a newbie asks: do i need a ftp site?
 

i'm a video producer. i now run a fully digital tapeless shop. my clients want to see works-in-progress. when i was tape-based, it was easy running off a vhs screener. i now run-off a dvd but clients want menus and graphics which takes more time which is often not billable.

i was hoping that clients can go to some web address and see the latest cut. I have a website hosted by godaddy. the website itself is more of a place holder and email contact with some bio info and images of past successes.

what do i need to do to create a web-based space where clients can view the recent works-in-progress? i do not want this space to be open to the public, only to my individual clients.

in the past, i have uploaded my work to other folk's ftp sites. do i need a ftp site? if so, how would i set that up? if not, what are my other options.

i apologize in advance for the newbie type question. that said, i'm always willing to learn.

thanks in advance to those who care to share.

be well

rob

Hello Rob,

In effect you already have this.

By having a page or a website "hosted" you really renting server space. So you just need to make a webpage with a link to your proof file then upload the page and the proof video file to the server.

Your customers will see then page with the link to the file, click on the link and download the file.

You just completed your own File Transfer Protocol.

Hope this helps and was not too basic!

tim-

thank u for the quick reply.

is there a way for me to avoid making an additional webpage? can i email my clients a web address that would link to the godaddy file access?

i am using go daddy and their web tools are less than welcoming for a newbie such as myself. gee, where is the "plain language" section of that site? i can't even figure out how much space i'm already "renting"? nor can i figure out how to move the "works-in-progress" .mov files to godaddy.

anyone using godaddy that can translate how i can accomplish what i'm trying to do?

by the way, will the .mov files open and run from godaddy? will my clients have to have quicktime on their machines?

again tim, thanks for sharing.

any additional info is greatly appreciated.

be well

rob

Rob,

How did you get the page that is up now?

I am sure you have plenty of storage space to hold your file on Godaddy.

You will need a web design software to make the page, and yes you need a page for the clients to see a link to the file for browser download.

You can use a free progam like 'Filezilla' to transfer the file but you need to know your Godaddy login information.

I would call Godaddy and tell them of your needs and they will probably have a cheap alternative. They were nice the one time a talked to them about transerring a lcients host account.

My hosting company has free site building tools available, if Godaddy does not have a look a Ipower.

Give Godaddy tech support a call. I use them for virtually all of the websites I run. They have always worked with me on the phone to help me through anything I did not understand...and in a friendly way.

Yes, they have tons of tools available to help you...they are listed on their site under the type of hosting account you purchased.

However, if someone else built your website you may have to utilize them to set up your video review pages. Hopefully they will show you how to upload and post or embed videos if that is what you would prefer.

I've used Godaddy to register a few domains, but I've never used their hosting.

Keep in mind that by offering clients the ability to download video and files from your website, you are now going to be expected to offer technical support. Your clients will call you and tell you that something's not working and expect you to figure it out! I can't believe how much time I have to spend with clients walking them through something as simple as downloading a file ("no, I said right click, not double click!") :) I often think it would be easier to simply mail them a DVD.

You are now entering a whole new world of pain. We are not only expected to be experts in video, but now we're supposed to be experts in networking, file transfer, software compatibility, etc.

Chris has a good point. As for FTP'ing, your best bet might be to make a generic, blank web page/template. Place an image holder right in the middle of it. Then, with each new project/client, use that template and upload a quicktime file of the work in progress for them to view. Save each unique page as a # (1,2,3 etc) or clients last name som that the link reads www. yoursite.com/clientslastname. Although, this would be quite similar to just uploading to youtube or vimeo anyway.

I don't think true FTPing is the way to go. Unless your clients are web savvy & are requesting it, you might become innundated with walking them thru the steps on how to download the file.

Good points. I offer both on my website.

I have a download page where the files are meant to be downloaded and project preview page.

On the project preview page I embed a .swf Flash video so the viewer only needs to press play. This is also useful because the viewer can not download the file because it is embedded Flash. I try not to have unfinished work in the hands of the clients as there might be confusion down the line on which file is the "finished work".

