How to Add Vacation Videos to Your Website

It’s fun to share vacation videos with friend and family. Nowadays, you don’t have to wait until everyone can gather at your house to do this. You can upload your videos to the internet so friends and family can access them anytime from anywhere.

Of course, the most popular video sharing site is YouTube. You can add videos to YouTube if you want. If you need help on how to do this, you can access the YouTube Handbook.

But what if you want to add videos to your own website? How can you do that?

Depending on the video capture equipment you used, you will have a video in a specific format. And the format will determine the program you will need to convert the video to a web-ready format and compress it so that the file size is not too big.

Many of these programs require a high level of technical skills and understanding of videos formats, codecs, embedding, etc. I tried understanding all the differences but finally decided that I had better things to do with my time.

That doesn’t mean that I had to give up on the idea of adding videos to a website. It just means that I had to find an alternative that didn’t require a technical degree to operate.

I came across two solutions that are quite similar.

One is Easy Web Video. The byline on the Easy Web Video website states, “Let me show you my simple ‘1-2-3′ method for putting ANY video on ANY web site in mere minutes.”

The program lives up to its claims. It is very easy to use and gets the job done in mere minutes. The 3-step process is as follows:

• Step 1: Choose the video you want to add to a website from a file on your computer.
• Step 2: Select the settings and web player or buttons you want to use.
• Step 3: Click to convert and compress your video in just seconds.

The compression rate is incredible. A video that starts at 7.47 MB in size is compressed to less than 1 MB. That means that the video will be much faster to upload and watch.

Click here to watch a demo of Easy Web Video.

The second program worth considering is Web Video Wizard. Like Easy Web Video, Web Video Wizard converts and compresses your video within minutes with just a few clicks. The program also comes with several options of video players and video skins.

There are some additional features to Web Video Wizard that may make it the better option.

One, Web Video Wizard allows you to convert multiple videos all at once. Instead of converting videos one at a time you can accelerate the process. The program will also add the multiple videos to a playlist.

Two, Web Video Wizard allows you to brand your videos. You can add a logo, watermark, name, message, copyright, website URL or anything else to your video to brand it.

Three, Web Video Wizard has a redirect function. You can input the URL of a website that you want viewer to see and, at the end of the video, they will be immediately taken to that site.

What about price?

Easy Web Video sells for $47. It comes with a couple of bonuses which include a full-featured teleprompter and the Easy Web Video Editor. However, it does not the ability to convert multiple videos. You can get an upgraded version for $77 that includes a program called Impact Web Audio for creating audio files and Video Jukebox for playing multiple videos.

Web Video Wizard sells for $67 but has the extra features. Bonuses that come with this program include 40 attractive web templates and the Easy Web Builder software.

Which is the best program to add videos to a website?

Neither. They both convert and compress videos so that they can be instantly added to a web page. They are both easy to use. Both programs are fast.

The choice comes down to which additional features you want or need. If all you want is to convert, compress and add a video to a website, then go with Easy Web Video. If you would like the extra features of converting multiple videos, adding a watermark and including a redirect, then choose Web Video Wizard.

No matter which one you choose, you should visit Web Video Wizard and sign up for the FREE report “The Video Resource List”. It describes the “must-have” software programs and tools for working with video. It includes important web resources for working with video. It also includes a list of 273 video sharing sites.

Click here to visit Easy Web Video.

Click here to visit Web Video Wizard.

How to Get an Enhanced Driver’s License

An Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL) is an alternative form of identification to the passport that the U.S. Department of State recognizes for travel to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean region. The enhanced driver’s license is not acceptable for air travel between these countries. A state-issued enhanced driver’s license has additional security measures incorporated into the card. These include:

• a vicinity Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip that will signal a secure system to pull up your biographic and biometric data for the CBP officer as you approach the border inspection booth, and
• a Machine Readable Zone (MRZ) or barcode that the CBP officer can read electronically if RFID isn’t available.

Presently, only four states issue the enhanced driver’s license. They are Michigan, New York, Vermont and Washington. Other border states that are discussing the possibility offering the new identification card are Texas, Arizona and California.

Applying for an enhanced driver’s license must be done in person. Requirements include the completed application form, proof of identity, proof of citizenship and proof of residence. All documents must be originals and not copies. It usually takes 2-3 weeks to receive the new driver’s license.

The cost to obtain an enhanced driver’s license varies from state to state. The cost of a Michigan enhanced driver’s license is $45. The state charges $30 for an enhanced ID card. The Vermont Enhanced Driver’s License costs $25.00 in addition to the standard fees for licenses and/or Non-Driver ID. The cost of the Washington Enhanced Driver’s License is is $60 for a first-time license or $15 to upgrade to enhanced driver license from a valid Washington State driver license. The cost of the New York Enhanced Driver’s License varies depending on the type of permit you are requesting.

Another options for acceptable identification when crossing borders by land or sea is the passport card. While the fees for the passport card may be more than those for the enhanced driver’s license, you can apply for the passport card by mail.

However, if you think that you might travel to other countries besides those mentioned above or if you might travel to the above mentioned countries by air, you need to obtain a U.S. passport book.

Travel Visa Services – When You Need a Visa Fast

Travel visa services can expedite visa applications for travelers who need to obtain this important travel document in a hurry. How quickly your application is processed does not depend on the visa service providers but by the consulate services of the country to which you are applying. Some consulates provide same day expediting while others process applications no quicker than 24 hours. Still others consulates take longer.

The advantage of using a travel visa service is not that they can get your visa application processed more quickly than you could. The advantage is that you do not have to travel to the consulate to submit the application yourself. This is important since more and more consulates are no longer accepting applications that are sent by mail. Even countries that require you to submit the visa application online, require you to personally pick up your passport with the visa stamp in it or send someone who is authorized to represent you. A travel visa service is the best alternative when you cannot visit the consulate yourself and you have neither a family member nor friend who can go in your place.

Expert visa services are usually located in major cities such as Boston, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York and Washington DC where a large number of consulates are found. Many visa service providers have multiple offices located in different cities so that they can better serve their clients and provide quicker processing of visa applications.
The visa service fee depends on which visa you need – tourist, business, transit, etc., which country you plan to visit and how quickly you need to have your visa expedited. For example, the fee for a tourist visa to China with a single entry can be processed in 8 days for only $39. This does not include the fee paid to the Chinese consulate. Compare this to the fee of $169 for same-day expediting of a multiple-entry tourist visa to China.

Not every country requires U.S. citizens to obtain a visa in order to visit but when one is required, there is no getting around it. In fact, you will be banned from entering a plane headed for a country that requires an entry visa if you do not have one. When a visa is required and you cannot get the consulate yourself, then contracting on of the emergency visa services if the way to go.