What’s The Best Video Plugin For Wordpress? – WVU #76
Posted In: best wordpress video plugin, simple video embedder, video plugin for wordpress, wordpress video plugin
Comments: 23 Responses
I often get asked about video plugins for Wordpress. With so many available it’s tough to say which one is best. But what I can do is tell you what I personally use and recommend. And that’s what I do in this video.
Resources
Simple Video Embedder
Simple Video Embedder Documentation





Great post, Dave. I’ve been looking for a good plug-in for video, and this looks to be the solution!
Keep rockin’ the great content!
Good post..BUT..I know people will roll their eyes on this, but it seems a little techie..is that a typical list of thiings you need to do when you put in video to Wordpress… I was getting ready to do web site, but I think I’m going to need some help…
Does any other “standard” web site template, like Blogger or >???? a little easier to work with..>??
Thanks,
Very Tech-Slow Joe
Hey Joe,
You’re not a alone…video stuff seems overwhelming at first, but it’s not as bad once you have a system in place. Like Dave mentioned there are many ways to putting your video online on your website.
I highly suggest for people to keep it simple at first just start with YouTube. YouTube provides the embed code that you copy and paste into any website. If you are using Wordpress (which I highly recommend), then try Dave’s plugin or one that I like to use is called: “Smart YouTube” – Google it to read more about it.
This plugin lets you simply paste the URL of a YouTube video directly into your post and add the letter “v” after the “http” part and it will put the video on your site. It’s simple, clean, and easy to use.
What kind of business are you in? Are you thinking of using Wordpress?
Cheers,
Hani
Another solid video Dave. As a guy who’s been struggling to get rolling with web video for over a year, I always look forward to your weekly videos. I was just wondering, and I think I probably speak for more than just myself…
Do you use your own hosting service (like within clubwvu.com) do you use bitgravity, do you use a combination of things for different sites/applications? I’m a member if your site and I love you’re video hosting… I’m just confused if I should be using JW player as well or if I’m all set and you just mention other players and hosting services because not everyone is a member of web video university.
Thanks for what you do. (oh, last question) Are your videos with the red and black background made with a black backdrop and a cucoloris? (see I am paying attention).
Dave, you never disappoint. I always look forward to my weekly Friday video from you.
Isabelle
Branding + Business Performance Catalyst.
Dave, as always great tips and practical useful information for the web.
Dave,
This is great and I’ve already downloaded it (not uploaded or tried it out yet though because I wanted to post here).
This may be the same question as someone else asked but I host most of my video on Amazon S3 because of the size of the videos. I am assuming that once I know the url of the video, it doesn’t matter where it’s hosted.
You are the most reliable over-deliverer (is that a word) I know.
Thanks
Terrie
Dave, another great tutorial. Thank you sir.
This was a great Post Dave! Finding a good video plugin for Wordpress is challenging because there always seems to be some sort of problems with one or the other.
I will certainly install this plugin and try it out.
Thanks again for the advice. Please do not take this video down any time soon!
All the best, Bill
Another excellent presentation! Using this plugin, even if just to add YouTube videos, is a great way to streamline the process and keeps one from accidentally botching anything while bouncing back and forth between the visual and html tabs.
I’d probably drag the panel up under my SEO panel rather than scrolling all the way to the bottom of the page each time, though.
I’m confused. What is the advantage of using this plugin over just using the embed code provided by all the major video hosting Sites, or in the case of JWplayer, just using their code?
As Jeff above say’s . . . There is no real adavantage of using this method of a plugin against the use of simply using EMbed links, also, there are times when you may want to use more than one video in your post or page, How is that achieved with this plugin – Or am i missing something here ?
Good point Lee. I wonder also if it has the option to embed video playlists. The SmatTube plugin allows this fo YouTube videos. Playlists are excellent for presenting a lot of info is small chunks without making you videos too long and boring.
Also forgot to mention that it is important to link all videos together using the YouTube annotations feature to help them navigate thru the videos easily.
Hani
Also, is there a way to load the videos from “MY” Desktop to the wordpress blog with making this function work if I do not want to upload them to a hosting company?
Greg…there is such a thing (kinda). Check out a plugin from Kaltura (Google it)
Thanks, This is another FREE alternative right?
No problem Greg,
They offer up to 10 Gigs of streaming and hosting. I played with it a while back. It was called All-in-One Video Pack for WordPress.
Cheers,
Hani
Thanks Dave,
I always like the way you can simplify this stuff and make it easy to understand.
Hi Dave,
I always look forward to watching your instructional videos! Great content and so easy to implement.
Hi Dave, Very nice video. Is it also possible to use this plugin to put video content on the home page of a Word Press blog / theme?. Maybe in a widget?
@Damon – You can embed videos in posts or pages…but if you’re looking for something out of the ordinary, it’s best to contact the plugin developer.
Great post!