| You've built a comprehensive software tool that is | | | | re-visit difficult spots as needed. |
| going to specifically address the needs of your | | | | Educational Demonstrations provide an excellent way |
| carefully selected user-base. The marketing platform is | | | | to greet an unfamiliar user-base. They guide users |
| in place, you've had a promotional demonstration built | | | | through your product's operation with step-by-step |
| and performed countless iterations of SEO and viral | | | | visual instruction and content that caters to their |
| deployment; showcasing your product to the world. | | | | computer skill level. Many providers specialize in |
| Soon enough, your customer base starts to grow and | | | | demographic targeting and will ensure that age specific, |
| with it, an emerging need for technical support. | | | | compelling content is created to meet the target |
| Corporations today spend massive amounts of money | | | | population's requirements. These demonstrations |
| on technical support. In fact, according to ASPonline, | | | | provide an engaging way to familiarize your user-base |
| support costs have surmounted to over 20% of the | | | | with the functionality you offer. Not only does this |
| revenue gathered by the software sale. The same | | | | experience improve customer satisfaction, decreased |
| concept rings true for internal software tools. | | | | technical support costs will far out-weigh the required |
| Historically, training an employee on a new software | | | | investment. |
| product has been estimated at around $200. An article | | | | Educational Demonstrations are now being shipped |
| published by the Wall Street Journal commented that | | | | with hard-sale products. Before a user even begins to |
| "On-demand e-learning, delivered over the Web or by | | | | install the tool, they are instructed on features and |
| audio or videodisc, has become the second most | | | | usage models - all to avoid the dreaded support call. |
| popular approach to learning and training for small | | | | Developers are also beginning to realize the power |
| businesses" and "...sales increased, as did demand for | | | | these creatively crafted demonstrations have on |
| more courses, and training costs fell to less than $100 | | | | advertising their entire portfolio. According to the New |
| per person from between $175 and $200". | | | | York Times "Online Ads Are Booming, if They're |
| What does this data mean for software developers? | | | | Attached to a Video". A professionally crafted |
| Educational Demonstrations are becoming a | | | | Educational Demonstration can be used to promote |
| mandatory offering when new web-tools and | | | | other complimentary products in a software portfolio. |
| software products are being launched. In fact, most | | | | They can also be used as a tool to up-sell existing |
| companies are leaving it to the professionals and | | | | customers to a more expensive and functionally-rich |
| incorporating the costs of said demonstrations into the | | | | version of the software package. |
| development process. | | | | As the Internet develops and evolves, one thing |
| Interested in targeting that ever-elusive older | | | | remains true, content is king. Content delivery platforms |
| demographic? Breaking down boundaries with this | | | | offered by the producers of Educational |
| technology-resistant population can be difficult, | | | | Demonstrations stand at the cusp of successful |
| especially if they're forced to read pages of technical | | | | software products and toolsets. Don't let your |
| documentation, or dial-in to a support line whenever | | | | customers drown in T-support and documentation - |
| they need assistance. A well-executed video allows | | | | connect with users the innovative way. Educate to |
| them to review instructions at their own pace, and | | | | innovate. |