Web page hosts… like ‘em? or hate ‘em?
Monday, September 21, 2009 10:02
So I just saw a Facebook status where an acquaintance was promoting his new friends who create and implement those videos where a person walks out on to your web page and talks to you.
Okay, that was fairly non-judgmental in introducing the issue, right? Now the not so judgmental portion and where I ask for your opinion. Personally, I hate this.
I went to look at the web site of the company he was promoting. I’d been there several years ago (hated it then too), but had not been back since. Wanting to give it an honest shake I tried again. No cigar. Here’s are some reasons why I hate it:
Tacky… I don’t think I’ve seen one of these yet that isn’t tacky.
JBYCDMYS… This is a principle everyone should learn, but especially those of us who work in the media world. Just Because You Can, Doesn’t Mean You Should. Placing these videos on your home page (and worse subesquent pages) to me is kinda like the craze when web folks were putting all kinds of widgets on web pages. Like the weather on a crafter’s page. Just because they could, not because they had a reason for it being there.
Gimmicky… It kind of says “desparate” to me. Kind of like, “Our site is boring… or not effective… so we’re throwing this video on here to try to fix it.” Oh, and green screen. It’s the latest craze. Clients think they have to have a green screen because it’s the latest cool thing going.
Technically challenging… I have a screaming Internet connection and on even the one on the company that does them’s web site was choking. Bad enough to have it there, but to have it stuttering is worse.
Often redundant… Many times when I’ve seen them, they are only saying what’s on the page, or telling you where you can go on the site and what you’ll find there. Isn’t that what content on the page is for? Isn’t that what good navigation is for? At least write some new and engaging content if you MUST do it.
Talent sucks… At least if you are going to do it, get someone who is REALLY REALLY REALLY good on camera.
Substitue for real content… Folks who are using video effectively on their web sites appear to be doing in a blogging or news this week about our business/topic type format. I feel like people are wanting to be cutting edge with video on their site, but won’t make the commitment to keep it up to date and relevant. The static “host” is a cop out on video for video’s sake.
I’m willing to admit I’m predisposed to my opinion, and may just have not seen the REALLY effective ones out there. So point me to them if you have some you’ve seen that really make it worthwhile. And what’s your opinion? Like ‘em? Hate ‘em?
Storyboarding is a great tool for videographers and filmmakers to use in preparing for shoots. Some filmmakers use digital cameras to shoot photos in locations there they want to shoot and use stand-ins for actor positioning. I’ve been awaiting a mobile app for performing the basic functions of storyboarding and now, Hitchcock appears to have given me more than I had hoped for.
I have used Google (Apps) calendar for a couple of years now. Love it. But one thing I found annoying was trying to move quickly through the calendar to look ahead. Then, I accidentally placed my cursor over the small calendar that appears usually to the upper left of the main calendar and discovered my scroll wheel advanced or retreated (couldn’t think of another word to convey this) the calendar in rapid fashion. So there’s a great tip for those of you who use Google Calendar. Put your mouse cursor over the small calendar and move the scroll wheel to make big time travel leaps.
If you’ve been around web video for a while, you know that On2 is a very successful, high-quality flash codec giving H.264 a run for it’s money. And now Google owns it.


