| There are many new ways to bring your product | | | | - One feature that audience members especially |
| or service directly to a mass population. A | | | | like is the ability for them to submit questions to |
| webcast is the newest and brightest technology | | | | the live event and have them answered by voice |
| out there. A webcast is a video or audio media | | | | or text. Q&A and polling becomes effective and |
| file that is distributed via the Internet either live or | | | | manageable. |
| on demand. The technology uses streaming | | | | - You can also include surveys and polls in your |
| media, push technology, and a webcam. | | | | webcast for immediate results. Getting feedback |
| Benefits of Webcasting: | | | | from your audience is absolutely necessary. Your |
| - Presentations can be broadcast live to others in | | | | webcast can have a polling feature that enables |
| the company or broadcast to a global audience. | | | | you to put forth multiple-choice questions for your |
| - Conference costs can be cut significantly | | | | audience to answer. You will see the results |
| because there are no costs for travel, | | | | immediately and be able to share these with the |
| accommodation or printing. | | | | audience. |
| - Broadcasts are viewable anywhere in the | | | | - Not only can you present your webcasts live to |
| world-- it doesn't matter where your staff or | | | | your audience, but you can also have with an "live |
| clients are. | | | | and on-demand" feature, making the presentation |
| - You build brand awareness and reach a wide | | | | available to even more customers following the |
| consumer base for far less than traditional | | | | live event. |
| methods. You significantly widen access to events | | | | - Do you need to control who will use your |
| and information. You will have a very effective | | | | webcasts? This can be made possible using User |
| way to market and promote your products, | | | | Registration and Reporting Controls. |
| services, organization, and events. | | | | - When deciding on streaming or progressive |
| - Webcasts can be viewed at any time, even | | | | video know that streaming is the preferred |
| after the conference. | | | | method because the audience can view the video |
| - Webcasts can be archived for future use. | | | | as it is still downloading. |
| - You can create timely sales video. | | | | - Your webcast can be enhanced with an |
| - Webinars are more easily created. A webinar is | | | | interactive user interface that coordinates with |
| best described as an online, live or on-demand | | | | synchronized PowerPoint slides. |
| seminar. When combined with other e-learning | | | | Webcast Production involves transferring, editing, |
| events and cutting edge technologies you enhance | | | | and uploading the visual aspect of your web |
| your image. | | | | presentation to your webcast server. Webcast |
| - Registration is an easily managed task. | | | | production also involves creating a digital |
| Participants can register anytime they like online. | | | | registration page, including a webcast evaluation |
| - Knowledge transfer-- the very essence of your | | | | form, choosing your facilitator for use during the |
| webcast-- is more easily tracked. If you webcast | | | | live webcast, tracking participants digitally and |
| has not transferred knowledge it is a failure. It's | | | | identifying the group's demographic, and digitally |
| not all about the glitz and the glamour. Knowledge | | | | tracking any online discussions. |
| transfer means organizing, creating, capturing and | | | | When you webcast to a large audience you will |
| or distributing knowledge and making sure it is | | | | need to use a webcast hosting service. Audio and |
| there for future users. Knowledge transfer is the | | | | video streams require a distribution server. The |
| product of a knowledge driven economy. It is | | | | larger the audience the more bandwidth is |
| often about the transfer of skills, research results, | | | | required. If an audience is bigger than a few |
| and good ideas. These skills move between | | | | hundred a regular IT organization will not work. If |
| universities, research organization, business groups | | | | you expect a large audience, your server will |
| and the wide community. | | | | need more lead time. Always know what the |
| - Your company will be more environmentally | | | | service provider's requirements are. This can help |
| responsible by reducing travel costs and paper | | | | you create a timetable of what will happen when. |
| use. | | | | Basically, set your webcast date and work |
| - You will be demonstrating your company's | | | | backwards from there to create an accurate |
| leading edge image. | | | | timetable. |
| - You can provide on-demand multi-media content | | | | Things to consider when getting the stream to |
| for your website. | | | | the webcast hosting service provider: |
