With over one billions users, YouTube is the third most visited website in the world after Google and Facebook making it the single most premiere video sharing site on the internet. With such incredible statistics, many would have the impression that there are no other competent alternatives for videos online whether for marketing, social, or personal success. Unfortunately, this is an assumption that blind sights users from surveying other options that could equally, if not more effectively, gain followers and recognition.
1. Vimeo
While YouTube is known for focusing on the “you,” Vimeo similarly focuses on the “me” with frequent users dubbing themselves as “vimeans.” Its emphasis on higher quality videos and productions has brought over 130 million visitors per month making it the second most popular video service on the web. It is the video sharing platform utilized by the White House for their press releases and it is the site most often utilized by indie filmmakers and budding artists. Best of all, there are no annoying commercials. Vimeo prides itself on quality being the first website of its kind to offer its content in high-definition. Although there may be fewer cat videos, it outdoes itself by providing a high standard for its community.
2. Dailymotion
Introduced in 2005, Dailymotion quickly became the third most popular video-sharing website reaching over 100 million people worldwide with content available in over 18 languages. Based out of France before expanding to London, New York, San Francisco, and Tokyo, Dailymotion provides a more international flavor marking it as a more unique substitute to Vimeo and YouTube. Due to their implementation of a fingerprinting program that scans all uploaded videos for copyright infringement, there is less illegal or low-quality clutter making way for an abundance of original content.
3. Vine
Sporting an exclusive six-second format, Vine successfully challenged people to output creative presentations within their limited time frame producing hours upon hours of memorable content. Developed by Twitter (itself featuring a 140 character limit), Vine has succeeded similarly to its parent company, imploring its user to “revine” videos they like further increasing their web footprint. Its popularity exponentially rising at staggering rates especially with the younger generation, Vine is quickly ascending to the forefront of social media platforms.
4. Metacafe
Although it sounds like a coffee shop for hipsters, Metacafe began its life as a standard video-sharing site in the same vein as YouTube before evolving its concentration to short-form entertainment. Metacafe hosts a plethora of web original series, short films, and viral channels (including, unashamedly, an 18+ section). More tellingly, it distinctively offers a Producer Rewards program, granting uploaders $5 for every 1,000 views after reaching an initial 20,000.
5. Viddler
What sets Viddler apart from its video-sharing contemporaries is its unique focus on business videos, advertising, and interactive video clients. In many ways, Viddler is to business media what LinkedIn is to employee networking. Though it may not be a free service (plans start at $300 a month), it specializes in search engine optimization (SEO) to increase its client’s web footprint through subscriptions, video analytics, player customization, and media communities. Furthermore, it features an interactive service enabling companies to hold live virtual meetings with employees and consumers alike. Bottom line: definitely no cat videos here.
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