subject: Four Ways To Use Video On Your Website [print this page] YouTube, Metacafe, Google Video and a dozen other sites have made it incredibly easy to upload and share video content. (According to YouTube, 20 hours of video are added to the site every minute). These videos can be embedded in your site with just a simple line of code.
On top of that, broadband speeds means that the majority of internet users can now access online video without experiencing long delays.
Factor in the low cost and high quality of digital video technology, and there's really no excuse not to experiment with video on your business website.
But how is video best used on your site? Here are four ideas to get you started.
Introduce Yourself
Video can be a much more personal, intimate medium than written text, so why not introduce your company? However, this isn't a licence to be boring.
Some business owners make the mistake of thinking that just because something is presented in video form, it's necessarily interesting. Dull, talking-head corporate mumbo jumbo is just as boring as its written equivalent.
Instead, create something that embodies what your company is about. If it's a small business, briefly introduce the team. If you're a larger business, create a punchy overall intro. Think of it as a short advert or hook for your company and the personalities behind it.
Explain Complex Products
People consume information in different ways. While some respond to easily-scanned text content, others prefer video. Offering users the choice between reading a product specification or watching a video on the subject means you're catering for a wider variety of users.
And, when it comes to demonstrating a technical product in particular, a video can be far more useful than a written explanation. If in doubt, contact your website development company to find out how you can integrate this with your site.
Demonstrate Your Expertise
Next time you give an interesting presentation or talk, why not share it as a video? When you're about to write a blog post, consider mixing it up by adding a video guide or a brief opinion instead. It's all an opportunity to show your knowledge and skills. Many blogs work with a complement of video and text - with a video for visual learners and a transcription below for those that prefer written copy.
Make Something Useful
Video doesn't have to have people in it. You could create a guide, or a slide show, or an animation. But make something that offers genuine value for the watcher. It could be a how-to, an interview or a study. It could be something that's fresh, unique and entertaining.
Videos are a very share-friendly medium. If your content is good enough, videos are amenable to being spread and shared across the web. Speak to your website design company to find out how you can start adding video to your site.
