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September 28, 2023
The Best Time-Wasting Websites You Can Browse to Avoid Burnout
September 29, 2023Today, video content is more important than ever. It is one of the hottest mediums to share your ideas and the trend grows more popular year by year. To stay on top, content creators must look for new channels to share their work, and innovative videos fit the bill nicely.
In some cases, the video proves to be too large for uploading while in other cases the upload process takes forever – both are sure signs that you need to find a better video hosting site.
This article will show you a handful of the best video hosting sites out there so you can choose one that’s perfect for you. Read on to learn more.
Features to Look For
Before delving into the descriptions of the most popular video hosting sites, it’s best to acknowledge what makes these sites worthy to be on this list. Some believe that YouTube is enough for most needs, and although YouTube is great – it’s not the only game in town.
There’s so much more to focus on when you want your content to be discoverable by search engines and well-received by a wide audience. These are the make or break features that you should keep an eye on when choosing your platform:
- Intuitive interface
- Browser/player compatibility – focus on Flash and HTML5
- Mobile device compatibility
- Analytics tools to help you measure data
- SEO tools to help you make your content search-engine friendly
- The possibility to embed the video to other websites
Be aware that indexing video content can take some time, depending on the platform. Pay attention to load times for each video hosting site, as Google hates slow websites and will send your content to the search pages that no one ever accesses (anything past page 1 or 2, for the most part).
If possible, use video sitemaps to increase the chance of having your video displayed prominently on the search engine results page.
Some of The Best Video Hosting Sites
Once you’ve figured out what features to look for in a video hosting site, ask yourself these questions:
- What is the purpose of your content?
- What is your target audience?
- How much time do you invest in video creation?
- What is your budget?
Based on these questions, you can choose one of these video hosting platforms:
YouTube
The most popular video hosting website out there, YouTube is still going strong in 2019. This website appeared in 2005 before the trend of video marketing was even a thing.
Because it is associated with the world’s most popular search engine, Google, this video hosting website is instantly recognizable by any type of audience. This is the best hosting platform for content creators who want to publish regularly and reach a huge audience fast.
With YouTube, you’ll always have a higher exposure potential than with the other video hosting sites out there. Because it is also somewhat of a social channel with the ability to comment, it has a massive user base that can’t be ignored. This is why a lot of explainer video companies choose to post their content on this platform.
It's also really easy to upload your video on it. You just use the video editing software of your choice to create a video, then simply click the upload button once you log in. And that's it.
Yet YouTube might not be enough to fulfill your various goals. Otherwise, the list would have stopped right here.
Vimeo
Vimeo is pretty popular too and it’s probably the second most accessed video hosting site after the famous YouTube. It is similar to YouTube in many aspects, but it is more tightly focused on providing video hosting for professional short films and demos, rather than ‘anything at all’.
By using their free plan, you can upload videos regularly but in a limited number. The Vimeo community doesn’t have the size of YouTube’s, but since it’s known for being more professional, this platform can be more suitable for businesses and creative professionals.
If you’re not publishing daily, the video limit should be enough for your needs, but if not you can always purchase premium upgrades to increase the storage limits.
Another benefit is the very powerful analytics tools that Vimeo provides to its users, not to mention the high degree of customization on the platform.
Dailymotion
Dailymotion is one of those video hosting websites best known for hosting content related to the news. People typically access this platform when they want to find out more about current affairs and the latest entertainment, including sports and film trailers.
Users can create channels, just as in the case of YouTube and Vimeo, and post regularly. Three great features are that it can be monetized, you can edit videos directly from the platform, and you can record live streams.
It has an interface that’s similar to YouTube. You can use the drag-and-drop function to upload your videos and you can add all the SEO-related details like titles, tags, and descriptions from the dashboard. You can modify privacy settings and customize the platform too.
It has a new feature called Up Next Queue that can be enabled and disabled according to your liking.
Looking for a free video hosting solution that’s also very popular? Facebook. Yes – you read that right. Many people use Facebook solely for hosting their video content.
You have no limits, the potential audience is huge, the maximum length is a whopping 240 minutes, and the benefits go on and on.
