2019 – Year of Live Video Marketing. What you should know?

2019 – Year of Live Video Marketing. What you should know?

Videos have not only become an impeccable source of entertainment but also a great tool for marketing and promotion. The level of interaction and engagement with video content is way more than any other content format.

According to a survey by Renderforest, after embedding videos on their websites-

  • 78% of websites got boosted traffic,
  • 71% of websites increased session times,
  • 69% of the businesses got more leads, and
  • 54% of websites increased their average sales.

These numbers indicate that video marketing has a positive impact on improving an organization’s presence. Whether you sell a product or service, there is a vital need for creating and sharing amazing videos with your prospects.

The years of 2017 and 2018 were extremely into video content marketing, but what’s in the store for businesses in 2019?

Indeed, it’s live video marketing!

Prospects are drawn to live videos and live events. Live video marketing is more than a powerful trend. For all intents and purposes, it’s a must-have strategy to get ahead of the competition, create compelling content, build a loyal fan base and gain tremendous traction.

If video marketing is a giant pie, live video streaming is one of the biggest pieces from it. Here’s a brief run-down on what you should know and why you should focus more on live video streaming platforms in 2019.

New video formats are trending these days: 

No doubt, the internet is overwhelmed with videos. Almost one-third of the internet traffic is from videos, but customers are no longer interested in ordinary videos. They are interested in creative ideas. This is where live video streaming platforms such as Facebook Live and Periscope come into the picture. Another trend which is hard to ignore is the emergence of ephemeral videos. Celebrities, influencers, and models are using Snapchat and Instagram to generate ephemeral videos.

Temporary visual content is expected to saturate the web in the upcoming years. As for live video marketing, 360 degree live videos are gaining momentum in 2019. This case study by Magnifyre reveals that quite a good number of viewers watched the 360-degree video to completion.

Video storytelling is giving amazing returns to businesses. The onus is on businesses to create compelling narratives. The key is to establish an emotional association with prospects.

Bands like Muse and Foals have used 360-degree music videos to add additional layers to their linear narratives. However, it might not be a replacement for the linear counterpart. 360 degree live videos could help businesses and brands to amuse their prospects and deliver better engagement than their competitors with the linear narratives.

In addition to that, 2019 is also the era of virtual (VR) and augmented reality (AR). While devices are still in transition to adopt true VR and AR capabilities, the adoption of the same in live streaming would also be an exciting event. Though the recorded VR and AR experience are already in trend, it’s not unrealistic to hope that 2019 might come with something far sophisticated to enable live VR and RV streaming for common audience.

The Recipe for Best Live Videos in 2019

The recipe for creating engaging marketing videos doesn’t change every year. It’s simple. You should understand the pain points of your customers and provide a feasible solution. You should be successful in building trust, and inspire them to share your videos.

However, the content for live video streaming is a little different. You can learn from how Space X uses live videos to create tremendous buzz on its historic milestones. When it comes to breaking industry news and live broadcasting rockets launch into space, Space X is arguably the best.

Does it impact Elon Musk’s reputation if there are small glitches in live feeds? No! People know that live broadcasting of a rocket being launched into space is extremely challenging. However, they do expect glitch-free recorded videos.

Your product need not be as awesome and exciting as Space X’s Falcon. The key is to provide in-detail product descriptions and delight your audiences. You might want to take a cue from the live product launch events by different tech brands.

Apple is a brand that does not require any introduction. Its product launch events are also as popular as its brand. Despite receiving huge traction on its official events page and YouTube Live, it adopted live streaming on Twitter for the first time in 2018. They knew social media streaming is a trend and there is a greater chance to reach a wider audience with Twitter.

That’s the key. You should know where to stream. Having a presence on as many live streaming platforms will only benefit your brand. Gain the capability to stream on multiple platforms at a time, if you want to adopt live video marketing in 2019. Use a live streaming software that supports multi-platform streaming for your cause.

Live Demo Videos Make Things Clear:

In addition to the streaming of live events, the live demo streaming of your products or services would help you build an unbiased trust in your brand. If done right, live such live explainer videos can remarkably increase your brand credibility and presence among the common audience. They help your prospects understand the benefits and advantages of your products and services.

Live-streaming-StreamHash-Fool.com

Image source: fool.com

People often ask me this question – What’s the ideal length of an effective live demo or explainer video? On-demand explainer videos are generally small and coin size. However, there is no industry standard.  A live demo should be very comprehensive and should address the extent of the complexity of your products. It’s good to go with a video whose length is anywhere between 5-10 minutes. Anything less than that is of no use for a live session.

