Video Optimisation and Streaming
Video is engaging but extremely heavy, and a poorly handled video can dominate a page's load time or drain a visitor's mobile data. The way video is hosted and delivered matters enormously for performance.
This article covers how we keep video impactful without letting it slow the page down.
Why It Deserves Attention
Video is uniquely heavy: a single clip can outweigh every other asset on a page combined. Because of that, a little care over how it is hosted and loaded pays back more here than almost anywhere else on the site.
How We Deliver Video Well
With a few sensible choices, video can stay impactful without dominating load time. The key is to avoid forcing a heavy download before the visitor has chosen to watch.
- Use a streaming platform for most video.
- Show a light poster image until play is pressed.
- Avoid autoplaying heavy video on mobile.
- Compress any self-hosted files thoroughly.
Why Video Needs Special Care
A single high-resolution video can outweigh every other asset on a page combined. Left unmanaged, it dominates load time, hammers mobile data and can single-handedly drag down your performance scores.
- Video files are far larger than images or code.
- Autoplaying video forces a heavy download immediately.
- Embedded players often pull in extra scripts.
- Mobile visitors pay the cost in both speed and data.
- Background videos add weight for little real benefit.
Hosting Choices
- Streaming platforms handle delivery, adaptive quality and global reach for you.
- Self-hosting gives full control but needs careful optimisation.
- Background videos should be short, compressed and muted.
Performance Best Practices
- Never autoplay a heavy video above the fold on mobile.
- Use a lightweight poster image and load the player only on interaction.
- Prefer adaptive streaming so quality matches the visitor's connection.
- Compress self-hosted files and offer modern codecs.
If you need a hand with any of this, your Progressive Robot delivery team is ready to help. Raise a ticket from the Support area of your client portal or speak to your account manager and we will guide you through the next steps.