How to Share SmugMug Video Gallery to Facebook?

Sharing your video collection from SmugMug to Facebook can help you reach a wider audience and engage with friends and family. Whether you're a professional photographer showcasing client videos or simply want to share personal memories, connecting these platforms is straightforward once you know the steps. This guide will walk you through various methods to share your SmugMug video gallery on Facebook effectively.

Why Share SmugMug Videos on Facebook?

Before diving into the how-to, let's quickly look at why you might want to share your SmugMug videos on Facebook:

• Reach a larger audience with your video content
• Get feedback and engagement from friends and followers
• Promote your photography or videography business
• Share special moments with family members who use Facebook regularly
• Drive traffic back to your SmugMug gallery

Understanding SmugMug Video Galleries

SmugMug is a premium photo and video hosting service that offers beautiful galleries and excellent organization tools. Unlike some platforms, SmugMug allows you to upload videos alongside photos, making it perfect for photographers who also capture video content.

Types of SmugMug Video Content You Can Share

SmugMug supports various video formats and gallery types that you can share to Facebook:

• Individual videos
• Video galleries
• Mixed photo and video galleries
• Password-protected galleries (with some limitations)
• Unlisted galleries

Method 1: Sharing Individual Videos Directly to Facebook

The simplest approach is sharing individual videos from your SmugMug gallery directly to Facebook.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Log in to your SmugMug account
2. Navigate to the video gallery containing the video you want to share
3. Click on the specific video to open it
4. Look for the share icon (usually an arrow or share symbol)
5. Select "Facebook" from the sharing options
6. A Facebook sharing dialog will appear
7. Add a caption or description if desired
8. Choose your audience (Public, Friends, etc.)
9. Click "Post" to share the video

This method works well for sharing one video at a time but isn't ideal for entire galleries.

Method 2: Sharing Your Entire Video Gallery Link

To share your complete video gallery, you'll want to share the gallery URL.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Log in to your SmugMug account
2. Navigate to the video gallery you want to share
3. Copy the URL from your browser's address bar
4. Go to Facebook and create a new post
5. Paste the SmugMug gallery URL into your post
6. Facebook will automatically generate a preview
7. Add any text you want to include with the link
8. Click "Post" to share

When you share a gallery link, Facebook will typically display a thumbnail preview from one of your videos along with the gallery title.

Method 3: Using the SmugMug Share Button for Facebook

SmugMug has built-in social sharing features that make sharing to Facebook simple.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Log in to your SmugMug account
2. Navigate to the video gallery you want to share
3. Look for the "Share" button (usually at the top or bottom of the gallery)
4. Click on the Facebook icon in the sharing options
5. A Facebook sharing dialog will appear
6. Choose whether to share on your Timeline, in a group, on a Page you manage, or in a private message
7. Add a caption or description
8. Click "Post" to share

Method 4: Embedding SmugMug Videos on Facebook

For more control over how your videos appear, you can use the embed code option.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Log in to your SmugMug account
2. Navigate to the video you want to embed
3. Click the share icon
4. Select "Embed" or "Get a link"
5. Copy the provided HTML embed code
6. Go to Facebook
7. Create a new post
8. Paste the URL portion of the embed code (not the full HTML)
9. Facebook will generate a preview
10. Add any text you want to include
11. Click "Post" to share

Note that Facebook doesn't support direct HTML embedding, but it will create a preview from the video URL.

Method 5: Downloading and Re-uploading Videos

If you want the videos to play natively on Facebook (which can increase engagement):

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Log in to your SmugMug account
2. Navigate to the video you want to share
3. Click the download button to save the video to your device
4. Go to Facebook
5. Create a new post and click "Photo/Video"
6. Select the video file you downloaded
7. Add a caption mentioning it's from your SmugMug gallery (and include the gallery link)
8. Click "Post" to upload and share the video

This method takes more time but ensures videos play automatically in Facebook feeds.

Sharing to Facebook Groups, Pages, or Events

You can share your SmugMug video galleries to various Facebook destinations:

To a Facebook Group:

1. Follow any of the methods above
2. When the Facebook sharing dialog appears, click on "Share to a Group"
3. Select the group from the dropdown menu
4. Add your caption
5. Click "Post"

To a Facebook Page You Manage:

1. Follow any of the methods above
2. When the Facebook sharing dialog appears, select your Page from the dropdown menu
3. Add your caption
4. Click "Post"

To a Facebook Event:

1. Navigate to the Facebook event
2. Create a new post in the event
3. Paste your SmugMug gallery link
4. Add your caption
5. Click "Post"

Tips for Better Engagement When Sharing SmugMug Videos

To maximize engagement when sharing your SmugMug video galleries on Facebook:

• Use a compelling thumbnail for your videos in SmugMug
• Write an engaging caption that explains what people will see
• Tag relevant people who appear in the videos
• Share at times when your audience is most active
• Respond to comments to boost engagement
• Include a call to action (e.g., "Check out more videos in my gallery")

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Video Preview Not Showing on Facebook

If Facebook isn't displaying a preview of your SmugMug gallery:

1. Make sure your gallery is public or visible to those without a password
2. Try copying just the direct URL to a single video instead
3. Clear Facebook's cache by using the Facebook Debugger tool
4. Wait a few minutes and try again, as Facebook may need time to generate the preview

Videos Not Playing Properly

If shared videos aren't playing correctly:

1. Check if the video format is supported by both platforms
2. Consider downloading and re-uploading directly to Facebook
3. Verify that your SmugMug privacy settings allow video playback on external sites

Privacy Considerations

When sharing SmugMug content to Facebook, keep these privacy factors in mind:

Comparison: Different Methods of Sharing SmugMug Videos to Facebook

FAQs About Sharing SmugMug Video Galleries to Facebook

Can I schedule SmugMug gallery shares to post later on Facebook?

Yes, but not directly through SmugMug. Copy your gallery URL and use Facebook's scheduling feature or a third-party social media management tool like Hootsuite or Buffer to schedule your posts.

Will my SmugMug video quality be reduced when shared to Facebook?

When sharing links to SmugMug videos, the quality remains intact as viewers watch directly on SmugMug. If you download and re-upload to Facebook, some compression may occur based on Facebook's video processing algorithms.

How can I track how many people clicked on my SmugMug gallery from Facebook?

SmugMug's statistics tracking shows your gallery traffic sources. You can also use URL tracking parameters (like UTM codes) to specifically track Facebook referrals in Google Analytics if you've connected it to your SmugMug account.

Can I share password-protected SmugMug galleries on Facebook?

Yes, you can share the link, but viewers will still need the password to access the content. Make sure to include instructions about the password requirement in your Facebook post.

Is there a limit to how many SmugMug videos I can share on Facebook at once?

There's no limit when sharing a gallery link, as you're just sharing access to your SmugMug gallery. When downloading and re-uploading videos directly to Facebook, standard Facebook limitations apply (file size limits, upload quotas, etc.).

Conclusion

Sharing your SmugMug video galleries to Facebook doesn't have to be complicated. Whether you choose to share individual videos, entire galleries, or download and re-upload for native playback, you now have several methods at your disposal. Remember to consider your privacy settings and audience preferences when deciding how to share. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can effectively showcase your video content to your Facebook network and drive more traffic to your SmugMug galleries.

With these techniques, you'll be able to bridge these two platforms and get the most out of both SmugMug's excellent hosting capabilities and Facebook's wide reach. Happy sharing!