|
STREAMING_MEDIA_ _Leveling_the_Playing_Field_for_Small_Business_ _Part_II
| STREAMING MEDIA - Leveling the Playing Field for Small Business - Part II
In part I of this series, I discussed streaming audio which is
the most mature of the streaming techniques. (If you missed it,
see http://www.wbcimaging.com/articles/audio_articles.htm). Just
as surely as television followed radio, the rapid advancement of
Internet technology now makes it possible to add high resolution
images to your audio presentations on the web; they can even be
designed to that your images change with audio cues.
Let's backtrack for just a moment. Until recently, the only way
to change images on a web site was by using the meta refresh
tags or employing a Java applet. The meta refresh tag's
reliability is highly dependent on connection speed, and the
Java applet is very picky when it comes to choosing the browser
with which it likes to work. And, more importantly, neither one
of these can handle audio. Now, however, by using the technology
developed by RealNetworks, any number of images can be added to
your audio presentations and streamed from your site. Visitors
to your site are now able to view high resolution, quality
pictures while enjoying near CD quality sound. Best of all, it
streams smoothly over a 28.8 connection.
I have to issue a word of caution here. Don't confuse streaming
slides with streaming video. There is a big difference!
(Streaming video will be the topic of Part III of this series.)
Streaming slides consist of still images that can change over
time or in sync with an audio script. You can utilize existing
photos, graphic images, and quality line art for your slide
show. (Most encoding companies will also be able to supply
television type still graphics at a very low cost if you need
assistance in that regard.) Due to the flexibility of streaming
slides, your sales presentations take on a whole new look and
give your web site personality.
You can now show your products in an entirely different light.
Instead of trying to describe unique and/or desirable features
with only text or audio, you can actually zero in on those
important selling points with pictures! (The old adage "A
picture is worth a thousand words" takes on new meaning on the
Internet.) Prospective buyers can now more closely examine
products that are usually difficult to sell over the web, due to
the desire of consumers to "touch and feel." This adds a great
deal of credibility to your sales pitch and to your web based
business. (Items like antiques, furniture, sporting goods, and
apparel fall easily into this category.)
I have to take a moment to mention the impact that streaming
slides can have for realtors and homebuilders. With so much real
estate activity taking place over the web today, imagine the
sales edge that a good slide show could have by showcasing the
property's outstanding features. Add an audio that discusses the
availability of nearby schools, shopping, transportation, and
entertainment, as well as available financing for the property,
and you have a property that will surely sell. You will probably
also have very grateful and happy buyers, especially if they are
trying to locate suitable properties from a city or town far
away.
Several publications have called streaming slides a true
attention getter! All it takes to put together a streaming slide
show is gathering your images on disk, photo or paper. Get your
audio cassette ready or have a script available. (Most encoding
companies can provide voice talent if necessary.) In your script
you will indicate where the slide changes are to occur, or you
will provide audio cues on your cassette tape for this to
happen. Information will also have to be provided on the
sequencing of the pictures. Your encoding company will prepare
and digitize your media and send you web ready files or they
will offer hosting on their own servers.
Small businesses have always dreamed of having access to
expensive media so that they could promote their products
tastefully and with style. Now they can at very reasonable
costs...and with the 365/24/7 capability that only the Internet
can offer. The creative possibilities of marketing with
streaming media are endless; streaming slide shows are only one
of the many options available to small business.
(To see a streaming slide show demo, go to:
http://www.wbcimaging.com/RealDemos/RealDemoTable.htm)
About the author:
Don Rhodes, owner of WBC Imaging, a company specializing in web
site enhancement utilizing streaming media technology. Mr.
Rhodes is a broadcast engineer who believes that the Internet is
the media delivery system of the future. Please direct all
questions and comments to: info@wbcimaging.com WBC Imaging
520-742-5780 http://www.wbcimaging.com
|
|
| |
| |
