13 ideas for web videos that are right under your nose. >>>>

www.thisgoodidea.co.uk

Okay ... apparently .... having video on your site/ social media page helps to make them more compelling and “sticky”, but that only works if your videos are any good and relevant to your sites visitors. Audiences are very fickle and their time is very valuable, if they donʼt like what they see they move on and if a video doesnʼt hook them quickly, then they quit it. The internet gives you great reach but you only have (milli)seconds to grab people.

But video can be very handy in giving your viewers deeper insight into your product, brand or service. It can show processes behind the scenes, the people involved, help build a brand and loyalty. It can be a very useful way for you to communicate with your clients and it can encourage people to keep coming back to your site.

And good video is very useful in the dark art of search engine optimization. Forrester Research reported that “A website with a video is 53 times more likely to come up on the first page result on Google than the exact same page without video.” Although that has to be taken with the usual pinch in internet salt.

The most sticky sites are often the most generous, the ones that donʼt actively go out to sell but seek to give their audiences something in return for their attention and time. That can

be knowledge about a subject or event, or some entertainment, inspiration or insight. Sites and blogs written by people who actively care about their subject will attract more loyalty than one churned out to meet contractual employment obligations.

But the nice thing is you donʼt need to look very far to find a subject to make engaging videos to put on your site. I have put together this list of subjects that you can find close at hand. Added to this making and showing good looking videos is more possible than ever. Using DSLR cameras shooting HD video (in the right hands) its increasing affordable to create really great photographic looking short films that donʼt look and feel like boring corporates. And with video hosting services like Vimeo Pro it is easier and more cost effect than ever to get nice looking video onto your site that doesnʼt carry a nasty logo.

KEEP IT SHORT

The only other thing I would add when making video for the internet is keep it brief, aim to say something 1 minute not 10. When clicking on a video, the first thing people look at is the progress bar, if they see that a video is long (over 3 minutes) then they will be less likely to stay and watch the rest. Niche films can be longer (tutorials, lectures, etc) but introduction videos and first contact films should be short.

So what kind of videos are you going to put on your site? They idea of this article was to highlight subjects and treatments for films that might be close at hand and easy(ish) to create.

>>>> 13 ideas for

web videos that are right under

your nose.

1: BEHIND THE SCENESPeople are nosey and love to get the inside view. Use video to show behind the scenes at your company. Something that seems completely everyday to you could be exciting and fresh to your site visitors. For example: Showing how a popular product goes from concept to rolling off the assembly line.Try and be innovative when making your behind the scenes footage. Timelapse is a great technique to speed up production process, tiny cameras like the Go_pro can get shots in unusual places.

> A Magazine Is Born - the making of Little White Lies

I really like this video that shows how a magazine gets from idea to the stand. Good use of timelapse, which is a great way of making a long drawn out process quick and engaging, also good use of music and humour.

LINK TO VIDEO

2: DO SOMETHING VERY BAD WITH YOUR PRODUCT.Is one of your product or service USP’s that it is particularly tough, fast, strong ... or green ... or organic ... you get the idea ... do something with it that demonstrates to the extreme.

> Will It Blend?

A great example of this in action is the internet phenomenon “Will it blend”. A few years ago Blendtec were just a small blender manufacturer until they hit upon a great idea. They would show the robustness of their product by blending just about anything. So every so often they would blend something unusual or current ... cameras , mobile phones and iPads, I think they had a go at a car once, its resulted in a massive Youtube following and hugh increased sales. The videos are very simply shot using a repeatable style but greatly helped by having a great presenter and good game show styling.

LINK TO VIDEO

3: CASE STUDY FILMSVideo case studies of your work can give clients an idea of the real impact your product or service. My advice is the shorter the better, keep it “big picture” and avoiding feeling “corporate”. If you can turn your case study into a story, even better.

> IBM Cloud Solutions - Bari Fishing Industry

I really like this one from IBM which looks at cloud computing, a potentially really dull subject but not when you see it applied to Italian Fishermen. LINK TO VIDEO

> Apple Education - Learning With iPads

Another example is Apple’s iPad film. Nicely shot with short sound bite interviews.

LINK TO VIDEO

A Magazine Is Born - the making of Little White Lies

IBM Cloud Solutions - Bari Fishing Industry

Will It Blend?

4: DIARY VIDEOSVideo diaries are great for documenting progress or impact over time. They are also useful for getting “behind the scenes insight”. > Breastfeeding with The Big Bump

Some time ago I was involved in producing a beginners guide for new parents called “The Big Bump” for Lanarkshire NHS. As part of the project we gave a video diary kit to some new parents. Using this kit they documented their experience of getting to grips with breast-feeding. In this video all they are doing is talking about their experience, but they give real insights that new parents can relate to. And because its video you can see that they are real people giving their real views. Concept by me ... directed and edited by the very talented Joseph Briffa.

LINK TO VIDEO

5: NEWS IN YOUR INDUSTRY If you work in a specialist or consultation area why not show that you are on top of current events with a video news bulletin which rounds up the issues and themes.