Successful live demo videos have great sales scripts. Below are a few words of wisdom.

Live_Explainer_Video-Streamhash

Your sales script shouldn’t exceed 250 words. Concisely and precisely state how your product addresses industry problems. Don’t compromise on video quality. Last but not least, simplicity in live explainer videos is desirable. Do not complicate and confuse. It will be counter-productive!

Make sure to address the live queries in the real-time. The more demo you show based on the live questions, the more useful you can be with your live event. Moreover, do not forget to announce the live demo event in advance.  As it would be a short session, people might not be able to join you if not informed in advance.

Use Live Stories to Enamor Audiences:

A lot of credit should be given to Snapchat for introducing the concept of stories in 2013. By all means, ‘stories’ concept became an instant hit. Soon, other popular platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, etc., introduced stories. Such copy-cat mechanisms intensified competition.

In 2019, expect more brands to do live short stories to grab as many eyeballs.

Story creation is easier said than done. Stories should be authentic. If you are looking to create a brand story, ensure that it is associated with a central theme. You should be able to eloquently articulate the purpose of your organization. As mentioned in one of the earlier paragraphs, build an emotional appeal. Emotional appeal can be used to forge long-lasting relationships. Once you build an emotional connect, pricing doesn’t matter much.

Do not make the strategic mistake of alienating customers from your brands. Sometimes, the story we tell may not resonate well with prospects. Build a narrative which inculcates a sense of belonging in your target group.

Leverage Behind – The – Scenes Footage:

It’s a good strategy for brands to showcase their human side. Audiences love behind- the – scenes footage. Don’t believe me?

In 2016, Dunkin Donuts took the initiative of hosting a live tour of its facilities. The video covers short episodes of interviews with staff experts. Undoubtedly, the donut factory is a treat to watch. Right from laying out dough to decorating donut cakes, a staff member explains every step in the process of donut creation. If you observe the video carefully, you will realize that the staff member has been working for the company for the past 41 years.

Leverage_Behind_the_scenes-Streamhash

This is a personal milestone. It subtly conveys a very powerful message – Dunkin Donuts values its employees. It’s a trustworthy brand.

A behind-the-scenes show the real work behind a business. The trend started with the entertainment industry, where celebrities tried to connect with their fans showing the real scenes behind the camera. In any business, the behind-the-scenes live streaming can engage the audience with the brand. BTS viewers entice the actual work and struggle of a brand. It does not require any production or planning.  Just grab a phone and start streaming what’s happening.

Curious to elevate your brand presence? Leverage live video marketing to showcase behind-the-scenes footage.

Whip Your Viewers into a Buying Frenzy:

Are you keen on drastically boosting your sales? Create a buying frenzy!

How do you create it? There are many answers. To begin with, build brand exclusivity.

Let me ask you a follow-up question – How do you build brand exclusivity? Let’s learn from the master- Chevrolet. As a part of its winning strategy, Chevrolet used Facebook live to whip audiences into a buying frenzy. Its chairperson articulated his thoughts on sustainability and urbanization. He explained the purpose of electric cars and promoted CES 2016.

The exclusive tribe of Chevrolet owners was delighted.

Still not clear? Have you ever seen the live launch events of Apple or Samsung phones?

All those live demos, behind the scene clips, hyper-extended feature explanation with sophisticated animations, the flood of social media hashtags, and crazy launch discounts, everything creates a path to the buying frenzy. As a result, you see people camping overnight outside the retail stores to buy the products the first day itself.

Over to You

Now that you are familiar with the importance of live video marketing, get yourself professional live streaming software that can help you deliver results. Purchase that software which helps you create great video experiences and drive sales.

Founds this post useful and informative? Keep watching this space for more insights on live video marketing. If you have any queries, shoot them in the comments. I shall reply to the best of my capacity. Cheers to 2019!

A Beginner’s Guide to Start Live Streaming

A Beginner’s Guide to Start Live Streaming

Live streaming videos are quite trendy in today’s time. To start a live stream, one needs an internet connection, a smart phone, and live streaming software. This simple setup is enough for starting a low scale streaming. However, if you are planning for a high quality streaming, then you require a camera, a capturing device, a software encoder or hardware encoder, and a video streaming host.

The process of live streaming which involves broadcasting the video over the internet in real-time, has become seamlessly easy. The technology on which live streaming works is quite easily accessible and anyone can leverage it to the fullest. With best in class reliability and superior internet bandwidth, you can stream the video in HD. StreamNow is a live streaming software, which has made streaming quite easier.

