Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Adding Video AND Audio To Your Website: Some Recommendations To Improve Effectiveness And Visitor Responsiveness.


from
: Shane Kukec

More and more online businesses and internet marketers are recognizing the tremendous benefits and responsiveness that multimedia generates when used as an advertising medium and marketing strategy.

For those that utilize multimedia effectively, significant increases in buy rates, conversion rates and subscription rates have been experienced and all within a very short period of time. However, many believe that just adding any old media content, such as video and audio onto their website will generate significant increases in visitor responsiveness regardless of content presentation, quality, and other attributes that contribute to a positive experience for the website visitor. Just so that we are clear, this assertion is very wrong and can have potentially negative consequences from a marketing and/or advertising standpoint.

My philosophy is quite simple. Using multimedia to advertise your product or service needs to follow the same basic rules and principles as would apply to any other strategy or medium that can be used to convert prospects into subscribers and buyers. Yes, multimedia does improve conversion rates but it has to be done right and convey professionalism. This is absolutely essential.

When it comes to video and audio content online, what's often been the case is that those who have tried to add this type of media content to their websites have unfortunately had disastrous results. For example, with video content, many have added videos to their webpages that are of extremely poor quality, small and ugly. The overall experience for the viewer - Poor. One of the biggest problems has been the fact that the videos load very slowly. Visitors are turned off completely by the fact that they have to wait for minutes, even longer sometimes in order for the video or audio file to start playing. This, unfortunately, is a result of these webmasters using cookie-cutter solutions to add video or audio content to their site without really knowing the implications and limitations. As I said, with multimedia...either do it right or don't do it at all. For those who do their research and take a little time to produce video and audio content that is of good quality, the results have been tremendous.

Bottom Line: If you want to capture the attention of your visitors,you need to use top notch technology to bring your message to that person and provides the viewer with a positive experience.

If you do plan on adding video and audio content to your website, here are a few simple guidelines to follow when determining what the best multimedia solution is for you:

1. Cost Effective: You need a solution that doesn't cost an arm and a leg and leaves you with great video and/or audio content on your website but flat broke.

2. Fast loading Media Content (Video/Audio) that can play almost immediately. Website visitors are fickle and inpatient so its not wise to keep them waiting when trying to view your video advertisement or listen to your audio message.

3. Superior Website Integration: Video and Audio Content that can appear to be seamlessly Integrated into your websites and emails. Viewers don't have to view video and audio ads with media player's that annoyingly pop-up on top of their internet browsers and distract them from the rest of your website.

4. Superior Customization: Video and Audio Advertisements that can be customized for your websites and emails based on your specific requirements.

5. The ability to handle a large volume of simultaneous visitors.

6. Large-Scale Playability: Viewing/Listening DOES NOT require the download of additional plug-ins. Don't make your visitors have to download any special software to view or listen to the video and audio content on your website.

7. The media content needs to be of reasonably good quality and resolution. Don't worry, you don't need Lord of the Rings quality to provide your website visitors with a positive experience. They won't expect perfect quality but you need to make sure that the content is of good quality.

Of course, we can get into specific details about each one of these things but we won't get into that in this article. These are just high-level, general guidelines that you can follow when shopping around for a good multimedia solution for your business.

Multimedia does have impressive results from a marketing perspective. That's why the big companies and brand names are utilizing multimedia content to sell their products and services. However, not everyone has the exact same budget and requirements and if you are looking for a multimedia solution you need to spend some time shopping around to find a solution that offers the best bang for the buck.



About The Author


Shane Kukec is a Corporate President, Trainer and Publisher of a popular newsletter "The Intelligent Marketer" at http://www.theintelligentmarketer.com where he shows people how to generate a substantial income using simple and very powerful marketing strategies. Shane's also the developer of 2 revolutionary new products guaranteed to help explode any business quickly and easily: (http://www.jvmining.com) (http://www.videoaudiogenerator.com). You can reprint this article for free on your site or newsletter but the entire article, resource box and live links must remain intact.


Note:Whether you are an online business owner who sees the potential of video marketing or an individual who wants a more personal touch when communicating online, Helloworld offers an affordable solution to your online video, vmail, vlogging, and live webcasting needs. If you'd like more information about Helloworld's streaming video services or would like to try it free for 30 days, please contact Sheree Motiska via any of the methods listed on my contact page.Helloworld products are available exclusively through independent affiliates of VM Direct.

Sunday, December 9, 2007

Webdesign Mastery Course Review.

I have just discovered an amazing Web Design product

Web Design Mastery

Are you sick and tired of endlessly searching the Internet
for codes the professionals use for special effects?

