Undoubtedly, the kind of reach an audio visual content gives in a short time is incomparable with any other content format. Videos are easier to remember, and anyone watching a video can grasp information more readily than reading lengthy textual content. That’ why we remember every scene in the movies we see days ago but forget what was written in a textbook that we read a day ago.
Videos are everywhere. From marketing, entertainment, to online learning, they have made an inseparable connection with the audience and so do the popular video platforms. Who doesn’t know YouTube, Netflix, Vimeo, or Hulu?
Out of all the popular video platforms, YouTube has a very special category with over 1.8 million monthly users. This platform is neither different from Netflix or Hulu, nor it is the same in many senses. Just open YouTube and see if there is a single niche that YouTube does not cover. The particular platform has everything to attract the audience, brands, businesses, creators, advertisers, and probably aliens from Mars as well.
Why YouTube is so special? Is it a great idea to start a video sharing platform like YouTube in 2019? A videos sharing platform like YouTube, which gets over 1 billion hours of watch time daily has to be a special one.
To understand that, we have to consider the trends associated with video content format, video sharing platforms, video content creators, and the businesses that rely on videos for marketing and brand education. Below are 8 reasons why a videos sharing platform like YouTube is a sagacious businesses idea in 2019.
1. The popularity of on-demand video content
The growth and acceptance of YouTube by the masses are because of the video and acceptance of Video content format by the same mass. Today, the VOD content has aworldwide marketof over $30.5 billion and it is expected to grow over $37.4 billion by 2023. As compared to 2018, there has been an upsurge of 4.7% in the total number of worldwide consumers of VOD content. It’s 1,773.3 million with a penetration rate of 24.1% to be exact.
When something is in such great demand and is being accepted insanely by the masses, it takes no time to deduce that just YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon prime are not enough to cater the demands. The market has got enough space for many more VOD platforms that can cater to worldwide consumers.
If you still think, VOD is not very popular then be advised that aYouTube user is 3X more likelyto watch a video tutorial than reading the textual content about the same. Who does not know the famous video on YouTube, “Gangnam Style”. This video became so viral that its upsurge literallybroke YouTube’s video’s view counter.
In short, the main content format on YouTube, VOD, is itself a great content format capable of attracting the entire globe. A platform like YouTube would definitely be a great idea for VOD content publication.
2. Acceptance of live gameplays streaming
Live streaming on YouTube is still an infant feature, which they introduced in 2016. Within a very short span of time, the particular video content format penetrated the masses like a virus. As a result, the year of 2016 recorded an upsurge and81% of the entire internetwas seen watching more live videos as compared to 2015.
Today, live streaming has become one of the major content formats on the video-sharing platforms that support both VOD and Live content. Out of all kinds of live content on video sharing platforms, breaking NEWS makes the most with 56%, where events and concerts make up 43%.
In all this, a new genre of live video gameplays is flourishing. YouTube and Twitch are the most popular platforms to watch live video games. It does not mean, a new platform with the same niche cannot make a good profit. For your knowledge, even Facebook and Vimeo have started streaming live gameplay. At any time, You would find millions of people watching games on YouTube and Twitch.
Not just that, new platforms like IGTV of Instagram and Nimo TV are gradually grabbing a fair share of viewership. Twitch has grown to become a multi-billion company in just the gaming niche. You should know that the majority of the viewers in the live gaming niche are the millennials. There is no better businesses idea than offering live gaming on your video sharing platform today.
3. Growing fame in label-less video production
YouTube allows general users to create channels, build audience-base through free channel subscriptions, and share video content with anyone on the platform. YouTube is not just any platform but a social media network that uses video to connect. When one-third of the internet is watching videos, there could be a no better option to connect them.
That’s where a platform like YouTube gives equal opportunities for everyone to create, share content, and become famous within a massive community. We have seen YouTube-base creators making it to the mainstream media after the grown fame.
The platform gives an ability to create independent content without relying on a label. You don’t have to be a video production company to upload videos on YouTube. This public availability of the platform is the biggest reason for its success. It is a perfect inspiration for building a similar platform that offers a similar level of access to everyone. If you still doubt, gaming is not a good niche to start your platform, be advised that 5 out ofthe top ten YouTube stars in 2018are gamers.