How to Live Stream?

Here is a quick run-down on the equipment required to live stream:

  • Camera:

The most important thing for starting a live stream is a camera. You have various options to choose from: smartphone or a tablet camera to a Digital SLR (DSLR) camera. The best option would be using a USB connected webcam which can produce HD quality videos. USB can also simplify the process of live streaming through the computer on the internet. Irrespective of the camera you use, make sure that it can shoot full HD i.e. 1080p video and can give output through a HDMI.

  • Capture Device:

These are used to take the video input from the camera and transmit it to the computer or to send it directly to the live stream. There is a wide range of choices available in the market for encoding devices. Quite a few are available as cards or as plug-ins between computers and cameras. There are few encoders which can help one do away with computers.

  • Software and Hardware Encoders:

Encoders play an important role in video streaming as the cameras can only record the videos in a format that is suitable only for recording. For live streaming the same, one needs an encoder which can import videos from the capture device or USB and subsequently transcode it.

The price varies to a great extent between open-source options and free ones. Examples of open-source encoders are Flash Media Live Encoder, Wirecast Pro, and VidBlasterX. After choosing an encoder, the user has to download and install the software to explore the features. Subsequently, he / she is required to set the settings. One can become proficient after the usage progressively. There are various high-end encoders which can be opted if you don’t mind shelling out a few extra bucks.

  • Internet Connection:

For live streaming, the internet is an essential requirement. It is easier to connect with a cell phone or a webcam and if a video camera is used, one can connect to the internet using a laptop connected to a transcoding device. A Wi-Fi connection is suggested as video files are large and a slow connection may not be useful.

  • Video Streaming Host:

Video streaming host is the last but not the least requirement for a live streaming. For all intents and purposes, a video streaming host is an online platform which has enough bandwidth and is configured to take video inputs from all the viewers across the world. The hardware or the encoding software should be connected to the video streaming host. Download the video streaming host and signup to create a hosting account and provide a password or URL provided by the streaming host to the encoder. This way, the streaming host can broadcast the videos.

How to Start Streaming?

To start live streaming, you need to keep the entire equipment ready. Once you have the equipment, connect to the internet and begin live streaming. The most important step is to get the live stream available for the viewers and for this, copy the URL on your video streaming host website and share it with your viewers. Now, connect all the devices and start live streaming. The video shall be broadcast to all your target audiences.

Live Streaming Guide:

Live streaming is a great option to get the first impression for an organization. Live streaming software is a powerful means to facilitate live streaming. This could be the first point of contact with an organization. First impression is always hard to reserve and hence, a company having live streaming could make a better progress compared to the one without it. Live streaming can also generate revenue, thus making its contribution all the more pivotal for the overall success of your organization. Live streaming software is said to be the best if it provides excellent branding, superior viewing experience and messaging, support and monetization options.

Few important things to consider while live streaming are:

Planning the production

Acquisition of source

Preparing content

Streaming

Interfacing audience experience

A pre-event page has to be created in advance so as to avoid confusion to the viewers and to make everything clear. Therefore, before planning a live video streaming, you need to create a web page showing the date of the event and through that, you can manage the viewership of the live feed. Another way is to create a template. Through this, you can reduce not only time but also effort. You can even think of pre-event promotions and other creative ways to increase the number of viewers.

The live streaming environment need to be responsive to mobile and it should have a high quality. The best way is to make the video compatible to be broadcasted on iOS, Android devices, and the web. This is because many videos are watched on mobile phones.

A huge amount of effort and time will be spent in making, promoting and executing videos; so one has to make sure that videos garners enough eyeballs both during and after broadcasting.

There are various ways of increasing the number of viewers for live video streaming, such as the following:

  • Blogs: Create blogs and mention the details about the videos. Transcribe the video content and create summaries.
  • Emails: Draft emails having the information and details about the videos or about the speakers in the video. Send the emails to groups and cover as many people as you can.
  • Website: Build a webpage as an event resource and a hub so that the next upcoming videos can also be published monthly, quarterly or annually. People who have an intention to attend can learn through the website.
  • Social Media: Social media is one of the best ways to advertise about the video stream and when correctly targeted, the video can generate a great brand experience. The live video feeds can be clipped on online video platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter. Multiple sets can be created for multiple usages. 

Video Streaming For Dummies:

For people who have got no experience, video streaming is a big challenge. Here are few ways of video streaming for dummies which can help a beginner to stream a video.

