Almost all internet users watch videos and the demand for more continues to rise. What is your business doing to make sure you’re tapping into all of these potential customers?
Even if you understand how powerful videos are for your brand, are you getting them in front of the right people? Don’t stress — we’ve got a guide to the 10 best video sharing platforms to help you optimize your content the right way.
What to Consider
Before we start talking about the best video platform for business, let’s look at the important things you need to consider. Here’s a list of options to help you make the right choice:
- Available analytics and SEO tools to measure the effectiveness
- Easy to share and embed
- Compatibility across different browsers and mobile devices
- Easy to use and options to enhance videos with effects and subtitles
Keep these things in mind when looking at our list of video platforms.
- YouTube
Let’s start with the biggest name in the game, YouTube. This enormous platform reaches two billion people every month.
Besides being incredibly popular, YouTube is also in over one hundred countries. That makes it an appealing option if you need to reach an international audience.
YouTube’s dashboard makes it easy to create exactly the kind of videos you want and allows for hashtags to reach a wider audience. Even if you see other options you want to try on this list, make sure you’re hosting your best videos on YouTube.
- SproutVideo
One of the reasons you need a web hosting platform is because hosting the videos yourself eats up so much space. SproutVideo is business-focused, and helps you build a site around your videos.
Within Sprout itself, you can make playlists to give your customers comprehensive overviews of some of your products or services. Sprout also allows for lead capture and robust audience metrics.
You can still embed from SproutVideo so consider using it to create a separate branded site where your videos can live.
- DailyMotion
DailyMotion has big numbers of viewers but not at the same level as YouTube. As such, you have an opportunity to reach a sizeable yet different audience here.
DailyMotion is another great option for those with customers in other countries. Like YouTube, you can monetize videos on the site, but be careful not to overwhelm your viewers with an aggressive campaign.
- Vimeo
If you have a solid video strategy or even paid video content, Vimeo is a great choice. They have privacy options, meaning someone has to prove they purchased access before they can get your content.
You can still embed from Vimeo and provide free content to customers. People can also download from Vimeo, so consider that in your content strategy.
Are you surprised to see Facebook show up on this list? It’s still primarily a social media platform but it allows unlimited video uploads.
Kill two birds with one stone by combining your social media marketing and video storage all in one place. There are a few drawbacks though — ads play automatically and the video tools are pretty basic.
- WordPress with Jetpack
Here’s another tool that you might already use but have no idea about it’s video hosting capabilities: WordPress with Jetpack plug-in. If you already have a WordPress site, this is another way to use one tool in two different ways.
If you upgrade to Jetpack’s premium or professional options, you get unlimited video hosting. That includes playback tools, statistics right in the dashboard, and easy embedding into your site.
- Wistia
If you haven’t heard of Wistia, then you’re missing out. This video sharing platform has been around since 2008 and has many opportunities for businesses who want to build their brand on the platform itself.
Much like YouTube, you can create your own channel within Wistia itself. That allows you to not only host your videos in one place but create a secondary online presence to boost your omnichannel marketing efforts.
- JW Player
JW Player was the precursor to YouTube and is still a competitive alternative. Use JW Player for fast, effective playback without freezing and for live broadcasts.
When going live, you can simultaneously cast to Facebook at the same time. You’ll get more robust live audience analytics through JW Player as well.
- Uscreen
Looking to make money off of your videos? You need a platform that understand those needs and doesn’t make you jump through hoops to monetize your content.
Uscreen isn’t like other platforms in that it’s solely focused on video sharing for business. You can host HD videos online that easily integrate with other apps and smart TVs and set a custom price, too.
Uscreen is for those who are looking to sell a video series, which is perfect for educators or those who sell digital products. You do need to have 300 subscribers to start and the monthly fee comes in at $99 per month.
- vooPlayer
This is another smart small business video platform that’s perfect for marketers. The site isn’t flooded with anyone with a camera; it’s specifically geared to those who are using videos for their business.
Use vooPlayer to create custom audiences and target the right people, then generate leads from your videos. Best of all, you can pull videos from your other sites, like Vimeo, YouTube and Facebook.
You’re provided with advanced analytics and customizable branding options. You can even set up a pay-per-view gate so that you’re paid each time someone watches your videos.
The Best Video Sharing Platforms for You
Your business has tons of options when it comes to video hosting. This list will help you make the right choice and choose the best video sharing platforms for you and your business.
Whether you’re selling a video series or just want a place to show off your amazing content, you’re sure to find a solution on this list. In fact, don’t stick to just one — use a couple of them to see which works best.
Want to learn more ways to grow your company? Check out our other business articles and learn more tips and tricks to succeed!
