Sheila is known throughout Marblehead and beyond for Trouble the Dog, a plush toy that brings comfort and a smile to any child who owns one. She was in a “pickle” and needed some guidance in regards to video. We were more than happy to help out, and in the process found out what a wonderful person Sheila is and how much Trouble means to kids (and adults) everywhere.

For the full story of Trouble visit the website or Facebook page. We simply want to say that one of the true pleasures of working in this industry is not just in creating high-quality video, but also in the relationships we build along the way.

Here at Squash House, we answer these questions for you and help you develop an appropriate hosting plan so that when your video is complete, you don’t need to worry about how it will get on the web for your audience to see.

A lot of people may not be familiar with what a video host even is and why they need one. Basically, it is a 24/7 computer server with enough space to store your video files. Unlike your home or work computer, it doesn’t get shut down at the end of the day. People can view your videos no matter what time it is. To place the video on your website, you simply take the provided embed code from the host and paste it on your website.

YouTube is the most widely known video host. Although there are several reasons to post your video on YouTube, we recommend businesses subscribe to a dedicated, professional video hosting service. There are a variety of reasons for this:

• It is more professional. Nothing is more frustrating than having your sleek-looking, professional corporate overview video covered in banner ads and placed next to a Lady GaGa music video.
• You have more control. Options can range from auto-play, password protection, video size, watermarks, custom thumbnails and much more.
• Optimized video delivery. Will it play on a PC? Mac? Cell phone? Fast internet? Slow internet? Many video hosts are built to detect and deliver the most appropriate file in a split second. The last thing you want is for your video to be constantly buffering or, worse, not loading at all.
• Your video is more protected. Most dedicated video hosts make it difficult for viewers to download or copy your video without permission. The copyrighted material belongs to you and no one else.
•  Customer Service. Video stops halfway through? There is no sound? Good luck calling YouTube; you can’t. A video hosting company wants your video to play well just as much as you do or else they lose your business, so they will work to solve the issue as quickly as possible.

Video hosting services usually charge either a monthly or annual fee based on what plan you get. At Squash House, we use iPlayerHD. It is reasonably priced and fantastic at detecting bandwidth to optimize videos for playback on any device.

A quick Google search will show that there are many more video hosting services out there, including Brightcove, Wistia, and Oculu. All of them provide a free trial period, so feel free to sign up, kick the tires, and see if it works for you before you commit.

Those are a few thoughts on of video hosting and why it is important for your web video. Let us know your thoughts or questions below!

A question a lot of people ask us at Squash House Media is, “Where did the name Squash House come from?” A quick look back at history will help explain why we are a video production company called Squash House that is based in Marblehead, Massachusetts.

The original Squash House was a fish house built in the early 1700s on Gerry Island off the coast of Marblehead. It was later moved to 59 Elm Street. Beginning in the 1890s, it was converted into a playhouse that became home to the “Squash Players.” In the 20th century it was also used as a gallery and art studio – where Jeff Hoffman studied under the artist Ned Fish.

The town of Marblehead has several historical claims to fame. It is considered the birthplace of the American Navy. Marblehead men are also credited with ferrying George Washington across the Delaware River.

Squash House Media reflects the quirky and creative environment it is set in, with its staff having histories as interesting and varied as the stories of Marblehead and the original Squash House itself. Being in a small town close to Boston allows us to exercise our creative talents while staying in touch with the businesses we continue to serve.

As the world of digital media continues to rapidly evolve, we at Squash House Media continue to remain committed to understanding your needs while ensuring that we don’t sacrifice the professional, high-quality videos we have consistently delivered.

But don’t just take our word for it. See it for yourself. Browse the new website. Read the Rave Reviews. View our Portfolio. And then Connect with us. We are more than happy to hear your comments and answer your questions.

- The Squash House Team