  • Computer: Get a firewire cable which is faster than a normal USB cable. Firewire cables are compatible with MacBook Pros. For a beginner, they are the best options.
  • Camera: A DSLR camera or a webcam fixed laptop can be convenient to use. The firewire can be plugged in to the camera and MacBook for swift streaming.
  • Microphone: A camera microphone can do the job but, using a handy recorder can improve the sound quality to a great extent.
  • Internet: Having Wi-Fi connection helps to upload huge video files faster rather than a mobile data connection.
  • Finding a Platform: StreamNow is a live streaming software which can transmit the live video and audio coverage for an event over the internet. One can download it and it is available to the audience for free of cost or through payment on a monthly or per view basis. It is also available as an app for Android and iOS for streaming the videos. You may sign-up or login through various social media networks such as Google accounts, Facebook or Twitter whichever is convenient to use.
  • Marketing: You can create your own blog or website to create an idea about the video streaming. Using social media can also help in marketing. Social media networks include Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.
  • Evangelize: Make simple events to create awareness about the videos and in this way, they can catch up the live streaming when it gets broadcasted.

Use the Best Live Streaming Software – StreamNow:

StreamNow Live Streaming

StreamNow is the best solution to start live streaming of the videos as compared to any other platform. StreamNow is a highly scalable live streaming software. It has many revenue channels, many features and is extremely easy to use. All its features make StreamNow a perfect platform to design either a Ustream clone or a Twitch clone. StreamNow transmits the live video and audio coverage for an event over the internet. It has an inbuilt chat system which helps the users to discuss about the videos and can express their views or opinions. Superior video quality and continuous live streaming without any sort of technical issues make SteamNow the popular global software for live streaming.

StreamNow has got various subscription plans for its users.

 

StreamNow’s admin panel is robust and dynamic which provides a wide range of options to its users. Some options include deleting videos, flagging or changing the social login configurations, etc.

 

Viewers and users can follow one another and get alerts whenever any update is made by the person. For viewing a premium live streaming sessions, the users are required to subscribe

 

Search engine optimization (SEO) has an important role in digital marketing. StreamNow has implemented different strategies of SEO to get more quality visitors or traffic through organic search.

 

A few users may not be okay with subscription based plans. StreamNow has a feature called pay per view, where they can pay depending on the live streaming videos they watch.

 

Payments can be done through PayPal. More often than not, payments are facilitated without any chaos and one can also explore other payments options.

 

StreamNow is a live streaming platform which provides outstanding live streaming services for any firm to help them in generating billions of dollars profit every year. This can happen through live streaming ads alone.

 

StreamNow is a ready-made turnkey solution where you can launch live streaming events. Thanks to its built-in growth hacking features, you can get users subscribed for your video based events. It has various social features which made it the best live streaming solution.

 

StreamNow is available as an app for Android and iOS for the users of streaming business. It helps users to sign up or login through various social media networks such as Google accounts, Facebook or Twitter.

StreamNow is an easy live streaming platform and it doesn’t require much technical knowledge. This makes it readily available for all the users to engage in live streaming.

If you have any doubts or concerns, feel free to drop a line or two in the comments section. I shall reply in a day or two. Keep watching this space to learn more about live streaming and live streaming software. Subscribe to our newsletter to keep yourself abreast of live streaming best practices. Our best wishes are with you and your live streaming venture. Cheers!

 

Top 8 Best Video Streaming Services 2017

Top 8 Best Video Streaming Services 2017

Live streaming is a process of sending multimedia encoded content, especially video or audio across the network so that users and followers can view it immediately as per as their requirement. Users can download the entire media file if they feel the need of it. The process is simple, first the video buffers for a while and as soon as the buffering gets completed, it is played by the media player. The video streaming apps help to play this content as per as the user’s convenience. There are various live streaming services available today. Here is a list of the top 8 video streaming services of 2017:

Netflix:

Netflix is one of the leading networks of internet television which is accessed by more than 189 countries and 103 million users around the world. Netflix provides its users unlimited streaming of feature films, TV shows, movies, original programs, comedy specials and documentaries on a subscription basis. The subscription fee for one month for one standard definition streaming is $7.99, and for the new members, the subscription charge is $9.99 for two concurrent HD streams. And guess what, users get four parallel streams with a single subscription. Users can create up to five different profiles. Netflix is accessible on various devices such as PC and tablet. Now users can also download content for watching it later in offline mode. This is one of the best video streaming services available and is well-known for its good quality and performance. On almost any Internet connected screen, the user can watch as much as he/she wants anytime from any given place.