4. Recognition of video marketing and Video Ads
When something is as big a YouTube and the majority of the internet is available on it, it’s obvious that it would attract marketers and Advertisers. The major section of revenue for YouTube comes through ads only. It offers various types of Ads that get immense traction.
It uses both banner Ads and video ads to maximize the chance of a conversion. It also uses special Ads combined with both Banner and video-based targeting. Just check out the followingAds from YouTube, you would comprehend the kind of Ads you need to incorporate on your own video sharing platform like YouTube.
There are mainly two types of Ads which are further customized to fit into various scenarios -YouTube Banner Ads and YouTube video Ads. Here are few of the Ad customizations, which will give your own video sharing platform better ways to make money:
In-roll Video Ads (Only Videos) :
YouTube Hybrid Ads (Banner Video + Top Banner):
YouTube Hybrid Ad (In-roll video Ad + Embedded Banner)
Today, YouTube has doubled the number of Ads it shows. This single revenue model is making trillions for the company. Marketers are being attracted to video Ads as even they know that video is the future. More brands and companies these days have separate plans for video advertising. It’s a perfect time, to launch your video sharing site like YouTube, and claim the massive Ad revenue.
5. Escalation of brand collaboration with creators
Brands are taking a keen interest in the independent creators on YouTube and other video sharing platforms like Twitch, Nimo TV, Vimeo, Daily Motion, etc. They know these creators have some massive follower’s base and they can influence their buying decisions.
The same influence can also be used to promote a certain brand, which encourages businesses to connect with as many famous creators. These famous independent creators have a much stronger hold on their audience, and they have actually proven useful to the brands. As a result, more and more brands are connecting with them.
This upsurge in the connection with brands through paid partnership, collaboration, and sponsorship is encouraging new creators to join the league. In short, the entire mechanism is boosting the growth of video creation as a career and the need for more video sharing platforms in different niches.
6. Evolution of web development technologies
One of the major factors that make a website like YouTube an accessible business idea is the grown ease of website development. With technologies like clone scripts, the entrepreneurs today don’t need to develop the websites from scratch.
The clone scripts have eliminated the need for re-inventing the wheel by offering ready-made websites and other applications. With this readiness, the clone scripts cost 100 times lesser than the development from scratch.
If you want to develop the complete suite of YouTube-like website, it would cost you around, $100,000, about, 6 months, and a team of at least 10 experts on various technologies. On the other hand, a typical clone script comes priced as low as $500 for the website and $1500 for the whole suite with mobile apps. Moreover, it takes only a few hours to set up your platform using the clone script.
Today, you don’t have to ask anyone how to set up a website like YouTube. You can simply purchase a YouTube clone script and set it up according to your needs. The best YouTube clones come as open-source code and with self-hosting capabilities. They give you complete control over your platform across all the channels.
In short, the cost of platform development has grown too low. You don’t have to spend a fortune anymore. If you don’t believe me, check out my article I have written about “how to set up a website like YouTube at low cost”.
I have explained how YouTube works, how it earns, and how you can develop a similar website like YouTube with all revenue channels intact. Having said that, YouTube’s Revenue model is also a big reason for its success, and it is still a perfect model to start your own YouTube-like site.
7. The popularity of Hybrid video revenue model
YouTube uses its Hybrid Revenue model to make money. You already know it uses Ads, but there are some more channels that make a significant share of YouTube’s total earnings. So if, you think you can run a business like YouTube, including the following three revenue model is a must-
Ad Revenue: We saw back in the previous points the kind of ads YouTube uses. So it shares the Ad revenue with the creators.
Subscription Revenue: YouTube also runs subscription plans to make extra revenue. What’s special is it uses two types of subscription revenue. One is from the users to use the platform without seeing any Ads. While other is channel wise subscription for creators, where their subscribers purchase their memberships to support their favorite creator.
Transaction Revenue: in addition to the free Ad-based and premium subscription-based content, YouTube also offers some extra-premium content. These are separate individual paid content. It lets users pay only for what they want to watch if they don’t want to subscribe to the premium plan on YouTube Red.
The hybrid model is a whole in itself. It incorporates the positive aspects of all popular revenue channels and makes a balanced use to attract every kind of user. This is one of the top reasons for YouTube’s success in all age group, nations, and kind of consumers.