Look No Further...

Web Design Mastery is quickly becoming the "Bible" for
anyone interested in designing a professional website...

If you're marketing a product or service on the Internet, a
professional looking website is an absolute essential part
of your success.

Although learning HTML is the first step, you'll find that
most HTML tutorials only provide you with very basic
information.

You're then forced to spend countless hours trying to
achieve a certain design and locate special effect codes.

Until Now...

Web Design Mastery is a complete Internet Marketers
Reference Guide. Not only will you learn how to design a
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Inside, you'll discover...

Web Design Mastery - Main Volume

An Internet marketer's copy & paste reference guide. This
ebook provides you with a complete step by step guide to
designing a professional website.

WebMaster's Reference Charts


Five reference charts to assist you in designing your
website:

Section 1: HTML Chart - Commonly used HTML codes, including
names, tags and examples.

Section 2: CSS Chart - CSS properties including background,
border, classification, font, margin, padding and text.

Section 3: Color Chart - 216 Safe color chart containing
each color, the hexadecimal values and the RGB (Red, Green,
Blue) Values.

Section 4: Symbols Chart - Special characters and symbols
that can be used within your HTML.

Section 5: Troubleshooting Chart - Common web development
problems including graphics, text, tables, HTML, forms,
JavaScript and CGI Scripts.

Advanced Web Design


Step by step tutorials that will take you through the entire
design process of a sample web page template:

Section 1: Web Page Template Design - A six part, step by
step guide to designing a web page template.

Section 2: Image Dicing / Manipulating - A step by step
tutorial that will assist you in dicing and manipulating
images.

Section 3: Image Rollovers - A step by step tutorial to
assist you in creating image rollover effects.

Section 4: Advanced Tables / Codes - Several example tables
and codes that can be used to spice up your web page.

Section 5: Email Forms/Opt-In Lists - A tutorial to assist
you in developing an opt-in list, publication and form.

-------------------------------------------

All of these ebooks contain example code ready to copy and paste into your pages.


101 Design Tips and Tricks

To complete this package, you'll find a special 101
design tips and tricks section that includes special effect
HTML, DHTML, JavaScript code snippets and CSS codes ready to
copy and paste into your page.


Web Design Mastery customers are RAVING...


Dear Shelley:

I have been working with computers and designing
Professional Engineering Software for 30 years. During
those years, I have purchased several hundred computer
programs and 3rd party books on how to use and write
software. I would guess that less than 10% of the items
that I bought turned out to be worth their purchase price.

Shelley, I can, and will, honestly state that "Web Design
Mastery" is the best designed e-book that I have ever seen.
I wish I possessed 50% of your presentation skills. I will
attempt to emulate your style when I create my next e-book.
Notwithstanding the subject matter, "Web Design Mastery" is
a valuable resource for anyone who wants to create a web
site. I have purchased several books on designing WEB pages
and HTML. I have also downloaded several tutorials on
subjects like Tables, Frames, and Forms. The subject
material in "Web Design Mastery" is more complete, better
written, and much better presented than any other computer
book, manual, or documentation that I have ever read: bar
none.

Shelley, "Web Design Mastery" should be put into print and
sold for $79.95 a copy. I am positive Sam's Publishing
Company could sell several million copies. I know that most
WEB page designers would purchase a copy after they read
just a few pages.

Thank you,

Peter A. Steeves, B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D., P.Eng. Geomatics
Engineer Geodetic Software Systems

-------------------------------------------

Shelley, I could kiss you!

I just purchased Web Design Mastery, and I can't wait to
apply its teachings.

For all of my Internet Marketing knowledge and experience,
I'm a "webmaster newbie", at best ... and it shows.

A poorly designed site can kill the credibility of a
potentially promising venture.

Web Design Mastery will make the aforementioned a thing of
the past.

I've long been a "wannabe" webmaster, and have been in awe
of your talents in particular for some time now.

Buying Web Design Mastery was a no brainer for me (I was
just waiting for it to come along ..;), the same as
EbookStarter before it.

Thanks again,

Mike Merz
Internet Marketing For Newbies

-------------------------------------------

Hi Shelley,

Where were you five years ago when I was trying to make my
first web page? With your ebook anyone with a fifth grade
education can start building web pages. I always knew you
were good but you have outdone yourself this time. This is
nothing short of a great ebook.

Vern Anderson
vernsnews.com

-------------------------------------------

Hi Shelley,

Web Design Mastery has to be one of the best investments on
the Internet today. It's obvious right from the beginning
that a lot of time, research, care and thought went into
creating this awesome trio of e-books.

