Vidyard

What is Vidyard?

Vidyard is a comprehensive video platform designed for business communication, sales outreach, and marketing that enables professionals to create, share, and track video content. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Kitchener, Ontario, Vidyard has grown into a leading video solution for B2B companies, helping sales teams personalize outreach, marketing teams scale video content, and organizations communicate more effectively through video messaging. The platform serves over 12 million users across thousands of companies worldwide.

What distinguishes Vidyard from general video platforms like YouTube or Vimeo is its focus on business video with integrated analytics, CRM integration, and sales-specific features. Vidyard enables sales representatives to record personalized video messages, embed them in emails, and track when recipients watch the videos, how much they watched, and their engagement patterns. This data-driven approach to video communication helps sales teams prioritize follow-ups and personalize conversations based on actual viewer behavior.

Beyond sales outreach, Vidyard serves as a complete video hosting and management platform for businesses. Companies use Vidyard to host marketing videos, create video knowledge bases, deliver video training content, and embed interactive video experiences on their websites. The platform integrates with major CRM systems like Salesforce and HubSpot, marketing automation tools, and email platforms, making video a seamless part of existing business workflows.

Key Features

• Video Recording: Record webcam videos, screen recordings, or both simultaneously using browser extension or desktop app with professional editing tools.
• Personalized Video Messages: Create one-to-one video messages for sales outreach, customer success communication, and personalized marketing campaigns.
• Video Analytics: Detailed viewer analytics showing who watched, how long they watched, which parts they rewatched, and engagement heatmaps.
• CRM Integration: Native integrations with Salesforce, HubSpot, Marketo, and other CRM platforms automatically logging video engagement to contact records.
• Video Hosting: Secure video hosting with customizable players, embedding options, and enterprise-grade security for business content.
• Email Integration: Embed video thumbnails in emails through Gmail, Outlook, and marketing platforms with animated GIF previews.
• Interactive Elements: Add calls-to-action, forms, and clickable links within videos to drive viewer engagement and conversions.
• Screen Recording: Full-featured screen capture with annotation tools, mouse highlighting, and editing capabilities for tutorials and demos.
• Video Playlists: Organize videos into playlists and hubs for structured content delivery and learning experiences.
• AI Features: AI-powered video creation tools, automatic transcription, and script assistance for faster content production.

What’s New

Vidyard continues to enhance its platform with new features for business video communication:

• AI Script Generator: AI-powered tool helping users create video scripts for sales outreach, reducing preparation time significantly.
• Enhanced Analytics: Improved analytics dashboard with deeper insights into viewer behavior and engagement patterns.
• Virtual Backgrounds: Built-in virtual background options for professional video recording without green screen requirements.
• Improved Editor: Enhanced video editing tools with trimming, splicing, and annotation capabilities directly in the platform.
• Mobile Recording: Improved mobile app for recording and sharing videos directly from smartphones and tablets.
• Team Collaboration: Enhanced team features for sharing video libraries, templates, and analytics across organizations.
• Integration Updates: Expanded integrations with additional CRM, sales engagement, and marketing automation platforms.
• Security Enhancements: Advanced security features including SSO, viewer authentication, and enterprise compliance certifications.

System Requirements

Windows

• Operating System: Windows 10 or later
• Browser: Chrome, Firefox, or Edge (latest versions) for extension
• RAM: 4 GB minimum
• Webcam and microphone for video recording
• Internet connection required

macOS

• Operating System: macOS 10.14 or later
• Browser: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge for extension
• RAM: 4 GB minimum
• Webcam and microphone for recording

Browser Extension

• Google Chrome (recommended)
• Microsoft Edge
• Firefox
• Works on any operating system supporting these browsers

Mobile

• iOS: iPhone running iOS 13.0 or later
• Android: Android 8.0 or later
• Storage: 100 MB for app

How to Install Vidyard

Chrome Extension Installation

1. Visit vidyard.com or Chrome Web Store
2. Click “Add to Chrome” for Vidyard extension
3. Confirm installation
4. Create Vidyard account or sign in
5. Start recording videos directly from browser

# Install from Chrome Web Store
# Search "Vidyard" or visit:
# https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/vidyard

# After installation:
# 1. Click Vidyard icon in Chrome toolbar
# 2. Sign in with Vidyard account
# 3. Choose recording type:
#    - Camera only
#    - Screen only
#    - Screen + Camera
# 4. Record and share

Desktop App Installation

1. Visit vidyard.com/download
2. Download desktop app for your platform
3. Run installer
4. Sign in with Vidyard account
5. Configure recording preferences

# Download from official website
# https://www.vidyard.com/download/

# Available for:
# - Windows 10+
# - macOS 10.14+

# Desktop app provides:
# - System-wide recording
# - Higher quality options
# - Offline capability

Mobile App Installation

1. Open App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android)
2. Search for “Vidyard”
3. Install the app
4. Sign in with existing account
5. Record and share videos on the go

Email Integration Setup

# Gmail Integration:
# 1. Install Vidyard Chrome extension
# 2. Open Gmail compose window
# 3. Click Vidyard icon in compose toolbar
# 4. Record or select existing video
# 5. Insert as animated thumbnail

# Outlook Integration:
# 1. Install Vidyard Outlook add-in
# 2. Access from Outlook ribbon or message compose
# 3. Record or insert videos into emails

# HubSpot/Salesforce:
# Connect via Vidyard integrations settings
# Video engagement syncs to CRM records

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Sales-Focused Features: Purpose-built for sales teams with CRM integration, engagement tracking, and personalization capabilities that general tools lack.
• Detailed Analytics: Comprehensive viewer tracking showing exactly who watched, engagement patterns, and which content sections received attention.
• CRM Integration: Native integrations with Salesforce, HubSpot, and other platforms automatically log video activity to contact records.
• Easy Recording: Browser extension enables quick recording without leaving your workflow, ideal for fast-paced sales environments.
• Professional Hosting: Enterprise-grade video hosting with customizable players, security controls, and embedding flexibility.
• Free Tier Available: Generous free plan allows individuals to use core features without payment.
• Email Integration: Seamless video embedding in Gmail, Outlook, and sales engagement platforms with animated thumbnails.

