Welcome to the 21st century, where using videos for learning and development is about as revolutionary as using a pencil to write on paper. But just because it's common practice now, doesn't mean it's still incredibly valuable. For one, you must consider what you’re using your L&D initiative for. Your KPIs should be more than Continuous Professional Education (CPE) credits. They should have an actual business impact!

And videos can help you generate that impact. But only if you do everything right. Just think about it. Would you rather learn how to do your job from a boring textbook or from a charismatic, engaging video instructor? It's like choosing between watching paint dry or a Netflix series, the choice is clear!

And it's not just about entertainment. Video solutions can also save your company time and money. No more expensive travel costs for off-site training, no more lost productivity from employees being pulled away from their work (for days at a time.) Training and development can happen on-demand, at the employee's convenience. Video solutions even make it easy for remote teams to stay on the same page and continue to grow and develop together with their in-office colleagues.

So, whether you're still using textbooks or are a forward-thinking company already utilizing video solutions, this guide is for you. We'll take you through the benefits, best practices, and real-life examples of how OTT video can enhance your corporate learning and development programs.

By the end of this Teyuto guide, you'll know:

1. The benefits of using video for corporate learning and development

2. How to implement video solutions into your current programs

3. How not to implement video in your corporate learning strategy

4. Best practices for creating corporate learning and development videos

What are we waiting for then? Let’s go!

Benefits of using video for Learning and Development​

Just like a movie can transport you to a different world, videos in corporate training can transport your employees to new levels of understanding and engagement. Unlike traditional methods, like reading dense text or listening to a monotone lecture, videos bring the material to life with visuals, sound, and motion. This dynamic format captures attention and holds it, making it easier for employees to retain and recall important information.

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And let's not forget the power of video to personalize learning. With video, employees can go at their own pace, rewind, and review important parts of the training as many times as they need. This self-directed approach to learning allows employees to focus on the areas they need the most help with, resulting in greater understanding and proficiency.

In a nutshell, videos can bring a whole lot of difference to your employee training. Some of the benefits of including video in your corporate learning strategy include:

1. Videos can be entertaining:​

Let's not forget about the entertainment factor. We all know how boring traditional corporate training can be.

But with OTT video, you can add a touch of humor, use interactive elements, and make the overall experience more enjoyable for your employees.

Imagine watching a training video presented by a character like "Bob the Boredom Buster" or "Samantha the Safety Superstar." It's like watching a funny, educational video instead of a dry, boring lecture.

Think about it, when you're watching a movie or a TV show, you're fully absorbed in the story and the characters. Now imagine bringing that same level of engagement and immersion to your training programs.

With video, you can bring real-world scenarios and examples to life, making it easier for employees to understand and retain information.

2. Flexibility and Convenience​

When it comes to corporate training, flexibility and convenience are like the breads of the professional development world. And videos are like the peanut butter and jelly that bring them together.

Imagine having the freedom to learn at your own pace, rather than being tied to a strict training schedule. It's like being a kid again and getting to choose when you want to eat your broccoli.

And let's not forget about the added convenience of accessing video training from anywhere, whether you're at home, on the go, or even in the bathroom (hey, we don't judge). This is especially helpful for remote teams and employees who travel quite frequently.

Employees can determine a time that is best suited as per their unique schedule and workflow. In other words, they can learn when they are more likely to be engaged and focused. It’s a much better approach as compared to a ticking timebomb of "L&D Workshop at 12 PM" when you already have something that needs to go out by 12:30.

3. Competitive Advantage​

In the corporate world, it's all about staying ahead of the game and having the upper hand on your competition. And when it comes to learning and development, using video is like having a secret weapon in your team training arsenal.

If your employees are learning and developing through engaging, on-demand video courses, they're going to be more skilled, more knowledgeable, and more motivated. And when your employees are at the top of their game, your company will be too.

4. Cost-effectiveness​

What if I told you that video is not only more engaging and effective, but also a cost-effective solution?

Yes, traditional training methods often require expensive trainers or training materials, not to mention the cost of travel and lodging for off-site training. With video, you can create content in-house or use pre-existing videos from reputable sources, saving you money in the long run. Plus, videos can be reused multiple times, making it a one-time investment with continued returns.

5. Learning Outcomes​

Videos further allow for easy measurement of learning outcomes. The same holds for employee engagement.

With features like Teyuto’s in-video quizzes, polls, and analytics, you can track employee progress and identify areas where they may need additional support.

This way you can also optimize your training programs and make sure that your employees are getting the most out of their learning experiences.

6. Scalability in Team Training​

Team training is never easy. After all, it’s hard to ensure the availability of all employees at the same time. If your organization operates across different time zones, then it’s an even greater snag!

Videos can be a game-changer here as well. You can easily scale them to reach a large number of employees at once, even if they’re on different continents. This makes video training specifically important for organizations with a geographically dispersed workforce.

7. Endless Customizations​

Another key advantage is its ability to customize everything as per the specific needs of your organization.

You can create your own rewards and video-linked custom workflows. You can tailor your training programs to align with your organization's goals and objectives. You can also use videos to provide specific feedback, recognition, and prizes for employees that complete their training.

Need a custom button? You're the boss. With Teyuto’s eLearning and corporate intranet solutions, let two added.

So, it’s time to forget those boring old PowerPoint presentations and handouts, videos are the new hotness.

But let's not get too excited. Just because we upload a video doesn't mean our employees will suddenly become geniuses. It's like trying to bake a cake with just flour and water, it's not going to be pretty.

Don't fret! In the next section, we'll show you how to effectively add the sugar and eggs (aka how to make your videos actually effective) to your corporate learning and development strategy. Spoiler alert: it's not just about hitting play and hoping for the best.

How to Use Video for Learning and Development​

If you're going to use video in your corporate training programs, you need to do it right. With the right strategy, you'll be able to create engaging, effective, and entertaining learning experiences that get your employees excited. But without the right strategy, you might as well be reading a textbook.

Here’s how you can use video to enhance your employee learning and development programs:

1. Use Interactive Elements​

Interactive elements are like the cherry on top of a delicious sundae. While videos are already engaging and effective, interactive elements take them to the next level.

Interactive elements, like quizzes and polls, allow employees to engage with the shared material on a personal level and make it more of an active learning experience. And with personalized feedback, employees can identify areas where they need more support.

Plus, with analytics, you can track employee progress and also identify where and how your training programs can improve.

Want to make your employee training more engaging and effective? Add some interactive elements to your videos and see the results for yourself. Your employees (and your bottom line) will thank you.

2. Use Gamification​

Imagine being a kid again, and getting to play your favorite video game all day long. That feeling of excitement and engagement is exactly what gamification can bring to your corporate training.

By incorporating "game-like" elements like leaderboards, achievements, and points into your video training programs, you can make the learning process more fun, engaging, and competitive. It's like turning a boring math class into a game of Mario Kart.

