Internet video classified ads -will the idea stick?
Interesting article from the Kelsey Group about a new twist in using video to market -classified video ads! According to their blog, the Real People Real Stuff site introduced last year by newspaper design consultant Alan Jacobsen is a long shot. Sez the blog, “Video classifieds can’t be efficiently searched on a local or category basis; video production has been time consuming; video uploading has not been intuitive; and the value of most personal goods – the fodder for free ads – haven’t been high enough to make the effort. Real estate and cars, yes. Easy chairs that cost $10, probably not.
“But Jacobsen (and his business partner, classified consultant Janet DeGeorge) have pressed on. To me, its prospects are still iffy. But it now has deals with 10 initial newspapers, including The Pittsburgh Post Gazette, The Provo Herald and The Spokesman Review in Spokane, Washington. Three more papers are coming online soon. The revenue comes from flat fees, based in print circulation. In the future, Google ads or the equivalent might be added.” More right here.
If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
February 23rd, 2008 at 1:56 pm
I do think the idea will stick…it’s just going to take a while to catch on, and like the article says, for certain items it won’t be necessary.
But it is a big development for businesses to be able to create a low-cost video and put it online, especially for small business owners who couldn’t normally afford it.
I run a website that also features video classifieds, called Listasaurus.com. We also have a bit of a twist–we’re the only online classifieds site tp pay users simply for listing their ads!
We also don’t require video in our listings–the user can choose from just basic text, or add a photo and/or a video.
We’re excited about the video segment–and so should videographers out there! It’s creating a fabulous new need for businesses to require your services.
It will be interesting to see how video classifieds progresses over the next few years. I think it will become the norm.
Melanie Heywood
Founder and CEO
Listasaurus.com
February 24th, 2008 at 8:52 am
Thanks for your thoughts, Melanie -and good luck with Listasaurus. I think you’re ahead of the curve on this one!
Steve
February 26th, 2008 at 10:20 am
Hi Steve! Thank you so much!
Melanie
March 12th, 2008 at 11:22 am
I think once people get over the idea that video is some thing that should done by experts then we see more user generated ads