Even Annoying Sounds Get Clicks!
Well in my last page about Auto Playing vs Manual Playing Videos I proved that video that doesn’t auto play is really pointless, and that video that does auto play works great! At the end I mentioned that the video was not annoying so I wasn’t sure if that was part of it.
Of course many of you mentioned those quacking ducks, and even Steve Ayling himself commented that those ducks doubled the number of signups! So I had to test this myself!
The first thing I did was copied and pasted the SWAT Traffic splash page to my server, and I looked for SWAT related noises. I was looking for guns blaring or something like that, but I didn’t find any that were usefull enough. But then I had the brilliant idea, a police siren! It fit with the splash page perfectly!
To test that the sound was annoying enough, I logged into the Swat Conference room where Robert Puddy, Soren Jordansen, Jon Olson, and more were talking. I was recently given moderator status (which I’m sure will be removed if I keep doing these tests!) and so I “pushed” the splash page to everyone in the room, making sure to do it while Robert was still talking so I could hear the reaction. Well, let’s just say EVERYONE agreed it was LOUD and ANNOYING!
So after that was settled, I put it in rotation. 1000 hits later, and we’ve got this nice heatmap. It looks great, all those police cars with the blue flashing lights right?? No! Those blue lights are clicks not part of the splash page!! If you click it to open it up big, you’ll see the police lights are very faint and small. I was shocked!
Not only did it generate clicks, it generated more clicks than all the other 1000 hit heatmaps I’ve tested! And if you look under the button (where the stop playing flash player was, but you can’t see it in the heatmap generator) you’ll see that there weren’t any clicks down there to get it to stop playing! The less annoying ones even got a few!
So I’m not looking to discuss whether you should have your speakers on or if you like it or not this time, I think we’ve covered that one. Most people agree, it is annoying! But.. It works!
PS. Wednesdays at 8PM EST are Swat Traffic Seminars. If you aren’t yet, join and upgrade to Captain and join in the disucssions!
Hi Tim, although I understand the Audio/Video concept and that it serves a purpose with regard to marketing one’s offers…
What I totally disagree with is having it “Auto-Playing!”
Besides being very annoying, it also takes away the viewer’s choice as to whether or not they want to listen!
In addition, most of us who do any surfing usually have those features disabled for just that reason…
That concludes my ranting…
Hi Tim
I have been following this series with much interest.
You convinced me to get a video and I now have one Im preparing for my new squeeze page and new site – exciting stuff!
(you will see it at startxchange soon)
I was wondering if you might address a problem I have?
I dont know how to make the video autoplay!
As it has come, you must click play and after all this discussion – I definately want it to autoplay!
Can you tell me how? maybe that could be the focus of your next article?
I enjoy your blog –
thanks – Kym
I added sound to one of my splash pages, and in 48 hours, with 800 hits on it, it has not received anymore or any less clicks then my other three splash pages. So maybe i am doing it wrong. i do not have a problem with sound, but I do have an issue with sounds or videos that go on for ever and ever and ever.
As much as I dislike the sounds coming in automatically, I have to agree with you and must now also think about putting video in any advertising I do.
I do surf on StartXchange some and I haven’t placed any URL’s there. I’m having difficulty on choosing the right thing to sell.
I have enjoyed this discussion and will continue to read your blog. Thank you for presenting it.
Gimme A Dreams lastest blog post..I Have Always Loved Bob Newhart Comedy
I have to say I enjoy autoplay sites. I personally mostly stop by sites that have a cool video or audio for me to view or listen to… And in here aswell as other pages repetition works. Splash pages themselves work less on me, music than extensive websites and third comes simple splash pages, when thinking about my clickthru ratios.
LOL at your newest splash page and this, when I hear an annoying sound when surfing I ignore all pages and just click next until it’s gone so I don’t see how it can work well O.O You sure do a lot of odd tests man :P
Ragnar Miljeteigs lastest blog post..Review – Traffic Bunnies
Tim, dude, I have to hand it to you. The latest video ‘No More Boring Videos’ is hilarious. great job man, I had to do a double take when I watched it. Got my attention….
Oh wow, does that mean this stuff works? =)
[...] friend Tim Linden blogged about whether or not to use sound over here [...]
I used to never put audio not too mention auto playing audio on my pages, then I tried and tested it. I went from 3-5 new subscribers to my newsletter to 8-10….All from putting on small clip of auto playing audio.
It works! Plain and simple.
Tim, you’re spending way too much time in your traffic laboratory! Before you know it, you’ll be known as the Dr. Frankenstein of the Traffic Exchanges;-)
Thanks for sharing your experiments with the rest of us.
It’s frightening to think of what you might come up with next! – BB