As you are aware, over the recent weeks, I have been working with Advantage West Midlands, developing the AWMist geographic directory of West Midlands businesses.
Yesterday a major breakthrough was achieved, allowing for the integration of two separate systems, to allow users to show video within their profile.
Allow me to explain how this works…
Firstly, the user registers onto the AWMist platform itself (the Register button is in the top right hand corner). This registration application is then checked by the administrators at AWM, making sure that the company registering is bona fide, and located in the West Midlands. Then, once this is completed, the registrant receives an email from the administrators, confirming their acceptance, inviting them to proceed and complete their company profile.
The user then inputs their company details, address, contact details, website url, overview, product descriptions and other relevant information. The important aspect for the user to remember here is the entries into the Keyword section. To enable the Search function on AWMist to accurately deliver results, when a visitor enters keywords into the Search bar, AWMist then trawls the database, and matches the visitor search item with profile keywords, for instance:
If company X is a computer software developer, they would enter keywords such as: computer, software, database, develop, programme, language, script, java, linux, windows, mac, open source, php, ruby, drupl, django, python etc- all terms that are form a routine part of company X’s daily business operation. Then, if the visitor is searching for a company that delivers bespoke computer development, he/she could possibly enter one of the above terms into the search bar, and click Enter. The search would then deliver a Pin on the Map for every company in the West Midlands that has highlighted this term in their profile. The user then has the option of either clicking the company name on the menu to the left, or clicking the Pin itself. By doing so, this then opens up the company profile page, which contains all the details of the company itself (this is the pre-entered information the user has already inputted). It is at this stage that the video can also be shown, ergo:
The visitor then reads the company profile information, and has the option to view the company video, by simply clicking the link bar.
This then opens the company video window over the top of the profile, so the visitor does not have to leave the profile page, and then simply click the Play button.
Whilst the video is playing, simply by moving the mouse over the video window, this brings up the sub-menu, by which the visitor then has the option to:
> open the instruction menu for function buttons
> expand the video to full screen,
> leave a comment or start a discussion on the content
> increase or decrease volume
> shuttle forwards/ backwards and pause the video.
Then, once the video has played, the visitor simply closes the video window by clicking the red X in the top right corner, and then hopefully move on to contact the company and make an initial business enquiry.