ClipBlast's founder and president outlines a plan to help marketers take full advantage of the online video revolution.

Online video has arrived in a very big way. That became clear in October, when YouTube enticed Google to part with $1.65 billion. What isn't clear, for marketers at least, is what all those lonely girls, dancing pets and "stolen" TV clips have to do with how we will use the web to drive business.

Will online video change the marketing landscape?

Yes-- big time. Fueled by user demand, online video is rapidly shifting from "mindless entertainment" to a bona fide information source and marketing tool for companies of all kinds.

Here are five ways you can prepare yourself to succeed as online video revolutionizes how users experience websites-- and how smart marketers build them.

Step 1: Recognize that online video isn't "coming someday;" it's already here
Step 2: Learn from early adopters
Step 3: Forget everything you think you know about search-engine marketing
Step 4: Get creative about how to produce -- or link to -- video
Step 5: Stop thinking "static text"

Next: Step 1