TurnHere CEO: 1000 Local Videos on Citysearch, Superpages.com Next!
TurnHere is on a local video roll. Just months after landing a deal to power the production of online video spots for Citysearch, the “full service Internet video solutions provider” is now making videos for Idearc’s Superpages.com.
TurnHere Founder & CEO, Brad Inman, is enthusiastic about the market opportunity for his company’s 2000 member strong ”Filmmaker Network,” independent creatives making “high-quality videos for the Web that capture the true local spirit of a place and the people and businesses that bring it to life.”
I asked Inman today how the TurnHere partnership with Citysearch is progressing. Local online video is NOT a “case study,” Inman underscored, “We are nearing 1000 videos for Citysearch,” he told me.
Citysearch President Jay Herratti is more nuanced in his discussion of video traction among merchants at Citysearch, however. In his keynote at the Kelsey Interactive Local Media conference last week in Los Angeles, Herratti spoke of the need to lower cost of video entry for merchants in order to spur greater adoption.
According to Inman, the restaurant and salon catgegories are the leading buyers of TurnHere videos at Citysearch.
“TurnHere, with their efficient and highly scaleable production process, is an obvious partner for us and will meet the needs of Superpages’ customers,” said Eric Chandler, president, Internet for Idearc Media.
Nevertheless, at Superpages.com, Turnhere will not be the sole video vendor promoted by Idearc to merchants. Denver MultiMedia has also been retained to “produce online videos for Superpages.com advertisers.”
How will Superpages.com divvy up the local merchant video opportunities between TurnHere and Denver MutilMedia, I asked Inman. TurnHere is not aware of how Idearc will be selling the two video services to its clients, Inman told me.
The Denver MultiMedia value proposition is almost identical to that of TurnHere:
“We’re excited to work with Superpages.com advertisers across the country,” said Bob Kennedy, President and CEO for Denver MultiMedia. “Businesses in any local market across the country can now have high-quality videos that personalize their business and give prospective customers a reason to visit their store or give them a call.”
“Our new relationship with Idearc demonstrates our growth and success in the local market sector,” said Jared Simon, vice president of business development for TurnHere. “Our goal is to help companies convey the unique personalities and services behind their businesses through a real-time medium that is both dynamic and cost-effective.”
I asked Inman who he views as his competition; Denver MultiMedia was not mentioned. TurnHere believes it is creating a new category and therefore does not have any competition at present. Competition would be welcome, though, Inman told me, as it would help build the market for all players.
How Superpages.com aims to build the local video market, the merchant pitch:
Tell your story as only you can with Superpages Video: Superpages Video is the easy way to let customers get to know your business better. You decide who and what to feature and a video professional will do everything else - film, edit, revise and place your video on Superpages.com.
ALSO: Citysearch’s Herratti on Social Media and Merchant Reputation: ILM INTERVIEW and TurnHere Video Gets the Book Marketing Party Started: EXCLUSIVE
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