So what exactly is ‘interactive media’?  In short, ‘interactive media’ is any form of communication that allows for active participation by the audience.

To some degree, even the simplest website is interactive – since the users generally control their own navigation around the site.  But the digital foundation of a website creates virtually endless possibilities for enhanced audience participation through interactive software applications.

There are many examples of interactive applications.  A very simple example is a web contact form that allows site users to communicate with you directly from the site.  Slightly more complex examples include an interactive google map , an online store that allows site users to complete their own purchases, a package tracking tool that allows customers to track their own shipments, or a video game application that enables site users to play games in real time.  Certainly, some of these applications are important.  (In the case of the contact form, the store, and package tracking, they enable your website to conduct real business.)  And clearly, they allow participation by the user.

But the possibility exists to take interactivity even further by allowing site users to contribute directly to the content of the site.  And their contributions can then be viewed and enjoyed by additional users who will hopefully be inspired to make their own contributions.  If all goes well, such applications enable the site to take on a life of its own and become an extremely dynamic medium.

Just a few examples of such applications include:

• User Forum – a place where site users and administrators can have public conversations about organized and indexed topics.  (Hint: This is a great way to provide tech support to customers.)
• Photo Gallery – allow site users to post and share their own photos or videos and to rate or comment on others.
• Event Calendar – a graphical calendar where users can post their own event dates.
• Web Links – you can allow site users to submit their own links to your link index.
• Product Reviews – allow registered site users to post product reviews in your online store.
• Polls – allow site users to share their opinions through informal polls.

And of course, it is also possible to leverage the incredible popularity of online social networking by allowing your registered site users to customize and share their own user profiles and to connect with other users.

These are only a few examples of applications that can add interactivity to your website.  In fact, there are hundreds (if not thousands) of other possibilities - and new applications are being developed and launched every day.

So if you can dream it, we can probably build it.  We’d sure like to talk to you about it, so please send us a note or give us a call, and together we’ll build a great site!

An interactive Google map:

(Take me back to the list of interactive application examples.)