Review: Buy.TV from Buy.com

I just stumbled upon Buy.TV, Buy.com’s attempt to jump on the web video bandwagon. While I like the fact that they’re willing to give this new medium a try, it needs a little bit of work. Here’s the good, the bad and the ugly about Buy.TV:

Slow loading
I’ve got a high-speed connection, and it still took forever for the show to load. If users don’t start seeing something within a few seconds, forget it.

Embedding issues
A simple line of javascript would help eliminate the annoying “Click to activate this control” message that displays when viewed in IE browsers.

Long Intro
I had to sit there and wait 22 seconds for their uber-tech intro to play out before the hosts even started their intro - which lasted another 65 seconds. Snore. A boring, minute and a half long introduction just won’t cut it online. Get to the message - quickly.

Hosting, uhh..., concerns
BuyTV is hosted by Melissa, the Director of Marketing for Buy.com and Drew, a Senior Sales and Merchandising Manager. It wouldn’t hurt if Melissa toned it down a bit. And their script writing could use some work. But they’re giving it their best shot, and doing a pretty good job.

If you’re a mom and pop operation, nobody expects QVC quality presentations. But if you’re a big company who’s trying to pull off a QVC style production and you fall short, those tiny little faults will be glaringly obvious.

I don’t like to rip on people who at least have the guts to get in front of the camera and give it their best shot. It’s not easy, I know. But when you’re a company the size of Buy.com, you should be able to afford to hire professional talent for your shows. Or at the very least, hire an acting coach. Seriously.

Player positioning
The player is off to the left. I don’t know why, but this bothers me. If the video presentation is the focus of the page, put it in the center. Maybe it’s just me, but I think it’s just easier on the eyes this way.

Lost merchandising opportunities
When they’re talking about the different products in their various “Top 10” categories, there’s no option to click any where for more product info, or to buy now.

There is a tiny, well-hidden piece of text that says “View Top 10.” But when you click it, you’re taken to a new page where you have to try and find the product they were talking about. If you want to go back to the show, hit the back button and you’re forced to start watching the show from the beginning. Ugh.

Suggestions: Make the screen area clickable. Have an obvious, well-placed link that viewers can click for more information. When a click occurs on the player, pause the show and open the product in a new window.

BuyTV - Closing Thoughts
Internet video is an experiment, and it’s early in the game. One thing’s for sure, Buy.com was smart to grab the rights to use the buy.tv domain name early on.

While there’s certainly room for improvement, I think the folks at BuyTV are on the right track, and overall, are doing a good job of utilizing web video to promote their site and products.

Final thoughts on Google buying YouTube (I promise)...

Amid all the hubbabaloo surrounding Google’s recent high-stakes gamble, er, acquisition of YouTube, there were these interesting tidbits of information that surfaced. According to the USA Today article, Google-YouTube deal joins Net search and video forces...

1. Google co-founder Larry Page and CEO Eric Schmidt met with YouTube founders Chad Hurley and Steve Chen to negotiate the $1.65B deal at a Silicon Valley Denny’s restaurant. OK, perhaps they were afraid they’d be noticed if they power-lunched it at some upscale joint. Fair enough. But Denny’s? Couldn’t they at least have sealed the deal at a more upscale joint, like a TGIFridays, or Applebees, perhaps?

2. Google CEO Schmidt says web video is “...the next step in the evolution of the Internet...”

3. A top executive at Macromedia (maker of the Flash Player) says, “We are seeing the number of terabytes of video delivered doubling every three months... I haven’t seen this kind of demand before, and it’s something that we all felt the Web could become one day—a distribution platform for rich content and experiences.”

Internet video is tripling every three months, and is considered the “next step in the evolution of the Internet” according to the CEO of one of the world’s most powerful companies. (Don’t you go discounting his intelligence just because he got ‘er done at Denny’s.)

Here’s what it means…

If you’re currently thinking about adding web video to your site, now’s the time to start. Get going now, before your competition beats you to it.

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Related:
How to Create Flash FLV Videos
The Truth About Internet Video

Why Google will get even wealthier after buying YouTube

I’ve been thinking about Google’s buyout of YouTube for $1.65 billion. At first glance, that seems like a ridiculous amount of money for a free site that a semi-talented programmer could clone in a weekend.

I had looked into creating a similar site earlier this year, and could have had it developed for $5-10k. And this includes the $2,500 licensing fee to use the On2 VP6 codec for converting the uploaded videos to Flash 8. (For the record, I still plan to do such a site, but with a focus on a niche or group of niches.)

OK - so it’s obvious Google’s not buying the technology.

What are they buying then?

Eyeballs.

From the YouTube Fact Sheet...

"YouTube is currently serving 100 million videos per day, with more than 65,000 videos being uploaded daily. According to Hitwise, YouTube videos account for 60 percent of all videos watched online and people are spending an average of 17 minutes per session on the site. According to Nielsen NetRatings, YouTube has nearly 20M unique users per month… We continue to grow exponentially month-to-month, so check back in for the latest metrics."