We have seen many new platforms becoming successful with this same model. For example, twitch. There is both free and premium content on Twitch.
8. YouTube is growing sterner to make money
Started with a controversy erupted after Logan Paul’s infamous dead body filming incident, YouTube took a bitter turn post removing the creators from its Preferred ad program.Google made it clearthat it’s not going to monetize every other content on YouTube, and from now on, it would be going to be tough to make money. It introduced stricter monetization policies, which made many creators lose their already acquired monetized status.
In short, YouTube is no more as accessible for creators as it used to be. This has made many creators looking for alternative ways to make money. While few of the biggest creators have started their own video streaming platforms, many are still looking for new platforms to extend their income.
In all this, your own YouTube-like website might come as an advantage, and there is a higher chance that it would gain some enjoyable traction with a correct approach.
To Conclude: It’s a Huge Market
You might ask if YouTube is already this popular, how your site would compete with it to get traction.
Here is the thing. You don’t have to and you should not compete with YouTube. The online market for video streaming is full of various other platforms as well. However, still, they are making some great profit. For example, despite the fact that gaming on YouTube is also quite popular, Twitch is still performing exceptionally well.
Key is not competing with the giants but offering what they are not offering. Don’t be YouTube, be what it’s not. Even YouTube has an array of drawbacks if you look carefully. You can capitalize on these drawbacks and devise and unique business plan. For example:
If monetization on YouTube has become strict, you offer a more flexible monetization.
If YouTube lacks a niche, you start a platform in a particular niche. Example, cooking, art, etc.
If YouTube is full of various Fake and unethical content, you can offer a more curated platform.
If YouTube is too big to track everything, you start with a small platform first.
There are business opportunities in the drawbacks of your biggest inspiration. You just have to identify your own set of opportunities and offer a platform that addresses them. Users today are not limited to entertainment alone. There are infinite niches to focus on and cater to the consumers. If you still think, you can’t survive when YouTube is already there, think how Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, BHO, and others are co-surviving. Pick a niche, build your site, and start uploading today. Our YouTube Clone script will get the website development part covered for you.
It is hard to find a person who is not aware of YouTube. With over 1.8 billion monthly users, YouTube is the second-ranked website on the globe. The Google-owned video sharing website is the most visited website in its category. Internet users watch over 1 billion hours of YouTube videos in a day, which is more than Netflix and videos on Facebook altogether. In a very short span of time, people are now spending more time watching YouTube videos on their Smart-TVs than content.
Indeed, YouTube’s unique business model has enticed users from all the spheres. Where normal users can relish watching videos, YouTube creators can create, upload, share, and earn fame from their creations on an excellent video sharing platform. Where creators can earn money from YouTube Ads, brands can lift their video marketing campaigns by collaborating with the YouTube influencers. The best part is the YouTube business plan offers incredible returns to every kind of user on its platform. Who would not love a single repository of entertainment, gaming, learning, gossip, movies, music, and earning at the same time? The question of the hour is…
Can you Make a Website like YouTube of Your Own?
Optimistically, Yes!
It is 2018. Today, you would face a much lesser hard time than YouTube must have faced while creating their website for the first time. With the advancement in technology and information sharing becoming extremely accessible via the internet, you can consume an infinity of resources and knowledge to create a video sharing website like YouTube with almost zero coding.
How Much Does it Cost to Make a Website like YouTube?
Honestly, it depends!
It depends on various factors such as business model, website technology, the scale of the business and website, streaming engines & servers, prime targets for the user base, and much more. This article will explain two major methods to create a video sharing website like YouTube.
However, before that, it is exceedingly crucial to comprehend four important aspects of the YouTube business model and of other video sharing websites like YouTube-
• How YouTube advanced a monopoly in free video sharing platforms? • Would users appreciate a new video sharing website or YouTube alternatives? • How sites like YouTube make money streaming free videos? • Who are the prime targets of a video sharing website like YouTube?
Video Sharing and YouTube Monopoly:
Can you beat YouTube’s monopoly in video streaming business?
YouTube was not this big a decade ago. In fact, it was nothing. People mocked Google for buying the video sharing platform for $1.65 billion. Today, according to a leading analyst at Google, a year ago, if YouTube were a stock, it would be worth $75 billion. It is safe to assume its net worth is more than $100 billion as of today.
