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Streaming Multimedia
The uptake of broadband and the evolution of web design tools have had a major impact on the construction of websites, and customer expectations / user experiences. With designers employing products such as Flash and Shockwave, and utilising multimedia formats such as Windows Media, Real Media and Quicktime, the web has shifted from an information-based conduit to an entertainment-based tool.
With this mind, visitors to your website now expect to interact with the site, and be entertained through a variety of methods. And implementing regularly-changing streaming media can help to build a strong visitor base and encourage repeat visits.
What is Multimedia?
When we discuss multimedia, we are encompassing a number of areas, but perhaps the most prominent is category of music and video. This has come about because the invention of media formats and compression means that media files are now relatively small and can be distributed easily.
What Does Streaming Mean?
There are two different ways of presenting multimedia to your visitors:
1. Link to a file that is stored in your webspace. This allows visitors to click on the link and download a copy of the file to their desktop, where they can open it and play the clip, whether online or offline.
2. You can 'stream' the file to the visitor. This means that the visitor does not take a copy of their file, but instead the server plays the file itself and then sends the clip content to the visitor online.
Which Way Is Best?
The way you provide your multimedia to your visitors can be based on a number of factors, and there is no one 'best' way. For instance, if you wanted the visitor to be able to watch the clip offline or if they have a slow connection, it would be preferable to link to the clip and let them download it.
However, if the multimedia is a copyrighted work, or you want to limit the amount of a clip that a visitor sees or hears, then it is preferable to stream the media.
What About The Different Formats?
There are many different formats you can use to stream your multimedia, but the most common, and the ones that Hostway support, are Windows Media, Real Media, and Quicktime. Due to the fact that these formats are proprietary, your visitors will generally need the application for each format installed before they can view/hear the multimedia clip. We recommend that you choose a format based on your target audience.
How Can I Integrate Streaming Multimedia?
We've created documentation on our support site with the information that you need to integrate streaming multimedia into your website, on both Windows Media and Linux hosting plans. If you go here, then open the platform guide for the plan type you have (Windows or Linux), you will be able to browse the content of the multimedia sections.
Support
If you do need any help in enabling streaming multimedia on your hosting plan, then please feel free to contact the Support team who will be happy to guide you through this.
Can my hosting solution grow with my needs?
Yes of course - you can either add additional features or upgrade your hosting plan easily and can be done via your webhosting Control Panel. Additionally, we will support streaming multimedia formats across both shared and dedicated services, so if your site needs a dedicated server, you can easily transfer your files...
We offer a 30-day money back guarantee with all our email and shared web hosting plans. Please do contact our sales team by e-mail or call free on 0808 180 1880 from within the UK or +44 (0)207 538 8000 from outside the UK.
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