Why do people use videos ..... (hint read the first post before replying)

Video is an awesome way to learn new things however it becomes problematic when the person featured in the video isn't the most charismatic or struggles to talk to camera. That can destroy the whole experience.

I realise that ebook wins in terms of portability. It isn't always possible to watch video however PDF can be accessed pretty much anywhere any time through smartphone or tablet.

There are pro's and con's for both but in all honesty if you gave me the choice between watching a good 1 hour video or reading the same thing on PDF, I would usually opt for video.

that's not what I am pointing out, there are some videos put out there by people doing well, but these videos do not allow the user to rewind to go over an interesting bit again or to jump forward when the presenter goes on about something uninteresting for a bit , eg Mike Koenigs one just watched it, has a 2 minute funky intro, waste of my time but I cant forward it, he repeats the same stuff a few times, so let me jump forward a few minutes, nope it wont let me and yet he's bleating on about multi channel marketing which is old news to me, I just wanna go thru it quicker to get to any interesting parts but the player hes chosen doesnt let me do that, I have no controls other than pause and play .
And as a real bummer, when I put in a comment after about 20 minutes, the video restarted itself and I only had the options to watch it all again YAWN or close the window, which I did, as I say fail. (not Koenigs but the video he chose to show it on) .

Not everyone has the time or desire to sit thru an entire 1 hour of which 40 minutes is usually egotistical BS

There are apparently 4 of these videos I am expected to watch to presumably be 'sold' at the end , thing is Im already out, bored, frustrated, peeved off with being given no control , as I say massive fail not considering the end user (unless theyre just preying on people that have all day to waste )

I agree. I find video intrusive and annoying, and if there are no adequate controls on the player then forget it, you lost the sale!

Biggest pissoff for me is having no indication of the length of the video... is it 3 minutes? 20 minutes? 2 hours?? How do I allocate my time?
No time indication = byebye.

haha Kev yeh I did you're right, thing is this product may be of genuine interest to me (if its anything like Traffic Geyser it will be) but I dont want to (wont) sit thru 4 videos of OTT patronising hyperbole just to find out how much it is, what it actually does etc etc Id rather he gives me an opportunity to read a PDF or watch a 5 minute benefits video else I'll just outsource to someone else who buys it .

When using the Flash video on the website, there is no need for the viewer must choose a player and connection speed to watch the video instead if done correctly the Flash Player to deliver video to fit better with connection speed of users, making it a much more pleasant.

It's easier and faster to provide information from the videos. Can be watched effortlessly and also the people are already accustomed to it.

So, using videos is really good for marketing the products or services.

Simple truth is, videos convert better.

I see the idea of "unstoppable" videos, but I hate them more than anything. I have yet to see somebody show me a valid split test that conversion of unstoppable videos are better - if somebody has any results, please share....

Cheers,
Rob Konrad

Well, there could be several reasons for this.

Maybe the most irresponsible one is that they don't know how to make the little control bar at the bottom. However, I can't help but feel that this is done on purpose.

Think of it. You want your customer to be enamored in your product, you want him or her to believe that every single word you are saying is leading them closer and closer to financial freedom, and if they just listen a little longer, they'll know how to be rich.

It's like a commercial, they don't have fast-forward or rewind because they want you to hear everything. If you fast-forward, then you don't hear their long story of how they started off as a loser (normally someone who has been "jipped by the gurus and their schemes"). If you rewind, then this enables you to not pay as much attention, because you can always go back.

In this regard, it makes a lot of sense why they wouldn't add it. However, like you, I find this so annoying.

You're supposed to be automatically captivated by all of those magnetic words that you are hearing that will have you sitting at the end of your seat...with anticipation...

buy...buy...YES!

Must. Have. This. Now.

Okay, maybe the spell doesn't work on everyone.

Video helps to know about anything in detail. In this way it useful to user.

Because a well thought out, scripted video is much more engaging than salescopy

Maybe I should start another thread.

Why do people reply to a thread having clearly only read the title and so assumed their reply is 'correct'

Hi you do tend to get a better conversion from a good video just look at the video for the secret years ago.Also a lot of people are visual learners and would not read through an ebook but would happily sit and watch a 5 minute video.
Regards
vivi62

@MJBMedia - I completely agree. I have just recently been inundated by tons of "watch this" type email pitches that don't tell me how long they are and have no compelling messages that make me want to sit through any of it.