Let us consider the YouTube business model here. Here is what YouTube offers-
• Unlimited hosting of video content in maximum resolution. • Dynamic re-encoding of videos to enjoy buffer-less streaming on all bandwidths across different devices. • 15 data-centers and streaming servers around the globe for lowest latency and least buffering. • Video content enhancement using latest tech. For example, 60 fps streaming. • Live streaming and VOD on the same platform. • More than 300 hours of videos are uploaded every minute.
YouTube offers all this as free of cost. Now, I ask you, do you think, YouTube is going away anytime sooner with all these? In less than a decade, YouTube has captured a major section of the video streaming market. At least a startup backed by a partial YouTube Clone would not compete with the Google-supported business, but that does not mean a video sharing website like YouTube cannot survive until YouTube is there. This brings to our next aspect.
Drawbacks of your Biggest Competitor- YouTube:
Lack of Niche-
If you look at the YouTube business model for users, it is a place for all kinds of videos. We cannot say that YouTube has a niche. However, the channel-based model allows YouTube creators to choose a niche for their videos, it is still not very micro-personalized to cater to a particular group of audience.
Fake and Unethical Content-
YouTube’s model to accommodate all kinds of videos, in one hand makes it suitable for all kinds of users; it is a drawback at the same time too. The platform has become a home of Fake News and conspiracy theories. Even YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki admits they face a tough time filtering out Fake news and other unethical content from the platform. A platform free of cost and accommodating everything is more of a clutter than being useful in many instances. Except for many genuine creators, YouTube has become a home of unethical channel owners who would do anything to gain more views and earn money from Ads.
Despite YouTube’s consistent vigilance, it is still full of unethical videos, Fake News, Click-baits, plagiarized content and much more. With these, users who want to see some genuine and useful stuff find a hard time filtering out the valuable content. Hence, one cannot deny the degraded user experience of genuine YouTube consumers.
Too Big to Keep an Eye on Everything-
Problem with YouTube is it is the biggest database of videos on the globe. Despite all their efforts, it is not possible to keep an eye on everything that is happening in the YouTube community. Neither it is possible to inspect 300 hours of videos being uploaded every single minute.
As a result, there are millions of videos on YouTube, which look like versions of popular animations and cartoon shows, but contain unethical and disturbing content. Such content is not suitable for children. If you do not pay a close attention, you would not find if your kid is watching a Peppa pig video or a fake animation that contains content unsuitable for kids. Problem is not just with the animations and cartoon videos. There are many contents still on YouTube, which are not suitable for many kinds of users.
Business Opportunity in YouTube’s Drawbacks:
If you think you have a plan to overcome the above drawbacks, and you can build a similar business but with a more personalized user experience, go ahead, this article is for you.
It is a fact that despite all these drawbacks, it is not easy to beat YouTube as a competitor. However, if you can come up with a similar platform with most of the drawbacks eliminated, a website like YouTube’s is not tough to achieve. You can do that by moving one-step after another-
Step 1: YouTube Business Model-
YouTube follows a hybrid revenue model. It utilizes a combination of-
–Ad Revenue Model: Charges from brands for video Ads.
–Subscription Revenue Model: Charges from users for Ad-free videos in YouTube Premium/Red.
–Transaction Revenue Model: Charges from users for individual premium content.
If you intend to create a video sharing website like YouTube, having these three revenue models is necessary. By following this hybrid model alone YouTube is able to entice every kind of user on its platform. However, it is also a notable fact that a major section of the revenue is generated through Ads only. Other two models are not that popular as AVOD is on YouTube. By following this model itself, YouTube creators earn from the platform.
Step 2: Prime Target Customers of Video Sharing Websites:
For a free video sharing and streaming platform like YouTube, the range of target customers is not limited. As discussed, it is also one of the major drawbacks of the platform, where many users face a hard time discovering some good and relevant content.
You can develop a niche for your own free platform, and utilize a similar audience targeting like YouTube under your own niche. A video site like YouTube retains three major target groups:
• Seekers-
These are the users visiting the site in search of video content. These people consume the videos on the website, also called as end-users.
