Today I listened to Whole Foods founder John Mackey speak about the future of business. Then Deepak Chopra talked a bit on consciousness. After which I listened to Darren Aronofsky give his perspective on his film “The Fountain.” Expensive, all-day seminar? Nope. It cost me $20. And I didn’t have to leave my house.

IntegralNaked.com has harnessed the power of Web video to bring spiritual and intellectual leaders to you. Started by New Age philosopher Ken Wilber, IntegralNaked.com features the biggest names in the consciousness field discussing everything from ecology to art to politics. Subscribers pay from $20 - $500 a month to access unlimited Internet videos of these conversations, an avant-garde concert series, and the occasional performance artist.

And with over 75,000 subscribers, they are doing something right. IntegralNaked.com has been able to tap into the spiritual market while keeping their costs down. By using Internet video rather than live speakers, they can feature a range of thinkers and artists for a fraction of the normal cost. And once they have the video, it can be downloaded infinitely, opening the door to a large online video library. Best of all, their subscribers are happy. They see who they want, when they want and don’t have to pay a high-ticket price to do it.

Noetic.org also features online video access to leaders and media designed to inspire conscious change. For $10 a month, subscribers can access interviews with experts such as spiritual leader Marianne Williamson and activist Julia Butterfly Hill. What Noetic.org does differently though, is to use Web video to generate interest in their membership. Cutting together music, images and a section of a featured speaker’s talk, they create one minute, free videos designed to “shift” the viewer’s perspective.
Because the online videos are short and to the point, there’s a good chance viewers will return daily or, if it’s a topic that interests them, subscribe in order to see the full speech. As well, Noetic.org has made it very easy to embed the video code into blogs and Web sites, thereby encouraging sharing and ultimately, leading to more Web site hits.

Amazon.com is also in on the action, showcasing exclusive videos and interviews from big name stars. They have Paul McCartney strumming his ukulele, Willie Nelson’s newest video and an exclusive interview with, none other than, Hannah Montana. The videos and interviews generate buzz for soon-to-be released CDs and DVDs (and up pre-sales) while giving people a reason to check back often.

While you may not have access to A-list celebrities, most industries have accomplished people that are happy to give interviews for the chance to promote their product. Posted on your Web site, they help establish you as a guru in your field and again, increase traffic through your Web site.

Have you profiled any big names successfully? Tell us about it and we may feature you in an upcoming newsletter.