To me, its like being forced to listen to one of those 1980 time share pitches. You have to stay till the end before you can get your free tv or whatever.

and heres a copy of the guys reply to my query

Hi Mike - I'll tell you why we don't put a slider bar or controller on the video page.
GOOD MARKETING.
I'll share the truth behind this with you - and then tell you how it will benefit you and your business later on, is that fair?
Here's why you NEVER provide control on a marketing video:
It's because when people have an option, they skip around, don't pay attention and don't listen to what's being said and then misunderstand or blame you for something they missed later on after they order your product.
That means you'll get uneducated customer who cost you a fortune in refunds, returns, support expenses later on.
This is just ONE of the reasons why sales videos consistently outperform traditional text sales letters.
And without exception, providing your prospect with control over the "story experience" always fails!
They need to clearly understand what you have to offer. It would be like giving a customer page 1 and page 80 of an 80 page training manual.
They'll get frustrated, refund or return your products or never use them.
And they'll blame YOU for making a bad product - even if it's the best thing in the world!
We've been using sales videos now for almost seven years, history of the largest launches in online marketing and I have the stats to prove it.
This is JUST ONE of the lessons we teach in XXXXXXXXXXXXX.
There's more to come - and you'll see more of this when I reveal the "9 Commandments of XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX" in the next video.
Stay tuned - and I hope I answered your question.

I really don't like NOT to have a slider bar or controller on the video page.

Visual aids are very powerful. Some videos also were monetized by people.

so how many of us seriously concentrate totally all through a video, lets say its 55 minutes long, starting off with 2 minutes fancy but contentless intro and filled with too much OTT hypebole , when the content could have been delivered in maybe 15 minutes max but takes 55 minutes due to repetition of key points , going over obvious basics and hyping up oneself /offer , then theres 3 more videos and only then may you discover the cost is more than a Tony Robbins firewalk weekend!!!!!
So youve wasted 4 hours of your life to find out you dont want to spend that much (I didnt but many Im sure did)

In all honesty I scan watch /listen to videos, often doing something else at the same time then rewinding if something being said sounds interesting and having the playback speed at 150% or so, so this approach is useless to me, why not respect my time, maybe even if they did a pop up that when you closed the video early it offered a version with more controls to watch through thats an angle surely worth pursuing

I think the best way video advertising in addition to you tube there are many services in this way bespaltnog advertising such as the udder and so on. Also it is much easier and faster to explain something with a video

I've found video to be a very powerful tool. It's increased my conversion rate on one of my sites buy 250%.

Well, videos give us more visual enjoyment, through video we can understand the product more clearly, that's true.

Peoples are using videos for promoting their business by video marketing

I also want to make a totally unrelated post to get my spam-signature up ....

oops, just saw I don't have one ... what a Idiot I am

Using videos falls under viral marketing techniques. More than letters and images, videos are the quickest of making things explain clearly. We have had a site that sells sushi maker machines. On the right corner, there is a video on how to use the maker. The heat map for this page shows that visitors have seen the video ten times more than viewing the content. This shows how video helps to market a product or it can be said that it helps to explain the product virtually rather than mouth of words.

I don't think I can tell the spam comments from the serious ones anymore. That must mean I need to take a break from WF. Maybe someone will decide to clean it up.

I agree with OP. The videos that don't allow you to rewind or fast forward are sh*t and losing the creators money.

There has been more than one time where I have prematurely left a page because I was unable to fast forward or control the video. It is completely annoying.

Also, I know someone pointed out that the video is for a specific target audience who wants to hear the 'secret sauce' and will end up waiting for the video to play out.

While I do agree that some people might be pre-convinced and want to watch the whole video, I think that it is wrong, for the most part, to assume that people are willing to sit through something like that just because they have some initial interest for the product.

I have been interested in products before, but have left because the video was not able to be controlled. I have also had the issue of something going wrong and needing to refresh the page, etc and then the video starts all over again. At that point, I leave without a second thought.

I think that the 'marketing techniques' these people are using (that is, trying to 'force us' to watch a whole video without being able to control) are way, way too old and simply do not work. These days, time is scarce and no one is going to sit there if they don't want to. It just doesn't work. Either you give the end user the freedom to move along at their own pace, or you lose the sale. Simple.

Mike, i think you just found a market that needs to be tapped. I myself would like to scan or navigate thru a video like i would a page. I'm sure this could be done. This could also reduce files size, time and save some "cyberspace". lol

Love the comments on this page. I have been having this debate for far too long with customers who are convinced they need long lengthy videos.

90% of my traffic comes from videos hosted on Youtube and MEtaCafe. It's an excellent way of communicating with your audience better.

Using videos is really good for marketing the products or services.