Hello there, lovely people! If you’re looking for ways to take your WordPress website to the next level, then you’re in the right place. Today, we’re going to explore the realm of fullscreen video backgrounds.
Now, you might be thinking, “Isn’t that a tad too advanced for my tech skills?”
The answer is an absolute no! WordPress, being the versatile platform it is, offers an array of methods to include video backgrounds without requiring you to be a tech whizz.
It’s no secret that visuals have the power to capture attention instantly.
In this fast-paced digital world, the first few seconds of a visitor landing on your site can make all the difference. A fullscreen video background can be that game-changer, providing an engaging user experience while enhancing your site’s aesthetics.
So, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty of adding a fullscreen video background in WordPress!
Why Consider Fullscreen Video Backgrounds?
Before we delve into the ‘how’, let’s take a moment to discuss the ‘why’. There are numerous reasons to consider a fullscreen video background for your WordPress site.
- Boosts user engagement: Fullscreen video backgrounds can captivate the user’s attention right off the bat, encouraging them to stay on your site for longer periods.
- Conveys message efficiently: Videos can tell a story more effectively and more quickly than text, potentially improving your website’s message clarity.
- Enhances aesthetic appeal: Fullscreen video backgrounds can give your website a professional and modern look.
Choosing the Right Video
Choosing the right video is crucial. The video should complement your brand and the message you’re trying to convey. Remember to choose a video with high quality, but also ensure it’s optimised to avoid any possible slowdowns on your site.
Uploading the Video
To get started, upload your chosen video to your WordPress Media Library. Simply navigate to your WordPress Dashboard, select ‘Media’ and then ‘Add New’.
Choose the file from your device and click ‘Upload’. Please note that WordPress has a maximum upload size limit. If your video exceeds this limit, you may need to increase it or consider using third-party video hosting platforms like YouTube or Vimeo.
Adding Fullscreen Video Background
Using a WordPress Theme
Many modern WordPress themes come with the built-in feature of adding a fullscreen video background.
Step 1: From your WordPress Dashboard, go to ‘Appearance’ and then ‘Customise’.
Step 2: Look for the ‘Background’ option or a similar feature, depending on your theme.
Step 3: Select the ‘Background Type’ as ‘Video’ and choose your uploaded video.
Step 4: Save the changes, and you’re done!
Using a WordPress Plugin
If your WordPress theme does not have this feature, do not fret! There are numerous WordPress plugins available that can help you achieve this. For this guide, we’ll use the ‘Video Background’ plugin.
Step 1: From your WordPress Dashboard, go to ‘Plugins’ and then ‘Add New’.
Step 2: Search for the ‘Video Background’ plugin, install and activate it.
Step 3: Go to ‘Appearance’ and then ‘Customise’.
Step 4: Look for the ‘Video Background’ option.
Step 5: Select your uploaded video as the background and save the changes.
With these methods, you’ll have your fullscreen video background up and running in no time!
Using Third-Party Video Platforms
Although WordPress does allow direct video uploads, using third-party video hosting platforms like YouTube or Vimeo is another popular method. This can bypass the maximum file upload limit and can often result in faster loading times for your site.
Let’s go through the process using YouTube as an example.
Step 1: From your WordPress Dashboard, go to ‘Appearance’ and then ‘Customise’.
Step 2: Find the ‘Background’ or similar option.
Step 3: Instead of selecting ‘Video’, choose ‘Background Image’.
Step 4: Upload a placeholder image that will appear if the video fails to load.
Step 5: In the ‘Additional CSS’ section, input the code to embed your YouTube video. Ensure to replace the ‘videoURL’ with your YouTube video’s URL.
Step 6: Save the changes, and your YouTube video should now be the fullscreen background on your WordPress site.
This method may seem a bit more complex, but it’s a handy trick to have up your sleeve if you ever encounter file size issues.
Optimising the User Experience
It’s not just about having a fullscreen video background – it’s about ensuring it adds value to your website and enhances the user experience. Here are a few tips to keep in mind.
Keep It Relevant
As exciting as it can be to add a fullscreen video, it’s essential to ensure it aligns with your website’s content and your overall brand. Irrelevant or conflicting visuals can be confusing for visitors.
Ensure Good Quality
Always go for high-definition videos to avoid pixelation. However, keep in mind the balance between quality and file size – you don’t want to slow down your site.
Consider Autoplay and Loop
You should ideally have your video set to autoplay and loop to ensure the visual content is continuous and seamless. Most video background plugins or themes should have this option.
Keep It Muted
As a general rule of thumb, keep your video muted unless the sound is crucial to your message. Unwanted sound can be distracting and might prompt visitors to leave your site.
Have a Fallback Image
Not all devices or browsers may support video backgrounds. Hence, it’s good practice to have a fallback image in case the video fails to load.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
When implementing a new feature, there might be a few bumps along the way. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here are a few common issues you might encounter when adding a fullscreen video background, along with their solutions.
Video Not Playing
This could be due to a variety of reasons, from browser issues to the video file format. Check if your video is in a widely accepted format like .mp4. If you’re using a third-party video, check the URL and the embed code.
