As videos have become grown in popularity, more and more websites are starting to publish video content. However before you do that, you need to make sure that your web design is optimized to display video content in the first place –
To start optimizing your web design for video content, there are a few easy tips that you should try to use:
Make sure the video is positioned prominently and above the fold
As a rule, if you’re publishing video content on a webpage it will act as the main content of that page – and should be one of the first things that visitors see. It is best to position videos right below the title, or in an equally prominent position.
Ideally, you should try to make sure the entirety of the video (including its controls) are visible above the fold so that viewers don’t need to scroll down at all. That being said you shouldn’t make the video too small in order to do that but should arrange the other elements of your web design instead.
Pad the video with white space or make sure the background isn’t busy
Generally speaking, videos don’t do well when they are placed directly on backgrounds that are busy, and it makes the overall design look cluttered and crowded. That is why you should always either make sure the background isn’t
Adding an element with a solid and plain-colored background behind the video is a good way to do the latter. It should pad the video on all sides, and will help to set it apart and make sure viewers focus on it.
Use a mobile-friendly, responsive design
Keep in mind that a significant number of visitors to your website are likely to be using mobile devices – and it is important that you cater to them. The best way to do that is with a responsive design that will adjust its layout based on the screen size.
Make sure the other tips listed above apply when the web design is adjusted for a smaller screen. In other words, if it is possible the video should still be positioned prominently and padded with white space even when it is viewed on a mobile device.
Watch the page speed of web pages with video content
Page speed is important, both to reduce the bounce rate of visitors and for SEO – so you need to keep tabs on yours, especially after you add video content. If the page speed is too slow you may want to optimize your design to reduce the amount of time that it takes to load.
It should be noted that if your videos are set to autoplay that could impact the page speed as well. Overall it is best to not autoplay any videos, as it can also put off visitors.
Naturally, there are other factors that will affect the success of video content on your website, including its quality. Try to convert it into the format that you want it to be in yourself (using Convertio, for example), so that its quality isn’t affected after being transcoded by a third party.
All in all, it shouldn’t be too hard to use the tips listed above to optimize your web design for video content. Most are fairly straightforward, yet they will help you to ensure that your website is able to publish video content and fully take advantage of the benefits that it can provide.
About the Author
Mirko Humbert
Mirko Humbert is the editor-in-chief and main author of Designer Daily and Typography Daily. He is also a graphic designer and the founder of WP Expert.
