I'll be the first to admit, I wasn't around when the television was invented. I'd like to bet that many of you that are reading this weren't either. The TV became commercial in the 1930's although video had been around since the 1800's. It was considered a marvel because visual images were now able to capture the feeling on a screen of "being there".

Now fast forward into the 21st century when we are still in the infant stages of the internet, we are noticing video starting to become a integral part of the world wide web. However, we haven't truly even scratched the surface on how to use this powerful tool.
       As it stands now, video should be a standard when creating a new website. If video is somehow not integrated, then you are already behind the curve. As websites begin to progress, we'll notice a shift into the video themed websites. The same way that the television transformed the way that society viewed itself, video on the internet will do the same. We may even notice in the future that all TV's will be made with internet access and all programming will come across the internet. With that being said, now is the time for online marketeers and businesses to use video to begin to:

• Increase the user time spent on their sites

• Better interact with their customers 

• Create content that will help brand them across the vast reaches of the internet.

Most website owners are a little hesitant with incorporating video on their site because they may feel it is to daunting of a task and if they are not good with creating their own content, the costs associated can be high. However, imagine the benefits.
    If you had an infomercial or some type of engaging media on your site, the costs associated with having the infomercial on your site would be far less than purchasing ad time on a television station. Not to mention that the content on your site would be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It would be impossible to purchase that kind of ad time anywhere else.
   The major video based website on the net is YouTube, which boasts about 72 million unique visitors a month. That means 72 million different people are ending up on YouTube every single month to view it's content. And with video websites all over the internet experiencing serious growth, it's evident that this is a growing segment among the internet audience.
    Any site that is selling something or explaining something would benefit greatly by having video on it's site.
     Video is demanding. It requires people to turn up the sound and watch. If done effectively it will have a greater viral reach than any text article will ever have. Video's hold your attention longer. Video's can do more than explain, it can show as well.
    Consider the objective you're trying to achieve. Maybe your video is strictly for entertainment purposes and you are generating buzz around a product, or maybe you are looking into branding a product or your business. There are certain factors you may want to consider in which audience you're trying to appeal to. Do you want it to be professional? Or maybe you're trying to appeal to a certain demographic. Do you want it to be funny, or silly in nature? Or maybe you're discussing a serious topic that requires an interview or someone dressed in a suit and tie.
    Sometimes the same industry will target a different audience using different types of video. Whichever it is, these are things to keep in mind before hand. Once your video is completed, you may want to use some of the viral channels such as YouTube and Metacafe that you can also post your video to linking back to your site. These videos, if done effectively, will draw more traffic to your site in which you can use the same or other videos to promote your product.
    Another thing to consider is the buying power of the generation that has grown up in a world with the internet. They're comfortable with buying things online and they usually turn to the world wide web first before they purchase anything. So you want to make sure you engage this audience because they are not only your present business but your future business as well. Video is very captivating to this audience and it could be a very important selling tool for your product.
    Lastly, a video on a website gives it a more professional look and feel. Look at it like this. If 2 websites were selling the same product, and one had video and the other didn't. Which do you think would have the edge? Which one would be able to convey a more concise and effective message?
 If a picture is worth a thousand words, than how much is a 15 second video on your website worth?