In the previous issue of the Viodi View, we wrote about the launch of the video management service, called Veeple. In this issue, we provide a quick review of this service that combines video hosting, content management, interactive players and advanced analytics allowing anyone to add video to their web site. What makes this site different is the amount of control given to the content owner; control over playback, interactivity and monetization of their video content.

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The above video shows an example of a video uploaded to the Veeple site. What makes it different than most Viodi videos is that the text and the logos were not added in our desk-top video editor, but were added in the Veeple management tool. The advantage to this approach is that the messaging can easily be changed without having to return to the video editing tool, re-rendering and uploading. To change a message, one just has to go to the Veeple management tool, change the message and the content is automatically updated across the web.

Of course, interactive elements can be created using desktop software, but, again, the Veeple approach offers advantages over that approach in that one doesn’t have to be a Flash expert to implement such sophisticated interactivity. Additionally, it is possible to create multiple instances of the same video with different interactive elements (say for selling to different advertisers). The hosting service also allows for producers to choose attributes such as whether the video should adapt its quality based on bandwidth, whether or not they want user ratings/comments/sharing and whether to allow full screen playback.

The analytics are another impressive part of the service, as they provide valuable feedback. The graphical representation of the views and the location of where they are coming from are both intuitive and informative. It provides information as to how many people are clicking on links within the video, which is very valuable to sponsors and advertisers. It shows performance of the video over time, so it gives the producer an idea of how many people are watching from beginning to end and when they exit. YouTube has analytics that can provide similar sort of information, but it only seems to kick in on videos that have more than 5,000 views.

Another advantage to Veeple is the ability to add interactive elements into the video. The following video features a logo for the Local Content Workshop that appears about 5 seconds into the video. When one clicks on the logo, the video pauses and a pop-up window appears with information on our upcoming Local Content Workshop. From there, it is possible to navigate to the Local Content Workshop registration page or exit from the information panel and the video resumes playing from where it paused.

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The big challenge for Veeple will be rising above the crowded field and showing producers how they are different from the purported 200+ video User Generated Content sites. They allow producers to start with a free model and then upgrade to a relatively low-cost model that includes more features, bandwidth and storage. They also give producers control over their content, which is really good.

The Veeple people were very responsive and very helpful in guiding me through implementation of their service on the Viodi web site. The interface wasn’t always intuitive (like when I kept trying to add an animated GIF to a video and found out by trial and error that it doesn’t support animated GIFs), but with a little practice it became pretty easy to use. Overall, the service is very impressive and, as pointed out in the previous issue of the Viodi View, worth a closer look.

P.S. Thanks to John Rose of OPASTCO and Cullen McCarty of Smithville Telephone for allowing me to film them at the close of the OPASTCO 2008 Summer Convention!

Tags: content, control, management interactivity, online, veeple, web