Why You Should Place a Welcome Video Link on Your Company's Home Page in 2008

According to a recent article in the excellent online newsletter of the Word of Mouth Marketing Association, Horowitz Associates released a report on "Broadband Content and Services 2007"  stating that six out of ten internet users download or watch video content on a weekly basis, and 86% say they view video at least once per month. News and user-generated videos top the lists of what internet users are watching.

In 2007, we helped three of our clients (Barbara Llewellyn Catering & Event Planning, STORViNO, and Bavarian Professionals) create welcome videos to meeting the growing demand for online video. The video portion of their websites have become quite popular and confirm the popularity of video that the Horowitz Associates report found.

Here are six keys for a successful welcome video:

1. Highlight the video prominently on the home page.
2. Tell a compelling story.
3. Focus on the entrepreneur and his or her values since people like buying from people they like.
4. Use interesting footage of the business in action while the business owner speaks.
5. Include customers talking about why they buy.
6. Be brief  (effective welcome videos are usually one to three minutes long).

If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, you're lucky to have a great company that specializes in online video. For all the aforementioned videos we created for our clients in 2007, we partnered with Max Fancher of Maximize Video Productions. Max is one of the most creative and conscientious professionals with whom I've worked and enjoys my highest recommendation. His other customers are equally enthusiastic.

Comments

[Bill Conerly]

Patrick, I like the videos (though they are not all as obvious from the home page as they might be).

Can you give us an idea of the budget for something like this?

Also, all of these products have good visual opportunities, especially the catering; and the wine storage absolutely needs a photo; and BMWs on the rack always make a nice picture. What about us consultants? What would you do with your business? (which does not seem to have a video on it)

[Patrick Galvin]

Bill,

Thanks for your comment. Online videos are a bit trickier for non-visual service providers. In your case, you might want to consider putting a very visible link to a video featuring snippets of some of your presentations. Our NSA Oregon Treasurer Greg Bill has a prominent video image on his home page and a nice 12-minute assortment of presentations. Check this out on www.gregbell.net.

I'm currently reworking my website and will have a 12-minute video reel like Greg's. It won't be on my home page since I don't want it to confuse my consulting clients.

If you need a reference for a good videographer and video editor in Portland, let me know. I know somebody who provides outstanding service at very reasonable prices.

Best,
Patrick