Veeple

Author: Scott Broomfield

This is an unusual blog post, but it was an amazing day.

Today, after 18 years, Jaycee Dugard was found alive. My brother Doug, who is our VP of customer support and user experience, was very active in the case. She was 11 years old when she was taken. In the 90’s Doug was involved in a series of special projects to help find missing children. Here is the 6 minute video that his group produced to help find Jaycee. In the video is information on the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Most of the time child abduction ends in tragedy. This is one of the few that has ended with joy. We wish Jaycee and her family all the best as they begin their journey back from the darkness.

If this story touches you as it has us, please contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by clicking on the video to learn how you can help.

URL Link

Author: Scott Broomfield

Recently, I wrote an article for ReelSEO discussing our belief at Veeple that the power of online video (OV) will be fueled by more than just ad insertion.  You know the old expression, “Tell me, I forget, show me, I remember, involve me, I understand.”  Let me do just that…..

The screencast below is an 8 part interactive, e-learning video about the Veeple Online Video Platform (OVP).  We want anyone in the market for an OVP today to easily understand the differences among OVPs.  Today, there is a general understanding that an OVP is a video solution delivered through the Internet that enables people to create a comprehensive online video experience for their viewers.

Similar to our belief that online video will be used for more than simply ad insertion, we believe that a good OVP should be interactive and intelligent and must be much more than simply a launching pad for online video.  An average OVP may include a content management system (CMS); Storage, Hosting, & Delivery; a Configurable Player and some basis analytics.  An intelligent OVP includes all of the above plus interactivity to increase engagement, a branded player so it is your experience and not someone else’s, syndication to increase reach, and interactive analytics to know how the video is resonating with viewers; an in-depth understanding of how engaged a viewer is with your story and therefore your message. We call this intelligent video.

Using an e-learning interactive video to demonstrate what we do here at Veeple enables our viewers to quickly understand all the benefits.  You can watch it straight through or move back and forth through the video to the specific topic that interests you and self-select what you want to see (click on the clickable object tab in the player).  And while you are at it look for Dr. Veeple to pop up on the screen at 2:08 into the video and see how we use him to deepen the e-learning experience. Tell me, I forget — Show me, I remember — Involve me, I understand.

Author: Scott Broomfield

Our post this week is about best practices for creating engaging online video. Best practices that result in our customers attaining an amazing 23.8% average click-through-rate (CTR).

First – Brand your video. Use your logo, add a watermark, create a Favicon, and deliver the video with high quality.

Second – Create points of interactivity that are relevant and non-intrusive, thereby giving your viewers a compelling reason to engage. Remember, let the viewer know up front that the video is interactive.

Third – Use six points of interactivity for a two minute video. Typically, we see our customers place the first point of interactivity within the first seven seconds, three more during the video and two interactive icons at the end of the video. This last point is important because there is a much greater likelihood of a viewer engaging at the end if they have a choice of what to click on.

Fourth – Give the viewer an easy way to get in touch with you by adding in a ‘Contact Us’ image. People may not click on it, but they want to know they can contact you if they wish.

Correctly done, and by building interactivity directly into your script, your video will be a very engaging experience that viewers respond to. For more detail, play the video below and click on the PDF icon in the video. (note that this video has 5 interactive spots, but it is only 1 minute, 19 seconds long)

Finally, understand that making your video engaging is about creativity, not technology. Remember that you are a storyteller – whether that story is about yourself, a product, a service, or a cause.

Enjoy.

Author: Scott Broomfield

Online video enhances your message – everyone knows this. Now, take the second step and understand that interactivity engages your viewer and intelligence allows you to surpass your goals.

Engagement – because without it you don’t know whether the video is resonating with your viewer. The best way to determine if your viewer is engaged is to add interactive elements to your video; interactive elements that allow the viewer to click on anything relevant to them. The interactivity should be able to be in any form you wish; images, icons, logos, watermarks, transparent images, attachments, etc.

Intelligence – because without intelligence there is no meaning. You can’t improve what you don’t measure or analyze. Click Through Rate, or CTR% for short, is one measure as to the degree of engagement with your viewer. And by creating interactive elements, you create specific CTRs that measure exactly what is important to the viewer.

This shines new light on the importance of intelligent, interactive online video: the power of online video to engage your viewers, audience, customers, etc. Video that is dynamic! Video that is intelligent! Video that tells your story better than you ever thought imaginable!