What is the new secret weapon in business?

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A massive technological shift is occurring in the way businesses communicate and 95% of businesses are unaware of both the opportunity and the threat that this presents to their business.

The pressures of day to day life mean that your customer’s time is precious and when browsing online they need to access, process and consume information as quickly as possible. The quickest way for them to consume content online is through video, and customers are over 600% more likely to respond to video than to printed or written media.  Wharton Business School

So the question is, does your website have video content and if it doesn’t can you afford your competitors to beat you to it? The answer holds massive implications for your business.

Will your business suffer if you don’t update your website now or can you wait? Today, our society functions in the world of 3G communications. The term 3G stands for Third Generation of wireless technologies. It is mostly used with mobile phones and laptops as a means to wirelessly connect to the internet. At the moment though, 3G technology is pretty limited and slow, it functions on location based services and as a result users frequently incur signal interruptions, making video viewing via a mobile phone, laptop or tablet sometimes more inefficient and frustrating than reading text.

However, a revolution is to come. It will come in the form of 4G technology which is the Fourth Generation of wireless technologies. 4G is due to be launched in the UK in the first half of 2012 and by 2013 a world network spectrum will be cleared and readily available.

For the first time the wireless network will be faster than the landline network; in fact, it will be light years faster! This new technology will change the way people choose to work and choose to consume content.  Online videos will become undoubtedly the quickest way to access and absorb information; it will become the norm for businesses to have meetings via video calls, to connect to their customers through remote exhibitions and bespoke conferences, all with seamless connectivity and mobility.  However, the most revolutionary concept for those businesses that embrace online video will be the mass market reach offered to them by Smart TV.

What is Smart TV and when will it arrive? Smart TV is simply a TV that can connect to the internet and it’s already here!!! In fact, Samsung have been continually developing a ‘Smart TV’ since it was first launched in 2008.  Samsung currently sells two Smart TV’s every second and it has been predicted that of all TV’s shipped in 2012 almost half will be Smart. This trend is worth noting for businesses, as those organisations that have websites with high quality video content, will essentially have their own TV channel that can be watched by anyone with a Smart TV.  Not everyone has the latest IPad or Mobile Phone, but everyone has a TV, therefore with video content on your website you will enter the living room of all your potential customers worldwide!

So, businesses that steal a march on their competitors by integrating video into their websites in an effective way will map the rewards of increased customer engagement and greater market share.

Video is the best way to ensure that your business leads the field in the new era of 4G technology. As the internet develops so will video and the benefits for business will multiply.

Perfect Circle is the leading expert in developing internet TV platforms for commercial business. If you would like to find out more about how video can transform your business then contact us at Perfect Circle.

‘Tackle Your Health’ Social Marketing success story!

The ‘Tackle Your Health’ Social Marketing campaign has been a huge success!

The Campaign has passed the scheduled ‘300’ bench mark target. As a result, this innovative campaign has directed hundreds of men between the age of 30-74 towards their very own Professional Health Trainer that can be accessed for Free. The Tackle Your Health campaign has brought together a team of organisations that has enabled the campaign to reach out and engage with the local community.  From Schools to Supermarket participation, through to local businesses and at its heart AFC Telford Utd that is hosting a range of community engagement activities.

To read more about Telford and Wrekin Council’s success with ‘Tackle Your Health’ click here 

How will online video play an important role in growing your business?

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Your company now has a great opportunity to access a larger number of existing and potential customers by utilising the power of online video.

Video is the easiest and most convenient way for your customers to consume content. It is a marketing tool that is aligned with modern lifestyles. People are always on the go and demanding of new and exciting information that can be accessed at their leisure. If your site does not have video then you are losing an opportunity to connect with your audience.

An advantage of including video content on your website is that your site appears higher in the search engine ranking which raises your online profile. Your company therefore, immediately has a more visible web presence, which increases the potential for traffic to be directed to your site. The more traffic you secure the greater the opportunity that exists to market your product or services.

