What Is Video Bitrate and Why Is It Important?

Did you know that over 80% of Internet traffic will be to online videos by the end of 2022? This means that it is more important than ever before for business owners to ensure that their videos are as high quality as possible.

A key metric to take into consideration is the video bitrate. Although this topic might seem complicated at first, we put together a brief guide that has everything to know.

Let's take a look at what you should keep in mind.

What Is Video Bitrate?

This term refers to the number of bits that are processed per unit of time.

In context, video bitrate is usually measured in megabits per second (mbps). It also can be thought of as the number of pixels in a video that is displayed per second.

Why Is Video Bitrate So Important?

There are a few key reasons. For one, it directly impacts the quality of your video.

The higher the bitrate, the better the quality. Second, it plays a role in how much data your video will use.

This is especially important for business owners who are on a limited data plan or who are expecting to have a lot of people watching their videos.

Finally, it can affect the load time of your video. A higher bitrate will mean that your video might take longer to load, but it will also be of higher quality.

Unfortunately, having low-quality content can cause potential customers to overlook your brand. In many cases, this situation can be difficult or impossible to recover from.

Does Bitrate Affect Audio Files?

Yes, it does!

The video bitrate also affects the audio quality of your video. For example, if you have a low bitrate, your audio might sound choppy or fuzzy.

On the other hand, a higher bitrate will result in clear and concise audio. Be sure that you keep this in mind moving forward so you can avoid publishing low-quality content.

What Is a Good Video Bitrate?

There is no universal answer to this question since it varies depending on the type of video you are creating, as well as your target audience. In general, a higher bitrate is better than a lower bitrate. However, you also don't want to go too high because it can result in large file sizes and longer load times.

For most business videos, it's recommended to aim for a bitrate of 2,500 to 10,000 kbps.

Does Bitrate Affect Downloading Speed?

Yes, it does.

The video bitrate will affect how quickly your video downloads. A higher bitrate means that your video will download slower, but it will also be of a higher quality.

If you are expecting a lot of people to download your video, you might want to consider lowering the bitrate so that everyone can have a good experience.

What About Upload Speed?

As you might guess, a video's bitrate will affect upload speed. A higher bitrate means that your video will take longer to upload. However, it is important to keep in mind that most business videos should be less than 10 minutes long.

This means that even with a higher bitrate, you shouldn't have any issues uploading your videos in a timely manner.

What Are Common Mistakes People Make with Video Hosting?

One common mistake is using a free video hosting platform. While this might save you some money in the short term, it could end up costing you more in the long run.

Free video hosting platforms often have lower bitrate limits, which can result in subpar video quality. In addition, they might not be able to handle a lot of traffic, which could lead to issues like buffering or long load times.

Another common mistake is using a video hosting platform that doesn't provide enough storage. If you plan on creating a lot of videos, you'll need a platform that can handle all of your content. Otherwise, you might have to delete old videos to make room for new ones.

Finally, some people make the mistake of thinking that all video hosting platforms are the same. However, there are many discrepancies among providers that you will need to consider before making your decision.

What Should I Look for in Video Hosting?

It should come as no surprise that you'll want to find a video hosting platform that can handle high bitrates. This way, you can be sure that your videos will always look and sound their best.

In addition, you'll want to make sure that the video hosting platform you choose can handle a large number of downloads or views without any issues. Be sure to do your research so you can find the best possible option for your needs.

SmartVideo is an unlimited video content delivery network that aims to make professional video hosting as simple as possible, providing access to unlimited bandwidth, coding, and data storage.

It also automatically optimizes encoding for all devices. You can check out this page for more info.

Use This Info to Maximize the Quality of Your Video File

Although video bitrate might seem difficult to understand at first, it's much easier than most people think. Ensure that you keep the above guidelines in mind when moving forward so you can avoid common pitfalls in the future.

Looking for more info about how we can help? Feel free to reach out to us today to learn what we can do.