Do you want to make your website more engaging and eye-catching? There are several ways to enhance your content and capture your audience’s attention. One is by adding high-quality images to your website. Another is by adding short, relevant videos.
In this article, I’ll share some of the advantages of using stock videos on your website and five sources where you can find free stock videos.
Custom videos are ideal for featuring your own business, products, or services, but creating them can be time-consuming and expensive. Stock videos offer an affordable alternative when you need visual content for your website or marketing materials.
As a small business owner, I love finding tools that help me enhance my website without spending a lot of money. Whether you create your own video or use stock footage, the key is choosing visuals that support your message and appeal to your audience.
The Most Common Ways I Use Video
I’m a big fan of using videos on my websites and often use them for teaching purposes in my programs. In my business, I record classroom videos, post replay videos for webinars, and use Loom videos to communicate with my team and students.
Another common way in which I use videos is by embedding YouTube videos on my website. YouTube is a great resource for finding relevant content or topic ideas. For example, I found great YouTube videos to include in my blog post What is a Mind Map and a very funny video for my blog post Do You Go Crazy Trying to Remember Your Passwords?
Many people prefer learning through videos over reading text. Fortunately, embedding a YouTube video on your website is easy.
The What and Why of Stock Videos
A stock video is a video clip or footage pre-recorded by professional videographers or filmmakers and licensed for use by individuals, businesses, or organizations. You can use stock video clips in various business projects, such as websites, marketing campaigns, social media content, advertisements, and presentations.
Using stock videos offers several advantages:
1) Cost-Effective
Stock videos are more budget-friendly compared to producing custom videos from scratch, so they’re especially helpful for smaller projects or when working with limited resources.
2) Saves Time
Stock videos are readily available, eliminating the need for time-consuming video shoots. This allows you to focus on other aspects of your business and speed up the content creation process.
3) Versatile
Stock videos cover various topics, themes, and styles, and offer diverse footage suitable for all kinds of purposes. Whether you need clips for marketing campaigns, social media content, presentations, or websites, you can find relevant stock videos to meet your needs.
4) High Quality
Many stock video libraries offer professionally produced footage in HD or 4K. This can be a convenient way to find polished visuals for your website or marketing materials without having to film everything yourself.
How I Use Stock Videos on My Websites
I primarily use stock videos in my business as a webpage header. Check out how I use a stock video to add a dynamic element and visual appeal to my Website Marketing Workshop enrollment page:
https://www.websitemarketingworkshop.com/
Top 5 Sources for Free Stock Videos
I’ve listed my five favorite sources for free stock videos below. With these go-to sources, you’ll have many options to elevate your website and social media presence without spending a dime. Remember, always check the specific licensing requirements for each platform and give credit where necessary.
1. Pixabay (https://pixabay.com)
Pixabay is my go-to place for stock images. It’s well-known for its extensive library of stock photos, user-friendly interface, and high-quality content. It also offers a substantial collection of free stock videos covering lifestyle, nature, animation, and more. Pixabay offers free videos, and its license permits commercial use without attribution. However, there are restrictions on standalone redistribution and certain uses involving recognizable people, trademarks, and brands.
2. MixKit (https://mixkit.co/)
Mixkit is a curated platform that offers a diverse range of free stock videos, music tracks, and motion graphics. Their video collection covers various themes, including business, lifestyle, technology, etc. The platform offers easy navigation and search functionality, making it simple to find and download the perfect video clips for your website and social media. Mixkit has both a Free License and a Restricted License for stock videos. Some videos can be used in commercial projects, while others are limited to noncommercial use. Users need to check the license associated with the individual clip.
3. Videezy (https://www.videezy.com)
Videezy offers a collection of stock footage, including free and premium videos. You can find clips covering a variety of topics, including nature, aerial footage, business, and urban scenes. Some free videos can be used commercially with attribution, while other clips have different licensing requirements. Be sure to check the license for each video before using it on your website or in your marketing materials.
4. Pexels (https://www.pexels.com)
Pexels Videos is a popular platform that provides a vast collection of high-quality stock videos free of charge. With a wide range of subjects and styles, you can find videos for various purposes, from nature and travel to business and technology. The user-friendly platform makes searching for videos by category, keyword, or popularity easy.
5. Coverr (https://coverr.co/stock-video-footage)
Coverr is a unique platform that offers stock videos that can be used for website backgrounds, marketing, and other projects. Their collection features captivating videos across different themes, including nature, cityscapes, people, etc. The platform also provides an easy-to-use search feature. It offers Zoom virtual backgrounds. These are perfect for ensuring you look good in those video calls and webinars!
Important! Licensing Terms and Attribution
Before downloading and using a stock video, check its licensing terms.
Each stock video website has its own license, and some websites offer different licenses depending on the video. While many free stock videos can be used for commercial purposes without attribution, others may require you to give credit to the creator or have restrictions on how you can use the footage.
For example, some videos may be available for personal or educational use only, while others can be used in business websites, advertisements, and marketing materials.
Also, keep in mind that a stock video license does not necessarily cover everything shown in the video. Recognizable people, trademarks, logos, and certain properties may have additional rights or restrictions.
Before using a stock video on your website or in your marketing content, check the license for that specific video and make sure it allows your intended use.
Other Ways to Use Stock Videos on Your Website
Website Background: A short stock video can add visual interest to your homepage or landing page. However, a background video should support your message, not distract visitors.
Showcasing Your Products or Services: If you have products or services to showcase, you can use stock videos to create attractive demonstrations.
Social Media Posts: You can include stock videos in social media posts to make them more eye-catching and shareable. This can increase engagement and attract more followers to your social media accounts.
Brand Storytelling: If you’re a small business owner, you can use stock videos to tell your brand’s story.
Video Advertisements: Using free stock videos, you can create product or service advertisements. These ads can be shared on social media or used in online marketing campaigns to reach a wider audience.
Educational Content: To provide educational content to your audience, you can use stock videos to illustrate concepts or explain complex topics more effectively.
Wrapping It Up…
Stock videos can be a useful way to add visual interest to your website, blog posts, and social media content. They can help illustrate an idea, create a mood, or make your marketing materials more visually appealing.
You don’t have to spend a lot of money to find quality stock footage. The five sources mentioned in this article, Pixabay, Mixkit, Videezy, Pexels, and Coverr, offer a variety of videos you can use in your business.
When choosing a stock video, make sure it supports your message and fits the style of your website. And always check the licensing terms before using a video in your business or marketing materials.
If you have a WordPress website and are ready to take your marketing to the next level, check out the Website Marketing Workshop.
(Originally published Jan 2022; Updated Oct 2026)
