May 8th, 2009 | Written by: lauren
A recent article by Mark R. Robertson shared research and information on how the top internet sites in 10 different geographic regions use online video content. Choosing the top 10 web sites according to Alexa ranking, the statistics analyze these geographic regions:
Each of the top 10 web sites from each geographic region was analyzed for video usage and the data was compiled into a “VIEW Index” by VideoBloom. Using 17 key website variables and trend analysis, 3 percentages emerge:
% Sites with Video on their Home Page
% Sites with Video on their Website
% Sites without Video on their Website
Worldwide, this figure works out to 30-65-35. This is the worldwide “VIEW Main Index.”
This on-going research should be helpful in recognizing what works for the top Alexa web sites, the implications that it has for the rest of us, and what techniques to employ in the future.
Some interesting facts emerge about worldwide video usage.
For example, none of the top 100 websites across the globe that use video have an auto-play feature. However, some of these sites do break some modern online conventions: 7% open a video in a new browser page, whereas 12% utilize pop-ups; practices that are known to be user-hostile and generate negative feedback.
The common trends include how accessible video is within a website. 46% of the top 100 sites that use video have the content only one click (or less) away from their home page. 45% have “video centers” to display their videos, comparable to that of a corporate TV channel. Theses “video centers” are only 1 click away from the homepage of 42% of the companies using this sort of index.
All in all, these patterns indicate that a user-friendly video experience is of high value. This seems logical, but is an important factor when considering advanced SEO and traffic to your web site. Having an easily navigable home page, easy to find videos and playback control are all factors that these top 100 websites have in common, (as is the lack of auto-play videos.)
Video formats also play into usability. Of the top 100 global websites that were analyzed, the formats used are as follows:
For online video, Flash is an excellent format. It is speedy for video streaming servers and most internet users can view video without downloading a media player.
Online video is a growing and effective tool for any web host. This study reveals the methods to model after, those practiced by the most revered websites across the globe.
Fortunately for us all, ReelSEO will continue to publish the research of VideoBloom on a bi-monthly basis.
Tags: alexa ratings, online video, top 10 websites, top ranking sites, worldwide video usage
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