Insert Flash Video into websites

Membership sites are prolific. They are a useful service and a way to put money in the pocket. There are 3 types.

· Walled garden model
· Magazine model
· Micro-continuity

Each has a place and each is very different to use.

The walled garden model is just what it says. A password creates a wall around the information. If you want in you must pay the dues and get the password. To keep people's interest, content is continually being created and stored.

The magazine model has information for free and some for members only. It is very like the magazines with the sealed section. You must buy the magazine to see the sealed bits. You may browse the public content for free. Content is also being created regularly and added.

The third type, or micro-continuity site, is a more recent invention. It usually is wrapped around a course or a fixed set of information. People pay their entry fee and see a set of information fed to them weekly or monthly. Because the information inside the site is complete, there is little need to make many changes over time.

Information for members can be presented by flash video player, text or downloadable pdf file. If the site is image based, then the presentation may use Photo Gallery or Photo Album software in conjunction with a "how to" component. If the site describes upcoming events, such as classes or weekly webcasts, use a Web Calendar to inform your users.

Wordpress is the most popular content management system now. It started its life as a blogging tool but has matured and now can accept HTML and PHP input. This is great news for people who do not want to learn the full technical details of programming sites. Embedding a flash video or indeed any flash product is now only a cut and paste operation. This makes it very simple.

In conclusion, if you are looking to collect some money from the web, consider creating a micro-continuity membership site using Wordpress and populate it with good, well presented information using flash videos and other flash products. The tools available now place a professional looking result well within the financial and technical range of the amateur. Flash products improve the user appeal of a site considerably. People are looking for information that is easy to access and easy to understand.