Netflix

Hulu:

Hulu

If the users want to stay updated with the latest TV shows, but they do not want to invest in HD antenna or cable subscription, then Hulu is the best video streaming solution for them. This is one of the video Streaming Platforms which offers popular as well as latest shows. For Classic and current TV series, along with the full season of original content, the user needs to pay $ 7.99 as a monthly subscription fee. The user can also get Show timings for the whole month at $8.99 charges through Hulu bundle and thus save $2 per month. An advertisement free tier costs $11.99 per month. It is supported on various devices, but they can stream only from one device at a particular session. At present Hulu has 12 million users. Recently Hulu released live TV for their user and simply named it Hulu with Live TV and its monthly subscription fee plans starts from $39.99.

Amazon Video:

Amazon Prime - Netflix Alternatives

Amazon Video is an on demand internet video service which is operated, developed and owned by Amazon.com. This Video Streaming service provides movies, television shows and much more. For $ 99 per year, the user also gets two days shipping on each purchase. Kindle book is free every month, using which a user can access Amazon Prime Unlimited Instant Video and Amazon Music both. Video streaming labels are around 40,000 trophies in Amazon stream, but only a fraction of Prime Streaming is included. Amazon also allows offline downloads. If someone has not finished watching all the HBO shows, then they can access and download the unseen videos whenever they want. Amazon launched their streaming partners program in the year 2015. At present Amazon has nearly 66 million Prime members. This streaming service does not work on Google Chrome, but it is accessible on Roku along with Amazon’s smart TVs, Fire TV devices and much more.

PlayStation Vue:

PlayStation Vue

If someone likes to have wireless devices along with living TV at the same place, then PlayStation Vue is the best option for them. PlayStation started its journey as a primarily designed service for gaming consoles in the month of March 2015. But since, then there were many changes in the service offered by this organization. They have more than 1 million users. New channels were introduced, the prices have changed, the list of features got bigger, and supported streaming devices have also increased. To help customers choose among Vue and its competitors such as DirecTV and Sueley TV Now, they have made a full guide of Internet TV service. This outlines Vue’s numerous channel pricing and packages, as well as observing the supporting devices and reviews according to various users. This online video platform is available on a variety of systems; this is Sony’s first initiative to deliver live TV to its customers. They provide primary channels to their customers at a subscription rate of $50/ month and also $55, $75 and $65 subscriptions fee are available for various other packages.

YouTube TV:

YouTube TV

YouTube TV is one of the most popular online video platform which provides live TV streaming, but it is still limited to New York City, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles. If anyone stays in these cities, then they can get cloud DVR storage which is unlimited. YouTube TV will save the recording for nine months, and users can stream their content from any place in the US if they are connected to the internet. Monthly subscription charges are $35 along with the facility to cancel the subscription anytime. One subscription supports more than six accounts so that the members can share their subscription with friends or family. The users can operate from three accounts at the same time. YouTube TV provides live streaming from most popular cable networks and ABC, NBC CBS, FOX. Per day more than 30 million visitors visit YouTube. The total number of YouTube users stands at 1,300,000,000. For your information, this number is bound to become bigger.

Sling TV:

Sling TV

If someone prefers the idea of a cable subscription which gives access to numerous genres of content but is still hesitant to go for anything expensive, then Sling TV is the best option that he/she can get. Get thirty real-time channels with a monthly subscription fee which is way cheaper than other services available. Also, there is no fee for set-top box and there is no contract either. Sling Tv is mainly for sports lovers as it offers a variety of sports channels. And to everybody’s delight, it enables sports lovers to go wireless. Apart from sports channels, it also has Food Network, CNN, BBC America, TBS and Cartoon Network. The user will get the multi-stream option if he or she signs up in Sling Blue. The combo subscription fee is $40 per month. The user can record from this live streaming services and will be able to watch on Android, Roku, Amazon and Xbox One devices.

HBO Now:

The content of this online video platform is available online through HBO GO, but a user needs to pay for logging in and watch HBO TV. For many years, HBO did not agree to tie up with cable partners, but upon many requests from its fans, they have launched this Video Streaming Platforms named HBO NOW. The user can get a free trial via Google Play, App Store, and Amazon and also can add HBO NOW channel with their Roku player. Users may add their HBO NOW on their web package if they have internet service from Google Fiber, Frontier, Optimum, Liberty, Verizon and Service Electric. The live shows telecasted on HBO channel, are also shown on the HBO NOW at the same time. More than 2 million subscribers have subscribed for this app, and once users complete their subscription, they can watch it from their desktops, tablets, etc. The subscription fee of HBO NOW is $14.99 per month.

