Engage Your Visitors with Video

We got a new puppy (Truman), so I’ve been looking at a lot of dog training videos on the internet lately.  Even though Truman and I are going to puppy kindergarten, it’s really helpful watching the videos to see how other people teach their dogs to sit, stay and come.

It started me thinking about the sites we review.  I think most visitors like sites that have some video.  It can  explain their services, demonstrate a product,  or show how to install or use a product.  Video on a website is effective because:

1. Video engages two of your visitor’s senses (sight and sound) instead of just one (sight) and it’s easier to capture your visitor’s attention when you engage more of their senses.
2. Some of us prefer to learn by reading (text) and some of us prefer to learn by seeing (video).  By providing both on your site, you meet the needs of more of your visitors.
3. People like dealing with people.  A video of you (the owner) or an employee demonstrating, explaining or showing something the visitor needs or wants to know, lets the visitor get to know more about the people they will be dealing with.

Visitor control over the video is crucial.  Visitors want to see what they want, when they want.  Make sure visitors can start, stop, rewind and pause the video; and, since you’re asking them to take the time to watch your video, let them know how long it is.

How are you using video to engage your potential customers? How are you leading this online engagement into conversion?