If requirement #1 is reaching the largest audience how can you consider any service besides YouTube?

http://siteanalytics.compete.com/viddler.com+blip.tv+youtube.com/?metric=uv

The problem I have with YouTube is the 10 minute limit. I have a show that we are working on: http://suiteoctober.com/ that has longer form video which is a problem on YouTube. I don’t like to divide up the videos and string them along in YouTube. So for long form Blip ( http://suiteoctober.blip.tv/ ) is working out nicely but the traffic is miniscule compared to YouTube.

I tend to use Vimeo, YouTube and Blip for the videos I create for PerkettPR and our clients. Vimeo is still the leader when it comes to publishing video in HD (720p). In addition, Vimeo’s privacy options are very flexible. The ability to keep a video private with a password is great for sharing videos with clients before making them public.

Thanks for the great post.

Jeff

For fun and passion I produce videos for my company synchronis.tv (the first web 2.0 company to stream a scripted web drama LIVE to the web) and like you, I am a huge fan of blip for those vids.

However for my paying gig I produce short form content for a law school. While we post on a variety of sites, youtube has become my go to site because of its new annotations. The school I work for produces video on a huge variety of topics from legal to historical to political to lifestyle issues, but every video includes an annotated link to the school’s commercial (also posted on youtube of course). Annotations have drawn a ton of traffic to that one video, which talks about the schools mission and what makes it unique amongst law schools, which, when all is said in done, is worth is weight in virtual gold.

best!

Kathryn Jones

First- I found your blog w/ Google search for video vs. written blogs. I’m agonizing over WP blog template, leaning toward video blog but your comments about user consumption and contribution hit home in that users should have as multiple choices to consume/respond.

Re: your choices for video distribution- Gary Vaynerchuk uses Blue Sky Factory for his email provider. I met owner of BSF, Greg Cangiolosi at an event recently and we talked briefly about branding. Greg and I both live in Baltimore and I never knew until I saw testimonial from Gary that he was client of BSF.

I digressed because I think it’s a chicken/ egg issue. You want wide distribution (YouTube) but functionality/great user experience as well (Viddler, Vimeo, Blip,etc).

I’m doing a lot more video as well, Viddler is my top choice, BUT, I push marketing videos through Tube Mogul and Traffic Geyser as well for distribution. I think you need the reach to build the following to build the brand.

Taking the calculated gamble of sticking w/ one distribution channel could work if you can leverage the star power of Vaynerchuk on Viddler. The “third party” endorsement of Viddler by Gary, indirectly associates you with him lending a bit of star power to you as well.

Need to be careful, but can work that into your promotions that Vaynerchuk uses Viddler and so do I. If you read “Influence” by Cialdini (must read) the authority/celebrity status Vaynerchuk has is very powerful.

I put a killer clip of him speaking at a web2.0 conf. on my MySpace landing page since it tied in w/ personal branding- my thing. Wasn’t intentional, he was spot on w/comments, but it helps elevate page as well.

By associating yourself w/ the brand he uses (think “be like Mike”) you may do well to stick w/ Viddler, sing it praises (I personally love it too) and tie in the user benefits w/ the celeb endorsement and I think you have a powerful combination.

Not to discount buzz, but if Viddler were to pick up a few more net celebs to help promote, it could help create the buzz you’re looking for.

I know Blue Sky Factory was elevated in my mind when I saw Vaynerchuk testimonial. Greg and Co. are a cool group of people but the celeb endorsement really “wowed” me.

did I make sense w/ all of this ? If I’ve provided nothing else read “Influence”. (I photoread the book a few times to shorten the learning curve).

hope that helps. Great blog, funny I ended up here (happens for a reason), I’ll be checking back often adn will contribute what I can.
Todd

Video Asset Mangement/DAM (extensive meta/tagging important. Inc: HTML page, links, multi-tier categories,

preview clip and cover image)

Hosting (Streaming, Scheduled & Live)

Transcoding (FLV,WM,QT etc etc and All Mobile formats)

Low-cost bandwidth ;-) (burstable)

High-qual network ‘edge’ partner

Open Player Architecture (API)

High Quality player (Flash & Silverlight, self-aware, self-updating)

Integrated Social/Community Tools (Important.. something like Pluck, Userplane?)

Some Widgets

Reporting

Good Admin… CMS, channel management etc

Advertising Engine

Multiple User Accounts

There’s a LOT of crossover in this market… and, after a few days searching for the perfect fit, i’m looking for some help in finding a partner that can tick all of these boxes…?

Maybe:
http://www.kickapps.com/
http://www.streamcast-player.com/
http://www.channelme.tv/

Thank so much if you can help with other suggestions or can offer a decent resource which would help to make an evaluation.

Best
Will.