Selecting a Custom Thumbnail for Your Video Upload: How is the Law of Privilege Applied?
How does the Law of Privilege impact you, if you want to customize thumbnails for your video upload onto YouTube or Vimeo?
Before diving into this question one should understand two fundamental terms:
1. What is a Custom Thumbnail?
2. What is the law of privilege?
What is a Customize Video Thumbnail?
A Video Thumbnail (also called a still picture) is a point-in-time “photo snapshot” linked to your uploaded videos onto a Video Hosting Site such as Youtube and Vimeo. This snapshot is the first thing surfers see when performing video searches. A simple example is playing a DVD movie. When you hit pause, that frozen-picture you see would be your thumbnail.
What is the Law of Privilege?
A privilege is a special entitlement granted on a conditional basis whereas a right is a default entitlement for all, and duly noted, a privilege can be revoked. Assuming your priority is to customize thumbnails then the law of privilege may be a very important concept to understand when deciding which video service will host your videos.
Law of Privilege Models: Front-end vs Back-end
Video service policies vary, but fundamentally most use the law of privilege to drive their thumbnail policies. Two models exists, the back-end and front-end models. The front-end model is a video service provider that applies the honor system by instating privileges upfront until you abuse them, which, at that time, they are revoked. The back-end model consists of a video service provider who applies contingencies before you’re granted privileges.
How do YouTube and Vimeo apply the Law of privilege?
In this example, lets look at YouTube and Vimeo's policies in terms of how they both apply the law of privilege related to video thumbnail customization.
YouTube applies the back-end model where they require anybody needing this customization capability to be a member of their Partner Program. Vimeo, on the other hand, applies the front-end model, no membership is required and privileges are instated by default.
If YouTube requires prospects to be a partner first then is their service better than Vimeo? Quite frankly, I don’t know, but I’ll continue to strive for better understanding in terms of the benefits of both.
I would highly recommend reviewing YouTube’s Partner Program requirements to ensure your video strategy aligns with their prerequisites.
Keep in mind, video customization is only one variable to consider. Seriously consider comparing other video hosting service providers and their feature offerings.
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