People behind Veggie Tales use Ooyala to stream Jelly Telly for kids

While reading a Streaming Media Professionals discussion on Linked in I came across a list posted by Jossi Fresco in response to someone asking how to introduce ads into video that's being streamed.

Check Ooyala, Brightcove, and Unicorn Media. These three companies offer ad insertion (pre-roll, post-roll, and interstitial) with emphasis on different aspects of syndication.

Oolaya: http://ooyala.com 
Unicorn Media: http://www.unicornmedia.com/ 
Brightcove: http://www.brightcove.com/en/

I followed the Oolaya link to their solutions for non-profits and saw that they work with Jelly Telly. Jelly Telly, from the makers of Veggie Tales, offers alternative programming to folks who may not want their kids watching so much regular TV. From the clips I could see it's like Christian Sesame Street. Where as a BrainPOP subscription would cost a family $75+/year, Jelly Telly has various levels of access that are either free, free with registration, or $4.99/month for premium access. Of course a lot of the shows end up on YouTube illicitly.

Monetizing educational content is a necessity for survival, right? I'd be interested to know how well they're doing on subscription alone... without succumbing to advertising... and I commend them!

Duct Tape Marketing on adding video to your web marketing mix

Here is the Duct Tape Marketing guru, John Jantsch, going over how to start adding video to your web site. He takes you through the basic steps like Capture/Edit/Publish/Promote. I found some good tips under the promote section, like the AddtoAny button tool!

A number of bloggers I've read recently mention that small businesses shouldn't get too hung up about the production value of their videos, but instead just get out there and do it. The idea is that you'll get better at it as you go along. I understand this impulse... it's how I approach baking pies, but I think there is a point when "crappy" doesn't cut it and it may be worthwhile bringing in people who know what they're doing! If you don't have money to pay a professional, fair enough, but it doesn't hurt to ask someone with expertise to at least consult with you rather than you having to completely reinvent the wheel of video production. The yoyoplaydotcom folks have a point, but I wouldn't bank on this working for everyone...

Again, a business might try out a cookie cutter organization like TurnHere, but there are reasons why that might not be the best option either. Yes, the tools to make competent video are now available to anyone, but so are pipe wrenches... just because I have all the right tools doesn't mean I can do all my own plumbing. If you take pride in the product or service you promote and want clients to respect you enough to pay you a fair price I think it's worth putting your best foot forward in terms of the video that represents your company. Just a thought.

Business Web Video Overview

I was sent this link recently. It's a good overview of the current state of Business Web Video and as good a place as any for the start of this blog. Large and small businesses alike are still working out how to best utilize web video for marketing, sales, internal communications and training.

More and more businesses realize they need to incorporate video into their websites, post to YouTube, and beyond. But many aren't quite sure where to start so they turn to companies like TurnHere. We can discuss the pros and cons of the TurnHere method/solution in a different post, but the point I'd like to make is that it's important to take the time to strategically integrate video into your online marketing and sales initiatives, not just add it on top as one more way to reach prospects. In fact, video, or at least traditional video, may not be what you need at all! Your site may call for a more interactive media module or your budget may dictate that you stick with a short, changing display of still images or moving graphics. A poor use of video will slow down the prospect looking to connect with your product or service. Video, when used wisely, can broaden visibility, add depth, and make a strong connection with potential clients.

From here on out I'll bring back links I think will interest others and try to find answers to the question: What makes business web video work?