Using Personally Relevant Video to Drive Engagement
The past year was a significant one in the evolution of online video. In 2012, we saw millions of Olympics fans tune in online to watch real-time competition. We saw the first truly digital election, with more than 55 percent of registered voters watching political videos online during the presidential campaign season. Perhaps most interesting for online brands, we saw the power of personalization boost viewer engagement. The trends in personally relevant video were among the most interesting findings in SundaySky's State of Online Video Report, and are among the most important when it comes to predicting trends for this year.
Based on collective research from industry leaders and experts, as well as SundaySky's own trend data and perspective, the State of Online Video Report found that 2012 was a watershed year for online video. Consider the following:
- 182 million total viewers;
- 456.6 million content videos consumed; and
- 105.4 billion video ads viewed.
These numbers represent all-time highs, but the most compelling data comes in the realm of personally relevant video. The typical one-to-many product video has a 50 percent completion rate. However, when these short-form videos contain content that is personally relevant to the viewer, users will spend more than twice as much time watching.
Taking the Power of Online Video to the Next Level
The distinct power of personalization is becoming apparent as video content itself becomes more widely adopted and expected. Marketers know that a video increases the likelihood a recipient will open an email, for example. While the average email open rate for a text-based promotion is between 11 percent and 22 percent, it rises to 30 percent for marketers who add "video" to the subject line. Data from SundaySky shows that when video is personally relevant to the recipient — e.g., detailed information related to billing or account status — the open rates jump as high as 60 percent. The click-to-play rate for these personalized videos is anywhere from 80 percent to a staggering 99 percent.
This is critical information for marketers who are planning their 2013 activities. The placement of video in ads and email marketing will only continue to rise in importance, and we'll see similar increases in mobile video viewing and video paired with TV. Forrester Research cites personalized video as an emerging technology for chief marketing officers to watch in the near term. Personalized, real-time video, especially when combined with big data, increases interactivity and engagement, while also creating greater customer lifetime value.
Who Will Embrace Personalized Video in 2013?
Last year, seven of the top 10 cable operators and telecommunication providers in the United States pursued customer care strategies that included personalized video bills, which educate and support customers. We'll likely see other industries, including insurance and financial services, make similar moves in 2013. Health insurance leader Humana has already announced its intent to move in this direction by delivering benefits statements and explanations to customers via video.
The big players in e-commerce are also moving toward personally relevant online video. In this arena, companies are relying on personalization to improve loyalty programs, drive program enrollment and encourage utilization. Personalized video helps these companies to incorporate features such as preferences, transactional history, social data and communication using the most engaging medium — video.
Kelly Ford is the vice president of marketing at SundaySky. Kelly can be reached at kelly.ford@sundaysky.com.
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- United States