Quick poll: what do you think works better, the PowToon (http://youtu.be/YcnoRUlOBGU) or the longer video (http://youtu.be/QX_XLYydtyo)? Both take time to make, so I’m interested in your thoughts. Do you prefer the quicker, but less detailed, PowToon? Or the more detailed, watch-as-my-internet-loads video?
I vote for PowToon. I think pointing me in the direction of a website with a general idea of what needed to be done would be enough. I assume most websites are clear enough for people to figure out on their own once they are there.
Sarah
I like the short version. I can’t see the long version detail very well. If you want it informative you should have sound and you should use a larger mouse pointer. The short version gives you the idea and then any smart person and go figure out the details for himself.
The longer version is good for specific directions, but not as an advertisement. I’ve often wondered why people put irrelevant music behind their videos if they have nothing to say, but I’ll admit it seemed empty with no sound. I do like step-by-step instructional videos, but find them better with commentary.
The PowToon is shorter and catchier, though it, too, could benefit from some sound. It’s a bit startling to have silence followed by the loud, “Created using PowToon!” at the end.
The PowToon is overall clever, and seasonally appropriate, and most of today’s audience will be delighted by the double-entendre of the message, but sad to say I wouldn’t wear such a shirt for fear of the snickers. It’s like my childhood neighbor, whose parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fellows, had no idea what they were saddling their daughter with when they named her “Gay.”
By the way, how do you make the screen-capture movie?
Thanks for all the comments! I’ll try to add sound next time; recording instructions is laborious because my mic input went on the fritz, but perhaps background muzak will do.
The screen-capture movie I made with Camstudio-Recorder, a free program which records either to AVI or to a Flash format that Youtube can’t recognize. The net result is that uploading to Youtube is an overnight affair, which is another point in favor of PowToon.
At only 1:06 of the second video I had decided that Pow-Tune is much the better promo.
Thanks, Dad-o, that’s a strong and helpful statement!