• Creators and Amplifiers-
This group consists of two types of people. Creators, who produce video content for the consumers, and the Amplifiers who are popular influencers on social media. These influencers utilize their popularity to boost up videos so that they can reach the maximum audience. These amplifiers could be social media celebrities, actors, sports stars, etc. whose videos fans continuously await.
• Marketers
This group of users includes marketing firms and brands whose Ads run with the free videos. Site analytics is used to dynamically decide the target audience for the Ad and marketing videos.
Two ways to Create a Video Sharing Website like YouTube:
If we talk about the scenario a decade ago, building a website of your own was indeed a big task. There were people with good business ideas but not the technical expertise. Many aspiring entrepreneurs tried and failed. What we see today as internet giants like Tinder, Amazon, Netflix, and Uber, we cannot imagine the challenges they might have faced.
However, today, building even a huge website like YouTube is not a very tough nut to crack. For YouTube alone, there are two approaches to build your own YouTube-like website.
• Building from Scratch or • Going for Turnkey solutions
What is the difference here?
In the first approach, you would require a technical expertise plus a team of experts from different fields to develop a YouTube-like website from scratch. You would be responsible for market research, business requirement study, the latest security updates, streaming engines, data centers, website hosting, everything one can imagine for building a website.
On the other hand, the second approach utilizes the concept of “not re-inventing the wheel, when you can buy a wheel to build your own cart”. There are various software vendors who have already developed websites like YouTube- also called YouTube Clone scripts. An efficient YouTube clone comes ready-made with all the required features that are present in original YouTube. In fact, they also mimic the exact revenue models of the video sharing giant. Let us compare the two approaches in the following table to find out the things you need to do to build a website like YouTube.
Ready-made YouTube clone Script Vs Custom Development from Scratch.
Requirement
Did Netflix Clone have it already?
Remark
1
Web RTC for computer and mobile web browsers
The WebRTC is responsive to multiple screen sizes
2
App support Android phones
The script comes with a Native Android mobile app
3
App support for Apple phones
Native iOS mobile app is available
4
Subscription-based business model
Base script supports both subscription-based and pay-per-view models
5
Browsing behavior tracking and suggestion of recommended content to users
All platforms support the feature by default
6
on-site transactions safety
Integrated PayPal payment gateway
7
Analytics to track video performance
Integrated Google Analytics
8
Coupon Management System
Present by default
9
Commissions Management System
Present by default. Admin can update direct commission charges or percentage cuts.
10
Social login
Facebook and Google Plus API
Why Opt for YouTube Clone Script to Make a Website like YouTube?
As explained in the comparison above, clone scripts can come in handy saving a lot of time, money, and efforts required in creating a YouTube-like Website. Moreover, the cost of managing a whole team of developers, and industry experts would increase the total cost when we add the cost of developing your own server and CDN infrastructure.
Indeed, YouTube works so smoothly because it has its own team and server infrastructure, but it is not necessary to have it all in the very beginning itself. First get in the industry, understand the youtube business model, and comprehend the competition and opportunities. You can later integrate all other stuff as your business grows. When you can offer even a better user experience to your users without spending much, why should you beat around the bush doing what already been done?
Requirements for an Efficient YouTube Clone Script
You should consider these aspects and requirements, and tally them with whatever YouTube clone script you come across during your search-
By-default Features for Users of Sites like YouTube
• Create channels • Upload videos to the channels • Upload videos in compressed format for quick upload • Manage uploaded videos • Subscribe to multiple channels • Like and Dislike videos • Comment on videos • Create Playlists • Browse shared playlists • Allow normal users to become channel owners • Flag other users and their activities • Add videos to watch later • Dynamic video transcoding for adapting browsing in low internet bandwidth • Responsive video player with all basic playback controls
Admin Friendly features in a YouTube Clone Script:
• Ads Management • Earn from the banner Ads • Earn from embedded video Ads • Earn from membership plans • Earn from Premium content • Receive and make Payments through integrated payment gateways • Android App for a smooth mobile experience • SEO optimized site • Dynamic dashboard • Video analytics • Users Analytics • Integration with Google Analytics • Access to take down users’ videos
Create a Video Sharing Website of Your Own and Start Earning:
Online video streaming is growing rapidly. One-third of the internet traffic is for videos only. If video streaming business like Netflix, Hulu, HBO, Amazon Prime, can grow with their unique propositions, why can’t yours? The need and requirement for video content are infinite. People will never stop watching videos. You just need offering something unique and interesting, and they will come to your site too.
