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> We are looking at using tutorials of our software
> for a marketing tools, initially anyway, that would
> be available on the web.
In my opinion the best tutorial tool is just HTML, or even
printed documents. My favorite tutorials are just text documents
that describe the data to input, and the expected outputs, and
allow me to cut and paste data as needed. With plenty of
alternative examples, conceptual info, and rationales provided
where necessary.
When you say "tutorial" do you mean a slideware demo, or a real
tutorial? CBT is expensive to deliver and maintain, so it might
be worthwhile to drill down and uncover the true business
reasons why your company really wants a tutorial and what they
expect it to accomplish for them.
Tutorials and marketing tools tend to have different audiences
and different business purposes, therefore they are developed
differently.
I think a real tutorial would be an excellent marketing tool. On
the other hand, marketing tools tend to be lousy tutorials.
I think tutorials are worthless unless they include a fully
functional version of the software... Are you prepared to make
that available on the web? (not a bad idea!). Anything less is
just window dressing and not a real tutorial.
Regards,
Mike O.
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