And when your employees are having fun and feeling competitive, they're more likely to be engaged and excited about their learning experiences.

3. Measure the “Impact”​

Measure the impact of your training. A 2022 study titled Measuring the Business Impact of Learning revealed that 32% of L&D professionals use “Learner Satisfaction” as a barometer for success. Another 14% looked at “Content Utilization” and 15% didn’t evaluate at all!

No! You are using videos to enhance the skills of your employees. You want to use those skills to generate momentum for your business. Make it a point to measure your L&D’s impact as such.

Your measurement shouldn’t be around vague parameters such as learner satisfaction, content utilization, or CPE earned. It should be something like “Skills Gained”, “Short-term Retention”, “Long-term Retention”, “Productivity Increased”, and so on.

4. Use Videos as a Resource​

Typical training videos put people to sleep faster than a lullaby from a lullaby singer (if that's a thing). No, no, no. We're talking about videos that are like the ultimate cheat sheet for your employees.

Imagine having a video on hand for every situation, like a personal superhero for your workforce.

Need to brush up on your sales skills? BAM, there's a video for that.

Struggling with a customer service issue? BOOM, another video to the rescue.

These short, snappy videos are like the Swiss Army Knife of the corporate world, and your employees can watch them on their own time and use them as a reference guide for on-the-job questions and challenges.

So, let's put the "fun" in "functional" and make some awesome resource videos!

5. Use Video for Collaboration​

Not only are videos great for keeping remote teams in sync, but they’re also add impetus to your L&D strategy, even if they're not in the same office.

Imagine being able to onboard new employees and make sure they're not just surviving, but thriving in their new role. Or, how about getting to know your coworkers on a deeper level, and building a company culture that's stronger than a fortress made of titanium.

Shareholder returns increase by up to 47% when internal communication strategies are effective. Food for thought!

6. Use Video to Recognize Employees​

There's nothing quite like being recognized for a job well done. And there's no better way to reward and recognize your employees than with a personalized video.

With an OTT video platform, you can send personalized messages, gifts, and awards to your employees. You can also use videos to communicate company-wide announcements and initiatives.

7. Use Video as an Onboarding Tool​

Onboarding is one of the most important aspects of the employee journey. Why? Because it's your first impression.

With video, you can create a fun, engaging, and memorable experience that makes your new hires feel welcome. You can introduce them to your team and company values, as well as provide important information and resources to help them get started.

8. Embed Videos in your Learning Management System (LMS)​

Do you already have a Learning Management System (LMS) in place? If so, then you're one step closer to incorporating video in your corporate training programs.

You can embed Teyuto’s solutions directly into your current LMS, giving your employees instant access to relevant resources. This allows you to capitalize on your existing LMS and give your employees the best of both worlds.

But why would you do that? This way, you can tap in-video interactive features and plug their results (Q&A, surveys, responses, etc.), reports, and insights directly to your LMS.

9. Encourage Employees to Create Videos​

You don't have to be the only one creating videos for your corporate training programs. You can also encourage your employees to create their own videos.

This could be a great way to encourage engagement and collaboration, as well as provide employees with an opportunity to share their own experiences and perspectives.

10. Use Topical Videos​

While we don't recommend dumping a load of information on your employees all at once, you can use topical videos to provide key information and resources to your employees.

For example, you can create videos that focus on specific topics, like safety, sales, and customer service. These short, direct videos can be watched by employees on their own time and used as a reference guide for on-the-job questions and challenges.

11. Provide Video Coaching​

If you're already using video for your corporate training, then you're probably hooked. But like a drug, you can never have too much of it.

And the best way to get even more video in your corporate training is by using it for coaching. You can use videos to help employees master new skills, address challenges, and resolve issues.

This way, you can save time by fleshing out these videos and creating bite-sized FAQs out of them. So that your managers don’t have to repetitively answer the same questions over and over again, while making the tiniest of details clear for your junior employees.

Also, make sure to properly categorize all of this video content. Prevent information overload.

12. Use Videos for Mission-critical Learning​

It's inevitable that your organization will need to roll out mission-critical learning, like compliance training or software updates, at some point.

With video, you can easily maintain the same level of engagement and personalization, even with mission-critical learning.

13. Create Videos to Address Common Issues​

When it comes to learning and development, every company has its own set of challenges. Whether it's a communication barrier or a lack of resources, it's important to address these issues head-on.

And with video, you can create a personalized learning experience that helps employees master new skills and address challenges in real-time.

14. Use Videos to Explain Complex Topics​

When it comes to corporate training, you can use video to explain complex topics in a way that is easy for your employees to understand.

Remember, the goal isn't to overload your employees with information, but rather to help them understand and retain important concepts. By using a visual format, you can make complex topics easier to understand and remember.

Likewise, there are also a couple of "Don'ts" that you must follow in your video-driven L&D strategy. They are as follows:

How Not to Use Video for Learning and Development​

1. Apply the learning​

Video is a great solution for corporate training and development. But it's not a one-size-fits-all solution.

According to experimental studies of memory, known as “The Forgetting Curve”, if the new information isn’t applied anywhere, 75% of information is forgotten just six days after learning it. Retention is 100% after just learning something and 58% just 20 minutes after it.

So, make it a point to create bite-sized learning modules that can be applied somewhere rightaway. It could be anything from a real-world application to a digital emulator or even an in-video quiz or problem statement.

It's also important to remember that video is a tool that you can use alongside other methods, like workshops and one-on-one coaching.

For example, if you're teaching your employees how to operate a machine, training them on a machine is imperative! Videos can’t (and shouldn’t) be a standalone learning material here.

To improve your training results, however, you can use videos to prep them before training and as a reference material when the training concludes. So, be smart with the use of videos.

2. Don't Create Videos for the Sake of It​

We're not saying that you can't create videos just because you want to. But you should always have a specific goal in mind for each video.

Think about it, if you're wasting your employees' time with videos that don't matter, you're going to lose their trust. Not to mention, your employees are going to get bored and stop paying attention.

Instead, make sure that each video has a specific purpose and goal, like explaining a new concept or teaching a new skill.

3. Don't Make Videos Too Long​

If you're going to use video for your corporate training, then you need to keep it short, sweet, and simple.

Remember, your employees are busy people, so you don't want to waste their time with long, boring videos.

Instead, make sure that each video is no more than a few minutes long and focuses on one specific topic or skill.

Expert Tip:​

I'm a big fan of using video whenever possible (obviously). But I've seen countless companies make the same mistake: they focus on quantity over quality.

While it's great to create lots of videos, the key is to make sure that each video is engaging, entertaining, and effective. After all, if you're not getting the results you want, then what's the point?

4. Don't Put Everything in a Video (Avoid Information Overload)​

We get it. You have a lot of information to share with your employees. But that doesn't mean you have to cram it all into a single video.

Instead, you should focus on creating short, direct videos that focus on specific topics and skills. This way, your employees can focus on one concept at a time, rather than trying to remember a ton of information all at once.