CBS ALL ACCESS

CBS All Access is one of the best user-friendly online video platforms that users can use to watch “The Good Wife” which is a spin-off of the popular show “The Good Fight”. Its users can also watch NFL games including the Football match that telecast on every Thursday night. In comparison to Hulu, $9.99 is the subscription fee for CBS All Access which is free from commercials. In addition, the user can select from an array of live shows. The user can watch this live streaming service on their mobile device, Android TV, and PC or via Apple TV, Xbox One Amazon Fire TV or PS4. Till date, about 1.5 million subscribers have subscribed to this apps.

If you have enough video content which can impress audiences in large numbers, you should definitely start your own on-demand video streaming business. Rather than building a site like Netflix or Amazon Prime from scratch, you should leverage turnkey software like StreamView. StreamView has multiple monetization channels, ranging from subscription plans, banner ads to pay –per-view schemes. Very often, video enthusiasts face trouble uploading videos. StreamView addresses this problem through a measure of multiple upload channels: Amazon S3 buckets, YouTube link, normal uploads and website link. This platform is search engine friendly. Admins can ban users if users do not adhere to your rules and guidelines. Users can report videos for abuse/violence and admin has the full authority to delete videos. To know more about its features, head on to StreamView now.  

 

Learn How to Start a Streaming Service Like Netflix

Learn How to Start a Streaming Service Like Netflix

The media industry today is continually tossing up new variants of over-the-top (OTT) entertainment for technology-savvy netizens. And while we already know that the sector has morphed into a colossal force powering millions of bits of content to all four corners of the globe, it’s worthwhile to dig deeper into the relevance of OTT and how you can start a business in this space. To begin with, let’s look at what OTT really is.

The Fundamentals of OTT Video:

OTT is a broadcasting method that transmits video content over an internet line. The term denotes the delivery of content above and beyond the purview of traditional broadcasting formats such as satellite, cinema, and cable. OTT has undergone an interesting evolution since its inception. Started as a means for users to stream content on-demand, it now exhibits the capability to transmit live content to users, akin to a live telecast on television. It’s likely that you’re more familiar with video streaming services like Netflix, as this model is far more evolved than its live broadcasting counterpart. Having said that, live streaming is gaining traction in several markets across the globe as a means to transmit real-time information to users. OTT is an ideal solution for users who decide to forego a monthly cable subscription or those who prefer to consume entertainment nuggets on the go. With emerging turnkey frameworks available in the market, setting up an OTT video streaming service is affordable, viable and sustainable. StreamView is an option worth considering.

Steps to Create Your Own Video Streaming Service:

 

If you’re already engaged in traditional media and plan to expand your repertoire to include OTT, you may have a whole lot on your plate. Adding OTT to your media portfolio can be a challenge if you don’t have the relevant technology. Plus, acquiring media rights entails a different licensing process to conventional content formats.
Here are some steps you can follow to start a video streaming service:

Step 1. Acquire Content Licenses:Licensed

Here’s the good news: licenses for OTT content follow a very similar path to that of traditional content. Naturally, your first step should be to get your content licenses in place. These include advertising agreements, revenue-sharing ratios with content owners and other relevant approvals and licensing clauses. It’s a good idea to consult a lawyer to get an insight into the legal implications for licensing.

Step 2. Create a Monetisation Model:

Create a Monetisation Model

When it comes to monetizing OTT content, there are three recommended routes you could take. You could use each route independently or in conjunction with one or more others. Have a look to gauge which one you think suits your video streaming service the best:

Subscription Video on Demand:

Like the name suggests, Subscription Video on Demand (SVOD) pivots on a subscription model, requiring users to pay a fixed monthly fee for access to an unlimited library of content. Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu follow this model. SVOD is ideal for users because there is no lock-in period or long-term commitment. At the same time, it serves OTT video streaming services well by garnering more users via word of mouth.

Ad-Supported Video on Demand:

By onboarding advertisers, you have the option of keeping your core video streaming service free. However, think twice before you go down this road because Ad-Supported Video on Demand (AVOD) is a rudimentary model for specialized content. If your content is coveted and your portfolio boasts features far superior to your competitors’, consider a subscription model. Where there’s value, there are bound to be customers, even for a price.

Transactional Video on Demand:

Transactional Video on Demand (TVOD) works on a piecemeal basis, requiring a user to pay only for specific content items consumed. You’re likely to reach a wider audience through TVOD, because users may not feel encumbered by a monthly subscription. The problem is, you may undercut yourself using this model. If your content quality is formidable, users may not mind paying a subscription for it.

