughts!
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