There are numerous training materials available for learning Internet marketing. These include guides for such topics as pay per click marketing, affiliate marketing and article marketing. Traditionally, this information has been provided in pdf format and sold as e-books. Sometimes they are supplemented with audio files. Today, an increasing number of marketing educators are adding video files as well.
The reason for this is that the software available currently makes it very easy to add this format. In its simplest form all you need is a free version of screen recording software and a microphone to do a voice-over. If your computer has an in-built video camera then you can include that as well. For basic editing a free program such as Windows Movie Maker allows you to trim off unwanted material and add interesting transitions.
Nevertheless, a lot of the videos created today are done with commercial software, such as Camtasia, for their ease of use and the extra features they contain. For the even more creative there are programs which allow you to put yourself in a virtual set using a green screen background.
Video adds a useful dimension because many people are visual learners. If students can see how a process works they are much more likely to remember it and be able to put it into practice themselves.
The main disadvantage used to be portability. You can take a printed copy of an e-book with you and read it in many situations where you don’t have access to a computer such as travelling on a bus. Similarly, audio files can be listened to while travelling in a car or copied to an mp3 player and used in many situations. For example, it is ideal to listen to some expert marketing advice while working out at the gym.
In the past, you tended to be tied to your computer if you wanted to watch video files. The most common format for these files is flv (Flash Video). Fortunately, there are freely available conversion programs which can convert these to formats which can be used with an mp4 player. The biggest disadvantage with this is that it can take quite some time for the conversion process, particularly if you have a large number of files to convert.
However, the latest gadget available cheaply on ebay is the so-called “mp5” player. The main advantage with these is that they play a range of formats without conversion. Some of these can even play flv files directly.
The reality of m-learning (mobile learning) which has the promise of allowing you to learn not only anytime, but anyplace has begun.
Tagged with: conversion programs • expert marketing • pay per click marketing • screen recording software • visual learners • windows movie maker
Filed under: Advertising • Internet • Internet Video
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