A video still from a Rackspace YouTube video shows its workplace culture of fun
(WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) — Videos can be used by web hosts to demonstrate a new service to attract new clients or offer a support tutorial to existing customers. other web hosting providers use videos to educate on broader topics relevant to small business customers such as SEO. Video content is an effective way to break up text on a website, and convey a message in a more digestible, compelling and mobile-friendly way.
YouTube seems to be the most popular way to deliver web host-specific videos, as it is relatively simple to integrate the videos within a website as well as distribute the video through social media channels. YouTube even features a free video editor that allows users to add annotations and transcripts to videos making them more SEO friendly, according to a recent post on the Open Forum.
There are many ways to integrate video into a social media, marketing or customer service strategy, and the WHIR has rounded up five videos that provide a glimpse into different approaches that web hosts can take when delivering video content to their customers.
Rackspace
Web host Rackspace has a YouTube channel that combines marketing-type videos about its employees and promote its culture of “fanatical support” with more instructional content ranging from how to set up FaceTime on the Mac to how to maximize a LinkedIn profile.
Its videos are well-produced and the tone of the videos are informal and fun, emphasizing its culture.
This video, uploaded in September 2011, interviews its employees on why they like to work there, and gives viewers a sense of the work atmosphere at Rackspace.
Bluehost
Web host Bluehost‘s YouTube channel has divided its videos into three different feature categories including its WordPress instructional video series, Bluehost tutorials and Bluehost “academy” where it posts more general videos such as answering questions like how websites work or what is an ecommerce store, obviously geared for more low-tech, individual users.
A series like this one on WordPress is a good way to engage customers over a more lengthy period of time as they revisit it when it is updated.
JaguarPC
Web host JaguarPC recently updated its videos to include voice tutorials – before this, it provided video tutorials with text instruction and no sound. its tutorials have screen shots that show different processes including tutorials on using social media to market websites and advice on software like PhotoShop. The videos provide step-by-step instruction and are clear enough for basic users.
While it has a YouTube channel, JaguarPC delivers its tutorials via its support website where the demos are divided by topic and are searchable. This video is without the narration, but shows how to transfer files in WS_FTP.
OpenSRS
Wholesale domain provider OpenSRS has a YouTube channel as well with a series on creating compelling web video, a useful tool for web hosts looking to DIY a video. It also has videos on how to transfer domains from several different registrars to Tucows.
The WHIR talked to Tucows director of marketing LeQuan Truong in the October 2011 issue of WHIR magazine on how important video content is for web hosts.
This video is part one in its creating compelling web video series.
PickAWeb
UK hosting provider PickAWeb has a YouTube channel that it uses to provide information on everything from SEO and keyword research to how to write a press release. The videos use a series of screen shots and are narrated.
This video explains what meta description is and is part of its page SEO series.
Talk back: do any of these videos stick out for you? How do you use videos? what kinds of videos do your customers prefer? if you’re not using video, what is holding you back? Leave us your responses in the comment section.