3 Ways to Put "Active" Back in Your Interactive CD-ROM

When PowerPoint couldn't build the multimedia presentation you needed, you turned to interactive presentations installed on CD-ROMs to get your message out there, but along the way something went horribly wrong: CDs with your presentation on them are filling garbage cans. No one is watching all the hard work, time, and money you put into your multimedia presentation, and worst of all, no one is calling.

The top reason interactive multimedia presentations aren't watched is simple: They're boring.

"Interactive" means more than pushing a button to go to the next page. People learn by doing, and multimedia is a great way to use sound, text, and animation to teach or share information. Follow these three guidelines, and your interactive CD will be well on the way to becoming a successful marketing tool.

Know Your Audience
It's the foundation of any marketing technique, and a critical launch pad before you even begin to design your interactive multimedia presentation. Does your audience rely on facts and figures to make decisions? Back up your information with case studies, charts, and graphs. Know your audience and design your CD-ROM in a way that encourages them to explore.

Be Dynamic
Some interactive multimedia presentations are really just e-books with buttons to 'turn the page'. It's important to remember that most people find it easier to read large amounts of text on paper rather than on a computer screen, so the best way to make your presentation memorable and engaging is to make it dynamic. Before you design your interactive multimedia presentation, ask yourself whether people in your target demographic are more likely to learn by seeing a demonstration or by doing it. Use video demonstrations or casual games to share your information in a dynamic way. Besides, a picture is worth a thousand words, and a short animated simulation of the process or situation you're trying to educate people about is worth an entire e-book.

Dangle a Carrot
People need to be motivated to complete your interactive multimedia presentation. This can be as simple as making it fun to do. You can accomplish this by sharing your information through games, tests, or quizzes. For corporate training presentations, consider some kind of bonus upon completion or a restriction from certain activities until the presentation is completed.

Professionals are available to take your designs, concepts, and ideas to the interactive world. After all, keeping your interactive multimedia presentations interactive is key to having your CD-ROMs explored, remembered, and kept.