We’ve all heard the statistics – YouTube reaches over 2 billion views per day. More than 66% of internet users watch online video. Online video ad spending is the fastest growing format. And so on, and so on.  But is internet TV REALLY set to surpass broadcast TV? According to a new report by the Diffusion Group, it’s on track to happen by 2020 – just one short decade away.

The caveat though, according to MediaPost, is that this refers not just to TV watched on people’s computer screens, but to TV streamed via internet onto actual TV sets.

Thee MediaPost article goes on to say, “TDG’s math runs something like this. They calculate that the average time spent watching online video across the entire TV-viewing population increased 84% in 2009 while they say TV view was relatively flat. They say that Web video viewing will accelerate as the assets move to the TV screen even as overall video viewing from all sources stays relatively constant at 32 hours a week. Essentially, they see a a sharp uptick in Internet viewing starting in 2015-2016, mirrored by a sharp decline in broadcast TV consumption. Somewhere in late 2019 the switchover occurs.”

I’ll tell you one thing – ever since Wii streaming Netflix video has come into my household, I’ve barely watched any cable. And as these assets continue the move towards digital – well, it only makes sense that our viewership would be web based. For marketers, this means looking to online placements more and more – and cutting down on traditional broadcast media.

And in 10 more years, we’ll find out if TDG’s predictions were right on the money. My bet’s on them.

Just 5 years ago today, the first video was uploaded to the brand-spankin’ new site known as YouTube, according to Mashable.com. While the site actually launched in February, the first upload happened on April 23, and it was the beginning of a new world order when it comes to video sharing.

Isn’t it astonishing, it’s only been FIVE years since this culture-changing site hit the web?! My, how time flies.

Things will never be the same in our society, thanks to YouTube. Now, across the globe, people are constantly aware that any misstep, embarrassment or hilarious moment may hit the web instantly via video. YouTube has changed the way we think about events, news, personal moments, fame – everything. We live in a video era, and this is in large part thanks to the incredible growth of this site.

Let’s look at the introduction of a few other utterly life-changing web or technologies that have arrived in the past several years:

iPhone – released 2008

Twitter.com – launched 2006

Nintendo Wii – released 2006

Facebook.com – launched 2004

MySpace.com – launched 2003

Google.com – launched 1998

These sites & technologies have forever changed the concept of communication. And, so quickly! Just two years after the iPhone release, most users are wondering how they ever lived without it. And so it is with all new technology:  we adapt to it, utilize it in our lives, and look forward to the next new development. Changes in the 21st century move at the speed of technology, and that’s FAST.

We’d love to hear from you – how has technology changed your life in recent years? What new products or sites have made the most impact on you?

If you follow our blog and educational efforts, you know that we at Jennifer Barbee, Inc. can’t stop talking about video. It’s 2010 and an interactive tour of your destination is imperative for a visitor. Images just don’t do the trick like they used to. TripFilms was founded in 2007 with the mission to bring destinations to life through video. They have taken travel video to new heights with real travelers creating real video that is not only inspiring but informational. Just take a look at some of the videos showcased on their site and see for yourself.

So we spent some time with TripFilms and got to know the team and what TripFilms is all about…

What inspires your team at TripFilms to be a part of travel video?

We are inspired not only by the amazing travel destinations that are brought to life through videos, but by the outstanding people who create these videos and share a little bit of their life, passion and stories with us. Helping to share their stories are what makes it worth doing what we are doing.

Why do you feel travelers are so drawn to the videos your TripVloggers produce?

We think our videos go beyond just showing a place –they can actually “bring” you there. Our TripVloggers are some of our most talented filmmakers not only because they can create beautiful videos, but because they have the ability to transport you through their engaging stories. We have a pilot who records from the cockpit, a couple who are falling in love as they travel the world, a backpacker who meets locals, 3 chefs who cook as they journey… it’s these stories that really inspire our audience and make them see a place on a deeper level.

DMOs are in need of real quality user generated video to showcase their destinations. How can they get involved with TripVloggers?

Video is the most authentic, inspiring and complete way to showcase a destination, and more and more DMOs have been collaborating with us to send a Tripfilms team to cover them. We have TripVloggers that appeal to every type of traveler: luxury, backpacker, romantic, budget, adventure– you name it. All we need to do is post a job on our Job Board and then we can work with the DMO to determine who is best suited for them. You can email myself, the content manager (Kelley@tripfilms.com) if you would like more information.

What sets TripFilms apart from YouTube and other video media sharing sites?

We are building the travel channel of the web, and we are focused on helping travelers plan their trips using informative and entertaining videos from our community.  Youtube and other video sharing sites aren’t focused on helping travelers, our building a community of travel-loving filmmakers.