I recently read an article written in 1994 that stated Google earns a net profit on average of $.10 for every click on one of their pay-per-click ads. Ad rates have gone up considerably since then, so I’d imagine this figure is actually a low-end estimate of what they earn today.

It’s only a matter of time before Google starts displaying ads at the end of YouTube videos. 100 million videos per day = potential for an additional 100 million ad views per day - served to a very captive audience.

What if 1 in 10 viewers click on that ad? At $.10 per click, that’s an extra million dollars per day that gets added to Google’s burgeoning coffers.

At $.20 per click, you’re looking at three quarters of a billion dollars per year, which would pay for the YouTube acquisition within 2 years.

And you can expect to see the Google Toolbar promoted heavily to the 20 million unique visitors who visit YouTube each month. Searches via the browser toolbar Google result in more Google search result pages being shown, and more ads being clicked on.

Of course, there’s that annoying little thing called “copyright law” that could throw a wrench in their plans. But with an estimated $12-$14 billion in cash, Google certainly is in a position to fight the inevitable lawsuits that will find their way to Mountain View, CA.

Even if it cost them a $100 million a year, every year, forever - they still stand to see a nice yearly return on their YT investment.

And if they didn’t buy the video site, somebody else would have - and would be serving non-Google ads to that massive audience.

So maybe, Google isn’t as crazy and stupid as so many others are claiming.

Maybe.

GooTube: Google to buy YouTube? Lawyers everywhere rejoice...

TechCrunch and others are reporting today that Google is in talks to acquire the community video sharing site, YouTube, for somewhere in the area of $1.6 billion.

(For the record, I predicted this months ago. Even came up with the oh so clever name, GooTube. But since I can’t prove it, you’ll just have to take my word for it.)

It makes sense for YouTube because they have:
- a huge community
- no real business model
- little income
- a bottomless pit of costly copyright infringement lawsuits on the horizon.

It makes sense for Google because they are…
- terrible at building community
- cash-rich beyond imagine
- really good at getting sued.

The only reason YouTube is still in existence right now is because there’s no one with deep enough pockets to get the attention of the lawyers. Sure, they’ve been funded a few mil, but nothing to excited about. But slap that Google name on the home page, and boy oh boy, get ready for some fireworks!

Lawyers, start your engines.

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Related Article:
Should you use YouTube and other free video sharing sites to host videos for your business?

Greenscreen tips from Digital Juice

The folks over at DigitalJuice.com are doing some pretty cool things with their weekly internet video program, DigitalJuice TV...

"At Digital Juice we want to do more than just sell you our products, we want to help you become a better producer. DJTV is our brand new Web-based Television Network dedicated to tips, tricks, tools, techniques and technology related to creating creative content."

In “Greenscreens and Ham,” they show you how to how to create and light a green screen in a small space on a tight budget…

The above Web Video Player™ utilizes the following features:

• Custom Click to Play Intro Image
• Clickable player Branding Image (the DigitalJuice logo/button at the bottom of the player - click it)
• "Add to Site” and “Tell a Friend” Viral Buttons
• Hidden clickable Logo Image during video (click on the DJTV watermark on the lower right of the video screen while it plays)
• Clickable Exit Image displays after video finishes

For information on using greenscreen effects for your web videos, see the following WebVideoZone tutorials:

- Greenscreen Magic - Tutorial: Part 1
- Greenscreen Magic - Tutorial: Part 2

Rocketboom hits paydirt

In typical internet “He said, she said” fashion…

I stumbled upon this tiny morsel of web video goodness via Steve Rubel’s MicroPersuasion.

And Steve heard about it from Frank Barnako’s Media Blog.

Oh, and Frank - he apparently got it straight from the horse’s mouth while at the Podcast Expo.

The horse, by the way, would be Andrew Baron, owner and producer of the daily internet video show, Rocketboom.

OK, now that we’ve got that out of the way…

According to Frank Barnako, Andrew Baron said he has just signed a deal worth $80,000 - for one week of commercials on Rocketboom.

Way to go, Andrew - you’re moving on up (to a deluxe apartment in the sky, perhaps?).

And if you’re not familiar with Rocketboom, here’s today’s show…

At nearly $7k/day, only those companies with pretty deep pockets are going to be in a position to access Rboom’s estimated 300,000+ daily viewers. (But if you’re on a budget, not to worry. Advertisers can supposedly get a discount - a week’s worth of ads for just $60,000 - if Andrew “likes the commercial content.")

OK - so I’m wondering, now that Congress has passed a law banning banks and credit card companies from processing payments to online casinos (all but putting internet gambling out of business in the U.S.), who is it that can afford to spend $80k/week advertising on a vlog?

Going out on a limb here. I would think…

• Car companies like Volkswagon or GM
• Computer companies such as Apple or Microsoft (good luck, Bill, Andrew uses a Mac)
• Wireless calling companies such as Verizon or Cingular

But regardless of who the advertiser actually it is - or whether or not the ads are worth the price - this still says something, because…

Big advertisers are now starting to see homemade internet video as a viable medium for delivering their message.

