West Midlands ICT Cluster Launches Web Video Hosting Initiative
ICT Cluster to provide free access to video hosting platform so businesses can post company videos online

West Midlands ICT Cluster is helping local organisations promote themselves online by providing free access to a video publishing platform, Buto (http://buto.tv).  The platform formats video for use on the web so that companies can then publish it on a website, blog, forum or social network.

Mike Musson, ICT Cluster Manager explains: “Video is simply everywhere because it’s such an effective format for communicating marketing messages. Nowadays creating a company video is both affordable and achievable using only a camera and desktop PC. The ICT Cluster is providing the final piece in the jigsaw by enabling companies to publish their videos online.”

The free facility, which started in April and will run until March 2011, is offered through a company’s registration on AWMist  (A Web Map-based Information Search Tool) an online directory of technology businesses and support organisations in the West Midlands. Interested companies can submit videos for web hosting and will then have control over how and where the web version is used.  The Buto.tv platform is able to provide detailed analysis of video views.

The ICT Cluster, in conjunction with Big Button, the Birmingham company behind Buto.tv, has developed a free ‘Guide to Promotional Video’ designed to help companies create their own professional-looking video.  The Guide covers key topics such as equipment, content, location and audience.

“This is a great opportunity for regional ICT companies to highlight their products and services online to a global audience,” comments Mike Musson, ICT Cluster Manager.

“Video is a much more powerful medium for demonstrating the benefits of a product than the written word.  We chose Buto.tv because of its experience with video content and its ability to help us to promote West Midlands technology companies using one of the most important promotional vehicles available today – that of video, ” concluded Mike Musson.

Will Grant, Technology Director at Big Button said: “Buto is already being used effectively by some major global brands, but as video marketing is becoming ubiquitous, SMEs also need to harness its power. It’s great to see AWM supporting the region’s ICT Cluster in this way, and we’re delighted to be working with them to bring truly professional web video publishing to local companies”.  

Big Button is also in the process of creating a suite of videos for the ICT Cluster to help it promote the region as one of excellence for ICT and an ideal place to live and work in the UK.  The videos will be used globally by the ICT Cluster and partners at events and exhibitions and to encourage business development with the West Midlands ICT community.
 

-Ends-
Notes to Editors:
The ICT Cluster is one of twelve clusters established by Advantage West Midlands as part of its economic development strategy. These clusters have been chosen on the basis of their current strength in the region and their potential to create jobs and economic growth.
Advantage West Midlands is one of nine Regional Development Agencies in England whose role is to provide leadership and action to create more, better jobs and in improve the standard of living for all in the West Midlands.
The ICT Cluster will be hosting the Annual ICT Conference and ICT Excellence Awards on 25 November 2010. 
For further media information, please contact Ranbir Sahota or Sara Pennant, at Vitis PR agency on 0121 242 8048 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it / This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

About Big Button
Big Button, formed in 2003, was initially set up as a ‘corporate video’ production company producing films and graphical content from ideas generation through to final delivery.
The company’s video delivery system Buto allows users to upload and manage their entire video output as easily as they manage text updates to their site. The system stores and collates all of the video, automatically generates a URL, and also an ‘embed’ code, enabling easy sharing across blogs and social networks.
Big Button’s clients range from small companies looking to establish a video presence, right through to large organisations who need to complement their video libraries with new material or merely distribute it