Website Background Video

1 Guidelines for Using Background Video on Your Website

Background video can enhance the visual impact of your website, helping to convey your message quickly and effectively. However, it should be used carefully to ensure a positive user experience and maintain strong performance.

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1.1 Purpose and Effectiveness

• Use video to create atmosphere, showcase location or activity, or reinforce your brand identity.
• Keep it subtle – it should support the content, not distract from it.

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1.2 Length and File Size

• Max Duration: 10 seconds. Looping short clips work best.
• Keep File Size Low: Aim for under 5MB to avoid slowing down your website.
• Avoid sound – background videos should be muted by default.

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1.3 Technical Specifications

• Format: MP4 is recommended for best compatibility.
• Resolution: HD (1280 × 720) is generally sufficient. Ultra high resolution is unnecessary and increases load time.

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1.4 Design Considerations

• Ensure the video does not conflict with your branding or make pages visually noisy.

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1.5 Accessibility and Fallbacks

• Avoid delivering critical content through video alone. Key messages should also be available in text format.
• Test with screen readers and on mobile devices to ensure WCAG 2.2 AA compliance.

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1.6 Performance and Hosting

• Videos should be self hosted or optimised via your web host or CDN. Avoid embedding from third party platforms such as YouTube.
• We optimise video delivery as part of our standard build process.

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1.7 Licensing and Ownership

• Only use original or properly licensed video content.
• We can assist in sourcing stock footage or coordinating with your videographer.