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How Oracle Uses Video to PromoteNew Features and Functionality

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How Oracle Uses Video to PromoteNew Features and Functionality

David Laux and Loren Davidson

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Program Agenda

• Introduction

• Genesis and History

• Business Case for VFOs

• Tools Used to Create Videos

• Our Processes

• Future Plans

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How We Began

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The Business Case, Briefly…

• Initial Concept: Customer Demos

• Further Uses:– Marketing materials– Documentation– Training.

• Filling the gap: high level marketing materials and product tutorials.

• Identifying the need and creating videos to fill it.

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Where to Produce the Videos

In-House• Cost:

– Already budgeted -- the cost of the employees

• Time to complete:– Generally two-to-four weeks.

– Management can re-prioritize

• Existing product familiarity.

• Production quality:– Depends on the creator

Video Production Company• Cost:

– Extra budget item, usually thousands of dollars.

• Time to complete– Depends on their schedule. Usually one-to-two

months

– Management can make anxious phone calls

• No existing product familiarity

• Production quality:– Good to great quality

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The Tools We Use

• Camtasia Studio– video capture, editing, production

• MS PowerPoint– static slides & animations

• Audacity/Logic Pro– audio capture & editing

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Video Capture Tools• ActivePresenter

• Adobe Captivate

• Bandicam

• BB FlashBack

• CamStudio

• Camtasia Studio

• Capture Fox

• Epiplex500

• Ffmpeg

• Fraps

• Freeseer

• HyperCam

• Microsoft Expression Encoder

• Nero Vision

• Pixetell

• QuickTime X

• RecordMyDesktop

• Screencam

• ScreenFlow

• Screenpresso Pro

• SimpleScreenRecorder

• Snapz Pro X

• VirtualDub

• Vokoscreen

• Windows Media Encoder

• Wink

• XVidCap

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Recommended Audio Tools/Technologies

• Basic– Recommend an external mic – USB– Freeware audio editing software – Audacity or Garage Band

• Advanced– Audio workstation software (ProTools, Logic)– Professional mic & audio interface

• Soundproofing

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Our Processes

• Create a script– Specifying the steps required to demonstrate the feature– providing a complete narration.

• Record the on-screen demonstration.

• Record the narration

• Edit the video.

• Produce the final video project.

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Our Processes

• Creating a script or storyboard– Step-by-step description of onscreen visuals.– Complete narration.– What we ask for:

• A step-by-step written demonstration and talking points

– What we usually get:• Technical papers.• Outline of features.

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Our Processes• Creating an Effective Script

– Know your audience and purpose– More than narration– Identifies issues with flow and pacing– Identifies “dead spaces”

• Create Scripts that are:– Short– Focused– Informative– Entertaining

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Our Processes

• Script Template

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Our Processes

• Recording the On-screen Demonstration– Use the highest resolution you can.

• At least 720p (1280X720) but full HD (1080p) is better.

– Practice!

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Our Processes

• Record the narration– Do this separately from recording the demo if you are not the

SME.– Practice using your microphone

• Volume• Position of the mic• Get comfortable hearing your voice.

– Find a quiet location to record– Brush up on your speaking skills

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Our Processes

• Edit the video.– Our demos run on the fastest computer in the world!

• Perform a rough edit before adding your narration.

– Use each audio clip to determine what has to happen to the video• Cut any “dead air”

– Apply special effects sparingly.

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Our Processes

• Produce the final video project.– Use 720p HD or higher– We post to YouTube– Production settings will depend on your end use

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Future Plans

• Measuring customer satisfaction– What keeps viewers watching?– What’s good and bad about the videos

• Training others to write & produce – writing is our current bottleneck in EPM

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Summary

• Useful tool for communicating with customers

• Fills niche between marketing materials & documentation

• Lower cost-of-entry than professional solutions

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Questions&

Answers

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