Is Autoplay Video Really Bad For Your Opt-in Page?

I've tested it in a pretty short time but both test got around 80 visitors and it mainly come from forums.

The difference is so big I don't even want to test further.

Autoplaying a video when the guy click to a link to Get The Video is alright in my mind. Outside that, I agree.

I agree with you, but interestingly enough, as IM'ers we tend to have different user tolerances and behavior patterns than our "average" users so while you and I may hate autoplay, it might still make the most business sense. Know what I mean?

Of course, test your own market and niche because user behavior patterns change a lot depending on the niche...

I just set mine up, and I chose not to autoplay. First of all, like many here, I find it annoying. Second, I want folks to read whats on the page first, then decide if they want to click the video. I figure if they click then, there's a greater chance that they'll watch to the end.

Ronnie

I hate autoplay... especially when you're listening to your own music... which a lot of people do.

I made a site for a recruitment agency a few years back. They spent a lot of money on a radio ad that they wanted autoplayed on their site... I told them it was a bad idea... they wanted it... anyway, a few days later they rang in a panic to get it down pronto.

People were in work, checking out the site, and had an ad for looking for a new job auto played! Anyway, just thought I'd share.

Moral of the story, auto play is bad, and in some cases can loose people their jobs.

Quite the contrary, in fact. In the sales world, there are MANY events that are configured to trigger on autoplay.

Here's one silly example: as you set foot on a clothes store, sales assistants are "configured" to "trigger" on "autoplay" their typical Is There Anything In Particular You're Searching For Today, Sir? message without you clicking on the "ask for assistance button". Do you find annoying that someone comes forth to you with their sales-driven message without you having actively asked for it? oh well, too bad because IT DOES increase customer response, customer interaction and, therefore, conversions (most of the times).

Here's another: as you enter a hotel lobby, clerks are "set" on "autoplay" to lean down to grab your luggage without you asking for it. And of course, they certainly expect a tip for carrying your bags upstairs...

I could give you dozens of more "autoplay" examples in the sales/marketing/customership world, but you get the point.

And "ironically" the linked page has an autoplay video, LOL!

I think if you're marketing to a niche and are unable to discern whether or not they will like certain features without extensive testing is a good sign you either A) haven't done enough research on the people/community who make up that niche or B) are in the wrong niche for yourself all together.

Autoplay definitely works. I'm currently using autoplay vidoes in 2 major markets with great success. Using it on the sales page, not squeeze page however...

Also, this might be helpful: been watching Keith Wellman's FB Machine, seeing what changes he makes to his processes on the website, at first he was using autoplay and at one point he was testing out his sales video with no autoplay for a few days. Now he's reverted back to autoplay...

Surprised? I'd be astonished. :p

Yes, it is funny. In fact, that's also putting it mildly: it really baffles me.

So much so that (skepchick that I am) I sometimes find myself wondering whether, in general, some/many of the people who have found that, time and time again, have some incentive to propagate that view.

I ought to stress that I don't know this and I'm casting absolutely no aspersions at either specific party named above (for one of whom I have plenty of respect).

But it really is bizarre, because all the testing I've seen myself (though that isn't a huge amount, I admit) has pointed so overwhelmingly in the opposite direction, i.e. toward "autoplay" being disastrous to conversion-rates. Leaving people feeling - exactly as described above - that it's just so obvious that they don't want to test it too far, because of the damage the autoplay's doing to their bottom line, even while they're testing ...

Yes - it seems so. Maybe it really does vary all that dramatically between different markets/niches/products/presentations?! I suppose it must?

I've heard Deiss say that too, and by a big margin I believe

Go back and review your demographic information then tell me how likely any of these things are of happening..

Exactly, I hate it too, but I'm not the person I'm selling to, as long as it works, I'll do it.

Yes, I also hate autoplay sometimes, it make the streaming so slow especially those big size videos, I just close it before read anythings.