You’re probably thinking “Videos on my WordPress site? Sounds cool but how do I even do that?” Trust me it’s not rocket science and I’m here to break it down for you like a seasoned WordPress veteran.
Let’s face it video content is king these days.
People are glued to their screens scrolling through endless videos.
Whether you’re a blogger a business owner or an artist showcasing your work having video on your WordPress site is a must.
It’s a great way to connect with your audience explain things clearly and make your website more engaging.
Now you have a couple of ways to add video to your WordPress site:
The “Upload” vs. the “Embed” Game
Imagine you’re hosting a party.
You can either buy all the food and drinks yourself (that’s “uploading” a video to your WordPress site) or you can ask guests to bring something (that’s “embedding” a video from another site).
When you upload a video directly to WordPress it’s like bringing all the party supplies.
It’s stored on your server but that can make your site slower and use up valuable server space especially if you have large video files.
Think of it as a lot of heavy stuff in your living room – it might be fun but it takes up space and could make it harder for people to move around.
On the other hand embedding a video from somewhere like YouTube or Vimeo is like having guests bring their own snacks.
The video lives on their servers so it doesn’t slow down your website.
The only downside is you might have to deal with their branding and ads.
Three Ways to Add a Video to Your WordPress Site
Let’s get down to business.
You have three main ways to add a video to your WordPress site:
1. Jetpack VideoPress: The WordPress-Specific Video Hosting Hero
Jetpack VideoPress is like having a reliable friend who’s always up for the party.
It’s a video hosting service specifically designed for WordPress so it integrates seamlessly with your site.
Think of it as a dedicated video hosting space within your WordPress dashboard.
Here’s why Jetpack VideoPress is my go-to choice:
- No ads: Your videos are your spotlight not a platform for other companies’ ads. Focus on your content not distractions.
- Easy Integration: Everything is in your WordPress dashboard no complicated setup needed.
- Fast Loading Times: Your videos stream smoothly without bogging down your site.
- Customizable Players: Add your branding to make your video player look like it belongs to your site.
- Affordable: Start with a free video and even your first year is discounted.
To get started with Jetpack VideoPress go to Plugins -> Add New in your WordPress dashboard.
Search for “Jetpack VideoPress” install it and activate it.
You’ll be guided through a simple setup process.
You can even connect your site to Jetpack if you haven’t already.
Once you’re set up you can easily upload your video to Jetpack VideoPress.
Just drag and drop it or use the “Select file to upload” option.
That’s it! Your video is now in both your Jetpack VideoPress library and your WordPress Media Library.
2. Using Your Hosting Server: The “DIY” Approach (But Proceed With Caution)
This method is like trying to cook a gourmet meal yourself – you have control but it might be more work than it’s worth.
It involves uploading your video directly to your WordPress site’s server.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Performance Impact: Large video files take up a lot of server space making your site slower. It’s like having a bunch of heavy furniture in your living room – you’ll trip over it and it’ll be harder to move around.
- Limited Features: The video player you get with this method isn’t as fancy as what you get with Jetpack VideoPress. It’s a basic player with minimal features.
- Upload Limits: Your hosting provider might have limits on how large a file you can upload. You might not be able to upload that epic 4K video you made.
To upload a video directly to your server go to Media -> Add New in your WordPress dashboard.
Drag and drop your video file or click on “Select Files”. Once the video is uploaded it will show up in your WordPress Media Library.
3. Amazon S3: The Powerhouse (But Not for Everyone)
Amazon S3 is like hiring a professional catering service for your party.
It’s a powerful secure cloud storage service but it requires some technical expertise.
It’s not a walk in the park.
Here’s the breakdown:
- High-End Storage: Amazon S3 is great for large websites and complex video storage needs but it’s not necessary for most WordPress users.
- Complex Setup: You need to set up and manage your own server which can be quite challenging if you’re not a developer.
- No Video Player Feature: Amazon S3 is just storage; you’ll need to use a separate video player.
- Costly: Amazon S3 comes with fees for storage and data transfer.
Unless you’re a developer or have specific needs for high-end video storage I recommend sticking with Jetpack VideoPress or embedding videos from other platforms.
Adding Your Video to a Page or Post: Showtime!
Now that you know how to upload a video it’s time to put it on display! You can add your video to a page or post using the Block Editor in WordPress.
Here’s how:
1. Using the VideoPress Block: The Smooth Operator
This block is specifically designed for Jetpack VideoPress videos so it gives you the best features and control.
Here’s how to use it:
- Adding the Block: Click on the plus symbol in the Block Editor to add a new block. Search for “VideoPress” and select it. You can also use the keyboard shortcut “/videopress”.
- Selecting Your Video: You can either upload a new video choose one from your Media Library or insert a video from a URL. Since we already uploaded our video let’s choose it from our Media Library.
- Customize Your Player: The VideoPress block gives you a bunch of options to customize how your video looks and behaves. You can enable or disable playback controls turn on or off autoplay loop the video mute it and even customize the progress bar colors.
Once you’re happy with your settings click on “Publish” to see your video on your page or post.
2. Using the Default Video Block: The “Good Enough” Option
If you want to use a video that you uploaded directly to your server you can use the default “Video” block in WordPress.
It’s a bit simpler than the VideoPress block but it still gets the job done.
Here’s how to use it:
- Adding the Block: Click on the plus symbol in the Block Editor to add a new block. Search for “Video” and select it. You can also use the keyboard shortcut “/video”.
- Selecting Your Video: Choose your video from your Media Library.
- Customize Your Player: The Video block lets you control basic things like the loop setting and the playback controls.
Once you’re done customizing click on “Publish” to see your video.
Frequently Asked Questions: Clearing Up the Mystery
Let’s answer some of the most common questions about adding videos to WordPress:
1. Will Uploading Videos Make My Site Slow?
Yes if you upload large video files to your Media Library it can make your site slow.
The good news is that you can use Jetpack VideoPress to avoid this.
It keeps your videos on a separate powerful server so they don’t weigh down your site.
2. Is Jetpack VideoPress the Best Way to Upload Videos?
Absolutely! It’s the most user-friendly integrated and efficient way to upload videos to WordPress.
It gives you the best quality fast loading times and a customizable video player all without any ads.
3. Can I Use an Uploaded Video as My Header?
You can create a video header using the “Cover” block in WordPress or by using a video plugin.
There are tutorials online that can guide you through this process.
4. Where Can I Learn More About Jetpack VideoPress?
Check out the Jetpack website.
They have a complete list of Jetpack VideoPress features and all the information you need to get started.
Final Thoughts: Video Power to Your WordPress Site!
Adding videos to your WordPress site can make a huge difference in engaging your audience and keeping them interested.
And by using a video hosting service like Jetpack VideoPress you can make sure your videos look great load quickly and don’t compromise your site’s performance.
Now go out there and unleash the power of video on your WordPress site!
Remember if you ever have any questions the WordPress community is a fantastic resource.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
There’s always someone willing to lend a hand just like I’m here for you!