Izzy Video tutorials make it easy to learn video.

Now that video has exploded on the web, there are zillions of options for hosting your videos. I’m not going to try to tell you what the *best* way to do it is. I’m just going to share with you how I host mine.

Here are the details…

There Are Three Parts

The first thing to know is that I have three different parts to my system:

1. Video hosting
2. Website hosting
3. Video embedding

Some services — such as YouTube — do all three of these for you. You can host a video with them, have your own channel (website), and they give you embed code. While I post videos to YouTube every once in a while, it’s not my preferred method. It just doesn’t give me the control I want. That said, for many people, this is a great option. It’s just not how I do it…

Video Hosting

I host my videos on Libsyn. I’ve been using them for years. The service has been reliable, and it’s affordable.

My favorite part? They provide unlimited bandwidth for media downloads. This is HUGE. Although bandwidth is becoming cheaper and cheaper over time, it can still be a big cost if you’re pushing out a lot of video downloads.

So how much am I spending with Libsyn? I have three different accounts, one for each of my shows (Paperclipping, Rolling R’s, and of course Izzy Video) that each cost about $60 per month. So I’m spending a total of $180 per month.

Wow, that’s a lot (you might be thinking)! Well, yes and no. I looked at many other alternatives, and for the number of downloads I’m getting, it’s very reasonable.

To give you an idea, I also looked at Amazon’s S3 service. They’re very well-known for providing inexpensive hosting and bandwidth. When I did the math, I figured I’d be spending more than $800 per month with Amazon S3. So… Libsyn was a great option for me. :-)

Website Hosting

This website and all my other sites are hosted on Dreamhost. I’ve used them for years. I started with them when I didn’t know anything about building and hosting websites, but as I’ve learned more about this stuff, I’m happy to say they’ve provided great options even as I’ve become a little more advanced.

Are they the best? I don’t know. I left them once and the new host was a nightmare, so I promptly went back. I’ve been with them ever since. I highly recommend Dreamhost for website hosting.

Embedding Video

Now you need a way to embed the videos from Libsyn onto your website. For this I use The Longtail Player. This allows me to embed the actual MP4 video file right into the website, so it’s playable in the browser without having to leave the page.

And more good news — they’re about to launch a new version of the player that will be compatible with iPads, iPhones, and other devices that don’t play Flash.

Tutorials

I’ve done some tutorials on exactly how I do my process. If you’re a member, you should check out Izzy Video episodes 123 and 132 in particular.

And that’s it. Like I said, I’ve looked at several different options, and this is how I’ve chosen to do it. What do you do? I’d love to hear your solutions in the comments…

* Some links are affiliate links.

Several people have asked me how to create a high quality DVD from a sequence created in Final Cut Pro. This episode will show you a couple different high quality workflows. If you’re a Final Cut Pro user, you should find this helpful.

You can click here to watch the trailer.

If you like this tutorial and want access to more than 150 other video tutorials like it, you should learn about an Izzy Video Membership.

When I was at the NAB Show this year, I noticed that there were zillions of different rigs designed for shooting video with digital SLR cameras. I looked at everything I could and then fell in love with one particular rig. And, um, I bought it. :-)

This video will show you the rig, how it works, how it’s different, and why I like it so much.

You can click here to watch the trailer.

If you like this tutorial and want access to more than 150 other video tutorials like it, you should learn about an Izzy Video Membership.

P.S. I bought the rig from IDC Photo Video.

The iPad is an excellent device for watching videos. The question is: What is the best way to optimize video for the iPad’s display?

There are many ways to do it. This video will give you a couple different options, and the techniques will work on both PC’s and Macs.

You can click here to watch the video.

If you like this tutorial and want access to more than 150 other video tutorials like it, you should consider an Izzy Video Membership.

Client work is not the only way to make money with video. You have other options, a lot of them. Want to know my favorite way?

Do the production yourself.

To clarify….

I think that if you have video gear and skills, that’s valuable to someone. Gear is expensive (and for that matter, so is acquiring skills). You can do something that relatively few people can do: you can shoot, edit, and produce something.

Traditionally that might mean you’re available to produce for hire. But you don’t have to be for hire. You could be producing for yourself.

My favorite content to create is “how to”. All three of the shows I personally produce online (Izzy Video, Paperclipping, and Rolling R’s) are “how to” in nature.

Here’s an interesting business strategy for you video shooters looking to create some additional income outside of doing client work:

1. Find someone who is an expert on a specific topic. For example, let’s say “Cake Decorating.”
2. Partner with that expert on a project where you shoot a series of high quality training videos which teach people all about cake decorating.
3. Instead of getting paid by the day, hour, or project — agree to split the profits. I like to do an even split, 50/50 with the expert. They bring the content, and I bring the production.

There’s more to it than that, of course, but you get the basic idea.

Will every project be a wild success? Of course not. But if some of them are, you might be able to stop doing client work — if that’s something you’re interested in doing.

If you want to try this, I recommend doing it on the side, along with your normal paying gigs. That way if a project fails, it’s no big deal. You still have your client work income.

If you’re busy all the time with client work, you might need to turn down some work so you can develop your own content. Does that sound backwards? Turning down work? I do it. Many people do it. It’s prioritization. If I have to choose between spending a day developing my own content versus developing someone else’s content, I’d rather be working on my own. In the long run, it might pay better.

If you want to know how I do my business, you might want to check this out.

Have you tried any of this? Has it worked? Would you be interested in trying it? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments…

* Photo by AMagill