TurnHere Announces New Distribution Partners for BookVideos.tv

TurnHere has added nearly one dozen new distribution partners for its highly-successful book-centric online video channel, BookVideos.tv. New distribution relationships include  aNobii, Blinkx, blip.tv, Book Divas, Buy.com, FORA.tv, Goodreads, Lib.rario.us, LibraryThing, Revish, Veoh, Vuze and WhatsOnMyBookshelf.

TurnHere’s current distribution network consists of many of the major Web portals including AOL, Google, MSN, Yahoo! and YouTube. With new video and publishing partners, TurnHere aims to bring a worldwide audience of book lovers even broader access to BookVideos.tv, which launched in June 2007.

In addition to introducing new and innovative distribution options for BookVideos.tv, TurnHere also unveiled a brand new customizable widget and enhanced video player for book publishers, which will expand the reach of author videos across the Web (please see http://admin.turnhere.com/bookvideos/getawidget.html).

 

TurnHere takes center stage in Vator interview series

TurnHere founder Brad Inman appeared on Vator.TV this week in the first installment of the site's weekly interview series. View to learn more about TurnHere's initiatives in the publishing industry, local business video production, and organizing filmmakers around the world.

Travel companies embrace Web video

Web video is a great tool for businesses in the travel/hopsitality space. Whether you're a hotel looking to increase online reservations, a consumer travel site that sells airline tickets or an interactive travel guide, high-quality video can boost your site traffic, increase sales or attract advertisers to your Web site. Companies like Orbitz, TripAdvisor and InterContinental Hotels & Resorts are just a few of the many travel firms that have adopted video.

Here is one of TurnHere's latest travel videos for InterContinental, about Cannes, France.

Travel videos

Have you ever visited the Mayan Ruins? Here is your chance. Travel is made for Internet Video.

Think Video

The challenge for companies that are considering Internet video is to identify the right strategic reasons. Here is a list from our experience working with small and large companies on their video strategy.
1. Video is a powerful conversion tool, taking raw traffic off the Web and engaging users emotionally, increasing the odds of a transaction or commerce as a result. Plus, the video sits inside a web page where links for relevant action reside, increasing the odds for commerce, as people are engaged.
2. Video represents a powerful way to extend and build brand onto the Web. The best branding campaigns emotionally engage the customer. Previously, the Web has not had great tools for this level of engagement; video represents a break through in Web branding.
3. Video offers higher CPMs and advertising up ticks than traditional Internet banner and text ads. Effective video ads and sponsored video stories keep the user engaged longer, giving rise to higher advertising rates.
4. For publishers, directories and other sites, video represents a product offering that can be sold to existing customers, to extend contracts with good customers or to attract new customers. These can be packaged as premium products or featured video listings.
5. Video assets will become a new SEO strategy as more and more marketers see video as a way to build an audience from the long tail of users who are seeking specific relevant information found in videos. The meta-data, the audio and images will eventually be searchable. Companies must have lots of video to compete in this new search environment.
6. Transforming a Web site from text and pictures to video is prompting many companies to produce video. Converting or adding video to listings, product show cases and content is driving many firms to make a major investment in low-cost, high quality video.

What makes a good video?

TurnHere has produced thousands of editorial and sponsored Web videos and experimented with the form in many different ways. Here is what we beleive makes an engaging Web video:
1. Shorter is better, keeping our videos to 2 minutes is our goal. That is how long you can watch something on your office computer before your boss catches you.
2. Authentic local characters make a good Web video, whether it be the local merchant, the car owner, the homeowner or the local tour guide. Let a real person tell your story, not an actor from scripted lines.
3. Good sound quality and proper lighting are essential to a convincing video.
4. The Web does not require the video to be over-produced; glam and slick do not work on the Web.
5. The video should have a strong narrative, it must tell a story.

Welcome to the TurnHere blog

Welcome to the TurnHere blog. The purpose of our blog is to offer our view on the world of Web video. The TurnHere team and our fantastic network of filmmakers will contribute to the blog. We will share what we have learned about Web video through the lens at TH. Then, we want your feedback.