Better Internet
Video Marketing

It may sound like something out of a sci-fi movie but technology is progressing to the point where when one watches an advertising video in the mall it may watch you back.
Small cameras embedded in the screen or hidden around it can now track who looks at the screen and for how long.  Makers of the tracking system claim the software can determine the viewer’s gender, approximate age and in some cases ethnicity and can change the advertising video accordingly, according to a report by Dinesh Ramde.

That could mean razor ads for men, cosmetic ads for women and video game ads for teens, says Ramde.

The technology is also a goldmine for advertisers as the ability to determine viewers’ demographics will enable them to determine the effectiveness of the reach of their ads.

Technology is still a ways away from identifying individuals and remains in limited use, but manufacturers declare the system can accurately measure gender 85 to 90 percent of the time while other measures continue to be refined.

This means that the system is capable of displaying an ad for a group of men but will switch to a minvan ad when women and children join them.

The idea of smart advertising videos, however, does not please everyone. Some opponents to the use of the technology argue cameras that study people contribute to an erosion of privacy.  The use of the technology without the consumer’s knowledge also raises the hackles of privacy-protection advocates. Although manufacturers claim that nothing is ever stored and no identifying information is ever associated with the pictures, skeptics want privacy protection built in to the technology stage while it is still in its infancy.

Technorati Tags: Advertising Video, marketing video, sales video

Video has long ceased to be merely a medium for watching movies and relaying information.  Thanks to the ever growing popularity of video based social sites, the availability of technologies and the Web’s design and flexibility, online video has evolved to be a means of how people communicate with each other, replacing even e-mail.

Online marketing video is the wave of the future and stands poised to define the Web experience of the future, according to Video Insider’s Dave Dutch.  This trend presents private enterprise with a huge opportunity, Dutch declares, and the successful ones will be those that engage communities with video that is compelling and continuous.

In fact, some well known brands have embraced the increasingly video-centric web and have exploited it in a number of ways.  Dutch gives examples on how promotional videos are impacting corporate Web strategies and business models.

British Sky Broadcasting has eschewed the traditional customary block of images and text on the company’s home page, where visitors may be greeted instead by a running video news feed.   Organizations may exploit this capability as a tool to spread company news and information such as populating on-demand libraries with share holder meetings, annual reports, and video news releases.

Marketing video is also a powerful enabler of product support and advice. Dutch cites Scott’s Miracle-Gro Company which uses promotional videos as the primary format for “help” articles on lawn care, gardening, and related topics.

Corporations may also deliver original marketing video content directly to its consumers.  Dutch cites the example of Nike.com which offer sports-specific channels that offer video-based training, and feature stories about Nike’s athletes.

Video based programs, seminars, and workshops may also provide a valuable tool to propagate best practices and knowledge management within an organization.  According to Dutch, online video could enable a far-flung employee to record and share best practices with his colleagues.  IT consulting firm Bluewolf shares its case studies and testimonials with external audiences on Bluewolf TV, according to Dutch.

Finally, user-generated content can turn customers and fans into a network of content creators who communicate through promotional videos, according to Dutch. For an example, he cites cult footwear favorite Crocs, which has set up a site that invites lovers and haters of the brand to upload videos about how they feel about the product.  Dutch declares online video and the social Web combine to enable business to create and sustain new communities.

Technorati Tags: marketing video, promotional videos

There are a ton of way to promote your website with marketing video. I’m a visual learner and I love to see examples of good marketing videos so I wanted to share this with you.  The Commoncraft.com website is about two passionate people wanting to share their artwork and love for the crafts.They produced a simple creative video and submitted it to the video networks.  It was an interesting way to use animation that was fun, intertaining and captivates the audience. When people saw this they made comments like “i love the animation”, creative, Love it”. This is what social media is all about, connecting with people. Done right it is a powerful tool for increasing the popularity and getting traffic to your website.

Enjoy the short video about Rex The Dog.

Bubblicious from Rex The Dog on Vimeo.