You could just use Vimeo. It has the capability of password protecting individual files.

Except that is contrary to Vimeo's Ts&Cs to use their service for commercial purposes. Far better to do as we do & use SmugMug which is a proper commercial service originally aimed at photographers but now embracing video. For $149 per year we get unlimited uploads/downloads/storage/viewing of material up to 1080p Full HD. We output rough cuts in H.264 MPEG at about 8Mbps for 1080p & then upload to either an unlisted or a password protected gallery that the client can view. This is an unlisted gallery Work In Progess for review - Barkers Videos

BTW The clients need to be aware that these videos are screeners & while immensely better quality than a VHS tape or even a DVD they shouldn't judge the final picture quality of the commissioned Blu-Ray disk on web video.

Does SmugMug have an embed feature to put the video on your own website?

Vimeo has a paid level that is $60 that can be used as commercial. (I think!)

Unfortunately, no.

Vimeo's terms are undeniably clear:

"You may not upload commercials, infomercials, or demos that actively sell or promote a product or service."

and

"Businesses may not use Vimeo to externalize their hosting costs. Vimeo (including Vimeo Plus) is not a business service."

Yes & it uses a very nice player that can be easily customised. Here is one site where the videos are actually hosted on SmugMug. Le Savannah
Definitely not for this purpose. As far as I can see Vimeo are OK with you using the site to host your portfolio or show reel but totally forbid you from using Vimeo as a hosting service as the above site does.

Thanks for your link Nigel. Very nice. Sorry for my Vimeo mis-information.

Could I ask how your Flash playback experience is? I mean compared to whatching television.

I get these little micro stutters when watching Flash video, on this one as well. Even after the video is downloaded and played again. Like the buffer is insufficient.

Is it just my system or does everybody else get this type of playback?

I guess I expect these videos to play super smooth since they are such low bitrates.

Thanks for your input.

Hello Rob
Have you ever tried adobe clipnotes?
I'm using clipnotes all the time to email short animations to clients for preview. It is much easier than uploading to a web page.

yousendit.com I use it every day and it works like a charm!

Ditto on YouSendIt...

I have no FTP site...and getting an FTP client to work consistently has been a constant time-suck for me over the years.

Once i went to YouSendIt, that was the end of my FTPing anything...ever again.

I think my account costs 6.00 USD a month or something. No-brainer from my perspective.

I used to use Yousendit but now use Dropbox instead.

Dropbox - Home - Online backup, file sync and sharing made easy.

Works like a charm and no need to open your browser. You just drag and drop to your public folder and then send your client the URL.

It's great and the file space is very generous. The free version is enough for me and I suspect most other people.

Both ftp sites and yousendit services have their advantages and disadvantages depending on the situation.
I have been known to have a few clients who do not provide complete air info. So at the most inopportune time... can yousendit to station X. I can tell you that got old real quick.
Instead, I have created a hidden ftp folder in my website on Godaddy which contains each client folder, along with user name and passwords for each one. I then simply upload the commercial to the appropriate folder, and email the client a link to the commercial along with user name and password information.
Which frees me from dealing with who gets the spot & do they have it, and puts that back into the clients corner, so I can get on to more important things like posting on DVinfo.


All the Best!

I do distribution via YouSendIt... The file is only up for two weeks, but usually that's enough. If the client can't get me all the email addresses, I YouSendIt to myself and simply forward the email with the link to the client and they take care of it... It's been fine for me.

Now...that said, this DropBox thing that Marcus suggests looks interesting... It's more expensive than what I pay for YouSendIt (I think I pay 6.00 USD a month), but no file deletion deadline and a good amount of space at the lowest paid level...

Intriguing. Thanks Marcus.

The thing about Dropbox v Yousendit is with Yousendit you pay for the bandwidth used. With Dropbox you only pay for the file space you require at any given time.

So if you never need more than 2gb of space at any one time, the free version of Dropbox is for you. The problem with Yousend it is that on the free offer you always end up running out of bandwidth at the most inconvenient moment. I also found some of their emails fell foul of spam filters at the clients end as well. With Dropbox you send your own email.