$80,000 a week (not including the $4k/month just in t-shirt sales), with total control, minimal expenses and few headaches.

Can you see yourself doing this? Why not? This isn’t rocket science, and the Rboom folks have already shown us the way. The keys to success here are to:

• Create a quality product with good production value.
• Publish regularly and consistently.
• Target an audience advertisers want to reach.
• Know what your audience wants.

While the Rboom production value is high, a regular show is something the average home-based video producer could pull off with a little patience, effort and practice.

What about the tools required? They’ll probably run you less than what the average family spends at Disney World in a day. Any decent 3CCD DV camera will suffice. And here’s the software Andrew uses and recommends. Nothing too fancy or expensive.

Bottom Line:

If you’re interested in creating a profitable home-based internet video show of your own, now’s the time to learn how to do it.

Dancing fool

What can I say, the boy just has to dance…

Apparently I didn’t miss my calling.

'Lost' on Google Video

ABC is currently taking advantage of Google Video to help build the hype for the upcoming third season of their hit TV show, Lost. The video below is the Lost trailer, which I’ve downloaded from Google and then plugged into the Web Video Player...

This player utilizes the following features:

• Custom “Click to Play” Intro Image
• Clickable player Branding Image (the “Lost” logo at the bottom - click it)
• Add to Site and Tell a Friend viral buttons
• Hidden clickable Logo Image during video (click on video while it plays to go to ABC web site)
• “Replay" button after video finishes

So, will Jack, Sawyer, Kate, Charlie, Gilligan and the rest of those misfit castaways finally get rescued this season? Not on your life. Well, not as long as they keep those ratings up. (We’ve got a better chance of seeing Hurley become emmaciated.)

Live streaming video from outside the WebVideoZone home office

I just hooked up a camera to stream live video from outside the WVZ home office. Helps me keep an eye on the dog while I’m working. Let me know if you see anything interesting.

Learn More:
7 simple steps to adding a live video and audio stream to your web site

The truth about the portable video craze

[From the September 18, 2006 mailing of WebVideoZone Alerts]

I have a confession to make…

I don’t get the whole ‘portable mini-video thing.’

I don’t even own an ipod, let alone a video ipod - and I have no desire to do so.

I also don’t own, or wish to own, any other devices that allow you to watch eye-straining video on a screen the size of my big toenail - such as the:

* Sony PSP
* RadioShack Analog TV Tuner
* Cellphone with video capability
* Microsoft Zune
* EchoStar PocketDish
* Comcast Anyplay
* iRiver H10
* ad nauseum

It’s weird…

On one hand, bigger is better. We are wildly infatuated with monstrous, widescreen, high-def, theatre-quality 3D surround sound, digital plasma TVs that cost more than my car.

And on the other, small is the way to go. We’re crazy for the latest, teeniest, most compact portable gadgets that will allow us to watch anything, anywhere, at any time.

Although I’m not one to generally rush out and buy the latest gadget, I do spend most of my waking hours either producing, writing about, or simply pondering the subject of video (and user-generated web video, in particular).

So that’s why I find this all so fascinating.

And despite the fact that the minis are flying off the shelves faster than the manufacturers can make them, I’m going to take a contrarian point of view here, and tell you not to get too excited about this industry (just yet).

Why?

Because everyone is afraid they’re going to miss the boat (again) like they did with portable digital audio. We’re talking about the big:

* manufacturers
* media companies
* marketing companies
* advertising agencies

However, portable video is not yet ready to go mainstream. At least not here in the US.

See, there’s a big difference between audio and video.

Audio is passive. Video is engaging (more or less).

* You can listen while you drive.
* You can listen while you play.
* You can listen while study.
* You can listen while you work.
* etc....

But with video, two senses, not just one, need to be focused and paying attention.

In a society of multitaskers, that’s one sense too many. I can’t even write this dopey newsletter and watch clips of the Colbert Report at the same time.

But turn on some funky jazz, and just watch my fingers move.

I’ve got two words for you: “Novelty Factor”

Sure, many will benefit from this technology:

* Those who use public transportation
* Kids stuck in the back seat on long trips
* Companies who want you to think you can’t live without it

Mini/portable is also perfect for certain niches, especially the education fields (e.g., travel videos, language lessons, etc.), and of course, entertainment (notably, the adult kind).

But remember this:

Web video is easy, relaxing and spontaneous. Portable video is a bit confusing, and requires forethought and planning.

Sure, portable video may eventually become mainstream - but not any time soon (despite what everyone else is telling you).

People will buy the players (because marketers are good at what they do), but whether or not people are going to use them - that’s a different story entirely.

So that’s why, for now, you should focus your energies on web video. If you have videos on your web site, it certainly doesn’t hurt to make them available for downloading and viewing on these portable devices (e.g., video podcasts).

But don’t get yourself too worried or excited about portable video. At least not just yet.