Tubemogul Video Viewer Research Stats

Dave Kaminski, (Web Video University) has always told me to keep marketing videos down to 2-3 minutes.  Tight and snappy, says David.

I just saw an interesting chart in a recent edition of the Tubemogul newsletter that shows how much of a typical online video is actually watched (below).  In not only validates what David’s advice, but the stats prove it out: the shorter the better.

I notice many videos I watch are "saving the best for last".  The call to action or the "meat" is in the last 10-25% of the video.

But this graph tells me that I’d better capture attention fast (10-20 seconds) and get the key points across in the first 30-60 seconds, or I’ll lose up to almost 90% of my viewers.

For slides-based (i.e. powerpoint style) video sales letters, this reinforces the idea that crafting a video is much like writing a sales letter. 

Connect with the viewers and grab their attention instantly with the first slide or two, create curiosity or desire to watch more, then work the "bucket brigade" effect where each set of 1-3 slides creates desire to keep watching, while building value and curiosity towards the call to action.

For full motion videos, it gets even more challenging, where you have to create an interesting enough sequence of image, video and sound clips to engage the reader instantly, and keep their attention.

Clearly the more thought and planning that goes into your videos, the better. Just as clearly, the faster your message connects and captures the viewer attention, the more likely your viewer keeps watching until the call to action.

If you’re not Martin Scorcese, and you want to learn to make effective video sales and marketing presentations, check out David’s Web Video University.  Not only does Dave really know his stuff — but he knows how to teach it so YOU can master it.

I bounced through the lessons in Web Video University and had my first 3 minute promotional video online in a day.  Complete with music, narration, special effects and a tight promotional message.

Mind you, I’m talking specifically about promotional videos.  If you want to teach or entertain through a movie, well…stretch it a bit, naturally — just don’t go "Ghandi" on your viewers.

Once your killer video’s complete, you’ll want to use TubeMogul or Traffic Geyser to get it out to all the major video portals -- fast.

Doing video marketing? Want to do video marketing?  Would love to know: What does this graph say to you and what new action does it motivate you to take, if any?