Retailers Turn to Online Video to Help with Selling

According to eMarketer the number of online shoppers who watched a retail video online increased 40% in just one year (October 2007 to October 2008).  During this same time, there was only a 4% increase in the number of visitors to online retail Web sites, meaning online shoppers are watching retailers' Internet videos.

Which is good news for retailers. Web video not only turns lookers into buyers, it increases sales throughout the entire sales process.  Senior eMarketer analyst Jeff Grau says, "Among the benefits of videos touted by Web retailers are a lower number of abandoned shopping carts, reduced return rates and higher sales."

Many online retailers are already taking advantage of this increasingly powerful sales tool.  According to VideoBloom's VIEW Index, in December 2008, 50% of the top 20 online retailers were using Web video to sell their products.  And that number is expected to grow.  This year, 43% of US online retailers plan to add online video to their site, while video and streaming media top the list of advanced features and functions retailers plan to add.

And while retailers may worry that the cost of creating video content is prohibitive, we've found this simply isn't true.  Video production costs often can be offset by an increase in sales or even completely eliminated by allowing users to upload their own product video, a tool that encourages community involvement and lets your customers do the selling for you.

Below is an example of how VideoBloom customer EFuel100 is leveraging online video to sell their their home ethanol fuel production units.

eFuel 100 video

Can Online Video Save the Newspaper?

As newspapers continue to struggle with how to compete with online content, ReelSEO.com has been searching for solutions.  And the Video SEO specialists think they may have found the answer - Internet video.

ReelSEO Senior Analyst Grant Crowell says, "We've found a solution for the oldest of the 'Old Media' (newspapers), and that's the newest of the 'New Media' (video). While newspapers are already producing large amounts of online video content, they have not been successful at optimizing the video for both traffic and monetization."  Crowell goes on to say that "what newspapers have needed is a proper education in Video SEO, " which he believes could be the key to saving the industry.

Mark Roberstson, founder and publisher of ReelSEO, agrees. "As competition grows to capture the attention of online video viewers, newspapers possess a unique opportunity to leverage their skills and superior content to capitalize on the financial promise of online video monetization," he says.

ReelSEO.com has put together a free downloadable white paper outlining the opportunities and challenges newspapers face and how Video SEO can change their odds.

To download the full report, click here.  Or to find out how VideoBloom can help you with Video SEO, Contact us.

Our new Web Site and Platform are Easier to Use and, well, Prettier

If you've stopped by our Web site in the past couple of weeks, you may have noticed it looks a bit different.  We've made some pretty big changes, all designed to make the VideoBloom site more accessible and user-friendly.

For example, while the Web site (of course) still features the same cutting-edge online video products, they're now easier to find and purchase. And while our video platform still works in the same way, it's now faster, more versatile and easier to navigate. 

So, please, take a look around and let us know what you think!

Platform updates include:

• Improved usability - easier and faster management of videos
• Expanded dashboard - full snapshot of analytics and stored videos on one page
• New "swappable skins" functionality - retro white or modern gray skins
• New shopping cart - easily upgrade your distribution and hosting plans directly from the platform

Web site updates include:

• Improved site navigation
• Simplified video production and video management plans
• Easy ordering of video production and video management plans through the new platform shopping cart
• Player gallery showcasing advanced video players
• Idea Center - find inspiration from best-of-breed online video applications
• New VideoBloom logo and branding

To see our Web site improvements, click here. To see our platform improvements, login here.     

Thank you and remember VideoBloom is your source for reliable and innovative video solutions.
 
Bloom On!

The VideoBloom Team