Why not upload larger videos directly?

Videos are very large files. Uploading them directly to your website creates several challenges:

• Performance issues – Large files can slow down your website, making it less responsive for visitors.

• Bandwidth and storage – Streaming videos directly from your site uses significant server resources, which can cause interruptions.

• Playback quality – Websites cannot automatically adjust video resolution based on a viewer’s internet speed, often leading to buffering.

• Accessibility limitations – Features like closed captions and transcripts require additional setup.

Why use YouTube or Vimeo?

Services like YouTube and Vimeo are designed specifically for video hosting and streaming. They provide:

• Optimized streaming – Videos play smoothly, with automatic quality adjustments.

• Scalability – Unlimited bandwidth and storage, so you don’t need to worry about server strain.

• Accessibility tools – Captions, subtitles, and transcripts are built-in.

• Analytics – Track how many people watch and engage with your videos.

• Easy embedding – Simply copy and paste the video link into your website editor to display the video seamlessly.

While it’s technically possible to upload video files directly to your website, it’s not the best option for most churches or organizations. Large video files can quickly slow down your website, eat up server storage, and cause playback issues for visitors—especially if they’re watching on slower internet connections.

Platforms like YouTube and Vimeo are designed specifically for video streaming. They automatically adjust video quality based on the viewer’s device and connection, provide closed captions and accessibility features, and make it easy to embed videos seamlessly on your website. They also handle the heavy lifting of storage and bandwidth so your website stays fast, reliable, and focused on its purpose.

In short, using a streaming service ensures a smoother experience for your audience and better performance for your website. All you need to do is upload your video to YouTube or Vimeo, then paste the link into your site—it’s simple, professional, and works well.

Best practice

For short clips under 100 MB, you may upload directly to your site. For anything larger—or for a smoother streaming experience—we recommend uploading your video to YouTube or Vimeo and embedding it on your website. This ensures your site remains fast, reliable, and accessible to all visitors.