Step 3. Pick a Technology:

Technology

Okay, so you’ve carved out your monetization model and content licenses and now it’s time to pick out a technology. There are several ways you could do this. If you’re feeling especially adventurous and have the appetite, you could build a framework from the ground up. But this takes time, money and resources and it’s probably wiser to opt for a turnkey streaming technology from a reputed brand. StreamView has become a prominent framework in the technology stack of numerous OTT companies across the world. Given its lightweight interface, customization features, and handy admin console, it’s little surprise.

Step 4. Organize Your Ancillary Tools:

Once you have your technology in place, there are several tools you should organize to make sure that your setup is seamless. Here’s a look at some of them.

Video API:

API

An API is critical in powering an OTT video streaming service and serves as a key that unlocks the elementary components of a content service. StreamView comes with an inbuilt, full-fledged API that serves to provide access to an array of features.

Software Development Kit:

A Software Development Kit (SDK) is an organic off root of an API. Made up of software tools and coding scripts, it works as an enabler to propel long-drawn API routines. StreamView offers select bespoke SDK tools for a variety of streaming capabilities. Make sure you ask to have your SDK integrated when you set up your video streaming service.

Fluidity and Compatibility Tools:

Your users will likely access your content from a range of different devices. While StreamView comes equipped with tools to augment fluidity, it’s a good idea to seek out an HTML5 video player to make sure that your content is digestible on a variety of screen sizes.

Setting up your own version of Netflix doesn’t have to be a cumbersome, long-wound process. With the right technology partner and superior content, you’ve got yourself covered.

 

How Much Money Do YouTubers Make?

How Much Money Do YouTubers Make?

Content can be delivered to the users in any form. Blogs, newsletters sent through emails, social media pages, and discussion forums are different ways of delivering content to people. Wait, were all the content marketing channels mentioned or did we miss something important? We did miss one dominant way of delivering content- the videos. When we hear the word ‘videos’, the first thing that would pop up in our heads is YouTube. YouTube is one among the topmost video streaming sites that have gained a lot of popularity over years and is now the most sorted streaming sites for any business to market itself. YouTubers who create video content are now huge money makers. Do you even know how much money do YouTubers make? Well, in this blog, we shall provide answers to the question and throw some light on how much money do YouTubers make per view.

Content marketing has come a long way and is one of the most important approaches used by businesses today to market themselves. With the increase in the usage of internet, content creation has become vital to each and every business’s growth in the market. Video content marketing strategy is now almost a must to every business keeping in view the competitive market. Video making has now become one of the most trending methods of not only furnishing content to the viewers but also some lucrative profession people are looking out for.

The number of subscribers of a YouTube channel is one important aspect that determines how much do YouTubers get paid. You already might have noticed that most of the videos at the end ask you not to forget to subscribe to their YouTube channel. And this makes the former statement clear. If we suppose that a YouTuber has around 1 million subscribers, for any video he makes, he can be sure that it would reach at least 1 lakh subscribers which would amount to having at least 1 lakh views. YouTube pays at least around $1 per 1000 views (maybe more depending on the viewer engagement) that would amount to 100$ in this case. So, YouTubers with subscribers in millions make money in ten thousand. However, these figures might vary depending on the advertiser’s willingness to pay YouTubers.

How Much Money Do Youtubers Make

Now there is another way in which YouTubers make money which is by Google AdSense to their channels. When they do this, they get around 68% of the ad revenue. Summing up the above stats, YouTubers money making is entirely dependent on the number of subscribers of their channel, the number of views a video gets, the amount a particular advertiser is willing to pay and other factors. Check out below the most popular YouTubers and the money they make:

1. PewDiePie:

how much money does pewdiepie make

Felix Kjellberg is a Swedish based YouTuber who stands on the first position with more than 54 million subscribers from all over the world. With this huge number of followers, can you estimate how much money does PewDiePie make from YouTube? His annual income as per the latest reports is around $15 million. His ‘Let’s Play’ videos feature him playing various video games, with a box in the top corner of the screen showing his reactions to his moves in the game. His success as most of them suggest attributes to his constant communication with his fans.

how much money does pewdiepie make from youtube

2. Smosh:

 

Smosh

Anthony Padilla and Ian Hecox duo’s Smosh is also among the top YouTube gainers. The duo makes parody videos on pop culture and video games. The current estimate of their annual income is around $8 million with more than 22 million subscribers for their YouTube channel.  They are the first YouTubers to have their wax statues at Madame Tussaud’s museum and also have a mobile app that provides their exclusive videos.

create youtube like website

3. Lilly Singh:

 

Lilly Singh

IISuperwomanII is what Lilly Singh is mostly known as to the YouTube world. Popular for her parody videos, this Canadian vlogger’s annual income is estimated at $7.5 million. She has gained popularity for her comedy timing in her videos and has also written a book by name ‘How To Be A Bawse: A Guide To Conquering Life’. Her YouTube channel has more than 11 million followers from across the world.