And when you break things up into multiple videos, you can stagger the release of each video over time, giving your employees a chance to process the information and practice their new skills.

In conclusion, incorporating videos into corporate training can bring a significant difference to employee development by providing an engaging and personalized learning experience.

If you want to learn more about videos and how to implement them in your corporate learning and development program, feel free to contact us. Our experts will be happy to help with any questions that you have or customizations you need.

In 1997, Steven Hankin coined the term “The War for Talent” in McKinsey’s quarterly briefings. What followed the suit were drumrolls of modern warfare. This war wasn’t to be fought on a barren island god-knows-where. Corporate boardrooms were supposed to be the new battlefields. Employer branding was positioned front and centre.

The original creative for McKinsey's "The War for Talent"Over the past two decades, corporations were indeed fighting for top talent in a war-like fashion. At times, they even opted for ruthless strategies to get crème de la crème. McKinsey’s slogan-ridden advertorials and eye-catching subheadings were the mere bugle call for the purported “end-game”. Now, it was all the more imperative to "brand your brand", or keep employer brand marketing initiatives at the heart of everything.

A quarter of a century has passed since then. People have made all sorts of claims, from asserting the talent war is coming to an end to claiming it will intensify going forth. A few even went ahead and described the talent war to be the most elaborate conspiracy theory ever created.

All things considered, it’s safe to say that the war for talent is real. We can see it everywhere. Companies compete aggressively to lure in the best minds. After all, it’s the talent that gets everything done. It is the driving force behind product development, impeccable services, and ingenious solutions to unmet market needs. And, this war is far from ending anytime soon. It has transformed, and will continue to do so in the future.

However, the focus has now shifted from a war of attrition to a war of innovation. Companies that embrace new and innovative ideas viz. employer branding have an absolute upper hand against their peers. For instance, did you know that an average adult in the U.S. watched 167 minutes of TV video and 149 minutes of digital video per day in 2021? That’s more than 5 hours of video content every day. Ever thought of making video an essential part of your employer brand strategy? Not just a brand story video. A comprehensive video-driven employee branding strategy?

Since you’re reading this blog, we believe you did!

So, without further ado, let’s understand how you can creatively use videos to build a strong brand and emerge as one of the top employer branding companies.

A High-Level Overview of Video in Employer Branding​

When we think about employer branding, especially in the context of videos, the first thing that comes to our mind is brand video production. But there’s more to it. Videos can be effectively utilized at every step of your employer branding process.

In this blog, we’ll be discussing innovative techniques that you can use including:

1. In-video quizzes in research and application processes

2. Video interviews to replace traditional face-to-face interviews

3. Branded story videos for social media channels

4. Employer branding videos for the career page

5. Video-based training to upskill employees

6. A day in the life videos to market the actual work environment

7. Intranet videos to build a strong company culture

8. Welcome kits for new employees

9. Exit interviews to avoid any unwarranted attrition

10. Stealth marketing via brand placement, influencers, and creators

Let’s understand each of these stages in detail to understand the power of video in employer branding.

#1 In-video Quizzes in Research and Application Processes​

Do you rely on typical form-based approaches for your research, employee feedback, and application process? It’s high time to change that.

Yes, you can leverage in-video quizzes to make feedback forms more seamless and intuitive. For instance, during your research, you can place such polls in your employee-facing content to gather their thoughts about, say, company culture or the job itself. This way, you can assess their attitude and aptitude towards their respective positions. It will also help you unravel salient features to highlight while giving you a sense of direction on how you must approach your hiring strategy.

Such implementations can further leave a lasting impact on your candidate experience and overall branding strategy.

According to a survey, candidate experience influenced 80% of job seekers to accept the offer at their current employer. And it makes sense. Wouldn’t you be more willing to work with an employer that values your experience? How willing would you be to do it if the experience is otherwise? Also, good candidate experience not only decreases the likelihood of a negative review (37%) but also improves the chances of getting a positive one (61%). So, a couple of brownie points there.

To do so, you can conduct a pre-screening video interview. Just ask a prospective employee to record a video of themselves answering your interview questions.

This way, you can quickly assess their communication skills, body language, and overall personality. You can also ask your prospects to record a video of themselves performing a task. For instance, if you're hiring a developer, you can give them a development assignment and record it using Teyuto Clip or Loom. You can then assess their code, the time taken to complete the task, and the overall quality of their work.

#2 Video Interviews to Replace Traditional Face-to-Face Interviews​

A typical interview can last for 15 to 90 minutes. Imagine doing that for 20 promising candidates. That’s a lot of time and effort!

We shouldn't forget that, at the end of the day, we're humans. Extensively interviewing leads to interview fatigue, which affects the quality of our hires. A solution to this quagmire can what you’re already doing – video interviews! The only difference is to replace face-to-face interviews completely with them and start using video analytics solutions.

Reason? A lot has changed in the world of video analytics. Now, you can even gauge candidates by their voice profiles, micro-expressions, word choices, and other non-verbal cues. It also brings down the time to hire substantially, allowing you to quickly onboard the right talent with a high degree of precision.

#3 Branded Story Videos for Social Media Channels​

According to a survey, 77% of job seekers prefer to know about the corporate culture before applying to a company. Another study revealed that 73% people aged between 18 and 34 years found their last job via social media. It’s clear that people want a taste of the internal workings of a company - and social media is a great place to look.

Social media is also the most widely used platform for talent acquisition. Even better, it has a ready audience to consume your content. So, why not produce branded story videos to let job seekers see what they are getting themselves into?

Your branded story videos should be well thought out and focus on your company culture and how your company culture can positively impact a job seeker’s life. It’s best to chronicle the employee journey and highlight their success stories. These stories must subtly incorporate your vision and mission, ethics, and the overall work environment. The idea is to show the human side of your organization and lure in the best candidates that are a culture fit.

Here's a great example of an employer brand marketing video:

#4 Employer Branding Videos in Job Postings & the Career Page​

Your job post and career page are the most important pieces of real estate for your talent acquisition efforts. 63% job seekers consider the career pages as a valuable resource. So, it’s imperative to invest in them.

But, you can make your job postings and career page even more enticing by embedding employer branding videos on it. Job postings with a video receive 12% more views while improving the application rate by 34%.

The idea is to share videos that highlight the most important aspect of your company, especially for that particular job. For instance, the video above clearly states that there’s “no glamour in beermaking” and then it gives it a spin that there’s “a lot of glory” in crafting beers.

Just be honest (while being exciting). It’s the best way to motivate people to apply for any position.

#5 Video-based Training to Upskill Employees​

Earlier, a Learning Management System was a luxury that only large companies could afford. But the rapid pace of technological advancement has made it an indispensable part of any organization.

No, it’s not just about having an LMS. It's also about how you leverage it to upskill your employees and make learning more engaging.

The answer is video.

