How to Embed Video in WordPress [Quick and Easy Ways]

Are you looking to enhance your WordPress site with engaging video content?

Embedding videos in WordPress can significantly boost user engagement and deliver a better experience for your visitors. Plus, it can also impact your Search Engine Optimization (SEO).

In this article, we’ll explore different ways to embed video in WordPress posts and pages.

Let’s dive in!

Should You Upload Videos Directly to WordPress?

Well, you can, but we don’t recommend you do so.

Here are a few reasons why we think you shouldn’t upload a video directly to your website.

• Increased Server Load: Videos are typically large files. Uploading them directly to your WordPress site consumes considerable server resources. This might cause your website to load slowly, especially if you’re on a shared hosting plan where resources are limited and shared among multiple websites.
• Bandwidth Consumption: Every time a visitor watches a video on your site, it consumes bandwidth. If your hosting plan has bandwidth limits, you could quickly exceed your allocation. As a result, this leads to additional charges or even a temporarily disabled website.
• Poor User Experience: Hosting videos on your own server results in longer loading times and buffering issues, especially for users with slower internet connections. This can frustrate visitors and increase the likelihood of them leaving your site.
• Limited Video Quality and Compatibility: When you upload videos directly to WordPress, you’re responsible for ensuring they are in a format compatible with all devices and browsers. This can be technically challenging and time-consuming.
• No Optimization for Different Devices: Video hosting platforms like YouTube and Vimeo automatically adjust video quality based on the viewer’s device and internet speed. When you host videos yourself, you miss out on this optimization, potentially degrading the viewing experience on mobile devices or for users with slower internet connections.

For these reasons, it’s generally better to host your videos on a dedicated video hosting platform and then embed them in your WordPress site.

That being said, let’s look at how to embed video in WordPress.

How To Embed a Video on WordPress

It is easy to embed a video on your WordPress website. We’ll go over the three different ways to get the job done.

They are:

1) Adding Videos in WordPress Using the Block Editor

WordPress is a popular Content Management System (CMS). There are several ways to embed a video into WordPress pages or posts. Plus, it also supports a number of video service providers, such as YouTube and Vimeo.

You can simply insert the video URL into the appropriate block, and WordPress will automatically embed it.

In this section, we’ll look at different ways through which you can embed videos into WordPress.

1) Direct Pasting

In this way, you just put the video URL into the page editor.

For example, you can copy the YouTube video URL that you want to embed.

Next, open the WordPress page or post where you want to embed the video and simply paste the URL into the content area.

Once you paste the video URL, WordPress will fetch the embed code and show the YouTube video inside the content editor.

You can now save your post to see the embedded video in your live post.

WordPress can only handle auto-embeds for white-listed video providers. For other websites, you will still need to get the embed code and then enter it into your blog post.

Here is a list of white-listed video providers for auto embeds in WordPress:

• Amazon Kindle instant previews
• Animoto
• Cloudup
• DailyMotion
• Flickr
• TED
• TikTok
• Tumblr
• Twitter
• VideoPress
• Vimeo
• WordPress.tv
• YouTube

If you want to add a video from a website that is not on this list, you’ll need the video’s full HTML embed code.

Simply copy the HTML code given by the video website and paste it into the HTML block in the editor.

This inserts the video in your post or page.

2) WordPress Block

If the video does not embed automatically, you can use a WordPress block.

Simply click on the + icon to add a new block and choose the block linked with your video service provider. In this case, we are going with YouTube.

This will open up the YouTube block. Now, paste the link in the input field to embed the video.

Then click on Embed.

3) Video Block

If your video is hosted by a provider for which WordPress does not have a block, this will be helpful.

Simply click on the + icon to add a new block and select the video block.

Now, click on the Insert from URL link and paste the URL of the video.

Once done, hit the Return icon to embed the video in your post or pages.

2) Embedding Videos in WordPress Using the Old Classic Editor

If you’re using the WordPress classic editor, then you can add the videos the same way as the block editor.

Copy the video embed code from the video that you want to embed.

Then, go to the classic editor and click the Text tab from the top right corner of the WordPress editor.

Paste the video embed code. Now, click on the Visual tab to see a preview of the video.

3) Embed Videos Using WordPress Plugins

In addition to the default methods for embedding videos in WordPress, there are many plugins that offer advanced functionality. If you plan to use videos regularly or want more customizing options, the following tools are worth considering.

1) Presto Player

Presto Player is a video player plugin that can take website video to a whole new level. It can play videos from a number of sources and has a user-friendly audio and video player that you can completely manage.

Presto Player supports video chapters, email opt-ins, calls to action, and Google Analytics and integrates with popular LMS plugins and email marketing platforms.

2) Advanced Responsive Video Embedder

ARVE is one of the best WordPress video embedding plugins. It offers several useful features while still being relatively easy to use. First and foremost, ARVE makes all your WordPress videos responsive, improving their functionality on mobile devices.

It also provides additional options for video titles, descriptions, and metadata, which can help with SEO.

Furthermore, ARVE supports almost any video host, making it easy to get and embed videos from anywhere on the internet.

This plugin also includes support for shortcodes, CSS, and the option to set video alignment and maximum widths.

3) Videopack

This free WordPress plugin is good for converting your website to a video-based one. You may use this plugin to access various video players, including Video.js, Mediaelement.js, JW Player 6, and Adobe Strobe Media Playback Flash Player.

Regardless of the player you use, the videos will be scaled to fit nicely into your website’s style. This plugin will also create the video thumbnail.

4) EmbedPlus

EmbedPlus is one of the most effective WordPress YouTube video embedding plugins. It can easily create YouTube video galleries and import your YouTube playlist to your website.

EmbedPlus offers several gallery layouts that you can use. The plugin is also compatible with the most popular page builders, including Elementor, Visual Composer, Beaver Builder, and SiteOrigin.

How to Embed Videos into WordPress Sidebar Widgets

You can embed videos in WordPress sidebar widgets like you can embed them in a WordPress post or page.

Simply go to Appearance » Widgets from your WordPress admin area and select widgets where you want to show your video. Then click on the + icon to add a new block.

Next, search for video in the search field.

Then, select the type of video you want to include by clicking on the block.

Then, put your video URL into the box and click the Embed button, and it will automatically be added to the widget area.

Once done, click the Update button, and the video widget will appear on your WordPress site.

Now, visit your website to see the live video.

Final Thoughts on Embed a Video in WordPress

Videos can help you increase engagement and conversions on your site. Thankfully, now that you’ve read this article, you can see that embedding video in WordPress is quite easy.

As we’ve shown in this article, there are various ways to do this, including using both the block editor and the traditional editor, as well as a plugin or a widget. All of these ways will allow you to embed videos into your WordPress posts or pages.

We hope this article helped you learn how to easily embed videos in WordPress.

For more, check out these other helpful resources:

• How to Edit the Footer in WordPress [Beginner Guide]
• How to Duplicate a Page In WordPress [Easy Ways]
• How to Change WordPress Fonts [6 Easy Ways]

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