Let the world revolve around you!

“A growing number of Canadians are tossing aside the remote control and TV guide, and turning to their personal computer or smart phone for entertainment. More Canadians watch videos online than any other nation, according to new research from comScore’s Media Metrix. The study revealed that 88 per cent of Canadians – with access to the Internet – watched an online video during the month of January.

Canada is a world leader in online video usage, said Bryan Segal, vice-president of comScore Canada. On a per capita basis, Canadians view more than 100 videos per viewer, per month. He said many Canadians are very tech-savvy and the popularity of online video stems from that. Other factors, such as the inclement weather, which leads people  to look for entertainment indoors, also contribute to the popularity of online video. Canada is also very well connected to the Web with better broadband access than most G7 countries, Segal said. Seventy-two per cent of Canadians are online each month.”

Read the entire article here: http://www.itbusiness.ca/it/client/en/home/News.asp?id=52429

Cutting through the advertising clutter is the goal of any business – small, medium or large.  While many companies remain committed to what has worked in the past, some have taken to technology, and online / web video, to spread their message.  Their choice to “step up and step out” has placed those businesses, more often than not, directly in front of their target consumer.

If I told you about a new business today.  A business that provides a product and service I truly felt would benefit you in some way.  What would you do?  Look in the phone book?  Check the newspaper for a 1/3 page ad? Listen to the radio for a dynamic :30 second commercial?

Of course not.

You are quite likely going to use the one thing you know best to provide the information you want, when you want  it.  That’s right - your search will begin with the ”Internet”.  I can’t tell you the last time I saw the “Yellow Pages”.  Well…actually…I can.  When I shoved the sucker to the top of our utility closet, along with some cassette tapes and a food dehydrator.

Some traditional forms of promotion such as phone books, consumer classifieds, and business publications have limited ability to speak on the specifics of a particular place of business with more than simple text.  If that new business I told you about had a website, you would visit it.  If that site contained nothing more than text…is it really of greater benefit to you than using that phone book?

When companies make use of online video on their website, they communicate the very best of their business to someone who wants to know more.  Professional, in-depth, educational and entertaining.  A business can truly work the value of video to their advantage when providing the “perfect pitch” to a unique visitor.  Consumer’s are online everyday, at work or at home (usually both).  While online, they are researching products and services that are of interest to them.  Why would anyone not make use of that pool of well positioned people to better promote their product or service?

Advertising is successful when it goes beyond your competition and places your brand, product or service in the brain of the buyer.  That’s the game.  When you can satisfy the current societal demand to keep information concise, relevant and engaging…and it just so happens to highlight your business specifically…you win.

Most small/medium business owners today say they don’t need a new marketing strategy, a branding review, and they definitely don’t want to spend tens of thousands of dollars on a 30-second TV commercial. Most of them are looking for a simple and effective way to explain who they are, what they do, and the value they offer. They don’t want a television commercial or an infomercial; instead, they need a video that is creative and uniquely their own. And what better time- the Internet now provides a video platform that not only has immense reach but is economical, accountable and reaches many consumers searching for exactly what they offer! Many businesses are picking up on this… so if you don’t want to be left behind, you should probably pay attention and get on board the video revolution.

Small / Medium Businesses are embracing Web Video at an astounding rate. Borrell Associates – a leading media research, consulting and project firm specializing in local Internet advertising – predicts that online video advertising will increase from 7% ($371 million) of local online ad spending to 35% ($5 billion) by 2012.  

There’s a major difference between ‘commercials’ and videos that authentically represent you  & your business. Different than your average online video ‘ad’, there’s a way to appeal to your consumers by providing information they are looking for. It’s really simple if you think about it. You run a unique company that offers unique products & services… to communicate your value all you need to do is tell your story and offer the information your target is looking for. Give them what they want, create the emotional connection only video can provide and watch your conversion rates soar. 

Keep it short & sweet. These types of profile/information videos run between 30 seconds – 2 minutes and can be placed on your website, emailed out & distributed through a variety of online social networking sites, reaching millions of people every day. The uses are limitless, but length is critical- attention spans are getting shorter, and no one wants to sit through a 10 minute video if they’re looking for something specific. Capture your audience right from the beginning, and deliver your message in a concise way that is informative & entertaining.

It doesn’t have break the bank. Watch out- many production companies will charge an arm and a leg for videos of this type, as generally they’ll fall into their ‘corporate video’ structure. Through our research, many of the largest local production companies are charging anywhere from $5 thousand- $40 thousand for 60 SECONDS of video… which obviously doesn’t make sense for the majority of businesses today.

Innovative Video Production, Marketing & Distribution

BizBOXTV was created with you in mind. We create engaging video content that appeals to the masses, and we do it in a cost-effective way so that everyone can afford it. Don’t think for a second quality is compromised because you’re getting a great deal either… our company is built upon decades of major media market experience. You won’t find that anywhere else. We know what we’re doing, and why. We’re about connecting with you, the business owner, and translating your message into a compelling video that speaks directly to your target audience. Hands down, unlocking the power of video will prove  to be the single most effective marketing tool you’ve ever come across. It’s simple. It’s fun. And it just makes sense.

Don’t place ads—build brands.

More and more every day, the social networking giant Facebook is becoming a large part of the overall Internet experience. Company estimates state that over 175 million people have joined since its founding in 2005, and the users themselves contribute millions of pieces of content daily.

The February 2009 Facebook numbers are striking. Each day during the month, Facebook users averaged over 3 billion minutes on the site. They updated their status 15 million times and became “fans” of a particular company, brand, product or person 3.5 million times daily.

Read the entire article: http://www.emarketer.com/Article.aspx?id=1006996