Find multimedia marketing tools at three different price levels:

• Budget
• Mid-Range
• Deluxe

 

 

 

BUDGET

 

For less than $100, a variety of tools are available to create multimedia content, or build home tours with some animated features.

 

Windows Movie Maker

Microsoft

Price: Free with Windows XP and Vista

MovieMaker is Microsoft's video editing software, and it’s available for free as part of the operating system. Simplifies creation of multimedia videos containing video, music, narration, titles, and special effects. A Web-based version, Moviemaker Live, was recently introduced.

 

 

iLife 09

Apple

Price: Free with new Macs, $79 upgrade

The iLife suite contains four integrated applications that can be used to create multimedia content. iMovie is the video editing application for creating multimedia projects for distribution online or off. Other components include GarageBand for recording soundtracks and podcasts, iPhoto image management software, and the iWeb site builder.

 

 

BuildATour.com

BuildATour.com

Price: $9.95 per tour

A Web-based virtual-tour creation solution, each tour can contain up to 75 images and displays in a play window with music background. The window also includes contact information, maps, and links to other information about the area. The service provides links to a branded version for use on a personal Web site and an unbranded version for posting to the MLS. The fee covers one year of tour hosting, which is renewable.

 

 

ZingDing eCards

Gilges Media Inc. 

Price: $4.95/month or $49.95/year subscriptions

Subscribers combine still photos, text, music, and Flash animation effects into e-cards for distribution on the Web. Users upload photos into a design template, and select other content. The system handles distribution to popular social networks, Realtor.com, and other sites. Cards also can be displayed on a Web site or shared by e-mail. Fees cover an unlimited number of virtual tour and holiday e-cards.

 

 

Keynote

Apple 

Price: $79 for the iWork suite, including Keynote

Keynote simplifies the integration of content into a presentation, which can include audio, video, animated transitions, graphics, and text. The iWorks suite also includes Pages for word processing and desktop publishing, and Numbers, Apple’s spreadsheet solution.

 

 

MediaWorks

Interactive Solutions 

Price: $79.95

Compatible with both Mac and Windows operating systems, MediaWorks is a suite of five integrated applications for building multimedia presentations. Modules include Author for composing and managing the project, Paint/Photo graphics and photo editor, Sound for audio recording and editing, Video for importing and formatting analog or digital video, and Animator for creating animated segments, effects, and transitions.

 

 

Premiere Elements

Adobe Systems 

Price: $99

Premier Elements, for Windows, is a simplified video editing solution for creating movies from a variety of media sources. It includes themed movie templates and variety of special effects. With SmartSound, you can create and synchronize a soundtrack. Completed projects can be burned to DVD with an index or distributed to popular video sites like YouTube.

 

 

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MID-RANGE

 

Beyond the basics, you’ll find a solutions for specific types of multimedia projects and turnkey creation services.

 

Why Buy Webcast

Realty Times

Price: $199

Professional services for creation of a “Why Buy This House” Webcast home tour. The program includes music, professional narration about property’s appeal. and scenes of the house, details of the listing, and contact information. Fee also covers e-mail distribution to real estate professionals, and posting to Realtor.com, YouTube, and RealtyTimes.com.

 

 

TourWeaver

Easypano Holdings Inc.

Price: $199.99

Exclusively for Windows, this application helps you to build virtual tours and format them as interactive flash presentations for easy sharing on the Web. The content can include still images, video, floor plans, and tour “hot spots” with pop-up windows. The company also offers the Studio suite, which adds the Panoweaver application for stitching photos into 360-degree panoramic images.

 

 

PowerPoint 2007

Microsoft

Price: $229

PowerPoint, available as a standalone purchase or as part of the Office Suite, is one of the most prevalent presentation solutions. With this application, you can combine text, graphics, animation clips, and sound into a presentation for use on a laptop, the Web, or disc.

 

 

ReelProductions.TV Basic Home Tour

Reelproductions TV

Price: $250

The basic package creates a motion video tour of a home with a run time between 90 seconds and two minutes. The fee covers video of rooms, custom graphics, voice-over narration and music, editing, and formatting for display on the Web or distribution on disc. Other services include Video Business Cards, Community Profiles and Premium Home Tours.

 

 

Flair

WildForm Inc.

Price: $299

With this program, which runs on Windows, users can create Flash multimedia programs for sharing online or distribution by e-mail or optical disc. Content can include any combination of audio, video, text, graphics, and photos. The software also can convert PowerPoint presentations into Flash format. An optional library of special effects also is available.

        

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DELUXE

 

The high end of multimedia marketing tools includes solutions for creating an unlimited number of multimedia tours, custom-built presentations, fully integrated multimedia campaigns, and professional-level content-creation tools.

 

Previsite Ultimate Marketing Solution

Previsite 

Price: $129.99 for camera kit; $19.99/month subscription

This integrated solution includes the camera, software, and training for building an unlimited number of virtual tours. Tour content includes 180-degree panoramic images, video, music and narration, area maps, and an interactive floor plan of the property with “hot spots” linked to photos or video. Syndications services, including formatting tours for mobile devices, are included.

 

 

The Complete Studio

Real Estate Power Tools 

Price: $599

This multimedia marketing program combines video segments, photos, text and audio for presentations to clients on a Web site, in person or on a CD-ROM. Presentations target buyers and sellers. The bundle includes Web site ads to encourage visitors to order the buyer’s or seller’s presentation by completing a contact form.

 

 

ProPresenter

Real Pro Success 

Price: $799

This Canadian company creates customized Flash listing presentations featuring photos, animated graphics, graphs, and text information. Each presentations include a series of slides explaining marketing plans, current market conditions and other relevant topics. Content and theme can be adapted to niche market segments such as families, urban dwellers, or tech savvy sellers.

 

 

Creative Suite 4 Design Premium

Adobe Systems 

Price: $1,799 for CS4

Available for Windows and Mac OS. The Creative suite brings together all Adobe’s professional solutions for the creation, design and management of multimedia content, and is best for those who want complete creative control. Included are full versions of Adobe’s InDesign, PhotoShop, Illustrator, and professional versions of Acrobat and Flash.

        

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