03.11.2008 — Wouldn’t it make sense for CE pros to post videos of their gorgeous A/V installations on their own Web sites, especially given that much of what they sell revolves around a visual medium?

The people at HDHomes.tv certainly think so.

CEA research reports that 74 percent of Americans view an online video daily, with the average person watching two per day.

Likewise, the CEA reports that 77 percent of all consumers who purchased electronics used the Internet for an average of 12 hours as a research tool. Lastly, other growing trends include virtual tours for new homes and myriad TV shows about home design.

HDHomes.tv, which is led by custom industry veterans Roland Graham, Matt Rubenstein and Bonnie Chase, has created a platform to make it easy for integrators to add video to their own Web sites.

To make it even more seamless, HDHomes.tv even provides several videos for you to use.

Embedding Innovation

Graham first shot video of finished installations two years as a hobby and became passionate about it. But he wasn’t sure other integrators would like it.

After getting some positive feedback from others, he began developing software that would allow for the distribution of content.

The platform is embedded in a dealers’ Web site. Consumers are not redirected to another host site.

The software allows dealers to post their video content, share video content (created by HDHomes or by another integrator) and even e-mail video links to prospects.

Right now, there are 26 different videos on the site, ranging from tours of cool installations to instructional basics on surround sound and HDTV.

George Turner, president of Stanislaus Audio Video in Modesto, Calif., added the HDHomes platform to his Web site in December 2007.

The company is primarily commercial, but its client base is keenly interested in residential applications, such as HDTV and surround sound. He believes the video content will draw customers to the site, although he has not had a chance to promote it yet.

“It is unique in that there is a great deal of video information available in one place. It is a very nice touch for a very minimal investment,” he says.

Turner says he will be “adding content this year on a regular basis, but very selectively, choosing material that explains what we do.”

He adds, “It also has implications for customer training as well. One advantage of HDHomes is that we can select and manage content. As with many tools, you have to invest time to learn how to use it and to manage it. It is not a one-for-all solution.”

He says that good video content will be the key to success for his use of online video. He is also not afraid of posting the shared content that could come from another integrator on his own site.

“If someone else has a great idea, story to tell or concept to share, I would be willing to use it,” he says.

Uploading Customers

Brandon Richey of AtHome Technologies Inc. in Cedar City, Utah, is already seeing business derived from the video content, even though he has yet to market it.

“We posted it just after EHX Fall. I just met with a customer that found us on the Internet and said we had, by far, the best Web site of all our competitors.

“He mentioned that the content (including the videos) was especially helpful and that’s why he decided to use us. He commented that our Web site made us look like a much larger company, from a larger metropolitan area. I think the videos are definitely part of this.”

Richey adds that the appeal of online video is universal.

“We’d all prefer to watch something instead of just read about it if we can,” he says.

“Many of the struggles our customers have is conceptualizing technology, what it does and how it can help them in their homes and businesses. The videos are a great way to help with this.”

Graham sees the platform eventually being applicable for manufacturers and distributors to use for remote training. Dealers can sign up for two levels: basic ($19.95 per month) or premium ($29.95 per month).

The basic level embeds the software on your own Web site and allows you access to the videos. The premium level allows integrators to manipulate the content by choosing the episodes they want and posting their own content.