Friday, November 30, 2007

Box Style Video & Floating Layer Image Video

Yesterday I spoke/wrote about Web 2.0 and the transformation of the internet to the "digital age." Instead of getting into keeping visitors on your website, today I will be discussing the transformation and monetization of video on the internet. I will include information about keeping visitors on your site longer in a future post.

The digital age of the internet is not something new. However, it is something that is becoming highly recognized and used much more often than before. Video has been on the internet for years. Until recently, video took a long time to play. Dial-up connection speed didn't allow for the streaming experience to have any kind of enjoyment (unless you enjoyed sitting around and waiting while your video stopped playing to "buffer"). Most users would download the videos onto their machine (in it's entirety) prior to playing. This offered a much more enjoyable, and uninterrupted, experience.

Today, with cable connection, DSL, basically high speed internet, Video can be watched with little to no hiccups. YouTube which is now owned by Google (who also has a video sharing portal) have allowed any user (who signs up for a free account) to add and upload their videos and share them worldwide. They have spent millions of dollars on server after server which host the user uploaded videos.

Videos can be "optimized" using may different file types (.flv, .mpg, .mpeg, .ra, etc.) and then uploaded to a file sharing site. The file sharing sites then allow a user to "embed" the video onto web pages using a small line of html.

The embedded videos sometimes come with advertising that the user doesn't want (and the viewer is subjected to it prior to viewing). The way most of the video sharing sites work (and how they monetize their product) is to include small 5-15 second advertisements of products that are similar or fall in line with the content of the video (taken from key words and meta tags that the user inputs prior to uploading their video).

These short advertisements are only used by a few of the video sharing sites. Google (and YouTube) have been talking for quite some time about including content specific ads that are placed on top or on the bottom of videos using a floating layer image (flash technology). This floating layer image sits on top of the uploaded video and plays or is shown during the play of the selected video. While this can be distracting, it is a way for them (google/youtube) to monetize their video sharing site.

Google knew what it was doing when they purchased YouTube for $1.65 billion (in stock compensation).

Video is going to overpower the internet because web-surfers (young and old) are used to watching instead of reading. Why would a web-surfer read paragraphs of text if there is a video that will explain and/or tell them what the text says? A video can emulate and convey much more than text (and graphics) can. Non-verbal cues, post production editing, use of audio, etc. are all aspects that text cannot deliver.

Video can convey a custom tailored message that a website owner wants to deliver to its visitors. Whether it be a greeting (hi, welcome to website ABC), guiding (go here for information about...), educating (how to...), or selling a product or service, video is the versatile solution as well as the moving force on the internet.

I mentioned floating layer images above when talking about monetizing the free video sharing sites. Well, floating layer image and video has many more uses.

Floating layer image and video uses flash technology. Depending on a programmers background and knowledge of Flash, a video which uses this technology can look "ok" or look EXCEPTIONAL. To see examples of EXCEPTIONAL floating layer technology, click here.

WebPeople employ the best technical experts when it comes to Flash technology. WebPeople are sometimes 2, maybe 3 years ahead of it's competition when it comes down to the use and style of the floating layer video technology that is being used on its website and it's clients websites.

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Web 2.0

Lately I have been reading a lot more about Web 2.0 and where the online presence of e-marketers and businesses are headed. It has been said that the "digital age is now here." Users are looking for relevant content, and they want it quickly.

No longer will a user browse the text of a website looking for answers.

Video solves this issue quickly and effectively.

Tomorrow I will be discussing how to use video to keep your visitors attention and keep them on your site longer.

WebPeople

Monday, November 19, 2007

WebPeople create more buzz @ the NAR show

Last week WebPeople exhibited @ the NAR (National Association of Realtors) show in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Realtors, Banks, Investment Services, Insurance Agencies, etc. were all present to exhibit and showcase their line of products.

WebPeople had over 10,000 people stop by their booth and made multiple sales of custom and pre-recorded videos on site.

Our booth visitors were exceptionally impressed with how our live speakers can more effectively communicate their message to their website visitors.

Pictures of the show and our booth will be posted shortly.

