Will You Have to Start Working with Your Pants On?

We’ve had the ability to video conference for decades.  In fact, it just keeps getting easier, cheaper and more accessible all the time.

Mack Collier introduced me to ooVoo.com this morning in his latest post.  I’ve downloaded the app and  have to tell you, I’m impressed.

It’s this combinattion of social media and videop e-mail.  The application will search out your address books and social media sites to fnd contacts that are also regisered with ooVoo and get you set up to chat.  Now, the best part is that you can actually have mini-live meetings and chat sessions with the people who are your contacts.  Potential for lots o fun and personal interaction wihout leaving your office, kitchen or wherever you’re working these days.  Which brings me to one of my personal issues:

I’m not sure I want you to SEE ME.

I’m not sure how I feel about all this.  On the one hand, I’ve been wanting to send all my clients and buddies web-cams so we can actually see each other and chat.  Then on the other hand – I’m not sure I WANT to be seen all the time.  After all, I don’t always think it’s appropriate for everyone to see what I’m wearing – or not wearing, or quite frankly, how dreadful I look on any given day (like today). And you know what I’m talking about.  Yes, I know that you can choose an avatar – but uuugh, really what’s the point of the web cam then.

So How Could You Use This Thing?

So, let’s just agree to treat these video messages as Live Meetings.  And that means that you have to look decent.  Given that, let’s look at some cool ways to use this to communicate messages and have meetings.  By the way ooVoo gves you some really fun examples that are more of a casual and personal nature.

1. Demonstrations:  This is an obvious application. If you have a product or service that lends itself to demonstration – then this would be a great tool. Do I have to mention the concept of being creative with this?  Be human, be natural, give it a twist.  I’m not sure why so many industrial type companies are afraid to "lighten up."  It’s this kind of fresh approach that will differentiate them from the rest.
2. Team Meetings: Not just he obvious, but more frequent visual meetings with customers.  The kind that build relationships and get you physically in front of your client.
3. Direct Marketing Messages:  Direct Mail is not what it used to be and neither are e-mails.  But a creatve video e-mail with a point might get some viral legs and move around cyberspace and get you some visibility.
4. Video Brochure: Having a hard time describing what you do and how you do it in print or web?  How about a video brochure.  I’m always looking at ways of providing some immediate gratification – to clients – an since you can actually record brainstorming sessions on this thing – that could be a great promo tool.

Enough from me.  I want to know you thoughts and experiences with this tool.  So download it – it’s free!  Connect to me and let’s chat.