Cons

• Business Focus: Features oriented toward B2B sales and marketing may be overkill for personal or simple video needs.
• Premium Pricing: Full feature access requires business subscription that may be expensive for small teams or individuals.
• Learning Curve: Maximizing platform value requires understanding integrations, analytics, and sales workflow optimization.
• Storage Limits: Free and lower tiers have video storage limits that active users may exceed quickly.
• Internet Required: Cloud-based platform requires internet connectivity for most functionality.

Vidyard vs Alternatives

Who Should Use Vidyard?

Vidyard is ideal for:

• Sales Teams: B2B sales representatives using video for personalized outreach, follow-ups, and prospect engagement benefit most from Vidyard’s features.
• Sales Development Reps: SDRs and BDRs doing high-volume outreach can scale personalization with video templates and tracking.
• Customer Success Teams: CS professionals creating personalized onboarding, training, and relationship-building content for accounts.
• Marketing Teams: B2B marketers creating video content for campaigns, websites, and demand generation programs.
• Training Departments: Organizations building video libraries for employee training, onboarding, and knowledge management.
• Enterprise Companies: Large organizations needing secure video hosting with compliance, SSO, and administrative controls.

Vidyard may not be ideal for:

• Personal Users: Individuals seeking simple screen recording may find Vidyard’s business features unnecessary and pricing excessive.
• Consumer Video Creators: Content creators for YouTube or social media need different tools optimized for those platforms.
• Small Budgets: Teams unable to invest in video software may prefer free alternatives like Loom’s basic tier.
• Non-Sales Use Cases: Organizations not leveraging sales analytics and CRM integration miss much of Vidyard’s value proposition.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Vidyard free to use?

Vidyard offers a free tier that includes unlimited video recording and sharing, basic viewer analytics, and video hosting. The free plan is genuinely useful for individuals getting started with video communication. However, advanced features like detailed analytics, CRM integrations, custom branding, team collaboration, and higher storage limits require paid plans. Pro plans start at $19/month, with business and enterprise tiers offering additional features for teams and organizations.

How does Vidyard track video viewers?

Vidyard tracks viewers through several methods. When you share a video link, Vidyard records when the link is clicked and video playback begins. For known contacts (especially through CRM-integrated emails), Vidyard can identify the specific viewer. The platform tracks watch duration, completion percentage, which sections were rewatched, and when viewers dropped off. This data syncs to CRM records, enabling sales teams to see engagement directly in Salesforce or HubSpot contact profiles.

Can I use Vidyard with my CRM?

Yes, Vidyard offers native integrations with major CRM platforms including Salesforce, HubSpot, Microsoft Dynamics, and others. Once connected, video engagement data automatically logs to contact and lead records. Sales reps can see which videos contacts watched, for how long, and receive notifications when key prospects engage. This integration enables triggered workflows, lead scoring based on video engagement, and contextual follow-up conversations based on viewer behavior.

What is the difference between Vidyard and Loom?

While both enable video recording and sharing, Vidyard focuses on B2B sales and marketing with deep CRM integration, detailed analytics, and enterprise features. Loom targets broader team communication and async video messaging with simpler features and lower pricing. Vidyard excels for sales teams tracking prospect engagement and integrating video into sales workflows. Loom suits teams wanting quick video communication without sales-specific functionality. Both offer free tiers for basic use.

Can I embed Vidyard videos on my website?

Yes, Vidyard provides multiple embedding options for websites. You can use standard iframe embeds, JavaScript embeds for more control, or inline embeds that load with the page. Vidyard players are customizable with your branding, colors, and controls. You can add calls-to-action, forms, and interactive elements within embedded videos. The platform also supports responsive embeds that adjust to different screen sizes and SEO-friendly video schema markup for search visibility.

Final Verdict

Vidyard has established itself as the leading video platform for B2B sales and marketing teams who want to leverage video as a strategic communication tool. The platform’s combination of easy recording, detailed analytics, and CRM integration creates a compelling solution for sales organizations looking to stand out with personalized video outreach. The ability to track exactly who watched your videos and for how long transforms video from a content format into a sales intelligence tool.

The platform’s strengths are most apparent for sales teams using CRM systems like Salesforce or HubSpot. When video engagement automatically logs to contact records and triggers follow-up workflows, video becomes an integrated part of the sales process rather than a standalone tool. For organizations already invested in sales technology stacks, Vidyard’s integrations provide significant value that simpler recording tools cannot match.

Vidyard is highly recommended for B2B sales teams, customer success organizations, and marketing departments seeking to scale personalized video communication with measurable results. The free tier allows genuine evaluation before committing to paid plans. However, users seeking simple screen recording or those without CRM integration needs may find better value in alternatives like Loom. For its target audience of sales-driven organizations, Vidyard delivers specialized functionality that justifies its positioning as a business-essential video platform.