Most people learn better by watching a video rather than reading a lot of text. It’s easier to understand complex concepts, follow steps, and visualize the process. It also improves the overall learning experience and retention.

Let’s say you’re hiring a bunch of people. They are coming from diverse backgrounds, and they aren’t well-versed in your company’s processes, core values, and vision.

You can’t spend hours, days, weeks, and even months teaching them everything, right? So, what do you do?

The easiest solution is to create an on-demand training video for your employees. Share it with your new hires and let them learn everything at their own pace. The best part is that they can revisit the video anytime to brush up on their knowledge. Such practices not only improve productivity but also drive better employee engagement.

#6 A Day in the Life Videos to Market the Actual Work Environment​

Don’t you wish you knew what it was like to work with a particular organization?

A day in the life videos lets you do just that. It’s a candid video to show what it’s like to work in a particular department within a company. It’s a great way to give people an insight into the work environment and convey the daily challenges of a particular role.

It’s especially useful when you’re hiring for a unique position. No matter how well-worded your description is, there’s always a chance of misconceptions. A day in the life video helps you overcome that by giving people a first-hand experience.

It’s the best way to highlight the mundane aspects of your company and win the hearts and minds of the best talents.

#7 Intranet Videos to Build a Strong Company Culture​

A company’s culture is the soul of its identity. It’s the keystone that binds everything together and provides the employee with an identity of their own. It’s not just about the usual perks like health insurance or stock options. Instead, it's about the culture that you are fostering in your organization.

In today's largely digital work environment, intranet videos are the best way to convey your company culture. They help you bind the entire workforce in a single thread, especially when some of them are working remotely.

The best part? It can be accessed anywhere, anytime.

You can feature a new hire in the video that shares their experience of working at your company. Share a video that talks about the perks of working with you. You can even share content that talks about your core values and ethics.

Such videos are an excellent way to stay connected with your workforce while nurturing a sense of community.

#8 Welcome Kits for New Employees​

Onboarding can't be stressed enough in the employee journey. It’s the first step towards a long-lasting relationship, and it needs to be done right. Welcome kits are a great way to make your new hires feel welcome.

You can send them a welcome kit that includes a welcome video from the CEO, a welcome letter, and a gift.

It’s a great way to personalize the onboarding and make your new hires feel valued. You can also have your all employees record a fun video about themselves, the jobs that they do, and upload it to your corporate intranet. This will make your cross-department collaboration much more seamless.

#9 Exit Interviews to Avoid Any Unwarranted Attrition​

Do you know that about 75% organizations conduct exit interviews? However, only 1% do it right. Yes, a study by Harvard Business Review, revealed that 70.9% of companies let their HR departments handle the exit interview while 8.9% let an outgoing employee's immediate supervisor's manager to do the job. Roughly 19% even handed the baton to the employee's direct supervisor.

But why are these stats problematic?

The study found that people are not truthful to their supervisors in exit interviews. Perhaps, because they want references. They are also outrightly dishonest with the HR team. The research revealed that exit interviews were only effective if done by an external consultant.

So, where does video-based exit interviews fit into the picture? A video-based exit interview conducted by an external consultant is the way to go if you want to improve your retention rate. It’s the best way to get honest feedback and take the right steps to prevent any unwarranted attrition. Furthermore, you can also leverage video analytics to gauge the micro-expressions of an employee to determine the quality of their responses.

#10 Soft Promotion via Brand Placement, Influencers, and Creators​

Have you watched "The Internship"? You might have noticed the branding of Google throughout the movie. Not just that, several "Google" products were featured in the movie.

It’s called brand placement, and it’s a form of stealth marketing. It’s frequently used by most top employer branding companies to subtly promote their brand.

You can do it in two ways – either by working with an influencer or creating your own branded content. For instance, you can rent out your workplace to an influencer or content creator in exchange for a shout-out in their content. Alternatively, you can collaborate with them to create branded video content.

To Wrap It Up…​

Video is the most powerful medium for conveying a message. It’s an essential part of your employer branding strategy. It’s the best way to showcase your company culture, attract the best talents, develop a strong employer brand, and improve employee engagement.

By utilizing videos at each stage of the employee journey, you can emerge as one of the top employer branding companies.

Experience the power of videos first-hand with Teyuto’s comprehensive video solutions. Book a personalized demo today.

Hey there fellow OTT enthusiasts! It's Teyuto, your go-to provider for all things over-the-top.

We have been into OTT video solutions for a while and have learned a thing or two about monetizing video content.

Let's face it, creating top-notch content is a labor of love, and if you're not getting compensated for it, it can be a bit of a grind.

But don't sweat it yet! We're here to share some creative monetization strategies that will have you rolling in the dough in no time.

We'll be covering everything from identifying your target audience to optimizing your platform and everything in between. So, grab your pen and paper (also a bit of coffee), and let’s dive right into the brave new world of OTT video monetization!

Identify Your Target Audience: The Key to Video Monetization Success​

You've got some killer content on your OTT platform. You're ready to start raking in the cash. But before you start slapping your ads left and right, it's important to understand who exactly you're creating the content for.

Knowing your target audience is the key to video monetization success.

But how do you identify your target audience? Here are a few tips:

• Conduct market research

Do your homework! This can be as simple as surveying your current audience or as in-depth as hiring a market research firm. Either way, get a sense of who your audience is and what they're interested in. The more detailed you get, the better. Source all details like demographics, income slabs, aspirations, motivations, and anything else you can lay your hands on.

This exercise will ensure that you can see your content (or your competitor’s) through the eyes of the people you’re targeting. The goal is to find what makes people tick, ultimately prompting them to make your desired purchase decision.

• Know what’s monetizable (and what’s working for others)

Don’t start out by creating strategies in your head. Start following videos of the creators who you think are building content along your business interests.

See how your competitors are positioning themselves and their products. What kind of response are they receiving and from what audiences? Is there a change in the demographics (age, gender, region, religion, etc.) or semantics (words, phrases, comments, implicit and explicit meanings, etc.) of different posts and their responses? What emotions their content is evoking? What may be prompting the viewers to watch? What are they commenting for?

Come up with more questions based on your unique business model and use case. Remember, this is an important step as it will guide your entire monetization strategy (and even the content creation process). So, make it as thorough as possible.

Let us give you some golden advice here. At the end of the day, you don’t necessarily have to "monetize your videos" (we’ll explain the why part in a short while). You just have to ensure that your videos directly or indirectly generate a steady income. To do so, the best place to look for is – yes, your competitors!

Find out where your competitors are making their spends. Because if they’re spending, the chances are there’s at least some financial advantage linked to it. This could be in terms of content strategy, campaigns, or any other pattern that you come across.

There are a couple of ways to do so. For instance, Facebook’s Page Transparency lets you know what any page is advertising. Here, as an example, we have Buzzfeed’s Tasty page. It shows us they’re quite bullish on third-party promotions and app downloads.

