Are videos really useful in web design for capturing your next potential client?
I often meet clients who say, “I’ll give you a good video, you give me a website.” The problem is that video is great for print advertising and print, tv, radio, web, you name it. The problem with video is that it costs money to make. Video is not cheap. So, if you can, you’ll save money with a video than trying to make a website. Then, I will meet clients who come to me, their business is growing, it’s booming, they want a website, and they’ll pay more money than video.
The problem with videos, if the client isn’t savvy enough to understand how to add video, is that it’s very hard to add video without spending the day on the phone with you. And, the client will need to know the controls for the video, and they’ll need to know which buttons are video controls, and they’ll need to know how to set up their computer and add a video. Most clients will not know these things.
Here’s the good news: You can sell a video to a web site with a video that doesn’t cost you a dime! You can make a video with a video player that also plays the most common multimedia formats like mp3, wav, avi, and so on. It doesn’t need to be fancy, and it doesn’t need to be perfect. You just need to know how to get it done. And, all it takes is a video editing program, and a little technical know how. And, you can sell the video to a web site for a very small monthly fee. (If your client has a very small budget, they can pay a one-time fee, or they can buy as many annual licenses as they want. Most web site designers take it upon themselves to handle this kind of work for clients. It’s not necessary.)
The first thing I do with any web site project is go over the entire project with the client, explain everything, and make sure they understand the terms of the web site sale. I make sure they understand the goals of the web site, how they can grow my business, and so on. I also make sure that they understand the expectations of the web site project, as well. How many marketing plans will the client want? How will they control the site? Will the client want to hire a web designer to handle the project? Do they need a professional copywriter? I explain the whole process of the web site sale in detail. This also helps the client understand their options.
Next, I cut all video, or audio. Most clients want to see the finished product. I explain that I can’t show it, but I can send them links to several versions of the finished site. Some are sped up, and some are un-edited. Once I’m happy with those links, I send the client the finished product.
I then do a final check of the finished product. I go through all the links, and make sure the site works, in its un-cut form. I don’t check the quality, but that’s something the client can check on themselves. I also check to make sure there aren’t any mistakes.
I then use a video program to cut the video. This cuts out about 20%” I also convert the audio to an MP3 format. I convert the audio to a lossless file because I don’t want to put the file in the web site, and have it lose quality during uploading. I use a software program I’ve found very useful to do this job, and it saves me time.
Now it’s all ready for the client. I send them a link to the finished video, or audio file, and the finished web site. They can either read the site in browser, or use the software to use the site. I also send them the link to the software that I use to convert the audio to an MP3, but I usually just send them the finished file.
The client now goes through the site. I also communicate to the client that I need to do a final check of the site before it goes live. After that, I don’t communicate with them until the site is live.
I’ll usually try to make the client aware of all the options I have. I don’t mind sharing the info. In fact, I welcome it. If they choose to do without, that’s their choice. I also send them a link to my contact page, so they can let me know if they like the finished site.
After the client accepts the finished product, I send them the link to the finished version of the site.
I’ve found that my website is most effective and easiest to maintain when I keep all of my information all in one place. I don’t have to search for one single piece of info on my own. It saves me time, and it saves them confusion as well. Once they’ve accepted the finished product, they can easily access and update the info on their own, without searching through piles of paperwork. I also want to keep them informed as to what is happening with my site, so I send them a link to my contact page. I don’t send them every update I do several at a time, just enough so they can determine if they want to continue on with the site.
I’ve found this program to be extremely efficient and effective at maintaining a site that is done by a client. I recommend it to all my friends who are interested in having a website done. It’s a great tool and it really is worth the price of admission.