Lilly Singh Youtube Channel

4. Roman Atwood:

Roman Atwood has become popular for his prank movie ‘Natural Born Pranksters’ which was released in the year 2016. This got him many subscribers for his YouTube channel, and eventually, he became more popular. His channel ‘RomanAtwoodVlogs’ now has more than 12 million subscribers and earns around $2.5 million every year.

Roman Atwood

Though the above YouTubers haven’t been listed according to their ranks, they are the ones who rule YouTube and are earning millions through their videos. Now as we see that every coin has two sides, YouTube has got some disadvantages too. This takes us to thinking about creating YouTube like website rather than creating a YouTube channel.

RomanAtwoodVlogs

 

Reasons to start your own YouTube-like website instead of a channel

1. SOCIAL MOOD OF THE VIEWERS:

When people watch videos on YouTube, they watch them more in a fun mood rather than watching them for some purpose. If you think, you are going to use videos for promoting your business’s sales, creating a YouTube channel is not recommended. Instead, it would be better if you create a video streaming website like YouTube since most of the viewers do not concentrate on purchases while they watch YouTube videos. By creating a website of your own, you can ensure that the videos have an impact on viewer’s buying decisions.

2. EQUAL IMPORTANCE GIVEN TO YOUR COMPETITORS:

When you upload your video on your channel, you do so by using some keywords that would help the users to find your content easily. Even your competitor would almost the same keywords as your businesses are related to the same industry. When a user comes across your video and watches it, suggestions about your competitor’s video would also be made visible to him by YouTube in the ‘Suggested Videos’ section. This would distract the users from focusing on your product leading you to losses.

3. RESTRICTIONS ON VIDEOS:

YouTube imposes certain restrictions on the content of the videos. It doesn’t support customization of videos which might even lead to compromising on the quality of videos. This would be highly disadvantageous in case of promotional videos of your business. One such restriction is on Call to Action (CTA) feature (which directs the user to your website directly), being limited by YouTube. However, if it is your own website, then you are free to promote your business in a flexible manner.

4. RANDOM ADVERTISEMENTS:

Random advertisements are scheduled by YouTube to appear while your video is being viewed.  This might even annoy the user making him skip your video, though your video has some promising content. And it is not in your hands to control which advertisements must appear while your video streams.

While YouTube has some very good advantages over video streaming sites, it has got some serious disadvantages too. Keeping the pros and cons of YouTube in mind, it is up to you to decide to choose between creating a YouTube channel or your own website like YouTube.

StreamTube

If you are looking to create YouTube-like website, try StreamTube, a popular video sharing script power-packed with many growth hacking features. You just need to have the gumption for starting a YouTube clone. This video CMS will help you become the next Roman Atwood with its following stunning features:

Ad Manager:

 

StreamTube Video Ads

 

Ever wondered how YouTube makes money? YouTube makes money through advertisements. StreamTube’s Ad Manager is a monetization program which sets ceremonious standards to help you maximize your earnings. For instance, there is a provision to post featured advertisements on banners. This triggers higher clicks and high paying customers pile on your website.

SEO Manager:

 

StreamTube Channels

 

Identifying and targeting top ranked keywords will ratchet up your live streaming website rankings. To ensure that your videos are in line with SEO standards, this module helps you create SEO friendly URLs.   

Subscription Manager:

 

StreamTube - Subscription Manager

 

What is true of Ad Manager is also true of Subscription Manager. This is yet another monetization feature which lets curious visitor try your channel for free for 2 days. Once the users are convinced with the aesthetics and content of your channel, they can be converted to premium customers. By the way, this Subscription Manager is extremely promising and has all ceremonious features to convert casual customers into paying and loyal ones.

Video Manager:

 

StreamTube Video Manager

 

This video CMS comes with another interesting module called Video Manager. Thanks to this module, you can upload videos in various supported formats by using Amazon S3 bucket, YouTube link, and website link beside normal uploads.

If you have any doubts or concerns, feel free to drop a line or two in the comments section. I shall reply in a day or two. Keep watching this space for insights on video CMS open source platforms and trends in live streaming industry. My best wishes are with you and your YouTube clone. Cheers!