Discussion
One of my customers has just been cold-called by this outfit http://www.addpeople.co.uk/Default.aspx they add a clip of a presenter onto a website. Looks quite nice from a technical point of view but she's after my opinion on whether it's a good thing or not. (I act as an unpaid sounding board for her as she's a family friend).
What do you lot think? I'm in two minds. I can see the attraction but I can also see the annoyance factor and it's a fair few quid for her to invest on something that I'm not convinced will bring results.
Opinions?
What do you lot think? I'm in two minds. I can see the attraction but I can also see the annoyance factor and it's a fair few quid for her to invest on something that I'm not convinced will bring results.
Opinions?
I find those things annoying personally, as such certainly couldn't recommend she put one on her site. However if I try to deblinker, I do suppose it depends on the demographic of the users who will go to her site, regular web users will more than likely hate them, occasional user's may not... I can imagine my mum liking it.
Edited by touching cloth on Tuesday 16th February 16:29
Autoplaying on a homepage does bug me. Even though I was expecting it (following the link above) I almost instinctively hit the back button!
On a homepage I'm normally scanning to see if the site is relevant to what I'm looking for. Don't start talking to me as it will interrupt and distract me.
However, it could work well on a "tell me about it" page, as talking or demonstrating can be a lot more powerful than flat text/images.
On a homepage I'm normally scanning to see if the site is relevant to what I'm looking for. Don't start talking to me as it will interrupt and distract me.
However, it could work well on a "tell me about it" page, as talking or demonstrating can be a lot more powerful than flat text/images.
I hate the walk on presenters on a homepage, I either instantly hit back, or if I find it quick enough, mute.
http://www.bobclubs.co.uk - very annoying.
When it's on a subpage and you are expecting it, or you have to press play to start it then no objection.
http://www.bobclubs.co.uk - very annoying.
When it's on a subpage and you are expecting it, or you have to press play to start it then no objection.
They are better if they don't start automatically. You should be able to turn the presenter on and off. However I really like them, I'd much rather someone presented to me than I had to read through a lot of text.
If the target market is men and the presenter is an attractive woman it may ensure that they pay more attention!
Also, have a look at gatewebvideo, they do the same, you could compare prices.
If the target market is men and the presenter is an attractive woman it may ensure that they pay more attention!
Also, have a look at gatewebvideo, they do the same, you could compare prices.
Edited by Frimley111R on Tuesday 16th February 21:43
Although I agree with the sentiment in this thread and don't actually like these video presenters, they can have a very positive effect on increasing your conversion rates, turning visitors into customers.
You'd need to perform testing to validate this for yourself though
You'd need to perform testing to validate this for yourself though
Edited by WTD on Tuesday 16th February 22:05
On first inspection, I thought the idea was good - really liked it.
However, this (http://www.bobclubs.co.uk) IS very annoying.
I think used correctly, and for the right reasons, they would work well. I would not want one to start EVERY time I went to a website. I would soon loose interest.
However, this (http://www.bobclubs.co.uk) IS very annoying.
I think used correctly, and for the right reasons, they would work well. I would not want one to start EVERY time I went to a website. I would soon loose interest.
Scraggles said:
to put it another way, any domain that pisses me off gets blocked at the router level, might forget why it was blocked, but blocked it stays
to put it even another way if you have sound runnign automatically on any website it is likely to put a lot of people off and never return... because they were surfing when they should of been working...... and the sound just let all the people around them they were not working.... 
Pot Bellied Fool said:
Thanks TC. That's an interesting comment as she sells wigs so the demographic is often middle-aged Mums & transvestites
Hm. Imagine that going off in a quiet office. "Hello! Are you a cancer patient or just a pervert?..."Does that help? And I can't see how to shut her up if I realised it was someone about to talk. Maybe the woman could walk in and say nothing but point at a play button or unmute button.
Pretty sure there are MLM scams very similar to this http://www.scam.com/showthread.php?t=41783
Can I just weigh in and say that I absolutely, utterly LOATHE these. Plus anything else that causes an unexpected noise or distraction/popup to appear. I'm on the web way more than your average Joe so I've been exposed to more of these, but I'm still of the opinion (or hope?) that these are a fad that web users will get sick of and turn away from in the next 12-24 months.
Thanks all, much obliged. She's decided not to go ahead with it and it was a help to justify the advice I gave her.
The correct decision in my book although it's a nice product (in a techie 'gadget' way), you've got to sell a lot of extra kit to justify it and it would cheese off as many as it converts IMO and I'd personally not use a site that made use of that on a home page.
The correct decision in my book although it's a nice product (in a techie 'gadget' way), you've got to sell a lot of extra kit to justify it and it would cheese off as many as it converts IMO and I'd personally not use a site that made use of that on a home page.
Gassing Station | Business | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff