The online video market is witnessing tremendous growth. Compared to static content, people spend five times the time on video content, according to a study. Video content brings great benefit to any company as it offers better visibility, better SEO, increased awareness about the brand and improved sales.

Online videos are generally categorized as business-to-consumers (B2C) and business-to-business (B2B) videos. Though the target for both these types are different, their aim is quite similar.

B2C communication help businesses continue communicating with existing customers and build interaction with potential customers. B2B communications, on the other hand, are targeted on a network of higher-ups who make the decision on purchase. Different platforms are available for online video distribution.

Online Video Platforms

The most popular ones for sharing video and hosting them are YouTube and Facebook Live, both of which are customer-facing platforms. Billions of people use them, which makes them great for B2C outreach and marketing.

One big advantage of both these platforms are they are free for everyone. However, both YouTube and Facebook fail to offer key features needed by most business and serious broadcasters. Also, access to YouTube and Facebook is barred by many businesses and schools, thereby limiting their outreach.

Online video platforms (OVPs) are professional video hosts and are great for businesses doing video hosting and live streaming. The security features in OVPs are advanced and they also allow complex schemes for monetization through integrated paywalls. Their ease in integrating with the workflow already existing helps them meet the B2B live streaming requirements effectively.

Popular Platforms for Online Video Distribution

Have you ever wondered how a professional video production agency does business? Some popular OVPs come into play here.

• Brightcove: Brightcove is among the oldest OVPs in operation. Its complex video marketing tools and analytics are perfect for knowing the audience and also capturing leads. It offers live streaming, cloud encoding and on-demand videos. The platform also includes custom video portals. Depending on the audience, Brightcove can provide the best experience for anyone from binge watchers to internal teams. Brightcove launched its Brightcove Agency Program in 2017 that helps select group of agencies providing services in areas such as branding, video production, web and digital assets creation to deliver advance video services.

• Wistia: Founded in 2008, Wistia is mainly focused on marketing. It does not allow live streaming though. This OVP allows you to release videos on your own channel but you won’t be disturbed by advertisement. It has security features such as password protection, domain restriction and email gating.

• JW Player: Originally a video player, JW Player is now into hosting. It allows live streaming by expanding its video offerings. Recently, the company started offering a full-time live streaming provider called JW Live. However, monetization is allowed only through advertising.

• Kaltura: Kaltura offers cloud video hosting and delivery. This company has been mostly associated with educational institution. Though the software is free, it needs server infrastructure for hosting and distribution. With a number of features, the platform can become a little confusing for new users. However, the monetization options are good in this platform.

• Dacast: This OVP offers all-inclusive live streaming along with services for online video hosting.  Users have 100% control over their content even while embedding their videos anywhere. It offers high-end features, making it suitable for publishers looking for advanced video hosting capabilities. It includes integrated paywall, an analytics dashboard, referrer restriction and password protection. What sets Dacast apart from other OVPs is its accessibility and ease-of-use. A live stream can be started in minutes by a new broadcaster by provisioning a fresh live channel.

The market of streaming service is crowded and complex. Despite making a comparison among the different platforms for online video distribution, it can still be challenging. Videos can help you build trust and improve your reach.

Once a video agency creates a video, they need to select the right platform for distributing the same to meet their requirements. With the advancement in technology, at a reasonable price you can share your videos with the world, thereby opening a whole new vista for you.

You have to tools to create a video and let the world see it at the click of a mouse. So what are you waiting for? Make an effort to understand all the available platforms for video production services before making a suitable selection.