Just remember that users these days are not just limited to entertainment alone. You will find an array of people with limitless intensions like learning, news, product reviews, research, gossip, and many more. If your business plan involves anything interesting for them, you will want to host those videos and earn by giving maximum exposure to them.
It is certainly noticeable that YouTube has taken over the world by storm in the modern era. Other platforms such as Netflix and Dailymotion are widespread as well but YouTube with its startling features and unparallel user-friendly attributes is the portal admired by most of us.
Being the torchbearer and the source of education, entertainment, news and gossip YouTube is definitely a platform which has been accepted by all and sundry. YouTube, unlike other platforms do not ask for a subscription from the viewers. It is probably one of the only places from where video streaming is legally free.
How to make a website like YouTube?
Certain website owners look to implement a YouTube like portal which would be able to collect revenue as well as attract internet savvies to an excellent and superlative content.
Generating a YouTube clone might be familiar to most, but it also asks for a lot of patience and composure if you want to learn how to make a video sharing website like YouTube.
The setup might be expensive but the quality remains uncompromised. Video CMS software such as StreamTube creates the best YouTube clone in the market at the moment sticking to the goal of creating a flawless platform which would be beneficial for both the website and its viewers. Sharing videos, commenting on them and even saving them is only possible on a platform similar to YouTube.
Revenue is basically collected from viewers indirectly and advertisements with a direct approach. One can obviously monetize through a variety of schemes which had been commenced by YouTube clone makers. These are basically payment portals which are also a reflection of YouTube payment gateways.
Pre-rolled advertisements which are obligatory start playing once you would click on the thumbnail. You won’t relish an option here since you wouldn’t be given any. One has to watch the advertisement to attend the video.
Who can be your target customers?
Target customers must either be the ones who are on the prowl across the internet to watch their favorite video, sport or flick or the crowd which includes video developers, brands who upload clippings which are most recent and are again of utmost value. Marketers have not been in the spotlight much but even they provide commercial video content which kicks off at the beginning of the videos.
Target customers can also include ones with the question of how to create a website like YouTube.
How to make a website like YouTube for free or with a very low expenditure?
Creating a YouTube clone using PHP Video CMS is a common task carried out by many software solutions around the globe. WordPress would equip you with themes which can be both free and chargeable according to your urgency.
A video sharing website or a YouTube clone can achieve its goals if certain norms are maintained. These include:-
An exclusive collection of videos with charismatic content.
Designers must be allowed to earn from videos.
Escalation for branding.
Playlists of videos must be created, watched and shared time to time.
Search options are agile and user friendly
The price of getting a YouTube clone to work solely by manual means would range more than a thousand dollars; whereas there are certain PHP Video CMS which will facilitate you to initiate an unharmed YouTube clone with a cost of around four hundred dollars. Customization, according to the requester will incur a different charge altogether.
Video CMS such as StreamTube contain a video distributing script with a dedicated admin panel offering more than one input layouts for the benefit of users. The CMS besides being robust and authoritative is also laid out to handle an enormous amount of data.
StreamTube guarantees to generate traffic through certain inclusions while designing the website and also allows the requester to customize the website which would meet their own demands.
With a rooted business ideal, payment gateways and customizable characteristics StreamTube leads the market of the video CMS industry. PHP is the technology over which websites are designed at StreamTube.
Creation of a YouTube clone is also driven by factors such as Domains, Branding, Hosting and Marketing Websites. An unharmed web domain accompanied by online hosting is an extraordinary feature which cannot be ignored while generating an e-commerce site is availed by public.
The choice of a domain name must be straightforward so that it can easily be recollected and should be catchy enough to turn it into a brand with time. One can also prefer readymade scripts in place of tailored websites.
Branding is as crucial as selection of Domain since it grants uniqueness to the website among other competitors. Uploading viral videos can also be constructive since users are attracted to them in general once they come across these videos.
Acknowledge StreamTube as an innovation which can create an exclusively personalized video streaming and sharing site for you. If you are looking to create a video streaming platform based upon a niche or you are inquiring about how to make a video sharing website, this is the best solution to all your concerns.
