Training your new employees how to do new things can be a painstaking process that takes a lot of time and energy. What if you could automate some of it using a DVD or CD?

Have new software to teach your employees, or new equipment? Show them how to do it with an interactive manual that allows them to mimic the interface of the software or product. They can use the software in a test environment where they can't actually harm or disrupt valuable data. The disk can then be a resource for the employees that they can refer back to.

Reproducing a DVD is going to be comparable or significantly cheaper than printing a manual, and is going to offer more features and interactivity than the manual. Consider moving more of your company resources to CD or DVD in the future as a cost-cutting and efficiency measure.

Labels: employee training, training cd, training dvd

If you run a client-based business, you know that this is a hectic time of year for you and your clients. The holidays just passed, and so did the end of the calendar year.

And with the end of the calendar year, many of your clients are making decisions about their budgets and expenses for the coming year. At this point in the year, it's important to be on their mind with creative and new marketing tactics. Send them some new material. Perhaps a CD greeting or DVD explaining new products would do the trick, and help you stand out from others competing for their attention

Also, make a resolution that next year, you'll take your company holiday card to the next level with a DVD or CD-Rom that can make your card interactive and memorable can help you stand out in their mail pile.

You can be creative with your card, perhaps featuring your employees singing a holiday tune, or expressing their appreciation for your client's business. It's a personal touch that goes above and beyond what your competitors are doing.

In future posts, we'll look at some more creative uses for CDs and DVDs for your business in the coming year. See also Three Creative Uses for DVD.

Last week saw the end of an era in home video, and yet another sign that the age of digital video is firmly upon us.

JVC announced last week that they are no longer making standalone VCR units, and they are the last major manufacturer to do so. For all intents and purposes, the VCR, a staple in home entertainment in the 70s, 80s and early 90s is done.

If you've still got a stack of VHS tapes, don't fret. JVC and other manufacturers are still making Combination units that feature DVD players and VHS players in one machine. Old formats die hard, so there will still be players available second-hand and through resources like eBay for many years to come. In fact, if you dig hard enough you can turn up new 8-track players, so you might be good for years to come.

However, it's certainly a sign that the age of digital is upon us. With this news and the upcoming digital TV transition, any marketing done on VHS tapes is going to have less and less reach as time goes on. If you haven't done so already, it's time to convert those old tapes to DVD or some other digital format.

If you need help getting your marketing materials (or even your old home movies) up to the latest standards, contact Video Transfer today. We have the tools and technology to help you.

Labels: jvc, vcr, vhs, vhs player, vhs tapes

Whenever embarking on any advertising venture, it's nice to track the return on your investment. Tracking helps you decide if that method of advertising was effective and what can be improved.

However, when marketing with DVD or CD, it can be harder to get direct feedback on your advertising. It can be difficult to get a gauge on whether your video was played or just tossed aside.

While DVD and CDs have been shown to be memorable and effective for advertising, how can you, the advertiser, track the success of that marketing?

It's not as difficult as you think. First, we have new software available that can track views of your DVD. It can be hard coded into your presentation and will let you know when it is watched. If you choose not to go that route, there are other ways to successfully track the success of your DVD Marketing campaign.

The key to tracking DVD and CD marketing is to compel your audience to respond to you via some more traditional methods like phone or Internet, and then make that mode of response unique to your advertising campaign.

For example, set up an email address or Webpage that is entirely unique and not listed anywhere else but on your DVD. Then, you can track hits to that email address or page. You can also set up separate phone numbers or extensions used exclusively on your DVD.

Coupon codes can also work to track your DVD. Simply offer a small discount via a code, and then track the uses of that code.

All of these techniques can take your DVD marketing to the next level. Contact VTI today for all your CD and DVD replication needs.

Labels: dvd, dvd markting, dvd replication, marketing tips, marketing tracking