Why Professionals Are Using Private YouTube Videos

When we think of video content from YouTube, we often think about what it takes to get a video to go viral. There are some cases, however, where going viral isn’t a good thing. Instead, the video creator decides to upload a private YouTube video for professional use. While private YouTube videos have long been an option for families and users wanting to share personal content, private videos for professionals have been a growing trend. Even if resources and time were spent to create a quality video, many professionals prefer to have the videos uploaded privately onto YouTube.

The Reasons Behind Privacy

While thousands of videos are uploaded to the public each day, an increasing number of videos are made private. Aside from personal use, private videos can be used to enhance a professional’s career. Consider uses such as:

• Video resumes. Resumes through a medium other than paper have been growing in popularity throughout the years. They allow employers to see the face and hear the voice of potential employees without even meeting them. Creating a strong video resume requires time, effort, and thought, which is why many employers are beginning to include a video resume as part of the application process.
• Project collaboration. Thanks to the internet, it’s possible to collaborate with users across the nation. People working on video projects might want to share content and ideas via YouTube. Instead of initiating a file transfer, a YouTube upload allows both parties to see the content they are working on piecing together. Just like any project with a release date, privacy on the video content is needed.
• Internal uses. Several companies use videos as part of their training program. Keeping the video uploaded on YouTube allows companies to encourage employees to watch the videos at home. Keeping the videos private keeps company information from being inappropriately publicly displayed.
• Sample purposes. Some videographers prefer keeping their work private. Freelance videographers for instance, might use YouTube videos to share their portfolio of previous projects with potential clients. For a variety of reasons, they may want their content to be private instead of public. This keeps unwanted comments off their videos and keeps the page clean for potential clients.

The Difference Between Unlisted and Private Videos

YouTube offers two privacy options for video uploaders. The first is unlisted videos. Unlike private videos, these clips are available to the public. The only difference between an unlisted video and a regular upload is that these clips are unsearchable. Only people who know about the video can view it whereas anyone can search for a listed video using the correct keywords. Private videos, on the other hand, are only viewable by the people who have been specifically shared the link to view the video.

In general, it’s easier to use an unlisted video if you value privacy but want to limit who sees the video. It’s more convenient than having to send a link to everyone individually. However, if privacy is your primary concern, YouTube’s feature is suitable for a variety of reasons.