The Market Coalition

Having a corporate or promotional video for your company is often viewed as something of an expensive luxury - useful, but rarely considered to be an essential marketing tool. Whilst many businesses can understand the benefits of having a corporate video, all too often they are put off by the perceived cost and subsequently find it hard to justify commercially. Furthermore, the process of making a video can at times, appear complex and intimidating, with an array of technical terms and processes.

Streaming video provides a number of useful opportunities for maximising the potential of an existing corporate video. And compared to other distribution media such as DVD or CD-ROMs it also offers a cost-effective solution for broadcasting a new corporate presentation to a wider audience.

Although streaming video is certainly not a new concept and has been around for some time, it’s now easier than ever to add streaming video content to your website. The technology required to enable video streaming is widely available, it’s relatively inexpensive and with the dramatic growth in high speed, broadband internet connections, a growing number of internet users can now view high quality, streaming video on their computers.

In this article, leading corporate video & business television producer, John Howarth, explains some of the ways in which streaming video content can be made to work effectively for your business and produce tangible results.

Provide Compelling Content

Try to provide content that creates a real interest for the viewer. Instead of simply informing them of your key corporate values - the typical narrative being ‘how successful we are, the great products & services we offer, our featured clients’ - why not turn the message into something that is actually useful and engaging to watch.

Take for example a company that manufactures kitchen products. Whilst you could produce a video to establish company values by highlighting such areas as quality of craftsmanship and original design of the product, this information is almost certainly available more easily on the web pages. It could be far more interesting for the viewer to provide them with a series of recipes, which feature the products being used in context.

Another technique is to provide content that is not centrally focused to your company’s core products & services. For example, your company sponsors a sports event or art exhibition. How about showing some clips from the event, with company branding around it? By using more recognisable and popular content, you are creating a wider ‘reach’ for the video, with the added possibility of gaining increased website traffic.

Re-Package Content

Lets say you already have a corporate video, it’s around ten minutes long and you currently distribute it on a video tape format or DVD. The most obvious solution would be to have it transferred to a streaming format in it’s entirety and loaded up onto your website. Whilst a ten minute corporate video sequence may be useful as a backdrop display in a trade exhibition or screened to a captive audience in a conference, it’s often far too long to use as a streaming video clip on your website. Who really has the time to sit and watch a corporate video clip for this length of time? It’s often far more useful to break the sequence down into a series of individual clips or re-edit into a shorter, condensed version that has greater impact.

Following on from this, you might also want to distribute streaming video clips around different areas on your website. This way, the clips featured can be targeted to match - and complement - the page content. For example, on a page detailing company clients and case studies, the video clip could feature customer testimonials; situated on a contact details page, the video sequence could feature some generic shots of company locations and building exterior shots.

Brand The Video

Whatever streaming video clips you use, try to ensure they are branded with your corporate identity. This could be a small logo in the top corner of the screen or a ‘picture frame’ wrapped around the moving images. Taking it a step further, you may want to add an introduction sequence with animated corporate logos at the beginning and end of every sequence. Another option is to create an HTML or Flash ‘player’ customised with your corporate identity. The video clip would then play within this frame and could be complemented by some animated product or service information around it.

When reviewing website statistics, it is frequently pages featuring streaming video content that are the most ’sticky’ and have the longest viewing times by site visitors. Use this factor to your advantage - it’s an ideal opportunity to get your core brand values, products and services across to the site visitor.

About The Author

John Howarth is creative director of Blue Tuna Limited, a leading UK-based corporate communications & multi-media production agency. Past projects include live streaming for leading online bookmaker, Blue Square and the launch of the UK’s of the first club soccer channel, Boro TV for NTL.

www.bluetuna.tv

Disaster Planning

Submitted by: Michael Del Greco
Accurate Inspections, Inc., A New Jersey Home Inspection Firm

Disaster can strike quickly and without warning. It can force you to evacuate your neighborhood or confine you to your home. What would you do if basic services–water, gas, electricity or telephones–were cut off? Local officials and relief workers will be on the scene after a disaster, but they cannot reach everyone right away.

