The problem with Animoto is that the PRO account doesn't allow you to sell videos you create to clients unless you are a photographer (or similar where the client is an individual and not a business).
If you do sell to businesses you are breaking the terms of the license. Animoto have however brought out a special license to get around this - here is what they said to me about it. This is what they told me :
As our commercial terms of service do limit distribution of videos to other businesses, we recently launched a product addressing your needs called the Reseller Account. As an authorized Animoto Reseller you can provide video creation services to other businesses including restaurants, hotels, retailers, real estate agents, and even photographers.
The account costs $499 per year and allows you to distribute videos to businesses for a further $25 per video payment to Animoto.
So to become a reseller you have to pay Animoto $499 per year plus$25 per video sold.
A Better Alternative to Animoto
Enter ProShow Web - the web version of ProShow Gold. The ProShow Web service has been launched by a company well versed in video production and with a long history of the same. I think the ProSHow Web solution is better than Animoto's - by a long way (use of text, transitions, video and general control is better, cheaper). You can build short slideshows with the free version, and their PRO account allows you to sell the videos you make to whoever you want. $150 per year is the cost of the PRO license compared to Animoto's $249 + $499 + $25 per go.
Here is my first attempt at using ProShow Web. Note that because I am using the free account, the transition options are limited. But I can see that if I upgraded, I'd have more control.
What is nice is that you don't have the same character restrictions that Animoto places on text slides. Pro Show Web allows up to 242 characters. And (although I haven't been able to include one here), if you have a video clip (max 30 seconds per clip - but you can have as many as you want in a single video), you can choose to keep the sound or mute it.
If you keep the sound it plays against the background music very effectively and this means you can probably use ProShow Web for a better quality of promotional video. One where you actually can be heard to say something.
And finally, like Animoto, the video you get is different each time you rebuild it.
Once again, more useful and practical information. Please keep it coming! And thank you for sharing. BTW, love the photos.
JuanS - Thanks for your kinds comments. The photos are all taken with iPhone last summer and are all views in my garden. I am kind of obsessed with the sky.
Anyway - you have prompted me to update this post as there now (just recently) is a way to sell Animoto videos without having to upgrade to their (I think) pretty expensive reseller package, but only if you're quick. I'll write a post about it tonight to update this one. Liz
Our apologies for any confusion! Animoto does have a new Reseller program that is priced at a flat rate of $499/year. (No $25/video fees!) For more information on that, visit:http://animoto.com/blog/company/resell-your-videos-to-other-businesses-with-reseller/
Yes - Animoto removed the $25 fee quite recently. Thank you for that. In my own case I was able to upgrade my Pro account to a reseller account recently in your time limited offer which has helped me to produce videos for others.
I've recently cancelled my animoto subscription, character length was an issue and I just though it had become too ubiquitous. Pro Show looks good though.
I'd rather use Ezvid than using Animoto. It's just too expensive whilst you can utilized other free video editing software that performs way better than Animoto and I can even advertise my own at no cost..
thank you for this very useful info! Animoto has a long history of frequently changing their T&C, keeping up with it is a full time job. And every time they update their licenses, the costs go up for independent operators like myself.
Hi!
Thanks for the article. Very useful! Do you know if its possible to take off the ProShow Web logo from screen in the upgraded version? I can see that appears at the end too. Thanks for your comments.
Yes - this is possible. I bought Pro Show Producer Gold and you can make excellent video slideshows with it with no branding.