31 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
31 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

I need some advice

by mjh964
24 replies
Hello Warriors,

I'm setting up a membership site that will be delivering a course through a series of videos. What I'm thinking of doing is just adding links to the zipped videos so customers can download them and watch them on their own computers, as opposed to having them streaming in the site.

Is this common practice? Or should I try to set them up to play within the members area?

I want the site to look well organized and not cheesy.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated!

Michael
#advice
  • Profile picture of the author Gambino
    My advice would be to host the videos in a members area and let them stream them on the site. That way you have a captive audience who you can advertise to prior, during, and after they view the videos on your site. If anything, make it available for download but give them the option.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6566176].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Ross Cohen
    That's pretty normal. Having a lot of videos streaming on your site would slow it down if you're using shared hosting anyways. Go with the download option and if your customers desire a change, go from there.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6566180].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Haskell1
      I personally would put the videos in a members area so that members could watch them anytime, once signed in.

      The problem with sending the videos out is it only takes one bad apple/disgruntled customer to post your videos all over the internet and then they would quickly lose there value.

      Or maybe I am just paranoid!!!
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6566392].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Unlimited Earnings
    I would post them to your site for the fact that some people don't like down loading things online.
    Signature
    Ready to see some real success? Legit work Home Job Opportunitie
    Home Business Ideas
    Join Prosperity Team
    Infinity Downline
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6566506].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author EddieWade
    Banned
    I think it is easier to download and watch. And more comfortable. Of course, I think this should be available for members only, so...
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6566833].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Cram
    What i see other membership sites do is have it available to watch online and the option to download the .mp4 version, .mp3 and transcript,notes in pdf format..
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6566951].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author zikow
    Banned
    [DELETED]
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6567229].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author mjh964
      Thank you everybody for your replies. I just can't afford to host the videos on a secure server. That's really the only way to have them streaming in the members area. Am I correct on that?
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6567322].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Nancy656656
        Originally Posted by mjh964 View Post

        Thank you everybody for your replies. I just can't afford to host the videos on a secure server. That's really the only way to have them streaming in the members area. Am I correct on that?
        No you don't need a secure server to host videos but you probably should have one for a membership site anyway. If you can't afford to set up a membership site maybe this isn't the right business model for you.

        Personally I would be frustrated if I had to download the videos. That would mean I couldn't access them from another computer without downloading and I'd have to keep them organized on my hard drive in order to find them and watch them again.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6569409].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author mjh964
          Originally Posted by Nancy656656 View Post

          No you don't need a secure server to host videos but you probably should have one for a membership site anyway. If you can't afford to set up a membership site maybe this isn't the right business model for you.

          Personally I would be frustrated if I had to download the videos. That would mean I couldn't access them from another computer without downloading and I'd have to keep them organized on my hard drive in order to find them and watch them again.
          Where can I have the vids hosted? Any suggestions?
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6572225].message }}
          • Profile picture of the author joseph7384
            [DELETED]
            {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6572333].message }}
            • Profile picture of the author mjh964
              Originally Posted by joseph7384 View Post

              Check out Amazon S3
              Amazon Simple Storage Service (Amazon S3)
              This is exactly what I was looking for! Thanks!
              {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6576448].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author forester1985
    this is the kind of thread that i like....
    advice....
    help......
    and solutions........
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6567492].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author webtolight
    Just offer them a preview and see how that works.

    Maybe even just a few with the options of downloading more if you need be.

    Start it up and see how it works. The best way to see if something works is just to try.
    Signature
    Internet Dreams
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6567521].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Randall Magwood
    It would be best if you streamed the videos on your site. Then offer the option to download the videos in either AVI or WMV or MPEG4 format.
    Signature
    ==>> Free book reveals make money with affiliate marketing
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6567538].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author jpsween88
    I have always used streaming, but make a separate url for just the video that way if your main page with the video has more content the user can open it in a blank url to help load/buffer faster
    Signature

    Please do not use your signature to promote affiliate/MLM programs

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6567674].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author guptara
    I would suggest you to have videos stream on your site. That way they will have a reason to come back to your site where you can promote offers also.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6567735].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Devin X
    Banned
    Do both if you can. Put the videos on the site so the members can watch them but also enable downloading so your members can save them to their computers.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6567736].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author rising_sun
    Banned
    Just do it the second on,make a member area and share everything here.Don;t make them cheap.It can slow your site but it must keep your site aristocracy.If necessary you can use a ranking system for it ,so that it can help the viewers to take decision promptly and avoid jam .
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6572397].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author jamesgan
    I vote for providing both options to viewer,s so they can decide what to do with it depending on their internet connection and time online.
    It will be a good way to always play the videos when viewer go into the section of membership so to catch their attentions and take immediate action.

    Signature
    Learning is the slowest form of earning!
    The only way to build an avalanche of cashflow to your bank is to "Copy & Paste" a proven system.
    ==> www.jamesgan.me
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6572531].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author fedor50
    Originally Posted by mjh964 View Post

    Hello Warriors,

    I'm setting up a membership site that will be delivering a course through a series of videos. What I'm thinking of doing is just adding links to the zipped videos so customers can download them and watch them on their own computers, as opposed to having them streaming in the site.

    Is this common practice? Or should I try to set them up to play within the members area?

    I want the site to look well organized and not cheesy.

    Any advice will be greatly appreciated!

    Michael
    I think customers would better appreciate if they could watch the videos on their own laptops as opposed to being forced to watch it on your site
    Signature


    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6572539].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author VHSEOMike
    Let them stream them on your site because if they download they might view it later and eventually you loose some audience. But you also should have the download option. Don't forget about YouTube, it could bring a lot of traffic if properly targeted.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6572600].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author michaeljcheney
    I would go streaming AND downloads. You can host them on Amazon S3 and use EZS3 service to create players and download links. Been building membership sites like this for years! :-)
    Signature
    Get Free Email Marketing Tips, Tactics and Strategies[URL=https://www.emailmarketingsecrets.org]
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6576868].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author TimGreen1
    As others have said do both... Downloads for those with slow connection or just prefer it and streaming for the opposite.

    Simples...
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6577125].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Leo Wadsworth
    I offer both. When people download the videos, it saves me money compared to them streaming them over and over.

    In terms of protecting the content - the key is to have an ongoing stream of new good content. While I protect the content I sell, I don't obsess over it - I figure some folks may give it away, but if the content is good enough, then this can turn into advertising for me.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6577141].message }}

Trending Topics