Families can–and do–cope with disaster by preparing in advance and working together as a team. Follow the steps listed in this brochure to create your family\’s disaster plan. Knowing what to do is your best protection and your responsibility.
Where will your family be when disaster strikes? They could be anywhere–at work, at school or in the car.

How will you find each other? Will you know if your children are safe?
4 Steps to Safety
1. Find Out What Could Happen to You
Contact your local emergency management or civil defense office and American Red Cross chapter–be prepared to take notes:
Ask what types of disasters are most likely to happen. Request information on how to prepare for each.
Learn about your community\’s warning signals: what they sound like and what you should do when you hear them.
Ask about animal care after disaster. Animals may not be allowed inside emergency shelters due to health regulations.
Find out how to help elderly or disabled persons, if needed.
Next, find out about the disaster plans at your workplace, your children\’s school or daycare center and other places where your family spends time.
2. Create a Disaster Plan
Meet with your family and discuss why you need to prepare for disaster. Explain the dangers of fire, severe weather and earthquakes to children. Plan to share responsibilities and work together as a team.
Discuss the types of disasters that are most likely to happen. Explain what to do in each case.

Pick two places to meet:
1. Right outside your home in case of a sudden emergency, like a fire.
2. Outside your neighborhood in case you can\’t return home. Everyone must know the address and phone number.
Ask an out-of-state friend to be your \”family contact.\” After a disaster, its often easier to call long distance. Other family members should call this person and tell them where they are. Everyone must know your contact\’s phone number.
Discuss what to do in an evacuation. Plan how to take care of your pets.
3. Complete This Checklist
Post emergency telephone numbers by phones (fire, police, ambulance, etc.).
Teach children how and when to call 911 or your local Emergency Medical Services number for emergency help.
Show each family member how and when to turn off the water, gas and electricity at the main switches.
Check if you have adequate insurance coverage.
Teach each family member how to use the fire extinguisher (ABC type), and show them where it\’s kept.
Install smoke detectors on each level of your home, especially near bedrooms.
Conduct a home hazard hunt.
Stock emergency supplies and assemble a Disaster Supplies Kit.
Take a Red Cross first aid and CPR class.
Determine the best escape routes from your home. Find two ways out of each room.
Find the safe spots in your home for each type of disaster.
4. Practice and Maintain Your Plan
Quiz your kids every six months so they remember what to do.
Conduct fire and emergency evacuation drills.
Replace stored water every three months and stored food every six months.
Test and recharge your fire extinguisher(s) according to manufacturer\’s instructions.
Test your smoke detectors monthly and change the batteries at least once a year.

EMERGENCY SUPPLIES
Keep enough supplies in your home to meet your needs for at least three days. Assemble a Disaster Supplies Kit with items you may need in an evacuation. Store these supplies in sturdy, easy-to-carry containers such as backpacks, duffle bags or covered trash containers.
Include:
A three-day supply of water (one gallon per person per day) and food that won\’t spoil.
One change of clothing and footwear per person, and one blanket or sleeping bag per person.
A first aid kit that includes your family\’s prescription medications.
Emergency tools including a battery-powered radio, flashlight and plenty of extra batteries.
An extra set of car keys and a credit card, cash or traveler\’s checks.
Sanitation supplies.
Special items for infant, elderly or disabled family members.
An extra pair of glasses.
Keep important family documents in a waterproof container. Keep a smaller kit in the trunk of your car.

UTILITIES
Locate the main electric fuse/breaker box, water service main and natural gas main. Learn how and when to turn these utilities off. Teach all responsible family members. Keep necessary tools near gas and water shut-off valves.
Remember, turn off the utilities only if you suspect the lines are damaged or if you are instructed to do so. If you turn the gas off, you will need a professional to turn it back on.
NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS
Working with neighbors can save lives and property. Meet with your neighbors to plan how the neighborhood could work together after a disaster until help arrives. If you\’re a member of a neighborhood organization, such as a home association or crime watch group, introduce disaster preparedness as a new activity. Know your neighbors\’ special skills (e.g., medical, technical) and consider how you could help neighbors who have special needs, such as disabled and elderly persons. Make plans for child care in case parents can\’t get home.