What does it mean? It means that they’re monetizing via paid promotions and somehow through their application, which will be our next breadcrumb.

We now go to the Tasty app. On a closer look, we find that its recipes lead to ingredient purchase via Walmart (and sometimes products on Amazon). This implies that it is operating on a commission-based model for these purchases (which we can also verify on the internet). Tasty also sells cookbooks, merchandize, and cookware. Obviously, all of these sellable units are often endorsed in its videos.

You see, Tasty wouldn’t have been the key driver of Buzzfeed’s growth if it operated on a paywalled model. The recipes create a content magnet that makes people keep coming back for more. So, a big takeaway here is that you don’t “necessarily” have to “monetize your videos”.

You just have to create a funnel that ultimately leads your target audience to something that generates income. If it’s your premium content line-up, then so be it. But if it’s some product, merchandize, or any other form of transaction, then why not?

The entire point of this exercise is to understand what could directly or indirectly generate revenues for you. In other words, what is monetizable and what strategies are working for others in your domain? If they’re working for them, then there’s a market need that they’re addressing. You can always use such insights to make informed decisions.

• Analyze your videos

Your video analytics can tell you a lot about who's watching your content and how they're interacting. Use this information to understand your audience's demographics, interests, and engagement levels.

You can easily do it on channels like YouTube and Facebook. But what if a user is on your website? Well, there are a couple of ways to go about it.

For instance, you can read the user’s IP address and use an IP database to determine their location. Similarly, there are different APIs that can help you understand the browser being used. Teyuto also provides you with handy analytics that gives you a deeper understanding of what’s working in terms of videos and what’s not.

You can also use third-party analytics tools such as Google Analytics to dig much deeper into your audience. These services give away an insane amount of data for free including demographics (age, gender), geography (location in terms of states/cities), interests, device usage patterns, engagement levels – or virtually everything!

With the right marketing analytics, you can easily get a complete insight into your audience and their preferences. It will also help you determine how your user acquisition is taking place. See where the drop-offs are and what could be the possible reasons.

This makes it easier to create content tailored specifically for your audience. Need we say how important this is?

After all, creating personalized experiences helps increase customer engagement and retention rates while improving brand loyalty – two key drivers of income generation!

Now that you have identified who exactly your target audience is, let's delve into some creative ways to monetize your videos.

Before you move to the next section, make sure you have a good understanding of what is video monetization and what different monetization strategies there are at your disposal (subscription, advertising, transactional videos, merchandizing, donation, etc.). You can watch this video, where Steffi from Teyuto explains it in an easy-to-understand format.

Welcome to the realm of OTT apps! If you're not au fait, OTT stands for "over-the-top," and refers to apps and platforms that allow you to stream video and other forms of content directly to your device. They simply bypass traditional cable and satellite TV networks.

It goes without saying that the OTT services market is disrupting the entertainment industry as of now, with top OTT platforms such as Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime leading the charge.

But building an OTT platform isn't just about tossing some videos up on a server and calling it a day. There are several key considerations that go into developing a successful OTT app, from understanding your target audience and crafting a content strategy to selecting the right development platform and building a user-friendly interface.

At Teyuto, we specialize in OTT solutions and have helped numerous clients navigate the complex process of building an OTT app. In this blog, we'll walk you through the steps involved in creating an OTT app, from research and development to testing and launch. We'll also share some of our own insights and experiences, and offer suggestions for how to continue improving and updating your OTT app over time.

So, whether you're a seasoned entertainment industry veteran or a newcomer looking to break into the OTT world, this blog will provide some valuable insights and guidance. Let's dive right in!

Understanding the Target Audience and Content Strategy​

It all begins with your audience and how you wish to approach it. A case in point is Netflix's hit show "Stranger Things". When creating the show, the producers and writers knew their target audience was primarily a younger demographic, as well as fans of science fiction and nostalgia.

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Therefore, they crafted a unique and captivating story that incorporated elements of both genres and paid homage to the popular culture of the 1980s. And they didn’t stop there how these references translated into different languages back in the 80s. Ultimately, string the right chord with everyone irrespective of the language or cultural barriers.

"Stranger Things" has become a global phenomenon with a cult-like following. The show underlines the importance of understanding and catering to your target audience to effectively reach and connect with them via your content. And it makes absolute sense when you boil everything down to numbers. According to a market study, 39% of OTT viewers access services based on specific content available.

In a nutshell, your content strategy must be spot on, to begin with. How to go about it? Here are some tips.

Researching the Target Audience​

Conduct thorough research on your target audience. Understand their preferences, behaviors, and needs as deeply as you can, and tailor your content and marketing efforts accordingly.

Some ways to research your target audience include:

1. Define your target audience​

Who do you want to reach out to? Is your audience young or old, male or female, interested in specific genres or types of content? Where does it live? What are its aspirations and proclivities? The more detailed you can be, the better.

Some additional questions can be:

- Do your target users primarily watch movies or TV shows?

- Do they prefer binge-watching or watching one episode at a time?

- Are they interested in exclusive content or more mainstream fare?

Here’s a great video on how to find your target audience. It takes YouTube as a reference but the same rules apply everywhere.

2. Conduct market research​

Look at industry data and trends as well as consumer surveys and focus groups. Gather insights. This can help you identify their pain points and preferences, and tailor your offerings accordingly.

3. Analyze your competition​

How other OTT platforms are approaching the market is very important. What is your competitor’s primary appeal? How they are targeting the audience? What is the most popular thing about them? What are they promoting?

Your competitors, especially the successful ones, can give you a treasure trove of information. For instance, take a closer look at what ads they are airing. You can take advantage of tools like Facebook’s "Page Transparency" to do so.

If you keep tracking this, you’ll get a better idea of what’s working best for them. In other words, what’s working the best amongst your target group? This can give you ideas for your own content strategy, as well as help you create strong differentiators.

4. Engage with your audience​

Listen what you need to listen straight from the horse’s mouth. Use social media, email newsletters, and other channels to interact with your audience and gather feedback. This can help you understand their needs and preferences in real-time, and adapt your content strategy accordingly.

Developing a Content Strategy​

Once you have a fair idea of your target group, chart out a plan for what your content strategy is going to look like. It must attract and retain users.

Create a roadmap for what types of content you will produce, how often you will release new content, and how will you promote it. Have a storyboard to guide each of your steps and keyframes. Even a rough sketch with a pencil will considerably streamline your overall development strategy.

It's also important to consider how you will monetize. Will it be subscriptions, ads, merchandizing, or some kind of mix-and-match? This is going to influence your content strategy in the long haul. So, consider both concurrently.

Finally, don't be afraid to experiment and iterate as more data and feedback comes down the line. Data-driven perfection is what you should strive for!

Choosing a Development Platform​

So, here comes the million-dollar question: "which development platform to choose while building your OTT app?"

Well, there are a couple of options available, including native apps (developed specifically for a particular platform like iOS or Android) and hybrid apps (built using web technologies and wrapped in a native container).

