A/V Options for your Website
1. Know your media options for your website. With WebMedley, the size of your storage will determine the type and amount of media you can add. We offer three packages, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. If you want to add video, you will need a Gold or Platinum package because video requires greater storage capacity. If you currently have a Silver or Gold package, we can easily help you upgrade to meet your needs.
2. Get the media. You can create it yourself, or pull it off of another source. If you create it yourself, you’ll need recording equipment. This could be as simple as a cell phone camera or the Flip HD camera, which can be plugged directly into your computer to download video.
You can also find video recorded by someone else. You can search YouTube or Vimeo, which are video sharing sites.
Perhaps you don’t want a pre-recorded video. Instead, you want to share information real-time. You can use live, streaming broadcasts through services like Ustream.tv, Mogulus, or Justin.tv. With a web cam or video camera, you can record shows that can be seen on computers or mobile phones.
For audio, you can create or use podcasts. In his article “How to Podcast,” Jason Van Orden gives a detailed explanation of how to set up the podcast, where to record (your closet can be a good place), and how to turn the recording into a podcast that can be used on your website. Liberated Syndication, or Libsyn is another great resource for podcasting.
3. Show off your media. Once you have the media—audio or video—that you want to add to your website, you will need to make sure the format is compatible for others to see. This means converting it to an MP4 format or Flash by Adobe. You can then embed the video into your website.
Keep in mind that just as you may pull video and audio files off of other service such as YouTube, you can also promote your own media by downloading them to these same services. As more people watch them, they are more likely to follow up by visiting your website.
There are many options to adding audio and video to your website. With a video camera, a computer and an Internet connection, you have numerous possibilities. Consider which direction will be the best venue for showcasing your organization’s purpose and message.
Below is an example of a recent WebMedley introductory video we created, posted through Youtube, and then implemented into our site.
