After analyzing thousands of Video Sales Letters (VSLs) hosted on Vidalytics, we've compiled a list of best practices and recommended features to optimize your video setup. Implementing these strategies can significantly increase viewer engagement and conversion rates.
CLICK below for a video walkthrough concerning these practices and setup.
Recommended Features and Settings on your Video Sales Letter.
1. Interactivity
Interactive Smart Vids
Interactive Smart Vids allow you to create dynamic video funnels that adapt based on viewer choices, enabling personalized experiences.
Why Use It: Personalized content keeps viewers engaged longer and increases the likelihood of conversion by delivering relevant messages.
Vid Conditions
Vid Conditions enable you to set IF/THEN rules to display specific videos based on viewer attributes like screen width, operating system, language, or URL parameters.
Why Use It: Tailoring content to viewer characteristics ensures a more relevant experience, improving engagement and conversion rates.
2. Player Settings
Hide Seeking Bar
Removes the ability for viewers to skip ahead in the video.
Why Use It: Encourages viewers to watch the entire message, ensuring they receive all the information before making a decision.
Rapid Engage Bar
A simulated seeking bar that moves faster at the beginning of the video, creating the perception of a shorter video.
Why Use It: Captures attention quickly and encourages viewers to continue watching by making the video seem less time-consuming.
Big Play Button
A prominent play button overlay on the video thumbnail.
Why Use It: Draws attention and prompts viewers to start the video, increasing play rates.
Focused Fullscreen
Expands the video within the browser window without hijacking the entire screen, maintaining custom controls.
Why Use It: Enhances viewer focus on the video content, reducing distractions and improving engagement.
3. Thumbnails
Thumbnails
Custom images displayed before the video plays.
Why Use It: An engaging thumbnail can increase play rates by enticing viewers to watch the video.
Exit Thumbnails
Images shown when a viewer attempts to exit the page, encouraging them to stay.
Why Use It: Provides a last opportunity to re-engage viewers who are about to leave, potentially recovering lost conversions.
4. Captions
Closed Captions
Text displayed on the video that transcribes the spoken content.
Why Use It: Improves accessibility and allows viewers to understand the content without sound, catering to a broader audience.
AI Captions
Automatically generated captions using artificial intelligence.
Why Use It: Saves time and ensures accurate transcription, enhancing the viewing experience for all users.
5. Playback Settings
Smart Autoplay
Automatically plays the video muted, complying with browser policies, and prompts viewers to unmute.
Why Use It: Increases play rates by reducing friction and ensuring compliance with autoplay restrictions.
Custom Autoplay Message
A personalized message displayed during autoplay, encouraging viewers to unmute.
Why Use It: Engages viewers and prompts them to listen to the message, enhancing the effectiveness of the video.
Fullscreen on Unmute
Automatically expands the video to fullscreen when unmuted.
Why Use It: Captures full attention of the viewer, minimizing distractions and improving message retention.
Smart Autoplay - Message Styles
Various styles for the autoplay message, such as Front & Center, Loud & In Your Face, or Classy in the Corner.
Why Use It: Allows customization to match brand aesthetics and optimize viewer engagement.
Play Options
Settings that control how the video plays, including autoplay, loop, and playback speed.
Why Use It: Provides flexibility to tailor the viewing experience to audience preferences.
Medium Startup Quality
Sets the initial video quality to a medium resolution.
Why Use It: Balances video quality and loading speed, ensuring a smooth start for viewers.
Resume Play
Allows viewers to continue watching from where they left off.
Why Use It: Enhances user experience by saving progress, encouraging viewers to return and complete the video.
Customized Resume Play
Personalizes the resume play feature, such as displaying a message or prompt when resuming.
Why Use It: Adds a personal touch to re-engage viewers and reinforce the message.
End of Video Actions
Actions triggered when the video ends, like displaying a call-to-action or redirecting to another page.
Why Use It: Guides viewers to the next step in the funnel, increasing the likelihood of conversion.
Count Down Timers (redirect)
A timer displayed at the end of the video, counting down to an automatic redirect.
Why Use It: Creates urgency and prompts immediate action from the viewer.
Count Down Timer Message
Custom message displayed alongside the countdown timer.
Why Use It: Provides context and reinforces the call-to-action, enhancing its effectiveness.
Smart Pause
Automatically pauses the video when the viewer switches tabs or navigates away.
Why Use It: Ensures viewers don't miss important content, maintaining engagement and message delivery.
6. Marketing
Call to Actions
Interactive elements prompting viewers to take specific actions, like signing up or making a purchase.
Why Use It: Directs viewers toward desired outcomes, increasing conversion rates.
CTAs - Exit
Calls-to-action triggered when a viewer attempts to exit the page.
Why Use It: Provides a last opportunity to convert viewers who are about to leave.
CTAs - Timed
Calls-to-action that appear at specific times during the video.
Why Use It: Engages viewers at optimal moments, increasing the likelihood of action.
CTAs - Show to Returning Viewers
Customized calls-to-action for viewers who have previously watched the video.
Why Use It: Personalizes the experience, acknowledging returning viewers and encouraging further engagement.
Play Gates (Opt-Ins)
Forms that require viewers to enter information before proceeding with the video.
Why Use It: Captures leads directly from the video, streamlining the conversion process.
Timed Play Gates
Opt-in forms that appear at specific times during the video.
Why Use It: Engages viewers after they've received value, increasing the likelihood of information submission.
Exit Play Gates
Opt-in forms triggered when a viewer attempts to exit the page.
Why Use It: Provides a final opportunity to capture leads before they leave.
Tags
Labels assigned to viewers based on their interactions, such as clicks or viewing duration.
Why Use It: Enables segmentation and personalized follow-up, enhancing marketing effectiveness.
7. Analytics
Conversion Tracking
Monitoring viewer actions to determine the effectiveness of the video in achieving desired outcomes.
Why Use It: Provides insights into performance, informing optimization strategies.
Global Script
A universal tracking script that captures data across all videos and pages.
Why Use It: Simplifies data collection and centralizes analytics for improved decision-making.
IP Filtering
Excludes internal or irrelevant IP addresses from analytics data.
Why Use It: Ensures accurate performance tracking by removing bias from internal views.
Domain Whitelisting
Restricts video playback to approved domains.
Why Use It: Protects your content from unauthorized embedding and ensures brand control.
Integrations
Connections with third-party tools for marketing, analytics, or automation.
Why Use It: Enhances functionality and streamlines workflows across platforms.
GTM / FB Microconversions
Integration with Google Tag Manager or Facebook to track micro-interactions within the video.
Why Use It: Provides granular insights into viewer behavior and enhances ad campaign targeting.
For additional questions, feedback or assistance please feel free to reach out directly to support at [email protected]. 😊