On this page
Filmmakers created Vimeo in 2004 to essentially be an online video-streaming site allowing users to upload and promote videos with the assistance of advanced customization options that were not found on competing sites. Vimeo quickly grew over 170 million monthly active viewers using the site to watch videos, as well as gaining the attraction of video professionals who relished in the multiple different doors Vimeo offered to promote their content in a unique way.
Unlike competitor YouTube, Vimeo’s distinctiveness is formed by its creative artistry opposed to casual vloggers. Businesses should not exclude Vimeo’s services as a potential marketing tool. This article will cover:
How Vimeo Works
Standard Vimeo Video Specs
Vimeo Business Package
Vimeo or YouTube?
Unique Money Making feature
1. How Vimeo Works
Vimeo allows users to create and upload video content, either on public or private viewing options. This gives the user a chance to make their videos searchable on the site, as well as creating content only for people to view via a private link. Although Vimeo has set video time limits based on the users membership level, unlike YouTube who allows verified users the option to upload 12 hour long videos free of charge. Vimeo allows a total of 500MB per week with the basic free membership, with a total of 5GB storage. Vimeo also supports videos filmed with up to 8K resolutions, although will not have enough storage space to save on the free to use plan.
2. Standard Vimeo Video Specs
Below are the recommended best practices, dimensions and format for a standard vimeo video.
Standard Vimeo Video Best Practices:
Video File Size: 500MB per week for free plan
Video Length Minimum: no minimum
Video Length Maximum: unlimited
Video Captions: Available
Video Sound: Available
Standard Vimeo Video Dimensions:
Format: Horizontal video
Asset dimensions: 1920 x 1080 (video must use the entire canvas)
Resolution: 1280 x 720
Frame Rate: 23.976
File type: .mp4 file
Video code: H.264 encoded.
Recommended ratio in Clipchamp: Widescreen (16:9)
Standard Vimeo Video Format:
Recommended export size in Clipchamp: 1920 x 1080 resolution (super HD video)
Vimeo recommends to upload the highest resolution video available that meets file size and ratio limits
Recommended video formats: MP4, MOV (Clipchamp always exports in MP4, but you can convert your non-compatible videos with the Clipchamp Video Converter.)
Edit this wedding video template
Edit this band music video template
3. Vimeo Business Package
By the end of 2016, Vimeo launched a full complement of services purely designed for businesses. Their new launch called Vimeo Business assists and improves company’s video marketing and analytics, taking a step up from Vimeo Pro. This commercial free advertising method allows businesses to take power over their video marketing and library. Vimeo has created call-to-actions and email subscription integration within the Vimeo Business package.
This generates leads and initiatives discussions by using the call-to-action button and email address access. It also allows businesses to introduce their logo into videos, SEO strategies and marketing strategies. Not only does this function generate user and company interaction, it gains a larger insight into the behaviour of the users, therefore improving statistics and Google analytics integration.
Possibly the best feature Vimeo Business offers is the opportunity to edit a video without using the current URL and the current associated views and interaction statistics. The package also lets businesses upload 5TB of 4K ultra HD videos with an unlimited bandwidth. This is something you cannot do with the free user package. By using Vimeo Business to create videos, allows companies to have full control over which websites are allowed to use and play the video.
Vimeo Video Business Package Best Practices:
Video File Size: 5TB of 4K ultra HD (business package)
Video Length Minimum: no minimum
Video Length Maximum: unlimited
Video Captions: Available
Video Sound: Available
Vimeo Video Business Package Dimensions:
Format: Horizontal video
Asset dimensions: 1920 x 1080 (video must use the entire canvas)
Resolution: 1280 x 720
Frame Rate: 23.976
File type: .mp4 file
Video code: H.264 encoded.
Recommended ratio in Clipchamp: Widescreen (16:9)
Vimeo Video Business Package Format:
Recommended export size in Clipchamp: 1920 x 1080 resolution (super HD video)
Vimeo recommends to upload the highest resolution video available that meets file size and ratio limits
Recommended video formats: MP4, MOV (Clipchamp always exports in MP4, but you can convert your non-compatible videos with the Clipchamp Video Converter.)
4. Vimeo or YouTube?
YouTube has targeted their users to prefer quantity over quality, something that Vimeo offers the opposite to. In order to keep up with user demand, YouTube has to balance compression speed with compression quality, leaving their videos of a lower resolution standard compared to Vimeo. Even though users can upload the same video, in the same resolution to YouTube and Vimeo at the same time, the Vimeo version will be viewed in a considerable higher bitrate. Therefore leaving Vimeo’s video to look a lot better. Not only does Vimeo support a better-looking video, it also supports 320 Kbps sound options unlike YouTube.
Vimeo has a much more limited clientele and videos that can be publically uploaded through the site, making the audience more prestigious and attracting a different sort of audience then YouTube. Research shows Vimeo viewers are more likely to be attentive to slower, more meaningful content, unlike YouTube, having a low attention audience, experiencing a higher rate of distractions and rapid-fire viewings.
Unlike YouTube, Vimeo does not limit users to certain genres of content, as long as it’s made with artistic value. YouTube’s strict rules on sexual content are becoming extremely inconsistent, forcing users to not upload certain types of content, limiting their creativity. Vimeo welcomes all types of video genres, as long as users can proves its artistic value. Vimeo also accepts users to use music without having to scan the video first before uploading for copyright reasons like YouTube, and will not limit the audio on ones video.
Vimeo gives users a password protection option when creating videos, making privacy a high priority. Vimeo users are eligible to create a unique password on any video so users who have the password are the only ones who can view it. YouTube does not have this option for users.
5. Unique Money Making feature
One way to make money on Vimeo is using the Vimeo On Demand creative account. Vimeo On Demand allows users to create devoted VOD pages where any user can pay to watch the uploaded videos. Videos are eligible to be sold worldwide as well as just certain countries, giving creators 90% of the revenue. This feature also still does not include any form of ads, allowing the viewers to enjoy the video with no interruptions.
______
Feature photo of this blog post by Oliver Sjöström