Video sharing is a breeze, considering that Facebook is a social platform where anything can become viral. Even though it’s not the first choice for many professionals, Facebook proves to be just as effective as YouTube in some situations.
Wistia
Wistia doesn’t have the popularity of YouTube or Facebook, but you should definitely give it a go. It’s one of the few video hosting sites that focus on collecting leads and getting the best ROI for businesses.
You can track the progress of your video with the included tools and you can make use of the amazing Turnstile email collector. Turnstile is meant to help you generate more leads through emails and it can also be integrated with MailChimp or Campaign Monitor.
Twitch
Twitch is the land of gamers, but it’s slowly starting to become the new YouTube. Until recently, Twitch was mostly used by gamers who record themselves playing the most popular videogames while people can watch in realtime , join communities, or make donations.
There is a free version and a Turbo version. The biggest benefit is that you’ll get rid of the ads on your video if choosing Turbo. It’s similar to YouTube Premium.
Brightcove
Not many people know about Brightcove as a video hosting website, but that’s because it is targeted mainly at businesses. It is the top choice of Fortune 500 companies and it is built specifically to suit the needs of marketers, enterprises, and publishers.
The suite of features is extensive and it comes with all the most modern video hosting technologies like HTML5, live streaming, and video analytics.
SproutVideo
There’s nothing very specific about SproutVideo that makes it unique compared to the other video hosting sites listed here, but overall it is a great platform to upload your video content on.
It has all the features you would want to see in a video hosting site, including analytics and SEO. SproutVideo is secure and you can easily share your videos privately with a range of different privacy controls.
FAQ on video hosting sites
What's the deal with video hosting sites?
Well, video hosting sites are like the digital playgrounds for all our binge-watching habits. They allow creators to upload, share, and sometimes even monetize their content. Think of them as the modern-day TV channels, but online and way more diverse.
Are they all free to use?
Most of them have a free tier, but you know how it goes. If you want the premium features, better quality, or no ads, you might have to shell out some cash. It's like getting a basic cable package and then deciding if you want HBO.
How do they make money?
Ads, ads, and more ads. But that's not the only way. Some offer premium subscriptions, partnerships, or even sell merchandise. It's a mixed bag, but the primary revenue is from advertising. It's like how radio stations have commercials, but for your eyes.
Is my content safe on these platforms?
Ah, the age-old question. While most sites have robust security measures, there's always a risk. Always back up your content. And read those terms and conditions; sometimes, you're giving away more rights than you think.
Can I make money on these platforms?
Absolutely! If you've got the content people want to see, there's potential. Monetization comes from ads, sponsored content, or even fan donations. But remember, it's not just about uploading; you've got to promote and engage with your audience.
What's the best platform for beginners?
It really depends on what you're aiming for. YouTube is the big player, but there are others like Vimeo or Dailymotion that might be more your speed. Do some research, test the waters, and see where your audience hangs out.
How much storage do I get?
This varies. Some platforms offer unlimited storage, while others have caps. If you're planning on uploading a lot or in super high quality, you might want to check out their storage policies. It's like checking the trunk space before buying a car.
Are there any restrictions on content?
Most sites have community guidelines. No hate speech, nothing too graphic, and so on. It's essential to familiarize yourself with these rules. You don't want to spend hours on a video only to have it taken down.
How do I increase my video views?
Ah, the golden question. Engage with your audience, promote on social media, collaborate with others, and most importantly, create compelling content. It's not just about quantity; quality plays a huge role.
Can I host private videos?
Yes, many platforms allow for private uploads or unlisted videos. This means only those with the link can view it. It's perfect for sharing family videos or work presentations without the whole world peeking in.
Conclusion on these video hosting sites
The video hosting platforms listed here are just a few of those you can find that will suit most needs. To decide on any specific platform, you will have to take into consideration the size of the community of each site.
The more people you want to reach, the bigger the community should be, and that’s something only popular platforms like YouTube, Vimeo, Dailymotion, or Twitch can get you. The others are more niche-oriented and are generally only good for specific purposes.
