If you are considering using online video publishing for your business or organization there are some basic issues that you will have to deal with while devising your plan. The most crucial decision will be in choosing if you should host your own video site, use an online video platform or post embedded videos on a social networking web site. In making this decision you will have to weigh factors of cost, investment in and knowledge of technical infrastructure and broad internet audience coverage.
The lowest cost and easiest way to go is to use a site like YouTube to post embedded videos. It is free to post on these sites and they are easy to use. You do not need any investment in expensive web server equipment. The low cost of entry comes with a trade off. You will be limited as to how long and how big your videos may be. You will have to give up ownership rights to the content you post.
If you are interested in having more control then self-hosting may appeal to you. There are no restrictions on the size of your files. You will have access to analytical information. You will have more choices when it comes to players, customization, and file formats. Be prepared, however, to provide all the IT resources and equipment. You will be on your own. You may need training in the very specialized and technical area of managing a server and video web management.
A big factor when self-hosting is choosing a video file format. There many different players like Flash and Media Player. There are a variety of file formats: flv and mp4 are two widely used formats. Cell phones are you being used more and more to view video so you may want to use a format that can run on mobile devices.
If you do not want to be responsible for the technical aspects of publishing videos then a free or fee based online video platform might be a good idea. They will provide the hosting and encoding. You can take advantage of the analytical data that they will gather for you. You can rely on them to handle the technical burden of running a video presentation server. Take advantage of free trial programs to see if the online video platform will meet your needs.
The best approach when integrating videos onto your web presence is to create a video section on a sub directory. On your main page place a prominent link to your video section that stands out. You could make your own search site and then display video search results on your search site. This will help make your videos easy to find. Use RSS feeds and site maps for maximum search engine optimization.
Create a video landing page with a one video per URL ratio. Use embedded players on your landing page. Use search engine optimization techniques by using keyword anchor text. Surround the video with contextual content such as related links and related on page text.
Whether you choose to self-host, use a online video platform, or post embedded video on a social networking site, online video publishing is a very exciting world today. It is an cost efficient and effective tool for marketing, training, communicating or just having fun.
Mike Gates is an online marketer and recommends HostGator for hosting. HostGator is the cheapest web host. Use hostgator coupons to get discount at the time of sign up.