This video is an example of what I have begun calling an “Enhanced Talking Head.” If you learn nothing else about video production, learn to make one of these.
What is an Enhanced Talking Head?
It’s a one-shot video of someone speaking directly into the camera enhanced with interactive clickable links and embedded documents.
In the two years I’ve been operating this blog, I’ve come to believe the most practical way for Average Joe Business to take advantage of online video marketing is to produce an Enhanced Talking Head video of themselves.
That’s exactly why I made this particular video, which is now on the the sales page for Jim’s List, an extensive list of service providers for local real estate transactions.
See, I practice what I preach!
How Did I Make this Video?
I wrote up the script ahead of time and read it off a piece of paper scotch taped to the bottom of my camera. We’ll call that my cheap and very portable teleprompter.
I set up very basic lighting using household fixtures. You can read this post for detailed instructions on how to produce a professional-quality talking head video. To sum it up, make sure the light is falling on your face, not behind you. Make sure the room is as quiet as possible when you record the sound.
For the Jim’s List sales page video, I used the interactivity to introduce both this blog and my membership site to Jim’s customers. I also gave them three interactive buttons for specific posts I knew would be beneficial for them.
In other words, I invited them inside my entire online world AND gave them a niche-specific product. All in a two-minute video with seven interactive buttons. You could never pack that much into a standard video without interactivity.
Honestly, I think an Enhanced Talking Head is the perfect marriage between video and online marketing for the highest number of people.
On a practical level, it’s basic and easy to do which means it is more likely to get done.
It is affordable.
Even better, this style of video has proven to be remarkably effective. You can read this post about how one guy got a remarkable 63% CTR using an interactive video. He is the highest I’ve heard to date. The average CTR for interactive video is 24%, significantly higher than pre-roll video which averages 2-4%.
I use Veeple for my interactive services. It’s fairly easy and more affordable than a lot of online video management, even those without interactive feastures. (Personally, I do not think I will ever do an online video again that doesn’t have at least SOME interactivity. )
To add the interactivity, I upload a finished video to my Veeple account. It takes about thirty minutes to add all the hot spots. It is a simple matter of knowing exactly what kind of spot I want to add and when and where I want to put it.
Veeple offers a free 30 day trial if you think online video interactivity is something you want to explore.
If you’d like you can get your own interactive talking head video like this with most of the work done for you, then check out my membership site, the Video Marketing Express. All of the videos on Video Marketing Express feature interactivity.
Thanks for reading Video Production Tips
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