Verdict: People Hate Website Video Spokespeople
Monday, March 28th, 2011
Website Video Spokespeople.
We’ve all seen them.
You arrive at a website wanting information when your browsing is unexpectedly interrupted with a talking head. It’s like walking into a furniture store to look at new sofas. A salesperson comes over to help you before you’re four steps in the door. All you want is to get comfortable, have a look at the goods, sit on a couple sofas and compare prices. You say you’re “just looking” and they back off for a bit. The sales tactic is annoying as hell, but it’s expected when you go to a furniture store, or a car dealership or any other high-priced retailer.
But unlike the predictable, smiley retail salesperson, website video salespeople spokespeople are overly intrusive. People don’t want their private Internet surfing interjected with sales pitches delivered by uninvited strangers.
I get more than a handful of unsolicited emails every week trying to convince me that my clients can’t compete without this “technology of the future,” that their 3D Video Technology will “captivate visitors” and “increase conversions.” All the vendors of this technology say it’s “proven” to make your website “stand out from the crowd.”
Their claims seem unrealistic to me because whenever one of those engaging spokespeople automatically pops up on my screen, I look for the nearest “close” button, mute my speakers or leave. But I could be wrong! Perhaps I’m just in the minority and missing the value that I’ve been told so many website owners and visitors have come to rely on.
I conducted a little survey using Survey Monkey to find out.
How do you feel about website video spokespersons that automatically run when you arrive on a website?
There were 86 respondents invited from my business Facebook page and Twitter account. Most of my connections on these networks are tech-savvy and familiar with Internet marketing, advertising and social media.
Love them. I think they are helpful and/or fun.
0.00% | 0
They’re okay. I don’t mind them.
0.00% | 0
A bit annoying. I’d rather they didn’t play automatically.
39.53% | 34
Hate them. They are not useful to me at all.
60.47% | 52
No opinion.
0.00% | 0
I have no idea what you’re talking about.
0.00% | 0
Other
Two comments were submitted.
1) they creep me out
2) I think video is powerful on a website, just don’t think it should start automatically. People could be taken off guard particularly if they are at work, etc.
I was surprised by these results. I figured most people are like me and would vote for “annoying” or “hate,” but I couldn’t believe there were not at least a couple votes for “love” or “okay.”
Suggested Best Practice for Website Video Spokespeople: Most people enjoy videos. Videos can be useful, engaging and fun. But think twice before you enable auto-play!
Website Video Spokespeople.
We’ve all seen them.
You arrive at a website wanting information when your browsing is unexpectedly interrupted with a talking head. It’s like walking into a furniture store to look at new sofas. A salesperson comes over to help you before you’re four steps in the door. All you want is to get comfortable, have a look at the goods, sit on a couple sofas and compare prices. You say you’re “just looking” and they back off for a bit. The sales tactic is annoying as hell, but it’s expected when you go to a furniture store, or a car dealership or any other high-priced retailer.
But unlike the predictable, smiley retail salesperson, website video salespeople spokespeople are overly intrusive. People don’t want their private Internet surfing interjected with sales pitches delivered by uninvited strangers.
I get more than a handful of unsolicited emails every week trying to convince me that my clients can’t compete without this “technology of the future,” that their 3D Video Technology will “captivate visitors” and “increase conversions.” All the vendors of this technology say it’s “proven” to make your website “stand out from the crowd.”
Their claims seem unrealistic to me because whenever one of those engaging spokespeople automatically pops up on my screen, I look for the nearest “close” button, mute my speakers or leave. But I could be wrong! Perhaps I’m just in the minority and missing the value that I’ve been told so many website owners and visitors have come to rely on.
I conducted a little survey using Survey Monkey to find out.
How do you feel about website video spokespersons that automatically run when you arrive on a website?
There were 86 respondents invited from my business Facebook page and Twitter account. Most of my connections on these networks are tech-savvy and familiar with Internet marketing, advertising and social media.
| Love them. I think they are helpful and/or fun. | 0.00% | 0 |
| They’re okay. I don’t mind them. | 0.00% | 0 |
| A bit annoying. I’d rather they didn’t play automatically. | 39.53% | 34 |
| Hate them. They are not useful to me at all. | 60.47% | 52 |
| No opinion. | 0.00% | 0 |
| I have no idea what you’re talking about. | 0.00% | 0 |
| Other |
Two comments were submitted.
1) they creep me out
2) I think video is powerful on a website, just don’t think it should start automatically. People could be taken off guard particularly if they are at work, etc.
I was surprised by these results. I figured most people are like me and would vote for “annoying” or “hate,” but I couldn’t believe there were not at least a couple votes for “love” or “okay.”
Suggested Best Practice for Website Video Spokespeople: Most people enjoy videos. Videos can be useful, engaging and fun. But think twice before you enable auto-play!
