How to Host Your Video Direct on WordPress Site
WordPress is the number one choice for websites because of its success and its reliability. Thanks to its versatile design, anyone can build a fully functioning site in no time at all. You don’t need to be a professional programmer to setup an attractive blog on this platform – the features are already there for the taking! If you’re looking into video content for your site, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll discuss the steps you can take to host videos directly on your WordPress site.
Choosing A Hosting Service
The first step to hosting videos on your site is to choose a host, or service, to run your site on. There are a variety of hosting services out there, and not all of them can support multimedia files like video or audio content. When choosing a host, you’ll need to consider their support for multimedia files, as well as their pricing and features, among other things. Fortunately for you, we’ve collected a list of the best video hosting services for WordPress users so you can easily find the one that suits your needs. Take a look below:
1. WordPress.com
If you’re new to WordPress, the first place you should check out is WordPress.com. This is the official WordPress website and the recommended choice for blogs and small websites. One of the best things about this hosting service is that it’s free! You don’t need to worry about paying for hosting, which usually ranges from $2 to $10 per month.
WordPress.com supports a variety of hosting features, and one of the best things about this service is that it supports one-click installs for WordPress. This means you can literally install WordPress using the click of a button and have your site up and running in no time. You don’t need to worry about configuring FTP access or setting up a complicated database – WordPress takes care of all of that for you. Since this is the recommended choice for new users, you can bet that many WordPress video tutorials and guides are hosted here – including this very one!
2. Bluehost
If you decide to go with the more traditional route and choose to host your video content on a platform that you build yourself, the next step is to move to Bluehost. With Bluehost, you can get started with a free domain and install WordPress to launch your site. While not everyone will prefer the familiarity of a DIY approach when building their website, Bluehost offers a wealth of features that you wouldn’t find in a traditional hosting service like WordPress.com. Bluehost supports a variety of hosting plans, ranging from the shared hosting all the way up to the most expensive, professional-level plan. Naturally, the cost goes up as you move to the more advanced plans – so if you’re looking for a free service, go with the basics!
One of the best things about Bluehost is that it supports a one-click install for WordPress. This means you can get your site up and running in no time at all with just a few clicks of the mouse. There’s also a four-step installer that’s super easy to use if you’re a beginner. You don’t need to worry about configuration, as Bluehost takes care of all of that for you.
3. WP Engine
WP Engine is another great option for those looking to host their video content on WordPress. Like Bluehost, it offers a one-click install for WordPress and supports a variety of hosting packages. The difference is that WP Engine goes one step further by offering custom builds of WordPress that are specifically optimized for speed and security. This way, even if you’re not a professional, you can rest assured that your site will run smoothly.
WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org and What to Choose
Before we move on, it’s important to distinguish between WordPress.com and WordPress.org – the two separate platforms that can be used to host websites. As the name would suggest, WordPress.com is hosted by WordPress, the company that created the free blogging platform itself. WordPress.org, on the other hand, is the open-source version of WordPress that anybody can use to set up a blog. While both are suited for hosting video content, it’s important to remember that not all hosting platforms are created equal. The main difference between these two is that the former is more of a safety net for blogs and small websites while the latter is completely free and does not require you to register or pay a dime for hosting.
Where Should You Host Your Videos?
Now that you have your WordPress site up and running, it’s time to start thinking about where you should host your videos. The first step is to decide whether you want to host the videos yourself or use an online service – there are pros and cons to both options. If you’re new to video or unsure of how to host it, go with the DIY approach and set up a regular video on your site. This way, you can test out different hosting services and see which one works best for your needs.
If you decide that you want to use an online video hosting service, take a few minutes to browse through their offerings to see which plan suits you best. Remember: cheaper is usually not better when it comes to online video hosting – you want to go with a reputable company that offers a reliable service and supports the filetypes that you’re interested in hosting. Also, make sure that their terms and conditions are user-friendly so you can rest assured that your content will be safe once you upload it. Below is a quick list of some of the most popular and reputable video hosting services:
1. YouTube
If you’re new to video and want to start small, make sure to check out YouTube. This is the number one destination for online video and has amassed a massive following thanks to its wide variety of content – both professionally made and amateur videos uploaded by users themselves. YouTube offers free storage to users and allows for a variety of monetization options, like displaying ads or becoming a YouTube Partner to make money from product placement or affiliate marketing.
2. Vimeo
Vimeo is similar to YouTube and allows for similar content to be uploaded and stored. However, Vimeo is much more selective about which videos can be uploaded here – usually, the content has to be professional in quality to be accepted. Vimeo also allows for more advanced features, like video editing and special effects. Since Vimeo is more focused on aesthetics than sheer volume, it’s a great choice if you’re looking to showcase your artistic side.
3. Dailymotion
Dailymotion is ideal for short-form video content – something you can watch and enjoy in the moment. This is a popular choice among content creators who want to showcase their comedic talents or do short-form videos to promote a brand or to raise awareness for an issue.
4. Twitch
In the past, we would’ve had to pay per view to watch online video content – but now, there are tons of services that provide a free, ad-supported alternative. You can even set up your own livestreaming channel on Twitch and engage with your audience through live chat during broadcasts.
Which one you choose really depends on your needs. If you’re looking for a safe place to show your videos and are wary of committing to a long-term service plan, go with YouTube or Vimeo – the two largest video websites. If you’re looking to create a more elegant experience for your viewers, make sure to check out Dailymotion or Twitch.
WordPress Video Tutorials and Guides
If you’re new to video and want to learn how to create effective YouTube videos or how to use the different features of YouTube, check out these WordPress video tutorials and guides. They’ll introduce you to the ins and outs of creating an engaging video content for your site using this platform.
Now that you have the technical side of video taken care of, it’s time to think about the visual side. What will your video look like? How will you shoot it? What will the music sound like? These are all relevant questions to ask yourself before you even begin to think about creating video content for your site.
WordPress is a popular choice for bloggers because of its versatility and the fact that it’s free. However, although it’s a great platform for blogs and small websites, it’s not necessarily the best choice if your goal is to create a fully functioning video website. The best platform for that is one that you build yourself, using the free self-hosted WordPress.org version, which doesn’t require you to run a separate hosting service like Bluehost.