You can also choose a turnkey OTT solutions provider like Teyuto. Teyuto not only helps you create an OTT channel with its drag-and-drop builder but even empowers you with AI search recommendations for a truly immersive user experience.

With or without Teyuto, you’ll have to decide which path to tread: native or hybrid?

Native vs. Hybrid Apps​

When deciding between native and hybrid apps, there are several factors to consider. Native apps generally offer a more seamless and intuitive user experience, as they are built specifically for the platform they are running on. They also tend to be more reliable and perform better, as they have access to all of the device's hardware and software capabilities.

Hybrid apps, on the other hand, are generally more cost-effective and faster to develop, as they can be built using web technologies and then wrapped in a native container for deployment on multiple platforms. However, they may not offer the same level of performance and user experience as native apps. In short, their advantage becomes their Achilles Heel. Web technologies limit their capabilities.

Factors to Consider​

There are several other factors to consider when selecting a development platform for your OTT app. These may include:

1. Cost​

How much will it cost to develop your app on a particular platform?

2. Flexibility​

How easy is it to make changes and updates to the app once it is launched?

3. User experience​

How intuitive and seamless is the app for users? What features do you want it to have?

4. Compatibility​

Is the app compatible with the devices and platforms your target audience is using?

Ultimately, the right development platform for your OTT app will depend on your specific needs and goals. Carefully weigh the pros and cons of each option and make an informed decision. In case you need any help, feel free to ask any question that you may have in your mind here.

Building the App: Navigating the Waters of Technical Complexities​

Building an OTT app is no small feat, and there are many atypical nuances and technical complexities that you may encounter. As a leading OTT solutions provider, here are some of our insights and experiences that may help you along the way.

Setting Up the Development Environment​

The first step in building your OTT app is setting up the development environment and tools. This may involve installing software and libraries, configuring your development environment, and setting up any necessary servers or services.

Sounds straightforward, right? Well, not exactly. Depending on your chosen development platform and the specific requirements of your app, you may encounter a host of challenges and dilemmas as you set up your development environment. For example:

· Compatibility issues​

Are the tools and libraries you are using compatible with your development platform? Are there version conflicts or other issues that could cause problems down the line?

· Scalability​

Is your development environment set up to handle the demands of a large-scale streaming service? Do you have the necessary servers and infrastructure in place to support a large user base? Will your video delivery protocol be able to handle, say, low-latency live streaming?

· Security​

Have you taken steps to secure your development environment and protect sensitive data? Are you following best practices for securing your app and server infrastructure? Are you securing it against video-specific data leaks, say, HDMI/HDCP stripping?

Navigating these and other challenges as you set up your development environment is crucial to the success of your OTT app. Don't be afraid to seek out help or guidance if you need it, and be prepared to pivot or make adjustments as necessary.

Designing the User Interface and User Experience​

Once your development environment is set up, it's time to start designing the user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) of your app. This involves creating wireframes and mockups to visualize how the app will look and function, as well as testing and iterating your designs to ensure they are intuitive and easy to use.

But designing a great UI and UX for an OTT app is about more than just aesthetics. You'll also need to consider the technical constraints and requirements of streaming video, as well as the expectations and habits of your target audience.

For example:

· Buffering​

How will you handle the inevitable buffering and loading times that come with streaming video? Will you use pre-loading or other techniques to minimize disruptions?

· User preferences​

Do your target users prefer a linear or non-linear viewing experience? Are they more likely to watch movies or TV shows, or a mix of both? How will you design the app to cater to these preferences?

· Personalization​

How will you personalize the app for each user based on their preferences and viewing history? What metadata will your app generate? How will you use it for personalization?

Designing a great UI and UX for an OTT app requires a combination of technical expertise and user-centered design thinking. Don't be afraid to test and iterate on your designs to get them just right.

Implementing Features and Functionality​

With the UI and UX of your app finalized, it's time to start implementing features and functionality. This may include streaming video, subscription management, recommendations, and any other features that are central to your app's value proposition.

But implementing these features is often easier said than done. You'll need to consider a host of technical and logistical issues, such as:

· Video encoding​

How will you encode and deliver video to your users? Will you use a third-party platform or build your own video delivery system? What file formats and resolutions will you support?

· Subscription management​

How will you handle user subscriptions and payments? Will you use a third-party service or build your own system? How will you handle trial periods, renewals, and cancellations?

· Recommendations​

How will you recommend content to your users? Will you use algorithms or more manual approaches? How will you balance the need for personalized recommendations? Will AI be a part of your implementation strategy?

· Other features​

What other features will you include in your OTT app? Will you offer social sharing or other community-based features? How will you handle user accounts and profiles? Will you need OTT TV functionality?

An OTT app involves a lot of technical and logistical challenges. You'll need to tackle them head-on if you want to build a successful OTT service. Don't be afraid to seek out help or guidance if you need it. It’s essential to get things right for a complex deployment such as that of an OTT app.

Testing and Debugging​

Now, it's time to conduct thorough testing and debugging to ensure stability and reliability. This may involve conducting functional testing to verify that the app behaves as expected, as well as performance testing to ensure it can handle the demands of streaming video and other types of content.

Testing and debugging an OTT app is a critical step, as even small issues can leave a lasting impact on the user experience. You'll want to thoroughly test your app on a range of devices and platforms to ensure it is compatible and performs well for all users.

Some key considerations for testing and debugging your OTT app include:

· Functionality​

Does the app behave as expected? Are all features and functionality working as intended?

· Performance​

Is the app able to handle the demands of streaming video and other types of content without crashing or freezing? Are there any issues with buffering or loading times?

· Compatibility​

Is the app compatible with a range of devices and platforms? Are there any issues with different screen sizes or resolutions?

· User experience​

Is the app intuitive and easy to use for users? Are there any issues with the UI or UX that need to be addressed?

Launching and Marketing an OTT App​

Your major battle is now behind you. It’s time to launch and market your application.

This step involves submitting the app to App Stores, setting up any necessary servers or services, and developing a marketing plan to promote the app.

Submitting the App to App Stores​

Submitting your OTT app to app stores is a crucial step in the market journey of your brand. After all, it makes the app available to users and allows them to download and install it on their devices.

Each app store has its own submission guidelines and requirements, so it's important to familiarize yourself with them before submitting your app.

Some key considerations for submitting your OTT app to app stores include:

· App Store Guidelines​

The importance of app stores (and hence, their guidelines) can't be overstated. Your app must be compliant with the rules and guidelines of the store in order to be accepted for listing. It's your bible, so make sure you read it thoroughly. Here are handy links for Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

· App Listing​

Though getting your app out there is the first step, you must never undermine your app store listing as well Even if you’re not marketing on the app store, it’s still the first point of contact for your potential users. You must succinctly and accurately describe your app, have a compelling title, and keywords to make it stand out.

