All-

We've uploaded a test video at youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fsh6gJANshE

We'd like you opinion on it- we realize that the fonts are a bit fuzzy and we're trying to see what else we can do about it, but what we're really interested in is:

1. Should we make more of these?

2. Does the idea of posting these types of videos on YouTube make sense?

3. If the above are true, what topics should we cover, given a 10-minute limit on a video.

Thanks-

Revelation Software

Questions:

1) What business function would YouTube serve: marketing, support, training, or what?

2) What is your goal with using YouTube: more sales, lower costs, or?

3) Who is your expected audience, and will you reach them on YouTube?

I have spent some time on how to use YouTube for marketing, and the requirements for a successful viral marketing campaign. This forum may not be the right place to discuss marketing though; off-line would be better.

For support, I would have to ask how YouTube videos might be integrated with other support venues such as online documentation or discussion forums (or my preference, a KB wiki!). Basically I see two directions for performing support.

(1) An issue can be addressed through a product improvement to remove the issue (along with temporary support), or

(2) An issue can be addressed through improving documentation and training resources.

For support questions, the YouTube video applies to (2) only.

Now, why use a video as opposed to on-line documentation? One reason is scope. Written documentation is contextual to the individual command or program. A video may be able to cover a range of actions which, when put together, accomplish a complete task.

Another reason is clarity. A KB wiki might contain complete procedures, but it could be like reading math to figure out its purpose. Mathematics is moving toward visual representation of functions, not just equations, for this reason.

A downside to using web resources such as video is personality, or the lack thereof. (I know, I know, I'm that last person who should talk about this.) For our own marketing we have a cast of 4 characters; two are cartoons, two are real people. A similar approach should be followed to make a Revelation video watchable. For example:

First, have d'Weeb ask a question – can I use OI to front end U2 databases? (Ask all the questions: why would I want to, for instance?) Then have the ultimate MV authority, Rev Guy, give the answers. Do not focus closely on minutia. Keep screenshot sections to a minimum, reinforcing the dialog points. Time the video to 2 minutes or less, if possible.

Now if these comments do not discourage you, look for a volunteer media production group in your area, for example, mediaco-op.org in Memphis. You may find someone there who would dish out lots of ideas and guidance, just to be helpful. Have fun. Explore. Communicate.

I love the idea.

This is a way to provide clarification to a procedure\process which is not quite forthcomming at times in textual documents. eg. Drag/Drop. Mmm especially drag/drop in so far as what applications it can be applied to…..rearranging rows in an edittable, that I hadnt thought of until someone asked on the forum.

If this can be showing us cool things we can do in OI, then that can enhance our products, and thus OI sales

I suppose if you look over the "How to" queries in the past i am sure you can find other tutorial subjects.

I does NOT have to be a super dooper presentation, I am quite happy with the sample one you have done, straight and to the point.

Bring it on!!!

I am somewhat dubious about the need to use Youtube for this.

I am all for having visual explanations for such things, and the more the merrier.

Would Revelation not be better served having such videos on their web site, AND available to all, not restricted by the WORKS subscription.

If you want to make Revelation available to tbe masses, update the aging web site, and open up the information flow.

Colin

I like the basics of the idea but not sure that YouTube is the right place. Why not have these on line at RTI? Further why not create a little OI app which serves these up as a great example.

Us OI for OI demonstrations

Why not have these on line at RTI?

You can, in a sense, have these online on your own website:

http://www.srpcs.com/gbl_whats_new.aspx

Not sure if this is where you saw it or if you saw it directly on YouTube's site.

[email protected]

SRP Computer Solutions, Inc.

We can't host them here- our bandwidth (better than T1) is sometimes strained now, so having the items stored on YouTube's servers works out well for us. We'd have links from our website, on a page not protected by the Works password.

I like the idea of a new Demo app- we've started working on one in house.

Mike

Videos can be a very useful tool if presented on the Rev web site. The following is a link to the QAD web site as an example of a well done video demo from their web site.

http://www.qad.com/portal/site/solutioncenter/menuitem.2db175604f3123f435b416560690307a/?gnextoid=ae7216ce14357010VgnVCM100000810903a7RCRD

Click on User Interface then:

See the value of the QAD .NET User Interface

Mike - if bandwidth is your concern, please check out Amazon's S3 and EC2 technologies. If you can't afford their prices I'll subsidise.

The Amazon services are just brilliant - as well as cheapest storage on the planet. The link to get started is at http://aws.amazon.com/s3. Many of the utube like players use Amazon for storage.

Basically, you keep your web site creating the dynamic content, and you store the heavy stuff on Amazon with your website redirecting.

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