Multimedia Marketing Guide
- Guide to Multimedia Marketing Tools
- Multimedia Marketing on Any Budget
- What Others Are Using
- Shopping Glossary
- Photo Gallery: Multimedia Marketing Tools
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Standard Multimedia Marketing Tools
You don't need to be film school graduate to master multimedia, but you will require some standard tools. Here are the basics.
Computer: Multimedia production and video editing are demanding tasks for a PC. You’ll need a fast processor, backed by several gigabytes of RAM. As a guide, check the recommended system configuration of software you’ll be using to build projects.
Software: The mix depends on your ambition as a multimedia producer. Some get by with a standard presentation program, others want a fully integrated graphics suite. Use of video requires a video editing application. For sharing online, you’ll need to convert and format productions for Flash.
Extra Content: For more options in transitions, clips, or background music, consider royalty-free content. Flash features or Web widgets can be used to encourage viewers to take a virtual tour.
Camera: Capture both photos and video with some of the latest digital still cameras. The lens is critical: Look for wide angle and a powerful zoom. Cameras that also record high-resolution video are available under $200, and HD (high definition) models can be found for less than $300.
Host and Viewer: To share videos online, you need a host and a viewer linked to or embedded in your page. Sites like YouTube and WellcomeMat.com provide both.
Distribution: List your clips where people are most likely to search for it. For offline use, you’ll need the presentation formatted for display on your laptop, or sharability on a CD-ROM or DVD.
Time: As easy as today’s tools have made creating multimedia presentations, expect to spend hours learning software applications, and at least a couple of hours developing each presentation. If that’s too much of a commitment, hire a professional to do it all for you.
CHEAP TOOLS TO SPICE UP YOUR SHOW
You can dress up a multimedia presentation or tour, and distinguish yours from other projects created with the same tools or services, by adding stock content. These royalty-free images, clips, songs, and animated effects are yours to use for a one-time fee or for purchase of an entire catalogue of content.
Several sources offer compilations of music or individual tracks, as well as public domain recordings, for backing music or a soundtrack. Some popular sources include the appropriately named RoyaltyFreeMusic and MusicBakery.
Also available are different types of clips to add to a presentation, as background or for transitions between slides or program segments. Anistock sells collections of video or animation clips for use without restriction, while users of Animation Factory can buy or subscribe to catalogs of unrestricted clip art, animation, video, audio, and sound-effect clips.
Learn More: How Others are Using It ׀ Photo Gallery ׀ Glossary: Key Terms
Michael Antoniak is a journalist and technology expert with a focus on real estate applications. Antoniak also writes about real estate technology at his blog, RealTechTools. He can be contacted at antoniak@dtccom.net.