· App screenshots and videos​

Include high-quality screenshots and videos of your app in the app store listing. Effectively showcase the features and functionality of your app.

Submitting your OTT app to app stores is an important step, but it's only the first step in getting your app in front of users. You'll also need to develop a marketing plan to promote the app and attract new users.

Marketing the App​

Developing a marketing plan for your OTT app is an important step, as it helps you get the word out about your app and attract new users. There are many different marketing channels and tactics you can use to promote your app, including:

· App store optimization​

Optimized your app store listing to make it more discoverable by users. Use relevant keywords and incorporate user reviews and ratings to improve your app's visibility.

· Social media​

Social media is the perfect place to promote your app and engage with users. Regularly share updates, news, and behind-the-scenes content to keep users interested.

· Email marketing​

Use email marketing to stay in touch with users and promote your app. It’s also a good idea to have a newsletter or other email communication strategy in place. It will keep your people informed and engaged.

· Paid advertising​

Initially, you may need paid advertising for brand building and reaching out to new users. Target the right audience and use the most effective ad formats and channels.

· Partnerships and collaborations​

Establish partnerships with other companies, influencers, and organizations to maximize your reach. Leverage your existing networks and relationships to get the word out about your app. Throw an app launch party even. Here are a couple of creative ideas on you can market your app effectively.

Marketing your OTT app is an ongoing process, and it's important to continually test and iterate on your marketing strategies to ensure you are reaching the right audience and getting the best ROI.

Conclusion and Next Steps​

Building an OTT app is a complex and multifaceted process, but with the right strategy and approach, it is possible to create a successful and engaging app for users. From understanding your target audience and crafting a content strategy to selecting a development platform and building the app, there are many key considerations to keep in mind.

And the work doesn't stop once your app is launched. To ensure your OTT app continues to thrive, it's important to keep updating and improving it over time. This may involve releasing new content, adding new features and functionality, and continuing to promote the app to users.

We, at Teyuto, have the expertise and experience to help you navigate the complex process of building an OTT app. Whether you're just starting out or looking to take your existing app to the next level, we're here to help. We take care of all these technical nuances while you stay focused on producing amazing content for your audience.

Find out how we can help you build a successful OTT app. Contact us now.

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Welcome to the wild world of OTT, or "Over-the-Top" solutions for streaming content. If you're in the media & entertainment industry, you've probably heard about OTT and how it's changing the game for content creators and distributors.

But it can get tough to decide if OTT is the right choice for you, especially if you have a unique use case or are baffled by the sheer options out there. That's where we step in!

As a leading OTT solutions provider, Teyuto is here to give you the lowdown on why every media business needs an OTT solution in today's digital landscape. So, grab your popcorn and get ready to stream your way to success with these 14 reasons. Let’s begin!

Reasons Why You Need an OTT Solution​

OTT solutions have become vital for any modern media company wanting to keep up with consumer demand and remain competitive.

But if you're still on the fence, here are 14 reasons why every media business needs an OTT solution today:

Reason #1: Take your content global (no passport required)​

As a content creator or broadcaster, you know that traditional distribution methods can only take you so far. But with an OTT solution, the world is your oyster.

No longer are you limited to just your local audience or the constraints of cable packages. With the ability to stream to any device with internet access, your content can reach a global audience without expensive international distribution deals.

Just look at the success of global streaming giants like Netflix and Hulu, which have subscribers in 190 countries and counting. By implementing an OTT solution, you can join the ranks of these industry titans and take your content to a worldwide audience.

Reason #2: Enhance customer engagement with interactive features​

Streaming services are no longer just about watching content. They now offer a wide range of interactive and immersive features that change the way people experience media.

An OTT solution allows you to engage your audience in ways that traditional TV can't. Options include:

· Real-time chat functionality

· Multi-angle viewing (e.g., observing a basketball game from multiple angles)

· User-generated content (UGC) aggregation and curation (e.g., live music video competition at concert events)

· Real-time polls & quizzes (e.g., voting for your favorite American Idol contestant on the American Idol app)

And more!

By engaging audiences with these interactive features, you can build a community of loyal fans that will keep coming back to watch your content on an OTT platform again and again.

Reason #3: Fulfill the need for immediacy & accessibility​

Today, consumers want everything right away. And this includes their content. After all, how many times have you heard someone say “What? You’re not caught up on Stranger Things yet??”

If your OTT platform doesn't allow viewers to watch episodes immediately after they air or create an easy way to catch up with past seasons, they'll just go somewhere else that does. By implementing an OTT solution, you can ensure that people can access and enjoy your content whenever and wherever they are (as long as there's Wi-Fi, of course).

Reason #4: Increase brand visibility and loyalty​

In media & entertainment, you're constantly vying for attention. So, how do you stand out in an oversaturated market?

One way to offer exclusive content on your OTT platform. This could include anything from live streams of sports games and concerts to original web series, documentaries, and more. By giving exclusive access to premium content that people can't get anywhere else, buzz around your brand is going to be a lot different. You cannot do this via conventional broadcasting channels. Strengthened customer loyalty is another add-on.

When it comes to branding, you’ve also got to make sure that everything is on point. Have you noticed that Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, and other major OTT platforms have branded video players with their own watermarks? Yes, you can make wonders happen by having such small branding nuances covered in your white-label OTT platform.

It's also worth mentioning that unique features like free trials or short preview clips will encourage people to sign up as subscribers so they don't miss out on any action!

Reason #5: Target audiences with personalized experiences​

Forget cable packages and their one-size-fits-all approach! OTT solutions are where it's at. And the real cherry on top? Personalized experiences.

Imagine being able to target niche markets and audiences with your content. Sounds like a dream? Well, it's a reality with OTT solutions. Just take Netflix for example. It analyzes an individual's viewing habits and makes personalized recommendations based on their interests.

The best part? You can do this too! By using your OTT solution to segment audience data like demographics and viewing patterns, you can create specific experiences tailored to each audience segment. It's like a win-win situation - you expand your reach into new niches while providing a superior personalization experience to your viewers. So, get personal! Make your media strategy quirky.

Reason #6: Turn your viewers into super fans with exclusive content​

Want to turn your viewers into a group of loyal super fans? Then an OTT solution is just what you need! Using it, you can offer exclusive content they can't get anywhere else. It can build loyalty and a sense of exclusivity among your audience. This content could be anything from behind-the-scenes footage to early access to new releases. And let's not forget about those special discounts on your offerings: who wouldn't want to be a part of that?

Remember, it's not just about building loyalty. By incorporating product placement and sponsored content in a more seamless and natural way, you enhance brand visibility and drive more sales as well. Don't settle for a casual fan base when you can have a group of die-hard supporters. Watch your audience become super fans in no time.

Reason #7: Create a more personalized advertising experience for viewers and advertisers alike​

As an advertiser, you want to reach the right audience with your message at just the right time. But how do you know when that is? With traditional TV commercials, it's hard to tell if someone was actually watching or not (and whether they're even interested in what's being advertised).

