Before you start posting videos of Fido jumping through flaming hoops in your backyard, there are several points to consider. The first is that you don't need a $1,000 camcorder to record a video for online posting. Most sites transcode—or reformat—uploaded videos to make them small enough to stream easily to online viewers using players employing Adobe's Flash software. These players have the virtue of working automatically in most browsers with a Flash plug-in, and it allows sites to stream video within seconds of a request.

The downside is that picture quality suffers, sometimes so severely that your own mother might not recognize you in a clip (of course, that can be an advantage in some cases). So the quality of the original video you shoot doesn't necessarily have to be top notch. Clips from an inexpensive Web cam, a digital still camera or even a cell phone can be good enough to convey your story.

You also don't need to run out and buy Adobe Premiere for $849 to edit your mini movie. Several sites now help you edit your video online for free; and you don't have to be a film school grad to use the software.

Furthermore, the process of uploading a video for the masses to see—and judge—is remarkably straightforward. Typically, Web auteurs sign up for a free account, respond to a confirmation e-mail, and then start uploading video files. There are limitations on the size of videos—usually 100 MB per clip—but most sites don't restrict the total storage space you can chew up on their servers. Most sites also accept all the standard digital video formats—wma, mov, avi, and mpeg—and then convert the clips into a streaming format for you.

Of course, you can't just post anything online. Most of the mainstream sites will not accept material they deem obscene or offensive. All the sites also warn against posting material for which you don't own the copyright. This includes anything recorded from TV, copyrighted music, and photos. If it is discovered that an individual has posted copyrighted material—say, when the original holder complains—the site will take down the questionable material and the poster could face legal ramifications.

Ironically, the fine print in some “terms of service” agreements at some sharing sites stipulates that the site owner retains all rights to videos that members upload. True, most sites allow you to retain all rights to your creations, and only seek the right to display your clip online or use it promotional material. However, some retain the right to sell or add advertising to clips without reimbursing the creator. So read the fine print.

Fortunately, there are a lot of video sharing opportunities on the Web, and the community is rapidly maturing beyond its stupid-human-trick beginnings. There are social networking sites that rely on videos rather than old-fashioned print profiles to help members hook up. Family sites are designed to help members share material with far-flung relatives and friends. And business minded sites are designed to help video directors sell advertising, generate revenue from syndication and even handle pay-per-view videos. Small and large businesses will also find sites designed to help them share what are affectionately referred to as “industrial videos,” typically in-house training clips or marketing oriented digital infomercials. (See the second section of the article for business sites.)

Armed only with a camcorder, Adobe Premiere Elements, a couple of Web cams, and a vivid imagination, I tried out nearly 30 video sharing Web sites for this story. With each passing day, however, I discovered new entries in the category vying to become the next big thing in online video. So with such an array of sites to choose from, how do you decide which is the right place for your masterpiece? Follow my opinionated profiles of some of the more noteworthy options. Just remember that many of the sites are adding features on a weekly, and in some cases daily, basis.