Why we use Vimeo
March 17, 2011
As video continues to boooooooom on the web; more and more companies are trying to figure out the best way to host and monitor their fancy videos.
If you’ve been to our site, you might’ve noticed that all of our content is hosted by the good people at Vimeo. We think that their friendly community of filmmakers and video hobbyists are the cat’s pajamas.
We figured we’d highlight some of our favorite features on Vimeo, and tell you why we pay money to use them.
Serendipity: The power of platform.
One of the most powerful benefits of using Vimeo (or Youtube) as a video hosting solution are the enormous user ecosystems that are attached to their platforms. When you upload your media to Vimeo, not only will you get views from your supporters and clients, but you’ll also get an opportunity to expose your video serendipitously to users far outside your personal network. The platforms of Vimeo and Youtube give your video a better chance at spreading, making a greater impact on your brand’s presence across the web.
Feedback: The power of a vibrant community.
Feedback and comments about your media can be an important research tool for improving your future video campaigns. The commenting and social networks on video platforms give a glimpse of what your target demographic thinks is awesome, and also what they think is a bore. Since the members of Vimeo are encouraged to produce and critique each other’s work, their comments tend to be more constructive, in a positive and uplifting tone.
Design Focused: Love is in the details.
Vimeo’s bright, modern design tops many websites being used today. Not only has the design team focused on usability, but their community forum allows for direct input from members actively using the site. Many of the features Vimeo has rolled out over the years were suggested by users who wanted to see them exist.
Video Player Customization: Keep your brand equity.
The beauty of the internet lies in its open platform, giving everyone the chance to stake their claim. How many successful Internet start-ups began with three guys in a garage? The last thing we pioneers want to do is have some corporation’s logo slapped across our content.
With Vimeo, there’s no worry! Their Plus account offers not only the option of removing their logo when embedding your videos, but you can also require your username and photo to appear over any videos being embedded. This means that wherever your video is embedded, they will know exactly who made it.
Bang for Buck: Save money, still look like a pro.
Although the higher-end services like Wistia offer more features, a lot of companies are just starting and can’t afford such delicacies. Being a lean start-up, Vimeo’s $60 a year plan is right up our alley. The benefits you gain as a Plus member greatly outweigh the two-cups-of-coffee-a-month price range.
In closing, Vimeo is a great platform for businesses looking to save money without losing too much on the feature-side. Down the road, it is very likely Sprinkle Lab will migrate to a pricier, more illustrious video service. Until that time comes, we are Vimeans through and through.