The Tour and Travel Video Expert

Company Website Video, YouTube & Networks...what works?

2008-01-25T11:40:00.000-05:00

Previously I answered a question about videos: "Can I host a video on my website?" The answer was an enthusiastic "yes," because a professionally prepared video -that doesn't lag or drag and has good resolution- is one of the most powerful online tools we have. But what else? How about posting it on YouTube or other networks?

For Tour and Travel marketing professionals our mission is focused on increasing the economic impact of tourism. And tourism is competitive industry. While the individual and group tourist are almost certainly going online looking for videos; professional meeting planners - Director of Sales for Convention Centers, hear me now ... believe me later - professional meeting planners are definitely looking at your website.

It's already old news that since Apple and ABC 's deal (Sept. 2005) to webcast programs on IPods; professional content makers have been moving online in record numbers. What does this mean? Online video champions YouTube, for example, are getting their hands on very good video...check out your favorite TV show on YouTube, chances are it looks great and was easy to find.

Factoid: Web video is moving past its user-generated roots into professional content: 3000 professional producers and 70 independent channels are on YouTube alone.

Unless destinations are teaming up for a travel association trail like Georgia's Antebellum Trail - I do not recommend promoting the competition. Your job performance and the economic welfare of your city is at stake.

Placing your video on your own website is critical, next using keywords and search strategies we can take advantage of the fact that Google bought YouTube (more on that next week!) to get traffic to your site.

Do I need a video for my web site?

2008-01-15T17:12:00.000-05:00

Ten years ago, when I produced VisitAthensGa.com (the site has come a long way since then!) online video wasn't nearly as practical as it is today. Why? Because back then many individual tourist and group travels were limited to the old dial-up modems.

Today, just about everyone enjoys high speed access, and that makes the addition of video to your website a very practical way to increase the overall economic impact of tourism.

For convention sales directors, video makes a great sales tool to include in press kits as a DVD or interactive CD-Rom. These videos can then be reused for websites, if they are expertly prepared!

Why do online videos lag, drag and choke?

2008-01-14T16:27:00.000-05:00

First there are two types of videos: One you download and -more commonly- streaming videos.

Streaming videos that are not expertly prepared for the internet do not play smoothly -or choke- and disrupt the viewer experience.

If you are watching a video online that lags more than a second or two, studies show you won't watch that video in its entirety.

Video players that drag and choke are not effective promotional tools for your destination.

Can I host a video on my website?

2008-01-12T16:35:00.000-05:00

In an earlier answer I mentioned that ten years ago -in the infancy stages of online video- dial-up modems (remember when we had to use our phone line for our internet connection?) hindered good video delivery.

Today, with the popularity and wide use of "fast dial-up" consumers as well as tour and travel professionals use high speed connections.

A Video, or its player, that chokes or drags today has less to do with your internet connection, and everything to do with how that video was prepared for your site or network settings.

An expertly prepared video can be hosted on your current site and may be safely viewed hundreds of time, monthly, without bandwidth or storage concerns.