Video Slows Down Website
If your video is too large, it might slow down your site. You can try compressing the video or consider using a third-party hosting platform.
Video Not Displaying on Mobile Devices
Fullscreen video backgrounds may not always work on mobile devices. This is usually because mobile browsers block autoplay videos to save data. You can add a fallback image that will display on mobile devices instead.
Exploring Plugin Options
While we previously mentioned the ‘Video Background’ plugin, it’s worth noting there are numerous other plugins available. Let’s briefly explore a few more.
1. Slider Revolution: This powerful plugin is more than just a slider. It allows you to add a fullscreen video background, among many other features. The only drawback is it’s a premium plugin, but many find it worth the investment.
2. Ultimate Video Background: This plugin is designed exclusively for video backgrounds. It offers extensive customisation options such as video overlay patterns, mute settings, and start/end times.
3. Advanced WordPress Backgrounds: This plugin allows you to add parallax backgrounds with video support. You can also use shortcodes to include video backgrounds in specific sections of your site.
Each of these plugins brings something unique to the table. It’s all about finding the one that best suits your needs.
CSS Customisation
Beyond plugins and themes, there’s another way to add a fullscreen video background – CSS customisation. This method is for those comfortable with a bit of coding.
Step 1: Upload your video to your site’s media library.
Step 2: Create a new ‘div’ element in your HTML where you want the video background.
Step 3: Add a ‘video’ tag inside the ‘div’ with ‘autoplay’, ‘loop’, and ‘muted’ attributes. The ‘source’ attribute should be the URL of your uploaded video.
Step 4: In your CSS, set the ‘div’ to cover the full screen and position the video absolutely within the ‘div’.
This method gives you complete control over the video background but requires more technical skills.
Compatibility and Performance Considerations
Let’s delve into two critical aspects to keep in mind when implementing a fullscreen video background – compatibility and performance.
Compatibility
Not all browsers and devices handle video backgrounds the same way. For instance, some mobile browsers disable autoplay to save user data. It’s crucial to test your video background across various browsers and devices to ensure a consistent user experience.
Performance
While video backgrounds can enhance your website’s aesthetic appeal, they can also impact its loading speed. High-quality videos are large files, and large files take longer to load. This can lead to a slow website, potentially deterring visitors and negatively affecting your SEO.
To minimise this impact, always optimise your videos before uploading them. Use video editing tools to reduce the file size without compromising too much on quality. Alternatively, consider using third-party video hosting platforms that can handle video optimisation for you.
The Impact on SEO
There’s a common concern that video backgrounds may hurt SEO efforts. This primarily stems from the fear that search engines can’t ‘read’ videos the same way they can text.
While it’s true that search engines can’t understand video content as accurately as text, that doesn’t mean videos are detrimental to your SEO. In fact, videos can indirectly improve your SEO by increasing user engagement and time spent on your site – factors that search engines value.
However, to ensure search engines understand the context of your video, it’s a good practice to include text content on the pages with a video background. Also, always add relevant metadata to your video files, such as a descriptive file name and alt text.
The Balance Between Creativity and Practicality
A fullscreen video background is undeniably creative and can greatly contribute to your site’s aesthetic appeal. However, it’s crucial to balance creativity with practicality. A video background shouldn’t distract or detract from your site’s main content or call-to-action. The video you choose should complement your content, not overshadow it.
Exploring the HTML5 Video Tag
If you want to dive deeper into the world of coding, it’s worth exploring the HTML5 ‘video’ tag. This tag is used to embed video content in a webpage. It comes with a variety of attributes such as:
controls: This adds video player controls.autoplay: The video will start playing as soon as it’s ready.muted: This mutes the video.loop: The video will start over again, every time it is finished.
Exploring HTML5 and its capabilities can open a new world of possibilities for your WordPress site.
The Role of a Fullscreen Video Background in Web Design Trends
Fullscreen video backgrounds are a hot trend in modern web design. They’re part of a larger trend towards visual, dynamic, and interactive web content. Other related trends include:
- Parallax scrolling: This is a scrolling effect where the background moves at a slower rate than the foreground, creating a sense of depth.
- Microinteractions: These are small animations that respond to user actions, making the site feel more interactive.
- Virtual or augmented reality: These technologies are becoming increasingly popular in web design, offering immersive user experiences.
Understanding these trends can give you a broader perspective on how a fullscreen video background can fit into your overall web design strategy.
The Future of Video Backgrounds
As internet speeds continue to increase and video compression technologies continue to improve, it’s likely that video backgrounds will become even more popular in the future.
Advances in web technologies and design tools will also make it easier to implement video backgrounds in a way that’s efficient, accessible, and user-friendly.
Final Thoughts
There we have it! A comprehensive guide to adding a fullscreen video background in WordPress.
From choosing the right video and the best method to use, to optimising the user experience and troubleshooting issues – we’ve covered it all.
With a bit of time and experimentation, you’ll be a pro at adding fullscreen video backgrounds, elevating your WordPress site to new
