How your consumers are consuming online video | Digital Business

A few weeks ago, we blogged about the Australian Communication and Media Authority?s (ACMA) latest report about some of the trends and perceptions of communications in Australia.

Accompanying that report, the ACMA also released three smaller, more targeted reports , one of which focussed on the growth of online video content.

In simple terms, online video content (or OVC) is any video content that is deliverable through the internet. The OVC report [pdf] says that the most popular forms of OVC include catch-up television (which is offered by most free-to-air television broadcasters) and Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) .

The ACMA reports that in the 12 months to June 2012, the volume of data downloaded increased by 52 per cent, and that this increase is consistent with the growth in online streaming of digital media.

Another form of OVC, which was not discussed in the ACMA OVC report but nonetheless might be relevant to small and medium businesses (SMBs), is video sharing sites like YouTube and Vimeo. These platforms have given SMBs the ability to embed video content into their websites, allowing them to talk directly to customers and explain things in an accessible fashion.

For example, one of our e-business cases studies on Cheap Sheds Pty Ltd highlights how the company showcases some of their products in tailored sales videos. Cheap Sheds Pty Ltd also provide instructional videos on their website ? and even on their mobile app ? which explain how to assemble their sheds.

Krisztian Panczel from Cheap Sheds says that videos have enabled the company to market solely online because they replicate the real-world experience of talking to someone at a hardware store. He goes as far as to say that ?regardless of the product or niche, every single e-commerce store should have videos talking about the products.?

While we understand that videos may not be appropriate for all businesses, we share Krisztian?s enthusiasm and generally agree with sentiment that if you can enhance the users experience through video content, then you should consider using it.

Consider whether video content can benefit your business and explore this site for tips about using YouTube and videos on your website or working with multimedia. As you will see, you can get started with nothing more than a camera or smartphone and an internet connection.

Do you have any tips or a story to tell about how OVC improves your business communication? Share them with us through the comments.

Daniel, DBCDE

Source: http://www.digitalbusiness.gov.au/2013/04/08/how-your-consumers-are-consuming-online-video/

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