Comments on: Tip: How to encourage exploration on your site

By: David Leggett

David Leggett — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 23:43:46 +0000

I think it’s a great feature for YouTube, but this obviously doesn’t translate perfectly to a blog that doesn’t have embedded media. I find that showing some related posts around a blog entry often decreases bounce rates and improves exploration on some of my sites where text is the primary form of content.

By: Jeff K. Ward

Jeff K. Ward — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 07:37:55 +0000

And I bet they made the decision to show the search bar because they had data to back it up. I’m sure they’ve got analytics knowing when and where we press buttons and when we leave videos to visit more interesting things. Good use of analytics data that’s for sure.

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:45:57 +0000

I think this is an excellent point, really makes you think about using your sidebar and secondary content to promote other parts of your site!

Thanks Ryan

By: Sulcalibur

Sulcalibur — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 14:46:06 +0000

@cisnky Yeah I’ve seen the ‘view in HD’ links, but they aren’t always that great and Youtube aren’t really pushing it either.

@Ryan If you want to keep users on your site, stick Tetris on it lol. Seriously though, best sticky content is always consistently new material. Whether it be quality posts/images or decent comments. That’s just my humble opinion anyway

By: Peter Cooper

Peter Cooper — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 12:54:46 +0000

I think the suggestions it gives when you finish watching the current video are excellent. I often get caught by them and end up watching more.

The search box, however, I don’t get at all. If I’m watching another video, I’m watching that video, not thinking of things to search for on YouTube – and if I do think of something, I’ll head over to YouTube itself to get the improved video size, comments, and metadata.

As with most things, however, there’ll undoubtedly be a user base who does want to do random video searches while on other pages, so it will probably stay. Heck, there are people who still use Yahoo, MSN, and all manner of “should be obsolete” things on the Web :)

By: cisnky

cisnky — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 12:20:36 +0000

@Sulcalibur You can now view some videos in High Quality. I think in time the video quality will improve.

Here’s a good post on embedding high quality YouTube video.

http://www.mydigitallife.info/2008/06/12/how-to-embed-high-quality-and-higher-resolution-youtube-videos-on-blog-or-website/

By: vzaar Jamie

vzaar Jamie — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 12:19:38 +0000

I’m a user of YouTube but no fan of the search box. I find it really distracting and intrusive to the content of the video that I have selected to watch.

As a web site that enables businesses to upload and distribute video in a professional, unbranded video player, this plays into our hands a little as merchants want the buyer’s full attention. They don’t want the potential buyer’s attention being drawn by the chance to search elsewhere or to look at other people’s videos.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 12:11:55 +0000

Fair points – so thanks for chiming in.

I guess my main point is that they’re actively steering you towards more content on the site. They’re not just letting you watch a vid and hope you keep clicking.

It’s a good example of how to be pro-active with your visitors to keep them on the site.

By: Ewan

Ewan — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 12:03:30 +0000

Yep, it’s great (For YouTube peeps) but not very helpful when you embed a video from YouTube onto your site. Certainly with myself, if I watch an embedded YouTube video I tend to watch loads of others and end up visiting the YouTube site itself. Major distraction!

By: Rob Stevenson-Leggett

Rob Stevenson-Leggett — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 12:01:36 +0000

The related videos feature at the end of a clip is a lot more effective at keeping me on the site than that search box while the video is paused.

The ads are starting to get on my nerves too…