| - You will have a method for detailed audience | | | | - When webcasting from your network, do you |
| tracking. | | | | know the bit rate connection you can dedicate to |
| - The webcasting service you decide to use will | | | | the webcast master stream? |
| work hard to make a product that is interesting | | | | - Are there firewall or security protocol issues? |
| and exciting. Participating in a webcast is a very in | | | | - Remote locations may not have bandwidth |
| the moment" experience. | | | | facilities ready. |
| - In most instances, you will be able to fill out a | | | | - Webcast devices must be properly set up on |
| form or simply click on a choice to view a | | | | the network. |
| webcast playback. | | | | - Do you know what data rate you will be |
| - You will need to include a webcast help section. | | | | providing? |
| When the client hits webcast help he or she | | | | - You need to know your audience size. |
| should be able to view frequently asked questions | | | | - Decide if you are using RealVideo player or |
| and select a suitable choice. | | | | Windows Media Player. |
| - Webcast archive services allow you to archive | | | | - Are there extras that you want? |
| all your webcasts so that you can easily post the | | | | High impact webcasting tips: |
| event on a website, making it available | | | | - Use basic PowerPoint |
| on-demand. | | | | - principles. |
| - Numerous web sites offer many kinds of | | | | - Limit the amount of information on each slide. |
| webcasting solutions to meet your needs. | | | | - The Internet limits what you can do. For |
| Customer engagement is a priority with these | | | | example, if you send files ahead of time and |
| webcasting solutions. For example, some sites off | | | | embedded graphics or multi-media can bog down |
| a virtual conference. Others offer a variety of | | | | some email systems. Also, bandwidth restrictions |
| services such as document sharing, audience | | | | can cause multimedia clips and animations to stop |
| surveys, and live audience tracking. | | | | and start. Try using small slide files. |
| Webcasting means you can use the Web as a | | | | - Use lots of bullets. |
| way to deliver your message live or on-demand. | | | | - Your audience is often distracted by checking |
| This is an exciting technology that allows you to | | | | email, having a snack-- they multitask at will |
| broadcast anything you like at the moment in | | | | because you can't see them. Keep them engaged |
| time it is happening. Webcasting truly enhances | | | | by including discussion questions, brainstorming |
| the learning or training environment. | | | | sessions and polls. |
| One of the best features of a webcast is the | | | | - Try to stay under 8 words per bullet. |
| ability to involve a live interaction feature through | | | | - Make sure there are less than 8 bullets per slide. |
| the use of a "chat" function. Other great features | | | | - Use an 18pt font. |
| include live break-out sessions, real time polls and | | | | - Keep the graphics crisp and large. |
| surveys, and real time website displays. | | | | - Graphics are usually better than bullets but they |
| In-services, staff meetings or staff training can | | | | still need lots of explanation. |
| easily be conducted through a webcast. | | | | - Videos are better than photos. |
| Upon conclusion of your webcast, you can also | | | | - Remember that each slide will take between 2 |
| create final reports that track the number of | | | | and 5 minutes. |
| registrants versus number of participants and | | | | - Presentations under 45 minutes maintain viewing |
| demographic and geographic statistics. You can | | | | interest. |
| easily evaluate the webcast content, the | | | | - Mimic the voice of a radio personality by |
| presenters, and the usefulness of the media | | | | speaking louder and slower than usual. |
| presented. | | | | - Use Q and A and polling. |
| You can use a variety of webcasting programs. | | | | Webcast narration on your webcast should be |
| You can use a streaming webcast in either an | | | | professionally done so that it suits the tone you |
| audio webcast format or a video webcast format. | | | | are looking for. Narration often best suits opinion |
| You can also take advantage of an on-demand | | | | pieces or book and product reviews. Webcast |
| webcast. This means your clients can scroll | | | | scripting: the script to choose for your webcast is |
| through any number of webcast options and | | | | a very important aspect of the production of it. |
| choose the video or audio file that best suits their | | | | Your script tells the participants the "story" your |
| needs. The other option is a live webcast. Using | | | | are telling. It needs to be professionally written |
| this option, your client participates through viewing | | | | and narrated. |
| or listening. Online video is the capacity to provide | | | | Why would you need a webcast transcription if |
