Streaming video email marketing campaigns are becoming more and more popular with online entrepreneurs, marketers and businesses looking to gain an edge over their competitors.
The streaming video industry currently boasts annual revenues of $2 Billion, but industry experts predict this figure will reach $12 Billion within 12 months. Growth in this industry is exponential especially with sites like YouTube and Facebook leading the charge.
Streaming media is a protocol that allows audio/video files to be delivered via the Internet. The term "streaming" means that the file is played in real time as it is being received.
Streaming video is usually sent from pre-recorded video files, but can be distributed as part of a live broadcast "feed." In a live broadcast, the video signal is converted into a compressed digital signal and transmitted from a special web server that is able to do multicasting, sending the same file to multiple users at the same time.
There are two ways to view streaming media on the Internet (such as video, audio, animations, etc.) and they are progressive downloading (also known as HTML streaming) or “true” video streaming.
Progressive Download or HTTP Streaming
This is the same method used to deliver web pages and is achieved when you download a file and the entire file is saved on your computer (usually in a temporary folder). A slightly more advanced method would involve embedding the file into the web page using special HTML code and then allowing recipients to view the video as it is being downloaded.
Progressive download is a good choice for hobbyists or websites that have low traffic requirements, if they don’t mind if their content is cached on a user’s computer.
Progressive download is a simple method of video delivery with very little control—it’s basically a simple HTTP download call.
Streaming Video Servers
True streaming media works a little differently in that a small link is downloaded and the video is then streamed from online servers. The file is sent in a constant stream and the user watches it as it arrives.
The obvious advantage with this method is that no waiting is involved which means your streaming video gets received immediately and, because the recipient does not download the entire video, has the added advantage of saving on bandwidth usage.
Why Streaming Video is Better?
The advantages of streaming video are numerous:
- Swift Display: Streaming video is the fastest way to view any video on the web.
- Tracking and reporting statistics: Because progressive download is a simple download of a file, you cannot easily log specific relevant statistics such as whether the video was viewed, how many times the video was watched, did the viewer leave the web page before the video completed playing? Streaming enables you to easily capture this important data for creating list segments for future streaming video email marketing campaigns.
- Advanced features such as automatic bandwidth and media player detection, image quality monitoring, automatic thumbnail creation, video play lists, image galleries and more.
- Efficient use of network resources: Customers who pay for their video hosting or bandwidth by the number of bits that are transferred can reduce their costs by using streaming video, because only the bits that the client actually views are transferred.
- Minimal use of client resources: Resources such as memory and disk space are significantly reduced with streaming, because the clients do not need to download and store the entire video file.
- More secure, protected media delivery: Because themedia data is not saved to the client’s cache when streamed, viewers can’t retrieve the video or audio file from their temporary Internet file folder.
- Users can seek to any point in the video and have it start playing immediately from that point. This makes streaming video a great solution for longer playing videos orapplications such as video blogs, classroom lectures, conference sessions or product demonstrations where you may want the viewer to jump into the video at a specific point rather than watch it from the beginning.
- Richer interactivity: The precise control found in streaming video enables developers to create extensive interaction in their video applications e.g. virtual tours, switching camera angles and seamlessly switching to an alternate video.
- Streaming video email marketing campaigns provide the ability to deliver live video and audio from any connected web cam, DV or HDV camera.
- In addition to live streaming some servers also give you the ability to record video either in the live streaming mode e.g. archiving a webinar event or saving a stand alone video email message.
If your email marketing campaigns, website or blog relies heavily on video, audio, you can give your user the best experience by using streaming video .
Who Can Watch Streaming Video?
Anyone with a computer and Internet connection can view your video emails and there is no special software that they need to download. They just click on play and online servers automatically detect their operating system (Mac, PC, iPods, Mobile Phone or iPhones) and bandwidth (dial-up, broadband, cable or wireless) and will start to stream your video message.
Who is Using Streaming Video?
Corporations and Businesses:For streaming video email marketing campaigns of the company’s vision, newsletters and product lines as well as video conferencing with field agents and overseas clients.
Franchisers to stay in contact with franchisees with live video conferencing (no more costly monthly meetings), video email and on-demand training videos for new members.
Internet Marketers are already adding that personal touch by utilizing streaming video in their marketing campaigns and, its putting them streets ahead of their competition.
MLM Network Marketing Companies can utilize the technology to stay in contact with their members and even conduct live training seminars direct to their members’ computers. Provide live and on-demand product demonstrations for customers. Add to that robust streaming video email marketing campaigns for prospective members and customers and you have something that network-marketing entrepreneurs cannot afford be without.
Life Coaches and Trainers creating live video interactive seminar events with pay-per-view options available and archive capabilities for future use.
Families to stay in touch with loved ones around the globe with live video chat, video emails and video blogs (can even be updated from iPhones and SmartPhones)
Real Estate Agents and Property Developers for creating virtual tours of the properties on their books, current open houses and live video auctions with clients participating from around the country and the globe. Creating effective, personal streaming video email marketing campaigns for their clients.
Teachers and Educators can now stay in touch with absent and remote region students and it’s an affordable streaming media solution. Keep students up to date with video email, video blogs and live or on-demand video lessons.
Preachers and Ministers for getting their streaming video message out to those who cannot attend the church including the invalid and incapacitated as well as millions of new viewers around the globe. Staying in touch with streaming video HTML newsletters.
Charity Organisations for organizing live charity fundraisers to a live audience around the world.
Restaurants and Bars promoting their venues, menus, atmosphere and upcoming events including live clips of upcoming performers in targeted email campaigns.
Government Organisations to stay in contact with employees around the planet with video email, live video chat, video conferencing, on-demand induction videos and training seminars.
Politicians for getting their message out to the masses with live interactive streaming video messaging with feedback poll capabilities.
Musicians & Actors for archiving live performances and recordings for future auditions, recording companies and creating live teaser broadcasts for their numerous online fans.
Cost-Effective Marketing Solution
Streaming video has become an affordable, cost-effective way for small to medium sized businesses and individuals to spread their message to a wider, expanding online marketplace using dynamic streaming video email marketing campaigns.
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Author: Paul Holcroft consults and provides cost-effective
streaming video email marketing campaigns to small and medium sized
businesses. Mobile: 0424 671 411 www.VideoResponseMarketing.com
