dms_home.html
 

It’s widely known among Internet professionals that adding video to Websites enhances the user experience, improves search engine rankings and prolongs site visitation. Web video also offers a much-needed alternative to text and pictures when presenting certain information to a potential client or target audience. To illustrate, we’ll take a look at the Website www.insightscollection.com


Tony Michaelides spent over 30 years as one of the most influential record promoters to come out of the UK. He worked with artists such as David Bowie, Genesis, Peter Gabriel and U2. He now writes a popular blog, councils upcoming bands and has assembled a series of presentations and books based on his “Lessons Learned from Rock and Roll” concept. While Tony’s blog, Website and Facebook pages all enjoy significant traffic, Digital Media Services recently suggested that Tony add an introductory video to his Insights Collection home page to improve Website popularity and better present his brand.













Much of Tony’s success is due to his energetic, outgoing personality and that just doesn’t fully come across via words and pictures alone. Using video allows Tony’s Website visitors to gain a much better feel for who Tony is and what they can expect from him should they choose to hire him as a counselor or for a speaking engagement. Viewing the video also encourages visitors to spend more time on Tony’s site learning about his background and how his services might benefit or entertain them. And, since adding the video on his home page, Tony’s page rankings and Web traffic have both increased.


But there are a few details to consider when adding video to a Website. If you host your own videos, make sure you assign the actual video file a descriptive, keyword-based file name. Search engines pick up on the names of video files. “video_01” is not a very good file name. “tampa_bay_video_tour” is much better. Also, be sure to include descriptive text about your video on the Web page on which it appears. If you don’t host your own videos and have no control of the file name once it’s been uploaded, be sure to include an accurate and detailed description of the video and offer relevant keywords wherever possible in the text fields offered by video hosting sites.


Keep Web videos short. Two or three minutes is usually about as long as most surfers are willing to devote to watching a video unless it’s a lecture or narrative presentation on a topic they’re researching or find particularly interesting. Also, don’t overlook production quality. While most consumers are used to seeing home movie-style videos on YouTube and Facebook, businesses are usually not represented well with low-quality video productions, no matter how small the business might be. If budget is a concern, looking into a production like our Express Web Video that offers professional results at affordable pricing.


OK, now for some fun. Anyone know what the very first video uploaded to YouTube was? Me at the zoo was uploaded by YouTube co-founder Jawed Karim on April 23, 2005. What about the first live Internet broadcast? Way back in August of 1995, the audio of a Seattle Mariners vs. New York Yankees baseball game was streamed via a system by Real Networks.


Including video on a Website has multiple benefits. Don’t overlook this valuable tool for your Website marketing.

March 2010 Newsletter

Project of the Month

Cruise Ship Photography and Videography

Digital Media Services provides photo and video services for several cruise industry clients so we decided to attend this year’s Cruise Shipping Miami, the trade’s premier conference and expo held each March in Miami Beach. We met several new contacts and learned about the latest in cruise ship design from furniture and fabrics to engine room pumps, decking and specialty restaurant menus.


As we’ve recently gained many new subscribers to our newsletter, we thought it would be appropriate to highlight some of our work involving cruise ships as their elaborate designs offer a perfect venue for showcasing high-quality photo and video imagery.


We’ll start with our Cruise Ship Photography page which provides a general overview of our work. Next, we offer the Royal Caribbean Casino Lifestyle page where you’ll see samples of images we shot onboard the Freedom of the Seas. To see more of the second-largest cruise ship in the world, visit the Freedom of the Seas page. The Celebrity Solstice Index page will link you directly to the  QuickTime VR page, Panoramic Image page and Behind-the-scenes page of the impressive ship.


For motion picture work, be sure to check out the Azamara Journey video to experience some great Steadicam work by David Campbell and editing by Brian Satchfield. Then take a look at Shooting the Freedom of the Seas, a humorous and informative look at what goes on behind-the-scenes when shooting the largest cruise ship in the world.


As I’m sure you can tell, DMS takes a lot of pride in producing the highest quality visual product and in working with our clients in creating photos and video  that they can be proud of and, more importantly, will effectively present their product, service or message. Let us know how we can help you.

Marketing Tip

The Power of Web Video

Tech Tip

Like it or not, 3D is coming in a big way

All original imagery and written content copyright © 2010 by Digital Media Services & Consulting LLC. All rights reserved.

Digital Media Services

3D film technology has been around in various forms for almost 100 years. Many of us associate 3D and those goofy glasses with gimmicky effects best-suited for special venue presentations or B-movie productions. I’ve always enjoyed the Jim Henson’s MuppetVision 3D attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park. But even 3D horror effects couldn’t salvage Jaws 3D. However, Hollywood’s recent marketing push into 3D is a much more concerted effort.


Many of you have probably seen one of the recent  big-budget films in 3D at your local theater. Avatar and Alice in Wonderland are two of the more popular ones. Toy Story 3 will likely be big as well. But this time, it’s not just Hollywood that’s getting in on the act; the consumer electronics manufacturers and broadcasters are jumping on board, too.


Samsung and Panasonic are already selling 3D TVs for the home, even though no real programming is available yet. Other major manufacturers are prepping their 3D TVs as well. 3D Blu-ray players are beginning to roll out and the first 3D Blu-ray video - Monsters Vs Aliens - comes packaged with a pair of high-tech 3D glasses in the Samsung 3D Starter Kit. ESPN will be the first network to offer live 3D broadcasts beginning in June with the Discovery Channel working with Sony and IMAX to create the first full-time 3D cable channel by year’s end. And many of us haven’t even upgraded to HDTV yet!


I’ve had a hard time convincing myself that consumers will really want to wear glasses when watching TV; I guess time will tell.












However, if any of our readers want to be a market leader and jump head-first into 3D video production, Panasonic has already been sending me offers to purchase their “affordable” 3D HD camera system!

Contact Us

We’re here to hear

Questions? Comments? Feedback? All are greatly appreciated! Email us by clicking here or call us at 727-512-9998. We’d love to hear from you!

Read previous Digital Media Services newsletters for additional project ideas, tech tips, marketing tips and more.

Extras

Other cool DMS projects

Sean Deren completed two interesting projects during March: an editorial photo shoot on artistic tattoo work and a fashion shoot featuring women with children on the way.

Earlier this month, Robert Kildoo provided photography services for the Humane Society of Tampa Bay’s Barks in the Park event and had several shots published in Tampa Bay Magazine’s feature on upscale kitchen designs.

Lance Robson completed his coverage of the USF Bulls basketball season, began shooting for the new Tampa Bay Rowdies professional soccer team and was on hand for the debut of the documentary film “30 Years of Tampa Concrete” for which he helped produce.

Brian Satchfield shot HD video for the USF Bulls, attended Cruise Shipping Miami, met with several new clients on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and began prepping for several upcoming projects.