Video is the hottest commodity on the Internet. It is the single best tool available to deliver your message. Internet video is effective, inexpensive and fun.

We specialize in creating high-quality video for websites. We can manage the project from start to finish, from simple youtube-style clips to elaborate productions. And our prices are surprisingly low.

Many people want to participate in their video projects, and perhaps reduce costs by doing some of the work themselves. Here are ideas to consider.

1. If you already have great video that delivers your message, use it. Many companies have had a DVD made by professionals, or have created video for a TV spot. It is easy and affordable to reformat that existing video and use it on the Internet.

• Use the original video, if it is available. If you paid a company to shoot video, you probably own that video. The videographer may not have given you the tapes, but he probably will if you ask for them. Quality will be higher if you work from the originals.
• If you can't get the tapes, you can still get reasonable quality by pulling the video from a DVD. Good video editing software will read from the DVD and allow you to merge the video into your project.
• You can even use video from a VHS tape, but that quality does not compare with the clear image delivered via DVD.

2. You can also use audio that you had created for a radio or TV spot. If you have had something professionally produced, you may as well make it available on your website. Get the original files if possible, or just rip the audio from a CD. Use Audacity or some other audio editing software to edit the sound.

3. If you have great still photos, consider turning them into a narrated video slideshow. That can be very effective, at a cost that is far lower than what you will pay to shoot and edit new video. Some of the biggest companies in the world use video created solely from still images, and you hardly notice it doesn't show full action. You can pan and zoom on the photos to give them movement.

4. Use a great script. The prettiest images in the world will benefit you but little unless they are presented alongside relevant selling points and a compelling call to action. Think through your presentation. What is it you want the clip to accomplish? Work that out before you start storyboarding and shooting video.

5. If you need to get new video shot, we strongly recommend hiring a professional. The quality you get from a consumer-grade camcorder just doesn't compare with images delivered via more expensive professional-grade equipment. Also, a professional will be able to use advanced camera techniques to make the video shine.

6. Get the video edited. Again, we recommend using a professional if you want high quality. You can edit video on most newer computers using Windows Movie Maker or I-Movie and get a decent basic clip, but you will need more sophisticated tools if you want to create something truly outstanding.

7. Post your clip to youtube and then embed it into a page on your site. Youtube makes it very easy to get video onto the internet, and easy to get it into one of your web pages. The quality of clips on youtube varies greatly. Basically, if you upload decent video youtube will deliver a clip of acceptable quality. If you want outstanding quality then you should get someone who specializes in Internet video to format it and post it directly to your server.

Youtube gives you a potentially huge audience. For most people, the ease of posting and the potentially large audience are important benefits. You will get the most mileage from your clip if you deliver it to the diverse audience found on youtube, and to the targeted audience that visits your website.

We are happy to answer questions or provide more into about Internet video - just shoot us an email.

- Dave