Video has been used on the web for several years now. The first videos were rather small, low in quality and usually very short. The main reason for this was that video takes up a huge amount of bandwidth and the internet’s infrastructure was not fast enough to carry all that information at the speed needed to display video in “realtime.” Most people had slow dialup connections and could only receive videos by downloading them, something which could literally take hours to transfer if the video was more than a few seconds in length.

Once broadband connections became widely available, and effective video compression was developed, internet video started to take off. Broadband, along with video compression, was now able to transfer larger video files which could be “streamed” in realtime at a decent size and resolution.

Broadband speeds and video compression has now improved to the point that you can watch full-screen, realtime video on your computer which is starting to compete with TV.

Web video is now poised for big growth and is expected to increase exponentially this year and beyond. Starting in 2008 and now in 2009, the Big Guns of TV (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, etc. and Hollywood have been making a big push to upload their content on the web. Internet TV viewing is growing at a phenomenal rate and will continue to expand for the next decade.

So what does this all mean to you?

The beauty of all this is that for the first time ever, pretty much anyone can have their own videos produced and distributed on the web. You can even start you own Internet TV Channel and be broadcasting your message worldwide for a fraction of what traditional media would cost.

If you’d like more information on how VicMedia can help you leverage your video for the web and use it to promote yourself, business or idea, contact VicMedia at vic@vicmedia.net.

1. Engage Multiple Senses – video is one of the most effect ways to communicate with your audience because it connect with people at multiple levels. Not only does your audience see the video, but they can also hear the audio, hear the music, read the text, and in some instances even interact with the video! Senses can trigger emotions, and the more emotions you can trigger, the more likely your audience will remember your message.

2. Broad Reach – videos on the web can can work 24/7 all year round and be accessible to just about anybody with an internet connection anywhere in the world. Web videos are not limited by time zones, time of day or date.

3. Reduced Cost – web videos are cheaper to produce and distribute than traditional media such as TV, Films and even some printed materials. Online video can also reduce traveling cost by by being accessible anytime, anywhere, saving you that business trip to make your presentation. Because of this reduced cost, web video is a great leveler, the little guy now can have as much power and reach as the corporate giants. If you can produce good content which people like and want, then it doesn’t matter how small or big you are, online… content is king!

4. Increased Speed of Communication – unlike printed newspapers and magazines, web videos can be broadcasted “live”, as the action happens, and can be distributed across the world in seconds… think, Viral Videos.

5. Increased Website Traffic – it’s a fact that video on your website increases traffic, but did you also know that it increases your ranking in search engines too? Search engines actually place websites with video higher than those without!

6. It’s the Future – online video has made great strides in the last couple of years and is now poised to grow exponentially in 2009. We are already seeing the “big guns” of Hollywood and Madison Avenue rolling out their video wares and marketing on the web and backing it up with serious money.

If you would like more information on how VicMedia can help you harness the power of video for the internet, send me an email at: vic@vicmedia.net.

Hi, welcome to the new VicMedia Blog. This is my second go at blogging and I intend to use this space to blog about my experiences as a digital media producer. I also intend to share my knowledge and thoughts on media production.

First of all, I should introduce myself. My name is Vic and I have been involved with media production for a few years now. I worked in the printing industry for several years, but have always been interested in, photography, video, and audio production. I actually learned how to do this all the old school way… yup, you got it… film, analog tape, linear editing and even some razor blade work!

Fortunately, I came in just as the digital revolution was starting and I jumped into desktop publishing (DTP), all the while keeping my eye on the advances in digital photography, non-linear desktop editing, digital audio, multimedia and the web.

Once digital entered the scene and the prices of media production tools came down to a price “affordable” enough for someone working for a “normal” wage, I purchased equipment and software and taught myself how to do media production.

I started my own media production company, VicMedia, and worked on small projects for various clients. I even taught a couple of media production classes at a middle school and local high school.

After a couple of years of trying to do it all on my own, I found a job as a media producer for a local non-profit organization, doing video production, some graphic design and web work. This has helped me increase my skills while earning a steady paycheck and still keep VicMedia going on the side.

Now I’m at a point where I’d like to take my business in a slightly new, but exciting direction… video production for the web. I am still keeping my “day” job but am re-focusing VicMedia as as web video production company, hence the new blog.

Stay tuned and let me show you my passion for video and how you can use it in your own efforts to communicate to your audience.