It would be nice if we could flip a switch and have users visiting your company website experience streaming video on your homepage magically when they login tomorrow morning but this isn't likely going to happen so quickly. Successful integration of video into a website is complex but not impossible, particularly if you adopt a "phasing" model for integrating video into your website.

Adopting a phasing model will help you get your feet wet and test out your strengths and weaknesses. First you need content to deliver which will be a process almost entirely independet from the skill sets necessary for internet development. You may need to hire a video production company to handle the technical video production and deliver you a basic electronic file like a .avi, .mpg, or .wmv file of the final product in addition to the tape or DVD they may deliver to you.

Once you have a electronic file of the video you wish to present you are getting closer to web integration. This is a critical step where you need to consider your audience. Large file size high resolution video files will be challenging for anyone without broadband to view. Scale your initial files to smaller sizes to test out the whole process and once you get your first successful video file to play on your website you can consider increasing the resolution quality.

After optimizing the video file for the web it is time to consider player type. Quicktime, Windows Media Player, Macromedia Flash option, which to choose? Progressive download or streaming option? Start simple and build towards the more sophisticated.

Begin with progressive download as this often requires little, if any specialized hosting services. You may need to consider bandwith but remeber, start small and build towards the more sophisticated. Streaming services require more setup, monthly costs and concurrent user restrictions which you may need to know more about one day but day will not be your first test when you intially begin to integrate video into your website.

Consider leveraging special plugins into your unique content management system platform. Many Wordpress, Joomla, and Mambo content management systems have free plugins that help you speed your entry into the market.

Call Kosovich Media Group at 219-512-9211 for more information about how we can help you customize a plan for you maximize your video website integration processes.