When will local media websites and hyper local blogs start making money with online video? That’s a question I get asked quite often. My short answer: When Newspaper and Broadcast mamagers start giving video equipment to the sales departments.
Research shows that the big money in online video, for now, is NOT in editorial & news content. Rather, it’s in promotion, demonstration & advertorial-based video content.
It’s insane that Newspaper, TV, Radio and independent hyper-local sites aren’t paying attention to this trend. Instead, they’ve mainly focused on editorial based video. This is where journalists mimic old school techniques of TV anchors and reporters.
Low cost investment in digital video equipment ( ex: Go-Pro ), simple editing software found on most computers for free, and training are good things. But why do we think these smart investments are for newsrooms only?
In theory, telling or enhancing text based stories with video is powerful and compelling. In practice though, it’s been a money pit.
Video views have sputtered making sales more difficult. Enthusiasm has diminished in some newsrooms as it becomes apparent, that even the best production value and subject matter doesn’t always translate into journalistic and sales success.
Below is a simple, quick, and highly effective video we shot for a local pizza place in Brigantine, NJ.
‘Bella Luna’ is a sponsor of our hyper-local news site: www.BrigantineNOW.com.