Over the past several years online video has become commonplace on social media, entertainment and news websites as an information source. Nearly everything from standup comedy to meetings of international leaders are available for viewing somewhere on the internet. Over 300 video sharing websites like YouTube, Flickr, Photobucket and Blip TV connect millions of people around the globe. And the list is growing daily.

The general public no longer thinks of video as a novelty, it’s the norm. According to comScore Video Metrix Service, 170 million US Internet users viewed nearly 31 billion online videos in the month of November, 2009. That’s an average of 182 viewed per user. The average viewer watched 12.2 hours of video with an average video length of 4 minutes.

With such a powerful media being accessed by 84.8 percent of the total US Internet audience why aren’t more businesses making the transition to this form of communication? Perhaps they’re not aware of the many applications of video. Below are some business examples for it’s use.

Promotional Videos: Create videos to promote your business and enhance sales materials
Events & Seminars: Capture events or seminars and email the video to prospects and clients.
Customer Follow-Up: Create and send video emails after a transaction or initial contact.
Product Training: Quick reference, instructional videos for your customers when using your products.
Employee Training: Videos explaining common procedures or specific job responsibilities
Social Network Updates: Add a video to your Tweets or Facebook posts to grab attention
Tradeshow Displays and Exhibits: No more boring booth space! Videos add the extra dimension that brings in attendees.

This list only hits on the most obvious uses of video. The applications are virtually endless when a business embraces this new technology.

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Jamie Bidwell is a team member at www.covideo.com. Covideo provides video email software that helps companies build relationships quickly and reinforce their brands more effectively with easy-to-make video emails that truly communicate. jamie@covideo.com.