Saturday, November 10, 2007

WebPeople are a hit @ MedExpo 2007 (@UNLV)





WebPeople exhibited on 11/9/2007 @ UNLV's first MedExpo. There were over 20 exhibitors ranging from diagnostic equipment to medical building construction companies.

There was one booth that created a lot of "hype" and was hands-down "the most unique" and "interactive." Whic booth was it you ask??? WebPeople's booth...... (pic above)

We talked with and will hopefully be doing business with 20-30% of the other companies who were exhibiting @ MedExpo.

We look forward to attending next years Expo and are ramping up for the NAR (national associaion of realtors) convention which opens tomorrow, 11/13/2007.

Thursday, November 8, 2007

Comment from Craig Gordon

The President of WebPeople, Craig Gordon, recently left a comment on the NAR post which was intended to be a new blog post. I have taken his content and pasted it below. Mr. Gordon can be reached at cgordon@webpeople.us

Do you want your production to come across looking and sounding like it was done by amateurs?

If so take a chance and write your own script without assistance. Effective script writing is a fine art. Once in a while a customer wants to save a few buck by writing his own script. When this happens often the customer pays more money to have the video reshot because the script is unuseable. Often the message isn't right.

Writing your own script without help is like performing do it yourself brain surgery. Do you want to perform do it yourself brain surgery?

If the answer is no then maybe you understand why you shouldn't write your own script without the use of our expert script assistance.

Ask yourself these questions:

Is the script (plot) the most important part of your production?

When was the last time you wrote a script?

Do you know the Golden Formula and how to use it?

Do you know how to construct the script so that the production will be versatile?

Think of our script assistance as inexpensive insurance that will guarantee your result will be right on the money. Since you are spending all this money to make a production, doesn't it make sense to spend just a little more to be assured of a high quality result created by experts who are writing scripts all the time. Effective script writing is a fine art. Using highly skilled professionals to help create your story makes real good sense.

Monday, November 5, 2007

WebPeople announce Exhibit @ NAR show Las Vegas, 2007

WebPeople will be exhibiting @ the NAR show (National Association of Realtors) from 11/13 to 11/16 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV.

WebPeople have a stock video product exclusively for use by Realtors and Real Estate Agents. To view this product and site, please visit http://www.webrealestatepeople.com

Also on this site, WebPeople offer Hostess Videos. Hostess Videos are short ~5 second videos where a hostess makes a call for action. i.e. "enter your email address and i'll send you this free bonus."

Please be sure to stop by our booth (#3948) as we are giving away a Free big screen TV as well as Free Videos (for Realtors and Agents).

WebPeople to Exhibit @ MedExpo 2007 (@UNLV)

WebPeople will be exhibiting at UNLV (University of Nevada, Las Vegas) during their MedExpo 2007.

MedExpo 2007 occurs on 11/9 (Friday) from 12 noon to 8pm.

Please stop by our booth and speak with our reps.

WebPeople and Stompernet are a GO

WebPeople and Stompernet.com have entered into a partnership and it's official.

All Stompernet.com members will receive steep discounts when placing video onto their website.

Also, Stompernet.com members will also be able to become affiliates with a better "payout" due to the new partnership.

A Formal Joint Press Release from WebPeople and Stompernet.com will be created shortly.

Friday, November 2, 2007

New project and relationship almost inked

WebPeople are extremely close to finalizing a deal with Stompernet and FreeIQ.

Stompernet and FreeIQ are websites that are brought to you by one of the most respected Internet Marketers and SEO geniuses, Brad Fallon.

Brad was introduced to WebPeople several months ago and has already cashed in on the increase of sales conversion that WebPeople provide.

Brad placed 2 videos onto one of his e-commerce sites, MyWeddingFavors, which has reportedly increased its conversion rate by 9%.

Quickly speaking about numbers ($), a couple thousand dollar expense (placing WebPeople onto the site) is creating hundreds of thousands in added profit per year.

You too can benefit with increased conversions by employing WebPeople onto your website.

WebPeople greet, guide, educate, and sell to your website visitors.

Deliver your message much more effectively with WebPeople.