Video tool links retailers and customers via VoIP
- Added:
- Nov 20, 2008
Online commerce firm ATG has launched a new service that enables advertisers to link directly with customers using online video clips.
The eStara Video Connect tool lets advertisers use online video clips to allow customers to contact them directly though internet telephony (VoIP).
Customers can also go directly to the advertisers website and map its location with Google Maps, and send the advertiser’s listing information to friends with SMS, email or fax, or save it to a file, a contact list or a web bookmark.
These actions, such as in-bound phone calls or visits to advertisers' websites are tracked and measured in real-time.
According to Forrester Research, by 2012 video advertising will account for $7 billion, or nearly 12 percent of the $61 billion market for interactive marketing.
While much of this market today is made up of pre- and post-roll video ads from major consumer brands, a growing segment includes direct-response advertisers who see the potential to drive direct leads to their businesses with online video.
Ruth Habbe, vice president, eStara Business Group, said: "While consumers are more comfortable watching video clips online now than ever before, direct-response advertisers -- many of whom are small, local businesses -- have struggled to find a video advertising model that is cost-effective and measurable.”
"eStara Video Connect solves this problem by making video ads actionable, and by giving media companies a rich tool for tracking consumer actions and leads generated from each and every video ad. Over time, we also expect that retailers, insurance companies, travel and hospitality businesses, and telecommunications entities using video as part of their Web marketing strategy will be able to significantly boost online sales by adding eStara Video Connect to their e-commerce Web sites."
Dallas-based Media Distribution Solutions is one of the first companies that have already implemented eStara Video Connect.
"Video advertising is clearly on the rise but to truly take advantage of the medium, video ads need to allow viewers to act and then deliver rich statistics so that businesses can measure the effectiveness of their campaigns," said Mike Shell, CEO, Media Distribution Solutions. "We use eStara Video Connect as part of our BetterVideo player, which allows us to provide our customers with actionable videos that in turn deliver more measurable leads to advertisers."