Online Video: A part of the mainstream and a must-have in your marketing mix!

Here are some compelling facts and statistics:

Out of 80 percent of viewers who watched an online video ad, half took some type of action. Close to one third visited a related website while 22 percent looked for more information, 15 percent had gone to a store, and 12 percent made a purchase.

The internet is a powerful marketing tool for small and large businesses alike. Publishing a website is a proven way of selling one's products and services and is an effective means of reaching a worldwide marketplace. Websites also offer other benefits such as regular contact with customers and prospects and the ability to convey large amounts of information quickly and easily.

Video communications which include "web-mercials," video e-mails, video streaming and live webcasts, represent the next wave of marketing for businesses. It enables sales reps, consultants and professionals to generate "face time" with consumers, clients and businesses without spending a great deal of time and money.

Video is a boon to business marketing. Delivering the impact of television, it generates higher click-through rates and increased brand recognition, as well as shortening the sales cycle. It is the ideal way for businesses to compete against other firms with more resources.

According to a new Forrester Research report released, interactive marketing spending in the U.S. will more than triple over the next five years, reaching $61 billion by 2012.

Online video needs to be an integral part of every client's marketing strategy.

A good video commercial/"webmercial":
When a video ad includes some form of interactivity, it creates an increase in the average brand interaction time. So, make the ad clickable.

Produce something visually compelling and engaging. The online video viewing experience puts the viewer in the driver's seat, allowing the user to decide not only what they see and when, but also enabling them to easily share content with others with the click of a mouse.

Make sure your video can be found:
People who spend more time online are also more likely to view online video, and are therefore potentially more available for online marketing.

If you're gearing your branded content to a given audience, know how that crowd likes to find video. For example, in the 18-34 age category, men are most likely to use search engines.

Context also matters. It is important for online video to fit a viewer's interests and it is important for the ad to be relevant to the website's content.