Video Chat in Instagram Direct

Now, you can video chat in Instagram Direct, either with just one person or a group. Video chat gives you the experience of realtime video in a private space and helps you feel close and connected to friends when you can’t be together. Your friends are already on Instagram, and with video chat, you can seamlessly connect across iOS and Android and without a phone number.

Today, leaders are looking to storytelling to help advance the work of the organization. Here's a look at some of the possibilities... and also an introducti...

So, what makes the combination of video and email so potent?

• Video can make your emails far more appealing — This applies even before someone sees the content. BambooHR, a Utah-based HR software firm, gets its highest open rates when using the word “video” in subject lines. We’ve heard similar feedback from other marketers.
• Video is an extremely compelling call-to-action — Including a friendly, fun still image from the video is a great way to entice readers to click. We ran an A/B test that produced a 300% increase in click-through rates when using video versus a graphic.
• Email can amplify your video efforts — If you’re already making video, consider sharing that content via email, rather than just putting it on your website. (And if you’re not putting video on your website, you’re missing out! Here’s an extra-large free account to make it easier.) Use email to drive people back to your site, so they can continue to learn about your company, product, and mission.

To get the greatest effect, ensure your video strategy is integrated with your email strategy. For instance, if you use email to drive webinar signups, test a short video as part of the webinar email campaign.

"So, how do you tell a story in the digital age that stands out, captures people’s attention and gets them to act, engage with your institution? My favourite story for quite some time now and one I’ve been showing in workshops around the world is the story of the Troy public library."

Ok -- the author here isn't writing anything revolutionary. So you can skim the text. But watch the 2.5 minute video! It's the reason I selected this piece.

The video is brilliant -- and a perfect example of how story triggers can make a difference in social causes and social cause marketing.

The video is about a library. It is controversial. Now I am a big fan of libraries so I was rooting for it (my personal bias). And the video itself is a really good example of a digital story.

I say 'story triggers' because the library used story elements and metaphors that sparked stories within the viewer's/reader's brains. The library did not actually tell a full-blown story yet the public reaction was immediate and powerful.

Go watch the video! Then share what you think.

This review was written by Karen Dietz for her curated content on business storytelling at www.scoop.it/t/just-story-it 

The history of the business video dates back to the 1970s, when AT&T created the Picturephone. The device transmitted an image only once every two seconds—a speed that would make any Internet user today cringe. The way we access and share visual creations has changed a lot since those early days.

The use of online video is exploding as a medium for businesses to market and share their products. Videos with compelling content can help businesses to build brand trust and effectively spread their products and messages. In fact, 80% of marketers report using online video for their purposes. With the rise of mobile technology in recent years, video viewership via phone is increasing, too. Last year, it went up by 35.7%, and it doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon.

The infographic below compiled by KZO Innovations, a leading provider of social collaboration software for business video, illustrates the long history of the online video, from the early days of the Picturephone to today's viral videos.