| Three years ago, adding streaming video for your | | | | life to the medium, especially on a marketing |
| website would definitely give it the wow factor | | | | perspective. |
| that could distinguish your pages from their | | | | Video testimonials, for example, can become |
| competition. It would give your regular visitors | | | | powerful tools for sales pages. The problem is, |
| something to be excited about, and it would | | | | sales pages should load up fast, and video |
| provide for your website enough buzz that could | | | | streaming might make the process slower, which |
| potentially generate a lot of traffic. | | | | would prove fatal for your conversion rate. |
| Nowadays, the rules of the ballgame have | | | | Thankfully, you could convert your video files into |
| changed. People, in general, have become | | | | miniscule .swf files and stream them using |
| accustomed to streaming video, live or | | | | derivative RSS technology. No need to subscribe |
| pre-recorded. It just doesn't have the umph | | | | to a dedicated streaming server for this one, as |
| effect that it once possessed, partly because the | | | | technically, your video is not a video file, it's a |
| method has been overused, and partly because | | | | Flash file! |
| the technology behind it has become rather stale. | | | | Downloadable video files have also been given a |
| This shouldn't be taken to mean that videos are | | | | new lease in life with the surging popularity of |
| totally useless for your website, however. | | | | videocasts. Since more and more people are |
| They're not. They still remain as amazing tools | | | | downloading video files these days to upload them |
| that could stir up a lot of fun for your visitors, | | | | in their iPod Videos or other portable video |
| only, the traditional ways of creating and | | | | players, a back to basics approach, with a little |
| implementing them have become old. | | | | innovative twist, has been deemed proper. |
| Nonetheless, if you want to create streaming | | | | Downloadable video files are experiencing a |
| video the old fashioned way, the only thing you | | | | renaissance. |
| have to do is to prepare a video file. This video | | | | Also, many marketers are fast realizing the |
| file must have either .wmv, .avi, .mpeg, .mov, or | | | | potentials of using videos in lieu, or in support, of |
| .rm extension. Thereafter, you'd only need to | | | | manuals for their products. Studies show that |
| upload it to your web hosting server and provide | | | | pursuing this approach have reduced the number |
| a link for the same. Every time your visitors | | | | of technical queries from their customers by as |
| would click on the link, the appropriate viewing | | | | much as 67%. The reason? People respond more |
| program would automatically start and they'd be | | | | to what they could see and hear, compared to |
| able to view your presentation. | | | | what they could merely read. Since videos are |
| If you desire true streaming, then you'd have to | | | | instructive by their very nature, they are perfect |
| upload your video file in a dedicated streaming | | | | tools for this purpose. |
| server. This would allow your visitors to view the | | | | Also, many marketers are creating video |
| feeds as they arrive, and is perfect for live | | | | products to supplement their packages. Doing |
| events. | | | | such has been proven to increase their sales rate |
| Another method is progressive streaming. This | | | | by as much as 23%. Furthermore, with the |
| means that your visitors can immediately watch | | | | seeming professionalism attributed to video |
| your video file while they are downloading the | | | | creation, marketers can justify a higher price for |
| same. This is the most popular approach these | | | | the packages they offer. |
| days. Websites like are implementing it. You'd also | | | | Video streaming, and videos in general, are |
| need a dedicated streaming server for this. | | | | internet marketing staples. Though some |
| Here are some dedicated streaming servers you | | | | approaches may grow stale, a little creativity |
| could avail of: | | | | would catapult them back again in the limelight. |
| There are novel models that have been | | | | Such is the power of videos for marketing |
| introduced in recent years that brought additional | | | | purposes. |