I've been looking at what my options are for putting video clips on my blogs and website and although I haven't found the right thing yet - - or if I have, I don't know it yet - my research has turned up some interesting information.
First I've found the Audio Generator that makes it easy to insert audio in a website, blog, email - whatever. And you can sample it by sending audio "postcards" to friends through that link.
Now that's what I call easy to work with.
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Poking around further I found information on the Church of the Customer Blog that pointed me in the direction of YouTube.
They explain that YouTube is better than the "much-anticipated" Google Video (I was clueless)
Here's how the two stack up as far as the Church of the Customer Bloggers see things, point by point:
1. YouTube was constructed with a community in mind.
Its interface tools, such as tagging, a rating system, comments, friends, favorites, friends' favorites, etc. go far beyond what Google Video provides for letting the community of users connect.
2. YouTube's user interface is vastly better.
It's easy to use and more attractive while ironically retaining a Google-like simplicity. Google Video's UI is so spartan as to be unattractive.3. YouTube's viral functions -- "Share this video" and "tell a friend" -- are ridiculously easy.
The functions are automatically added at the end of each video, making each video simple to share. The brilliant seed of YouTube's model includes code for each user to play YouTube's videos directly from their own blog or website. Google's viral functions are found in the user panel under somewhat obtuse links called "put on site" and "send link."4. YouTube videos always load and play faster than Google videos.
At least that's been my experience on two different computers in multiple locations.5. YouTube displays the number of times each video has been played.
That's a data point of pride for uploaders. Google Video most likely compiles that data but does not display it. Data transparency is helpful for both content creators and viewers.6. YouTube's user account system is more robust.
It's also easier to use and filled with more data than Google's.7. YouTube's search functionality is vastly better than Google's.
That's a surprising outcome from the world's search leader. YouTube can sort search returns by date added, title, view count and rating. Google Video's search sort is by date and title.
8. YouTube displays three random images from each video for search returns.
That makes it considerably easier for users to find specific video files from large batches of results. Google Video just displays the first frame of each video file.9. YouTube displays trackbacks to each video.
Google Video does not. YouTube's functionality there makes it easier to discover who the more influential virus-spreaders are.10. YouTube helps users find the obvious: related videos.
It's a great tool for users trying to build video evidence related to a subject. For instance, go to the comments of this video to see the "related video" functionality.
This
sounds like their decision is made already - but I thought it was
important to read the additional info that they followed up with.
Google does stomp YouTube in two important areas:
Downloadable videos and seller accounts.For those who create multimedia presentations, a downloadable video is a big differentiator. If an Internet connection isn't available, good luck showing or sharing a YouTube video.
And for content creators who see online video distribution as a major new sales channel, Google Video makes it pretty easy to disintermediate a realm of resellers.
Be that as it may however, the Church of the Customer has clearly picked a winner, saying:
But for now, YouTube easily trumps Google. YouTube has deftly designed itself around what appears to be one of the more significant contributors to the growth of an online product: Enabling a community of users to create content around content.
All this aside, I'm still looking for options for video on the web/blog. Google may be a possibility for this, but I don't know.
I'll keep you updated in any case.
Bonus link:for Simpsons fans a new video on YouTube is the "real-life" version of the opening montage from the tv show.