HOME HAZARD HUNT
During a disaster, ordinary objects in your home can cause injury or damage. Anything that can move, fall, break or cause a fire is a home hazard. For example, a hot water heater or a bookshelf can fall. Inspect your home at least once a year and fix potential hazards.
Contact your local fire department to learn about home fire hazards.

EVACUATION
Evacuate immediately if told to do so:
Listen to your battery-powered radio and follow the instructions of local emergency officials.
Wear protective clothing and sturdy shoes.
Take your family disaster supplies kit
Lock your home.
Use travel routes specified by local authorities–don\’t use shortcuts because certain areas may be impassable or dangerous.
If you\’re sure you have time:
Shut off water, gas and electricity before leaving, if instructed to do so.
Post a note telling others when you left and where you are going.
Make arrangements for your pets.

IF DISASTER STRIKES
Remain calm and patient. Put your plan into action.
Check for injuries
Give first aid and get help for seriously injured people.
Listen to your battery powered radio for news and instructions
Evacuate, if advised to do so. Wear protective clothing and sturdy shoes.
Check for damage in your home…
Use flashlights–do not light matches or turn on electrical switches, if you suspect damage.
Check for fires, fire hazards and other household hazards.
Sniff for gas leaks, starting at the water heater. If you smell gas or suspect a leak, turn off the main gas valve, open windows, and get everyone outside quickly.
Shut off any other damaged utilities.
Clean up spilled medicines, bleaches, gasoline and other flammable liquids immediately.
Remember to…
Confine or secure your pets.
Call your family contact–do not use the telephone again unless it is a life-threatening emergency.
Check on your neighbors, especially elderly or disabled persons.
Make sure you have an adequate water supply in case service is cut off.
Stay away from downed power lines.








Information provided by Michael Del Greco, New Jersey Home Inspector Lic. GI 0121, American Society of Home Inspectors Member 102273, Pesident of Accurate Inspections, Inc. A West Paterson New Jersey Home Inspection firm.

A remote controlled car is made up of a remote and the model vehicle. By turning or pushing the joystick up or down & left or right, the worker has the capability to make it go in whatever direction. Toy Shopper has details on a whole range of radio control gas car. Therefore let Toy-Shopper.co.uk help you find the radio control car you’re looking for.

There are loads of different types of replicas presently on sale in the consumer marketplace. The basic vehicles can only just about travel a small distance. Customers that hunger to witness the real deal would be advised to procure the remote control car that needs to be put together & adapted.

Remote controlled toy cars are catalogued either as electric powered or nitro power-driven. The brilliant characteristic concerning radio controlled toys that utilise an electric powered motor is that the battery component is renewable. Radio control cars that make us of fuel need to be refuelled and oiled after some time, which is incredibly comparable to today’s road cars.

These model cars are operated by individuals of all ages. Certain department stores have radio controlled cars identical to those raced in NASCAR on top monster trucks that are repeatedly seen in the destruction derby. This simply emphasises that individuals are able to benefit from remote operated vehicles either on or off the road.

Do these model toys entail loads of looking after? Yes they do. The owner should ought to test the battery, the shock absorbers & the tires regularly. This will help guarantee that the remote control car is able to sustain it is pace and efficiency each and every time it is taken to the race course.

The enthusiast must be aware that not all of the machinery can be restored. This is because of toy firms designing their vehicles to operate only up until the mechanisms simply crack. Enthusiasts that want to enjoy the toy will somehow have to trade the mechanisms, nevertheless this occasionally can difficult to attain.

Radio controlled toys do not simply relate to motor vehicles. There are also hundreds planes, ships & helicopters to procure in the toy outlet.

Both parents & children alike who are inquisitive and have never done this prior perhaps should stick to the basic model(s) then upgrade afterwards if the person is completely serious with it & wishes to contribute in official toy car contests regularly.