In addition, all of our videos begin earning reward points as soon as they are uploaded and we also give recognition to outstanding videos with awards, badges and editor’s picks designations.

If you had to pick just one, which video in your library moves you the most?

That is a very hard question! We are constantly surprised by the videos that come in. I can think of two that almost brought me to tears recently and for totally different reasons. One was created by a filmmaker who went to Panama to help to the locals in impoverished villages. He documented the experience of taking photos of locals and giving them the photos–for many the first time they had ever seen a photo of themselves!

http://www.tripfilms.com/Travel_Video-v71133-Boquete-A_Picture_is_Worth_1000_Words-Video.html

Another equally touching video was from a Tripfilms couple who circumnavigated the globe for us this past year. Their finale video ended with a surprise proposal in the airport on their way home.

http://www.tripfilms.com/Travel_Video-v71730-San_Francisco-A_Perfect_Ending-Video.html

As 2009 draws to a close, it’s time for a plethora of year-end lists, from “Celebs We Lost This Year” to “Hot or Not 2010” (be sure and check this one out, if you haven’t already ).

One incredibly interesting list is YouTube’s Most Watched list, recently released on their company blog. So what did the world watch in terms of online video this year? Here are the top 5:

1. Susan Boyle – Britain’s Got Talent (120+ million views)
2. David After Dentist (37+ million views)
3. JK Wedding Entrance Dance (33+ million views)
4. New Moon Movie Trailer (31+ million views)
5. Evian Roller Babies (27+ million views)

The underdog of the year, Susan Boyle, stole the YouTube crown, with a boy’s post-dentist video coming in a distant second.

The Wedding Entrance Dance was another popular favorite, prompting even a copycat move by the staff of NBC’s “The Office.”

In addition, YouTube outlines the fastest search terms by month. For December, the answer is far from a surprise … (hint: golf phenom). Check out a whole bunch of other interesting tidbits on YouTube’s blog.

Americans viewed 12 billion videos in May 2008. In 2006 sites such as YouTube took off allowing users of all ages and web expertise to upload millions of videos from around the globe in all types of topics. Billions of searches later, we find that video marketing is a real important form of marketing online. When you are speaking to a consumer about experiencing a place, product, message, etc. what better way to show them through visuals?

Marketing your video online is the key business differentiator for web companies that want to communicate their product profile and benefits within the shortest possible time and do it effectively. There is nothing else that comes close to the effectiveness and persuasion power of a well designed video message.

This doesn’t mean that putting up a 10-min video tutorial on your site will automatically get you to double-up your conversion rate of new registrants or that you will instantly sell more of your products. There is more to effective video communication than just slamming some video content up on your web pages.

There are several reasons that in today’s marketing world, video is the best way to go. The average attention span of a web user is measured in seconds. Once delivered to you on a red carpet by a major search engine search query, or by a recommendation link on a review blog, the new web visitor applies only a very limited effort and time to see whether she can make sense of what you are communicating/selling/proposing and to decide whether your content, style, look and approach are a good fit for what she was actually looking for. If you can engage her interest right there and then, and offer a fast, highly visual way to let her discover what your “message” is, you have done bingo. See, at any given point within those first few vital seconds on your site, the new web visitor is on the verge of clicking away and abandoning that flimsy but unique opportunity to open up a relationship, possibly a conversation with you and your products.

Other notable findings from a May 2008 study include:

• 74 percent of the total U.S. Internet audience viewed online video.
• The average online video viewer watched 228 minutes of video.
• 82.2 million viewers watched 4.1 billion videos on YouTube.com (50.4 videos per viewer).
• 54.8 million viewers watched 703 million videos on MySpace.com (12.8 videos per viewer).
• 6.8 million viewers watched 88 million videos on Hulu.com (13.0 videos per viewer).
• The duration of the average online video was 2.7 minutes.

Fast forward to today:

• 89 million viewers watch 5.5 billion movies each month on YouTube.com
• 9 million viewers watch 348 million movies each month on HuLu.com
• 25 million viewers watch 232 million movies each month on Yahoo.com

Tips for a Better Video Message:

• Put Your Video on your Home Page (or at least a link to it)
• Be Up Front About the Length of the Video
• Add Audio
• Create Buzzwords Around and Within the Video
• Post Your Video on Sites that Allow Free Video Posting

Video Marketing is much more than posting videos and waiting for consumers to watch them. Videos we post online need the same optimization a web page needs to be found through the search engines. On sites such as YouTube you can create keywords that are associated with your video which can be used to reach and download your video. The key to video marketing is to be savvy with where you post to begin with. Most videos are reached through buzz in social networks and through viral avenues. Keep in mind sites such as YouTube, MySpace, AOL, IGoUGo and Facebook.