Streamline Your Training Costs with Streaming Media

Streaming Media?now a well accepted Internet technology. Yet streaming is still not being widely utilized by members of corporate training staffs. Why is this? I would venture to guess that lack of direct experience, hesitation to try new methods, and fears about costly "TV type stuff" have all contributed to make streaming seem like something too difficult to attempt successfully.

Granted, streaming media still has its limitations especially in the area of delivering full- screen, full-quality video. But most of the big players on the Internet, even those in head-to-head competition for the fast-growing streaming audience, agree that as bandwidth continues to improve, streaming provides a value added service to the Web. Live and on-demand streaming has definitely arrived on the Internet and on corporate intranets as part of a multimedia mix for all kinds of applications including sales, marketing, and training. (I think that the entertainment value need not be disputed.)

Streaming is economical and extremely affordable. Once the training production has been completed, there is no need for expensive tape, or CD-ROM, duplication and shipping charges. The stream is available 24 hours a day without human intervention and can remain on the company site for an indeterminate time. Streams can also be archived for easy access by new employees, customers and visitors. The cost of hosting and archiving these streams is minuscule compared with the costs associated with tape duplication, storage, mailing, and the personnel required to perform these tasks

What is streaming exactly? Streaming promises quick access to meaningful content without the aggravating wait for files to download. Downloading requires that files be sent to the user's PC in their entirety before they can be played; MP3 is a perfect example of this. The files then remain on the user's machine until they are deleted. Streaming continuously sends these same files, which have already been digitized, to the user's PC while the user is listening or watching. When the stream is ended, no data is left behind on the user's machine. Streams can also be password protected for additional security.

Why is this technology so well suited for training purposes? The first and most compelling answer is its availability. Unlike a video or tele-conference, the participant sets the time and place for the training activity, not the training provider. This is critical when you have a widely dispersed sales group, your company has remote locations, or workers who require training are on different shifts. This is also a very appealing feature for those seeking higher educational opportunities.

Maintaining training standards and techniques is facilitated with streaming media. The training provider is assured that all participants will see and hear the same program. It also makes the producer's job easier; he or she only has to "put-on" the program once Instead of many times and can put more emphasis on quality production values.

Streaming media can be seamlessly integrated with other tools as part of the same program. An audio stream could be used with still or 3-D graphics to talk about complex machinery, architectural plans, or engineering drawings. Use a video stream in conjunction with workbook exercises for the classroom. Combine audio, video, and graphics for a facilities tour for remote sales people and their customers. Utilize streaming as an effective employee orientation tool, also. Company manuals can be adapted for on-line use and be available on the company Intranet for training on demand.

Streaming media can provide the answer when a company needs to reach a great many consumers at one time. I spent several years in the juvenile products industry where product recalls are common. Many of those recalls involve products that require a simple mechanical adjustment that the end-user can easily perform when provided with clear instructions. Streaming media could be used to demonstrate the corrective procedure and save the company a small fortune by eliminating unnecessary phone calls and product returns.

Streaming media technology is fast becoming an accepted method for disseminating information as well as a technique to entertain and amuse us. Now that broadband connections are readily available, companies that are willing to harness these new techniques will be called "creators of value" and the innovators of the future.

Ronni Rhodes is the owner of WBC Imaging, an Internet company that specializes in web site enhancement utilizing streaming media technology. With her husband, Don, a digital media engineer, they work with companies to incorporate streaming as part of successful and meaningful sales and marketing programs.

Please direct all questions and comments to: Ronni@wbcimaging.com 520-742-5780 http://www.wbcimaging.com

---

6 Ways to Keep Them Coming Back

It is estimated that it can take the average consumer... Read More

Web Site Advertising: 10 Blockbuster Secrets To Make Your Web Site More Profitable

Do you want to make your website more profitable?If you... Read More

Promotion Techniques Dont Have To Be A Hassle

Are you tired of writing countless eMails to other webmasters... Read More

The Sure-Fire Ways To Attract New Customers Now

1. Give Away An Electronic Information Product The product could... Read More

Ten Unobvious Ideas To Pull Visitors to Your Real Estate Agent Web Site

The number one key to getting business in the real... Read More

How to Get Unlimited Free Advertising

The opportunities for getting free advertising for your product or... Read More

Marketing Case Study: Launching WebSiteMarketingPlan.com (2001 - 2002)

The ChallengeWebSiteMarketingPlan.com was to be a companion site to the... Read More

Drive People to Your Site to Buy Your Products

Bring those visitors back for more, applauding you and saying... Read More

Methods of Website Promotion

Promoting a Website is not an easy task. New Website... Read More

10 Website Blunders Guaranteed to Send Your Visitors Elsewhere

When you build your website you need to have a... Read More

Promoting Your Site Off-Line

The internet is a wonderful source of information and full... Read More

Website Promotion Internet Marketing Will Keep You On Top

Website promotion Internet marketing is perhaps the most important part... Read More

How to Test a Keyword for Success!

Finding the successful keywords is crucial in order to get... Read More

The Power of News!

Have you even been to CNN's website? Odds are you... Read More

Top 10 Reasons Why I Reject Article Submissions

Each week I receive dozens of article submissions to my... Read More

Complete Novice Builds Business Using Press Releases on the Internet

My name is Barbara Mascio. I am the founder of... Read More

Free Online Advertising: 10 Dynamic Secrets To Make Your Ad Stand Out And Ignite Sales

No matter what you're marketing or promoting, if your Ad... Read More

The 7 Habits of a Successful Web-Marketing Plan

What is web-marketing? Why does your business need it?The best... Read More

How To Get Free Advertising By Giving Away Online Content

Giving away content is a powerful way to get free... Read More

Time to Tell A Friend

The internet has the capacity, sometimes, to divorce not just... Read More

Why You MUST Have A My Yahoo! Page

Yahoo! allows you to set up your own front page... Read More

How To Obtain Free Advertising For Your Online Business

The beauty of the Internet is that it allows you... Read More

5 Cheap Ways to Promote Your Website Offline

We get so caught up with internet marketing and "web... Read More

Marketing Tips for Your Web Site

Here are some simple and easy tips on how to... Read More

10 Shocking Ways To Energize Your Sales

1. Start your own internet radio station. It could be... Read More

How To Get Free Advertising By Giving Away Online Content

Giving away content is a powerful way to get free... Read More

Link Building Secrets - Promote Your Website with a Proven Tactic

Building links to your website is of huge importance and... Read More

Web Advertising: Hold An Online Contest Or Sweepstakes And Make Your Website Magnetic To Visitors

Contests and Sweepstakes.They are web advertising magnets that draw huge... Read More

5 Successful Tips For Marketing Your Website

This could be the most amazing article to ever be... Read More

Banners You Cant Ignore

Some "experts" say they don't exist. Apparently we have become... Read More

7 Must Knows for Measuring Web Site Activities

Record keeping measurements for Internet marketing Record keeping tracks money... Read More

7 Innovative Ways To Advertise Your Web Site

1. Directory Linking Create a directory of web sites on... Read More

Internet Directory Submission, Sure Way To Link Popularity

Most website owners fail to differentiate between a directory and... Read More