Best Practices for Cloud Video Workflows

Today's video workflows are moving to the cloud, but there's no one-size-fits-all solutions that works best for all companies. Cloud video workflows vary widely in both cost and features. At a Streaming Media East panel discussion on cloud video workflows, three experts helped attendees understand the different solutions available and choose the right one for their needs.

The panelists also gave out plenty of practical advice on related topics such as attracting an audience to online video.

"You see shows like 'L.A. Ink' and 'Ice Road Truckers,' and you think that that's just the show because you don't really think about it," offered Finbar O'Hanlon, founder of Linius. "And it's not wild footage. You don't just shoot a truck going down an ice road. That's not a show formatted for TV, so there is a difference between just shooting something and sticking it online and hoping people are going to watch it, and making something that's actually a compelling viewing experience. If you're going to put things online and you want brand exposure and you want it to be sticky content, you've got to make it sticky content as a content producer."

Also, when creating video for online viewing, think about how the viewer will watch it.

"One of the things that I've learnt with some people, it's like [fellow panelist] Susan: Here is all this stuff, and the expectation is lots of people are going to look at it and they don't," said O'Hanlon. "Secondarily, people put text on video and then try to put it on handsets. It's all compressed and you can't see anything. It's thinking about the actual viewing display device before you actually start putting anything. There's no point in putting subtitles on a cell phone: no one can see it.

To get best practices on online video and cloud workflows, watch the full video below.

Best Practices for Video Workflow in the Cloud

A number of vendors offer cloud-based video publishing platforms, but the features and functionality-not to mention cost-vary widely. Some vendors focus their solutions on content management and monetization, while others are geared toward enabling syndication and interactive advertising campaigns. This session lays the groundwork for content owners to better understand which type of cloud- based publishing platform is best, what benefits the cloud provides to their business, and ways to streamline their video workflow.

Moderator: Troy Dreier, Senior Associate Editor, StreamingMedia.com and OnlineVideo.net
Speaker: Susan Kaup, Content & Community Producer, MIT Enterprise Forum
Speaker: Finbar O'Hanlon, Founder, Linius
Speaker: Michael Dunn, CTO, Hearst Interactive Media