| video via the internet. Streaming video is a | | | | you already have the recording? One main reason |
| process whereby media files are distributed | | | | is that webcast contents are not easily |
| simultaneously to several viewers. The same | | | | searchable. They don't get indexed by the search |
| process is used for streaming audio. The process | | | | engines. As a result, the webcast is almost |
| can be live or on-demand. Many websites have | | | | invisible. A transcription can provided print |
| numerous pre-recorded webcasts that you can | | | | excerpts that can be uploaded with the recording. |
| view at your convenience. In this way, you can | | | | Transcription provides another important service. |
| offer several webcasting programs at the same | | | | It allows people with disabilities full access to the |
| time. Webcasting delivery continually gets easier | | | | content of webcasts. Sound files are of help to |
| and more user-friendly. | | | | the visually impaired and subtitles or full transcripts |
| When is video marketing particularly effective: | | | | help those with hearing impairments. |
| - For products focused on motion or sound | | | | Webcast quality issues: |
| - For complicated products that may need to be | | | | - Excellent sound quality is a must. Make sure you |
| demonstrated as part of the explanation | | | | get a good mix and sound level. |
| - For big ticket items that are saying "you're | | | | - Compensate for the video quality, which will |
| important" | | | | never be as good as broadcast quality video. Use |
| - For demonstrating to clients the quality and | | | | three-point lighting. Implement good stage |
| precision needed to manufacture something or | | | | direction. Use a fixed camera on a tripod. |
| perform a service. | | | | Webcasting saves money. There are many ways |
| - If you have fabulous testimonials or expert | | | | to achieve cost-effective webcasting. The most |
| endorsements. | | | | exciting feature a webcast has is the ability to |
| You will require software to create your webcast. | | | | save you money. The technology used is |
| A good web cast creation tool lets you create | | | | accessible and inexpensive. Look at the number of |
| and host your webcasts and it doesn't matter if | | | | independent on-line shows that are successful. An |
| they are live or on-demand. You can use this | | | | independent media company and an average |
| software with any server you like. Some | | | | person can take advantage of this inexpensive |
| software lets you combine slides with your audio | | | | technology. Low-cost webcasting is at your |
| or video webcast. Good web creation tools lets | | | | fingertips. You get a bigger bang for your buck as |
| you create, preview and send the webcast. Your | | | | you promote your business or your products. A |
| software will have a multimedia function that | | | | webcast reaches potentially more people than any |
| includes data, video, audio, animation, text and | | | | per-to-person event. Among the most popular are |
| graphics. Multimedia is integrated. | | | | those on news, technology, and computers. The |
| There are several webcast delivery tools available. | | | | biggest "webcasters" out there are on existing |
| Make sure you choose one that has the following | | | | TV and radio stations. |
| features: | | | | Many sites over free webcast hosting and you'll |
| - Creating and hosting on-demand or live | | | | get plenty of disc space and bandwidth. If your |
| webcasts. | | | | site has lots of streaming video you may need |
| - Ability to combine live or on demand audio or | | | | additional bandwidth to support it. You can usually |
| visual with push slides. | | | | purchase additional bandwidth if needed. |
| - Create, preview and send presentation to any | | | | Marketing communications focuses on the product |
| server that supports Macromedia Flash. | | | | or service rather than the company providing the |
| - Simple to use. An intuitive and user-friendly | | | | product or service. In general, marketing |
| interface. | | | | communications is concerned with product/service |
| - You do not need any special viewer software. | | | | positioning. |
| - Fully supports animated powerpoint slides live | | | | A market plan begins as a written document |
| and on demand. | | | | where you have expressed the actions needed to |
| - Features work together. | | | | achieve your marketing objectives. Marketing |
| - Various viewer statistics can be tabulated. | | | | planning can be done for a brand, a product line, a |
| Management reports are easily created. | | | | product or a service. Your plan should cover a 1-5 |
| - An archive feature is almost mandatory. | | | | year period. Build your marketing plan on a solid |
| - Security features help you define who your | | | | strategic foundation. |
| users are. | | | | |