Video provides a fantastic vehicle to communicate with your customers. It offers a convenient and enjoyable way of consuming media – you can provide customer support, product information, keep viewers up to date with your latest news and engage with your audience by creating a space for feedback and sharing comments.

The success of a video marketing campaign is heavily attributed to video’s ability to appeal to the emotions – which influences how the viewer thinks and feels. Research has revealed that campaigns incorporating video are significantly more effective than those that do not. It has been calculated that customers respond to video 600% more than print*  and 78% of visitors stay longer on websites that contain video**. These figures demonstrate the dramatic effect video can have on your business and the massive opportunities to connect to your customers.

Today many businesses already recognise the importance of video. Many Premier League teams have their own TV Channel. For Example:

• MUTV – http://mu.tv.manutd.com/
• LUTV –  http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/

Another sector to embrace the opportunities of a TV platform is the automotive sector. For example:

• Mercedes– Benz TV – http://www.mercedes-benz.tv/en
• Audi TV –  http://tv.audi.com/

These companies present their viewers with a whole new interactive experience. The environment on-line is rapidly changing, with 3G being replaced by 4G. This new technology will change the way people choose to work and choose to consume content. Online videos will become undoubtedly the quickest way to access and absorb information; it will become the norm for businesses to have meetings via video calls, to connect to their customers through remote exhibitions and bespoke conferences, all with seamless connectivity and mobility.

Speak to us at Perfect Circle to discover the opportunities available to your business and how you can benefit from integrating online video on your website.

* Wharton Business School
** Real Networks

Altodigital’s Website goes live!

Altodigital are the country’s leading independent supplier of digital print and document solutions; they feature over 100 products along with all the latest online technology. Thier expertise lies in managing print and copy environments to help businesses large and small minimise costs and raise their productivity.

Altodigital came to Perect Circle in search of a market leading, bespoke website - we gave them everything they asked for and more! Altodigital now have a huge, top quality website with a ground breaking SMS system; take a look for yourself at www.altodigital.com

The Website is now live and ready to bring customers all over the world an exciting, informative and user friendly experience.

How is the market utilising video online?

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Online video is becoming increasingly employed by businesses to provide their customers with interesting and convenient content that differentiates them from their competitors. The case studies below highlight a couple of examples of how online video is being used to deliver a unique customer experience.

Manchester United ‘MUTV Online’

Manchester United Television was first aired in 1998 with the aim of bringing viewers ‘closer’ to Man United. Since then the club has introduced an online branch of MUTV to reach a wider audience. The MUTV online TV platform offers online viewers a space that is:

• Interactive - Users can email their questions to players and take part in quizzes.

• Informative - Commentary, interviews, matches and footballing news.

• Available – Online TV reaches a global audience.

• Accessible – Now online, viewers can watch programmes on demand, rewind, pause and fast forward whenever and wherever the wish.

Mercedes Benz TV

Mercedes Benz exhibits a TV platform that is full of high quality content. They provide everything from information on their vehicles through to events that Mercedes are *sensored word - inappropriate language* with. The site features functional tools that can be applied to any website to create a user friendly space for customers to experience:

• Product Information – Information for customers that will help them to know which of your products is most suitable for them through interactive videos.

• Customer feedback – Users on the Mercedes Benz TV site can rate the videos that they have watched. Encourage your customers to be involved and *sensored word - inappropriate language* your understanding of your target audience. The ratings and feedback provided by the customer can contribute to market research and facilitate consistent improvement of your marketing campaign, and increase sales.

• Current News – Always keep viewers in the know, so that they are aware of the products that are available to them.

• ‘Film Information’ – A tool to support the user so that they know whether the video is relevant to them before they watch. This stops viewers being bombarded with irrelevant information.

• ‘Share’ films – Sharing is great for your business in terms of the potential for increased brand awareness and growth. Customers can choose to share your film with family and friends via email or social networking sites.

• Search facility – Users can find a video that is specific to them, increasing the efficiency of your customer support.

Perfect Circle can tailor a TV platform to your business. For more information about TV platforms and how they can promote your company speak to us at Perfect Circle.