YouTube or Vimeo for video content?

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If you’re preparing to launch new video content for your business, you’re going to have to decide where to launch it. Two of the most common and popular platforms are YouTube and Vimeo. Each platform has its advantages and disadvantages in terms of video marketing.

YouTube certainly has a much larger audience with its 1 billion plus unique visitors per month. If you’re looking to make your next video go viral, YouTube is the supreme choice. Success on YouTube is measured by views, likes and comments. In most cases, YouTube is a great option for business owners looking to launch video content.

While Vimeo has a smaller number of unique visitors per month (approximately 65 million), it makes up for that number in quality. It’s the whole quality versus quantity debate. Vimeo’s user base consists of a more refined viewership. Many viewers are experienced and knowledgeable filmmakers. As a result, the discussion on Vimeo is typically more enriching and constructive.

Therefore, you really need to assess your target demographic for your video marketing campaign and decide accordingly. If you’re looking to reach the masses, YouTube is a good option. However, if you’re looking to reach a more targeted demographic, Vimeo may be the better choice.

YouTube offers a greater reach, advanced search options and the potential for your video to go viral. On the other hand, videos are mixed in with advertising and unfortunately, you have no control over the ads. Many viewers can be turned off by having to sit through advertisements. If this is a concern for your business, you may want to opt for Vimeo.

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Vimeo offers a more refined viewing environment with no ads and an embedded player. It also offers better quality engagement. The tradeoff, of course, is less reach than YouTube and a less advanced search mechanism. If you want your video to be viewed, you’re going to have to rely more heavily on external links.

What’s the best option for your business? It really depends on your target demographic and marketing strategy. Work with your marketing professional to develop a longterm plan for your video content. After your plan is together, you’ll be able to weigh the pros and cons of each platform and decide upon the best option to drive your next marketing campaign.

If you’re using the WordPress CMS then make sure to take advantage of the easy ways to embed videos on your website.