Presentation Options
[private].[/private]When packaging and presenting your products you have a few options. You can stick with plain old text eBooks (be sure to at least dress them up nicely with attractive eCover graphics) or you can add a lot of perceived value by including a few more of the presentation options I’m going to cover in this section.
The three main presentation options you have for digital information products are text, audio, and video.
As you already know, text can be presented in eBook format or it can be presented in an online format – such as a membership site. Once you have taken the time to put your information together into a text format, it’s very easy to add audio or create audio presentations from scratch for that matter!
Let’s break down each presentation option a bit further:
Text Presentations
Text has been covered in depth up until this point. You have eBook format and online format! The main suggestions for enhancing the perceived value of text-based products is to develop attractive eCover graphics for your product.
Audio Presentations
Creating audio is becoming a more and more popular method of presenting information. Have you ever heard the term “podcast”? Podcasts are wildly popular and are quite easy to create. All you have to do is record your information by speaking into a microphone, put it in .mp3 format, and share it with your customers.
You also have the option of outsourcing audio work to voiceover artists to make it sound much more professional, but if you’re in a niche where you want to “brand” yourself as knowledgeable and experienced, then why not let people hear a little bit more of your own voice?
Once you have information recorded in an audio format, you can stream it online using a few tools I’m going to suggest in a minute or you can allow members to download it so they can listen to it on their computer or save it for later on their Ipod or portable mp3 player!
Here’s a few options I personally use and recommend for creating and presenting streaming web audio:
Simple method: Web Audio Plus
Web Audio Plus is an extremely easy to use software program that takes you right through the steps of recording your audio and getting it into a format that will make it easy to stream online. You just record, upload, insert some code into your web page, and you’re ready to rock and roll!
Here’s a link to learn more about Web Audio Plus:
Web Audio Plus
Advanced Method: Wimpy Player
Wimpy Player is a more professional, yet more complicated option for streaming web audio. I have used Wimpy on a few of my other sites and I greatly enjoy the benefits it offers my members because the Wimpy Player’s control panel is extremely user friendly.
However, the main drawback to using Wimpy Player is that it’s sort of tricky to get setup. Wimpy is a very popular application and you also know how much of a fan I am of outsourcing, so you may have already guessed that I have found a guy that I use over and over to configure my Wimpy Players and add new audio files for me.
I suggest you try the same thing!
If you want to check out Wimpy Player here’s the link:
Video Presentations
Video presentations are another great way to present digital information to your customers. Video can be packaged as a downloadable product, but it’s easily streamed online by using .wmv, .flv, or .swf formats.
The two most popular types of videos streamed online are:
1. Screen recordings
Record your computer’s screen for demonstrations or “how-to” videos. There are a few different software programs out there that make this very easy for you to do. The most widely used software program is called “Camtasia”. The only major drawback to Camtasia is the price tag, but if you want the best screen recording software you can get, then Camtasia is the only answer:
There is also a lesser known and cheaper alternative to Camtasia known as “Cam Studio Pro”. Cam Studio Pro is a hacked version of a freeware program that allows internet marketers to take advantage of some of the nicer features that were missing from the free version.
You can check out Cam Studio Pro here:
Finally, there is the free version, but be warned – the quality of video and the flexibility you will have with this free version is very limited. However, if you are on a strict or fixed budget and need to get some screen recordings done, then this is a good option to know about as a last resort.
This is the free version of Cam Studio:
2. In Person Videos
Another great type of video that can be streamed online is an in-person video of you or someone related to your project talking directly into the camera. In person videos are fun, but some people do not have the type of personality to get in front of a camera and share the video online with strangers. This is certainly understandable.
You may not have too hard of a time finding a struggling actor in your area who is willing to read a script into the camera for you! Give it a try and see what you come up with.
For in person videos you will need expensive equipment such as a video camera, possibly a tripod, etc… However, if you are prepared to use online video to enhance your site, then you can enjoy some of the many benefits this option offers.
By showing in-person videos of yourself talking about your website or product, you show a great deal of confidence in what you have to offer your niche. You also allow people to see the more personal side of you and your character, which makes most prospective customers be a little less wary of opening up their wallet to you!
Here are a few good programs and resources for working with and sharing your videos:
