Videos are powerful tools for engagement on your website, but to truly shine, they need to be crafted with both quality and web-friendliness in mind. Here's a roadmap to ensure your videos don't fizzle out online:
Identify the type of video needed for the task. Is this a long-form video with sound and multiple minutes long? Or a video for used as a looping background on a webpage where no audio is needed. Identifying the purpose of the video will help on making formatting decisions and how it will be delivered on your site.
Planning is Key: Understanding your target audience is crucial. Tailor your content style and length to resonate with them. Scripting your video and creating a storyboard ensures a clear and focused flow, avoiding rambling and keeping viewers engaged.
Production Polish: High-quality audio and video are essential for a professional look. Invest in a decent microphone; even a good smartphone can capture good video footage. Editing software can elevate your video by tightening the pace, adding transitions, and including captions for accessibility.
File Size Matters. Large video files take a long time to load, frustrating viewers. Below are some tips for decreasing file sizes of videos if you are hosting them on your website for viewer consumption.
1. Export videos in MP4 format with the H.264 video codec for a good balance of quality and file size. Ideally, target video sizes between 2-5MB.
2. Lower frame rates can help decrease a video's file size, if a video doesn't need to be 30 frames per second, try exporting at 24 frames per second.
3. For longer run times, use a CDN. While WordPress allows video uploads, hosting them directly can strain your server and slow down your website. It's best to use Wordpress Media Library or local server delivery for short 15 second looping videos, like those used as backgrounds. For longer video content, Consider using a Content Delivery Network (CDN) like YouTube or Vimeo. These services offer smoother playback, wider audience reach, and content delivery optimized for different internet speeds.
Here is a loom video on the tool we use to compress and convert our videos into the smallest size possible: https://www.loom.com/share/e760f236d4864375b4871f466877e668?sid=db321050-d506-4f4f-b633-ba527b3c0edd
Here are the tools we use together in that loom to compress and convert our videos:
Mobile Matters Too: More and more people are watching videos on their phones. Ensure your video displays well on all devices by using a responsive design on your website or exporting the video for various screen sizes. Square formats tend to work best in mobile.
Engaging Your Audience: Don't just upload and forget! Optimize your video for search engines by including relevant keywords in the title, description, and tags. Closed captions and transcripts further enhance accessibility and help search engines understand your content. End your video with a clear call to action, whether it's subscribing to your channel, visiting a link, or making a purchase. Finally, promote your video on social media, and embed it in relevant blog posts to spread the word.
Was this article helpful?
That’s Great!
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry! We couldn't be helpful
Thank you for your feedback
Feedback sent
We appreciate your effort and will try to fix the article