Internet display and text advertising are great. But nothing really matches video for engagement and open rates. A number of players are specializing in SMB video. A new company, Webshoz (pronounced “Web shows”) is focused on presenting an onscreen “bar” of several video choices that viewers can click “video previews” on demand.

The application, which was built by Placelinks, may be used for national services (i.e., showing 5 top movies for DirectTV). But CEO Alexandrea Day anticipates several possible uses for local players, who can be targeted based on the user’s IP address and also provides a full set of analytics.

Real estate brokerages, for instance, can highlight specific homes in the first three video segments, and an agent in the fourth based on location. A major brokerage like Century 21 can use the service’s dynamic rotation to integrate any of its thousands of agents.

Similarly, insurance companies (i.e., State Farm) can highlight several types of insurance products in the first few frames, and introduce a video for the local franchise holder in the fourth. Travel is also envisioned as a key local application, and could even tie video previews with daily deals. “Every hotel has a video and wants to make a deal,” says Day.

Day notes that Webshoz launched 15 months ago with angel funding, and has a patent pending on its technology. She says that average videos are viewed about 15 seconds.

The post ‘Video Bars’ Integrate Nat’l Brands, Local Agents for Insurance, Real Estate appeared first on BIA/Kelsey - Local Media Watch.

Webshoz, a new company, has developed a product called the Videobar that offers publishers a way to drive more views to online videos while generating more revenues from advertisers.

The basic idea behind the Videobar is to take six videos from within the directory and present them on the Videobar, which is essentially a horizontal display ad. Users can view the videos in thumbnail form within the bar by rolling over them. Or they can click to go to that advertiser’s landing page.

Frank Rocco, Webshoz VP of sales and marketing, told us there are three elements to the Videobar value proposition:

* An increasing number of plays for online videos.
* More exposure and leads for advertisers.
* An additional revenue opportunity for publishers.

There would appear to be an opportunity to distribute the Videobar to other sites to generate leads from outside the IYP as well.

Rocco says Webshoz is looking to license the Videobar to publishers on a rev share basis. The company offers free video production as part of its service, but that is more table stakes than a USP.  The Videobar (which Rocco duly notes is patent pending) itself is what makes Webshoz new and different.

Webshoz has worked with Placelinks to develop its customer dashboard and tracking and reporting system.

Webshoz has a trial of the product under way with SureWest, which operates its IYP on the Innovectra platform.

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