> Inenco Energy Updates news

Inenco they are specialists in energy management, sustainability and environmental services. They work in an area where there are many changes in technology, legislation and pricing. Inenco produces a weekly video news update, which helps its clients to to keep up to date and in a knowledge based market place the demonstrate that they are fully up to date with developments. They put this update on the front page of their site. This also gives clients a reason to keep returning to their site. Using a news approach they can film the bulletins easily and quickly using a standard set up. It also gives the company an opportunity to show off some of their companies key experts.

LINK TO VIDEO

6: STAFF PROFILESWith a lot of business happening online it can be hard for clients and customers to relate to companies and organisations as people. Even in large organisation this can be a problem internally between departments. Creating little films about your staff can help to bridge that gap (a little bit) and show the people behind the service.

> Staff profile: Henrik - Internal Communications Coordinator and DJ

BUPA international made a series of short films focusing on their staff who spoke about their jobs and a bit about their hobbies. This film is about Henrik, he’s an Internal Communications Coordinator at BUPA during the day and DJ some other times.

LINK TO VIDEO

Breastfeeding with The Big Bump Staff profile: Henrik

Inenco Energy Updates news

7: VIDEO REVIEWSProviding a video review of your products is a way of bringing it to life.

> DVS Shoe Company Carson

Zappos are an American online shoe and fashion retailer have their own take on video reviews using real people (staff members).

One quote says about Zappo’s approach : “Zappos uses video to drive sales. They use the video to describe, use and demonstrate the products with real Zappos employees and not models or actors. Those videos are said to have a sales impact of 6 to 30%.” Mark Robertson

LINK TO VIDEO

8: HAVE A GOOD TIMEShow you or your staff having a good time. This does have to be managed and it doesn’t suit every industry, but it can be a useful way of showing an unexpected side of your company or where you work.

> Deloitte Film Festival - Behind the Scenes

When Deloitte were looking for some new staff they didn’t didn’t just put out some job ads they got their own staff to make films about working in the company on the theme of “What’s your Deloitte”. These films gave a different insight into Deloitte which isn’t known as a creative company. In the end they had enough films to run an internal film festival.

“A video featuring a creative performance by your own staff is a great way to showcase your company’s culture and promote your business without having viewers feel like they’re being advertised to.” say Insite Motion Media

LINK TO VIDEO

9: PRODUCT TOURSProduct tours and guide videos are an excellent way to tell customers about your company’s products and services. > HOW TO REPLACE A TAP FROM B&Q

The DIYmongers B&Q have created a whole set of quick online video guides to carrying out repairs around the home. These guides give people the information confidence that they can do it themselves but they can do it using B&Q stuff.

LINK TO VIDEO

DVS Shoe Company Carson HOW TO REPLACE A TAP

Deloitte Film Festival

10. TAKE A SIDEWAYS LOOK AT YOUR PRODUCT OR SERVICETake some cues off broadcast TV and take the popular science approach.

> Mad Science: Smart Grid

IBM a use “fun science” approach to explain what could be a teeth grindingly dull subject of how an IBM site is using a smart grid to save money and reduce its CO2 footprint.

LINK TO VIDEO

11. TAP INTO THE PASSIONHow did you and your staff get into what you you do? There is often a story behind why people went into a particular profession or trade. A video about this can reveal the passion and creativity in your staff.

> RUBY CONFERENCE

This is an example I like. It was made at the Scottish Ruby on Rails conference and it is from a group of “user generated” films I was involved in producing. To outsiders computer programming is often seen as a dull occupation but as this nice video reveals there is a lot creativity and passion behind the keystrokes (not to mention some good hats). Excellent editing from Lucy Armitage.

LINK TO VIDEO

12. CUSTOMER FEEDBACKIf your customers and clients have good things to say about you then get them to say it. Keep short and snappy.

> Crystal Ski FestThis customer feedback video from the ski racing event “Crystal” is from a number of customer and client feed back videos that I was involved in producing. Not only is it a handy video to encourage other potential users it and has helped to form the strategy to develop future events.

LINK TO VIDEO

Mad Science: Smart Grid Crystal Ski Fest

RUBY CONFERENCE

13: SHOW YOUR CUSTOMERS USING YOUR STUFF. If you have a good product or service and your customers like using it then why not feature them. Not only does it show people being enthusiastic about your product they may also show new ways of using it.

> NANA'S CHEESY ACORN CASSEROLE

For some years Kraft foods has been running the Real women of Philadelphia competition. This is a highly successful campaign in which real women from across the USA video themselves demonstrate the use of Kraft products in various cooking various recipes.In this video "Nana" makes her favourite side dish, which sounds like a heart attack inducing Cheesy Acorn squash Casserole.

LINK TO VIDEO

NANA'S CHEESY ACORN CASSEROLE

This Good Idea provide digital communications solutionsThe digital world offers a vast array of ways to engage, involve and

communicate with clients, staff and customers.

This Good Idea help people, organisations and businesses to understand the potential of digital communications, to outline their

needs and then make it happen.

If you are new to the wonderful world of digital or an old hand contact us, we can help.

Paul Cameronpaul@thisgoodidea.co.uk

this good idea.co.uk