HOW YOU CAN USE IT

A picture is worth a thousand words.

You know the saying “you need to see it to believe it.” For technology marketers today, “it” needs to be seen to be understood or explained or memorable. The Web has evolved from its primordial days of never-ending pages of text and flat graphics. The rise of online video technology and the penetration of broadband access have coalesced to bring about the advent of the Multimedia Age.

Let’s face it, there are certain things that are simply more engaging when they’re shown. Either via an interpretive illustrated diagram or an insightful online video, certain subjects are better explained with multimedia. Combine that with the fact that most people prefer video content to static text, and you have the perfect storm of intent and acceptance.

Here are just some of the perfect applications for multimedia:

Demonstrating a new product
If your customers have never seen your product before, make sure they understand it from the get-go. Live demonstrations, under-the-hood illustrations, problem/solution storytelling. All combine to make sure customers know what distinguishes your product or service from the competition.

Explaining/visualizing a complex service or process
If there’s a concept that’s too abstract to explain verbally or perhaps a product that doesn’t exist in final form yet, an illustrated demo can take the drawing board to the computer screen better than any other medium.

Facility/location tours
100,000 square feet never looked so good as in a facility video. Show your equipment, meet the staff, and prove that you are what you say you are with a full video tour.

“In-person” sales tours
Social media reaffirms the tenet that people do business with people. Pursue that goal with video that features the human spirit. Whether if it’s a spokesperson or the CEO, in-person sales presentations humanize your face to market and welcome people to learn more.

Software demonstrations
If you simply don’t have enough time, dollars or warm bodies to travel the country giving software demos, put them online. Particularly if your software demo runs on an ever-changing development server, avoid all the hassles of logging in remotely while your prospects wait. Let them view the demo on their schedule and then follow up for next steps.

Training or tutorials
The vast majority of tech support questions can be handled without intervention of a live representative. Reduce your help desk costs and enhance forums and FAQs with video tutorials that let customers see what they need to know – when they need to know it.

Vision video/brand building
Broadcast isn’t the only place for companies to make a big brand impression. Multimedia can deliver the same creative integrity but with a viral circulation that TV just can’t deliver. Illuminate your corporate vision or light a fire under your new product release. Multimedia will help fan the flames.

Entertainment
YouTube averages between 14 and 15 billion video views per month in the US alone. Make your story something people want to watch. Regardless if you’re selling MP3 players or ERP software, every consumer wants to be rewarded for investing their time.