Now that your video is finished, you’ll want to show it to your intended audience. In this post, we will describe the best ways to post video to your website. Your website is the first place you should publish it, preferably on multiple pages. Using video on your website improves search engine ranking, attracts interest in your solution and drives conversions.
The content of your video should drive your decision for how and where to post it on your site. We’ll start by discussing different posting methods and then touch on the best approach for displaying main menu or video playlists.
Different Methods to Post Video to Your Website
There are benefits to using different video hosting platforms like YouTube, Vimeo, Wistia, etc., but for the purpose of this article, we’re going to focus on the actual integration or implementation of the video on your site. All popular video hosting platforms will allow you to post using these different methods.
Embedded “in Page”
Embedding (ie. using an iFrame) is the most widely used method for one very good reason — it’s easy. The hosting platforms provide the code, so it’s a simple cut-and-paste and you’re done! Embedded videos are also good for improving your site’s SEO.
When used in proper context, “embeds” create a more engaging page. For example, showing some footage from last year’s user conference on this year’s event registration page would be effective. Another example would be to include a customer testimonial on a case study page. In both cases, the videos would enhance the content of the page allowing visitors to read on-page content while they watch your video.
The problem with embeds is they take up important screen real estate, so they should only be used when the video content looks good at a relatively small size. The examples above of live video or a “talking head” typically work fine at a smaller size.
Overlay on Page
An overlay is when the video opens on top of the current web page. This implementation provides for greater flexibility in terms of size and quality, and has the advantage of not taking up valuable page real estate. Most web page content is less than 1000 pixels wide, but Full HD video is 1920 wide. So using an overlay lets you provide the highest quality video experience if and when your video deserves it.
Demo videos are often best viewed in an overlay where the solution being showcased can be seen at its native size. This creates a more immersive experience and ensures that the viewer can easily see the product features being displayed.
Here’s an example of Autodemo’s “Custom Lightbox” Overlay solution.
Click thumbnail to play video
Multiple Videos
If you have multiple related videos to post, you can embed them individually down a page or use one embedded iFrame to display each linked video. A similar approach can be taken using the Overlay method. Here again, the content of the video should determine which method and at what size you display the video. Here’s an example of a “Video Center” that utilizes the embedded iFrame approach:
Click thumbnail to view video center
If your web team isn’t willing or able to create the html needed for the above methods, you can also leverage the playlist functionality provided by your video hosting platform. Below is an example of YouTube’s playlist functionality. Notice the drop-down menu in the upper left corner, which allows users to quickly access the additional videos.
In Conclusion
There are many options for posting video to your site, but the key is to choose the best method for the specific content within the video. This might take an extra email or meeting to get your web team to consider the best options, but it’s worth it. When implemented properly, professional videos will drive exceptional results.