Next up on the cost scale includes demos produced with a consulting Flash demo production company. There are many companies to choose from and we all charge about the same. But the final product can vary greatly from firm to firm so you should thoroughly research them for the best fit and price.

Flash demo production companies' services vary:

• Simple software screen product tours
• Conversion of your script & storyboard into a final Flash animation
• Full service that can include consulting, story development, storyboard development, and final production

Firms that provide mere screen-based product tours might use screen-capture software so watch out: they might charge you a lot of money for something you can easily do yourself. Just ask how they produce the final Flash —it might be simple screen shots or it could be high-fidelity screen captures and sprites (little objects that move around)—and weigh it against the benefit of not doing it yourself. Regardless of how it is finally produced, what they really provide is expertise in how best to describe your solution. Working with an objective person or firm is great for helping to figure out what matters most to your audience.

Some companies or individuals can simply convert your script & storyboard into a final Flash file. In most cases, they will not use screen capture software (but ask to be sure) to retain high quality visuals. More often, they'll use pure, high-fidelity JPG or TIF files and mimic the screen-clicking activity in Flash. But again, ask them how they plan to produce the visuals to be sure of what you're getting.  Since these companies are focused on the final production, don't look to them for help with the script or storyboard.

Full-service companies provide everything you need to deliver a high-quality demo. With an understanding of how you plan to use the demo in your marketing strategy, they'll help develop the story, create the storyboard, and build the final animation to match your target audience and business goals. The real benefit to using a full-service company is that they'll help you tell your story in such a way that prospects will really get what you're selling. Framing the demo with some context about things like business challenges or user requirements allows the viewer to visualize the solution's impact at a higher-level. Prospects can think more about how the product will improve their productivity or profitability than merely how it works. If your demo is merely about the product, you might be able to use DIY software or a PowerPoint-to-Flash converter to save money. Cost can be the biggest factor when working with a full-service company so be sure the quality matches your expectations. Some companies such as advertising agencies charge more than $30,000 or $40,000 or more for a demo that can be had for less than $10,000. Be sure to ask if there are any extra costs such as hosting or the cost of stock assets. And be sure they will provide all the source files when it's all done (so you can make edits later without having to pay them).

Next Steps...
I hope these tips help you with working with a demo production company. Please send me feedback or add a comment below. And you can register with FlashDemoWorld (using the login form at right) to gain access to exclusive content such as my 10 steps to creating a demo.