When you want to set up a website for your video blog, you’ll firstly need to decide on whether you want a video-only blog or a multi-media video blog (which can also include text and/or photos).
If you opt for video-only, your video blog website could be as easy as using the YouTube channel. You can showcase both your videos and those uploaded by others by using this channel for your video blog.
There are also sites available which are designed for text blogging. You can easily add photos and embed videos into your blog. If you’re looking to include text and photos within your video blog it’s best to utilise a website like Blogger or WordPress.
If you intend to make a video blog using a traditional blogging site, you’ll still need to select a video sharing site for the hosting and streaming of your videos.
There are many factors to consider when choosing a video sharing website. You’ll need to decide whether you want the website to store and stream the videos you’ll post on your video blog Web site or to host your entire video channel. Some of the most critical factors will be:
• whether you can keep your videos private
• storage space for the videos
• the ease of monetizing your videos
How to decide which video website is the best place for you
There are lots of sites to choose from when looking for a video website for hosting your videos.
Initial consideration should be given to the technical features available and offered by the video websites. To help in investigating and selecting your choices and find some video websites that best fit your needs and requirements, the following should be considered:
Video Website File Size Limits
There are various limits in the size of the video files that you are allowed to upload. These limits are set by the individual Video Websites. Typically, you will need to compress your video before it is uploaded to enable it to meet the file size requirements of the particular video website you have chosen. If it needs to be compressed too much, the quality of your video may be reduced significantly by the time it is playing on the internet. There are some video websites which have no file size limits. Whilst it’s good to have the ability to upload your master video file, be aware that this can take a significant amount of time.
Video Website Storage Space
You may be wondering whether the video website places a limit on the number of videos you can upload to your account or how much storage space you are allowed to take up. There are some video websites which don’t place a limit on the number of videos you can upload, while other video websites only give you a limited amount of storage space to use. If you are using a website where the storage space is limited, you’ll probably find that you will have to delete old videos before being able to upload any new ones, create an additional account for your new videos, or on some occasions you may be able to pay for more storage space.
Video Website Uploading Formats
The majority of video websites will accept several video formats (i.e. Quicktime, Windows Media, MPEG, etc). There are some video websites which will even allow you to upload directly from your camcorder or mobile phone. If this is an essential factor for you, be sure to select a web video hosting service which offers you this feature.
Video Website Viewing Formats
Flash, which is installed on the majority of computers and plays easily and quickly is considered the standard format for most video websites. However, there are some video websites such as iTunes, which offer other formats should you wish to share your video on a site that isn’t compatible with Flash.
Video Website Compression Quality
Your video will be re-compressed by the video website before it is published. Some sites are better at doing this than others. For example, YouTube receives its biggest number of complaints due to the poor compression quality of its videos.
You can gauge an idea of how well the websites compressor works by viewing other videos on the site but it is impossible to know exactly what your re-compressed video will look like until it is compressed.
Video Website Downloads
Due to copyright issues, users are not permitted to download copies of the videos on the site on many of the video websites. However, sites such as Google Video and iTunes do permit users to save copies of videos to their desktops or portable video players.
Video Website Editing Capabilities
Editing features are now offered by a lot of the video websites. For example, YouTube enables you to be able to remix your video or add items such as titles, narration or photos.
These features are particular useful should you ever need to amend your video for any reason because you are able to do it online, rather than having to edit it on your desktop and go through the entire upload process again.
Other Features for Video Websites
As well as the technical features of the video website, there are also other things which need to be considered before making a decision on the video website to use. Aspects including search capabilities, privacy and site demographics should also be key factors when selecting your choice of video website.
It can be difficult to differentiate one video website from another as there are so many to choose from. Each video website will offer its own unique features which make it attractive to individual users. It may be useful to review the viewers and aesthetics of individual sites as part of the selection process when choosing a video website. This should be considered once you have located some web video hosting sites that offer the technical features you require.
Audience
If you want everyone to see your video, choose one of the extremely popular sites, such as YouTube.
Different websites have varying audiences. If your video places focus on a particular topic, select a website that serves that niche.
Payments
There are some video hosting websites that offer you the chance to make money off of your videos. Although you won’t necessarily earn a great deal of money, it might interest you to be able to make a few pounds out of your video.
Video Sharing
If it’s an important factor for you to be able to share your video around the web, you will need to ensure that your chosen web video hosting site can offer this service. The majority of web video hosting services do permit you to embed your videos in blogs, on personal web pages, and on sites such as Facebook and MySpace.
Video Privacy
If you want to keep your video private and only let it be seen by selected people, such as family and friends then you will need to ensure that you select a web video hosting service that allows you to set a privacy option for your videos to enable you to do this.
Video Player
Some video websites will place a watermark of their logo over part of your video or will include advertisements next to the video player. This may be suitable, but be aware that it doesn’t look too good if you are sending the video to clients and it has a big “YouTube” logo on it.
The Neighbours
Some video websites, such as Drop Shots and Phanfare are designed purposely for family friendly videos. When selecting your web video hosting site, be sure to choose one that displays other videos you feel comfortable about being associated with.
Video Review
Videos are reviewed for appropriateness and copyright infringement by many of the web video hosting sites before they get posted on the site. This review helps to maintain the quality of the videos on the site. It also means that it can take some time (up to 24 hours) before your video is posted.
If you want your video to be uploaded for access straight away, select a web video hosting service that doesn’t review videos.
User Agreement
Lastly, make sure you read the user agreement associated with the particular web video hosting site you select to use. It may be important to you to retain all rights to your video once it’s been uploaded.