I wish I would have found you a few months ago when I
started re-writing my own site. Whether you are new to the
idea of writing and implementing HTML or you've been around
the block, Web Design Mastery is a 'must have' resource and
guide that you will refer back to over and over again. The
books don't just explain how to create your site -- they
show you how.

This package comes complete with hundreds of codes that you
can copy and paste, together with screen shots and examples
of what they all do.

I'm actually looking forward to putting into practice the
things I learned from these books.
You've done a fabulous job.

Thank you Shelley.

Your Partner in Success,
Lois M. Jeary Publisher, KIT and
KIT Klassifieds
home4success.com

-------------------------------------------

Hi Shelley,

As is always the case with any product you create Web Design
Mastery is a breath of fresh air any web site designer can
use.

I have been designing websites for several years and by no
means consider myself a "Master" but I think I'm pretty
good. Regardless of that I continually find myself
researching the latest techniques or searching for a way to
handle a specific request. I have only finished reading
about half of Web Design Mastery and I KNOW it is going to
save me SOOOO Much Time!

Congratulations on another Home Run Hit!

Best Regards,

Mike ASU Service
NetBizHelpers.com

-------------------------------------------

Shelley,

I just read over your ebook series and I must tell you it's
a masterpiece! This set contains EVERYTHING you need to
know to build a professional web site from scratch. I wish
I had this years ago before I had to learn the hard way.
I've added shortcuts on my desktop so I can refer to your
books when I work on my own site. This set is worth at least
three times more than what you're charging for it.

Wishing you MUCH success,

Kim Haas
Womans-Net.com

-------------------------------------------

Designing a great website has never been any easier...If
you're serious about designing a professional web site, give
Web Design Mastery a try. You'll be glad you did.

I highly recommend this powerful resource.

So Many Affiliate Programs! Which One Do I Choose?

So Many Affiliate Programs! Which One Do I Choose?


Ask questions first before you join an affiliate program. Do a little research about the choices of program that you intend to join into. Get some answers because they will be the deciding point of what you will be achieving later on.

When do they issue the commission checks? Every program is different. Some issue their checks once a month, every quarter, etc. Select the one that is suited to your payment time choice. Many affiliate programs are setting a minimum earned commission amount that an affiliate must meet or exceed in order for their checks to be issued.

What is the hit per sale ratio? This is the average number of hits to a banner or text link it takes to generate a sale based on all affiliate statistics. This factor is extremely important because this will tell you how much traffic you must generate before you can earn a commission from the sale.

How are referrals from an affiliate’s site tracked and for how long do they remain in the system? You need to be confident on the program enough to track those people you refer from your site. This is the only way that you can credit for a sale. The period of time that those people stay in the system is also important. This is because some visitors do not buy initially but may want to return later to make the purchase. Know if you will still get credit for the sale if it is done some months from a certain day.

What are the kinds of affiliate stats available? Your choice of affiliate program should be capable of offering detailed stats. They should be available online anytime you decide to check them out. Constantly checking your individual stats is important to know how many impressions, hits and sales are already generated from your site. Impressions are the number of times the banner or text link was viewed by a visitor of your site. A hit is the one clicking on the banner or text links.

Does the affiliate program also pay for the hits and impressions besides the commissions on sales? It is important that impressions and hits are also paid, as this will add to the earnings you get from the sales commission. This is especially important if the program you are in offers low sales to be able to hit ratio.

Who is the online retailer? Find out whom you are doing business with to know if it is really a solid company. Know the products they are selling and the average amount they are achieving. The more you know about the retailer offering you the affiliate program, the easier it will be for you to know if that program is really for you and your site.

Is the affiliate a one tier or two tier program? A single tier program pays you only for the business you yourself have generated. A two tier program pays you for the business, plus it also pays you a commission on the on the sales generated by any affiliate you sponsor in your program. Some two-tier programs are even paying small fees on each new affiliate you sponsor. More like a recruitment fee.

Lastly, what is the amount of commission paid? 5% - 20% is the commission paid by most programs. .01% - .05% is the amount paid for each hit. If you find a program that also pays for impressions, the amount paid is not much at all. As you can see from the figures, you will now understand why the average sales amount and hit to sale ratio is important.

These are just some of the questions that needed answering first before you enter into an affiliate program. You should be familiar with the many important aspects that your chosen program should have before incorporating them into your website. Try to ask your affiliate program choices these questions. These can help you select the right program for you site from among the many available.

And most of all, is the product something you can use and review with confidence? Is there even a product at all? If not, forget it and move on.