Try Video, You'll Want More

You get it. You need more than text and a couple of photos on your website. But in case you might not fully get it, get a load of this:  More than 168 million U.S. viewers watched online video last month, accumulating nearly 26 billion total views. Jeremy Scott Reel SEO

OK, he’s counting all those Hulu and YouTube viewers, but what’s important here is that online video has become familiar, easy and accessible. It’s expected. Users now seek it out. It’s like a fine cupcake – you try one, you want another.

So if you’re contemplating video on your currently static website, start by thinking about who you want to reach and what is going to attract them. If, for example, you love puppies, then a live Shiba Inu puppycam video is just about all you need. 

Still keeping your user in mind, think about where and how you want to place your videos on your website. Sites like HowStuffWorks, dedicated to providing information, organize their video on one page under a file heading like “Video,” then include a menu of more videos to choose from, such as, “recently added” or “most watched.” 

TED, a go-to site to watch video presentations, serves their users simply and efficiently by offering a photomontage menu on their homepage. Each photo links to an individual video playback page with added information.

Causecast wants their users to explore the many layers of their call-to-action organization, so they’ve placed video throughout the site. There’s a new video treat on each page. For those with specific search interests, there are integrated options to sort and select from all of the site’s video content.

So before you upload those home movies to feature on your website, step into the shoes of your user. Puppies are cute, but they’re not for everyone. Find the sites that you think demonstrate both video content and navigation that will keep your user clicking. 

Have a video website you love? Or hate? Send us your examples.

Related blog: When the Cameras Roll and Videotaping a Submission to Speak at TED