However, OTT solutions change the advertising game altogether. They make it possible for brands to target specific segments of viewers who are receptive to their messaging, all while providing users with relevant ads tailored directly toward their interests! You, in turn, get more bang for your buck with every ad played.

And don't worry; there won't be any unskippable ad breaks during shows (if you want it to be so.) OTT solution providers like Teyuto allow you to place pre-rolls, post-roll, and mid-roll ads in episodes. So, you can customize your user experience the way you want it to!

Reason #8: Reduce churn with free trials, promo codes, and more!​

OTT solutions can also help reduce churn or the cancellation rate of subscriptions. This is done by offering free trials that allow consumers to test drive before signing up as paying subscribers.

Promo codes are another way brands like yours can use an OTT platform - they give customers incentives such as discounts on products/services when they enter a promotional code at checkout, which encourages them not only to try out your offering but also to return in the future!

Reason #9: Increase revenue with Transactional VoD (TVoD) options and ad space​

If you want to know how much money streaming services make, just look at the numbers. In 2022 alone, it's estimated that OTT video generated $275.30 billion in revenue. In this revenue pie, the largest segment turned out to be OTT Video Advertising with a market volume of $180.40 billion.

That's a lot of dough. And you can get in on the action too by offering TVoD options and advertising space to OTT subscribers with an OTT platform. With this, people will be able to access content anytime they want without having to spend any extra money upfront - which means more revenue for your business!

Reason #10: Streamline your distribution process and save some cash​

Let's face it, the traditional distribution process can be a real drain on your resources.

But with an OTT solution, you can streamline the process and save some cash in the process. How? By eliminating the need for traditional distribution channels. No more purchasing airtime, renting satellite or cable transmission equipment, and paying for distribution rights eating into your profits.

Plus, with the ability to update and change the content in real-time, you can stay agile and responsive to changing consumer preferences and trends. So why spend extra on distribution when you can streamline the process with an OTT solution?

Reason #11: Build your brand: Intuitive user interface, seamless content aggregation, & more​

When it comes to entertainment, people want what they want, and they want it quick! An OTT solution equips you with a sleek design and easy navigation.

You can offer an intuitive UI/UX experience that makes browsing through thousands of titles as simple as tapping on a screen or clicking the remote control. What’s trending, what people with similar interests are viewing, cataloging, and whatnot empowers your viewers with precisely that!

In addition, OTT solutions also allow you to come up with unique solutions. Just think about how much easier your life would be if Netflix could pull up all of HBO's shows on demand! Or, if social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook were able to stream live events simultaneously as they happen around the world (which is already happening).

By implementing an OTT solution with content aggregation capabilities, you can build a more seamless experience for viewers while growing your brand.

Reason #12: Increase your customer satisfaction and retention rates​

As the saying goes, happy customers are repeat customers. When it comes to building successful businesses in today's digital landscape, customer satisfaction plays a huge role.

In fact, as per a Gartner study, it is the main competition area for 81% of marketers. And luckily enough, OTT solutions can help you achieve this.

By offering intuitive UI/UX design, rich media experiences (like real-time chat functionality), in-video polls & surveys, curated videos & personalized recommendations, emails & push notifications, cross-sells and up-sells, and detailed analytics (including viewing patterns & abandoned carts), you can ensure that your customer satisfaction is always leading-edge.

Reason #13: Stay ahead of industry trends and future-proof your business​

In media & entertainment, content is king. But what if there's a way to extend the shelf life of your content and future-proof your business?

That's exactly where OTT solutions like Teyuto and their customized solutions backed by R&D come in! They allow you to not only provide new forms of engaging experiences but also stay on top of industry trends. So when it comes time for an industry overhaul, which will inevitably happen, you'll be ready with an updated product offering from day one!

Reason #14: Reach underserved audiences (and more) by going beyond traditional broadcasting channels​

Did you know that the average TV viewer of even an avant-garde broadcast television network like The CW is aged 58 years? Yes, there's an entire audience you're missing out on with linear TV - and they just might be your target demographic!

Don't get stuck with traditional broadcasting channels. An OTT solution allows you to reach audiences like young adults and millennials, who are more likely to cut the cord altogether than their parents' generation or stay tuned for long hours every day.

It also opens up new revenue streams by allowing companies like yours to take advantage of untapped markets around the world.

What are you waiting for then? Reach these audiences today!

The Bottom Line: How Teyuto Can Help You Build Your Own Customized OTT Solution Today!​

By now, it's clear that streaming services are vital to media businesses. And Teyuto is here to help you make the move from traditional broadcasting channels into this digital landscape!

Teyuto's white-labeled OTT solution offers everything you need for a seamless streaming experience that keeps viewers engaged and coming back again (and again). What’s best is that you don’t need to write a single line of code or care about licensing a streaming protocol at all. You can even build an OTT channel, having cloud video storage and delivery, using its simple drag-and-drop builder.

The possibilities are truly endless with Teyuto’s customizable solutions.

Create your video world with Teyuto and be the next entertainment giant of tomorrow. Contact us for queries or give a shot at our ongoing free trial now!

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There was a time when “cord-cutting” was a phenomenon so exotic that it seemed only to affect those who were already leading edge — the ones who had grown up with a cable or satellite television service. No longer.

It’s now official: cord-cutting is a thing, and it’s affecting the cable industry in a very real way — even if a few don’t want to admit it yet. Last year alone saw an unprecedented 4.9 million people cutting the cord in the U.S. Now, 20.8% of the U.S. population does not have a traditional TV subscription.

That’s a lot of cord-cutters. But where are they headed?

Enter, over-the-top (OTT) video streaming. OTT is a method of delivering content via the internet without requiring users to subscribe to traditional cable or satellite pay-TV services.

It’s an approach that enables viewers to access multiple forms of content, like live and on-demand programming, through smart TVs, smartphones, and other connected devices — all using one subscription service at a time!

Netflix for dramas; Hulu for sitcoms; Curiosity Stream for documentaries… you get the idea! The personal taste may vary, but all of these services allow viewers to choose what they want, and when.

Why is OTT Media so Revolutionary?​

Traditionally, content owners sell their rights to distributors such as cable and satellite TV companies. These are then in charge of getting the content (films, series, sports broadcasts, etc.) out there into people’s living rooms. But this leads to a couple of challenges.

For content owners, it’s hard to get through the tight grips of the cable and satellite TV industry. And for content providers, it’s hard to keep up with what all their customers want — both from a personalization point of view as well as in terms of content availability!

For the viewers, things aren't too rosy either. Various restrictions are put in place: they have to pay for a whole bunch of channels that maybe aren’t interesting enough; they have to arrange their viewing schedules around the broadcasting times; and finally, if by any chance viewers happen to miss an episode of their favorite show for whatever reason – too bad! Not much could be done about it.

OTT services changed all of this.

The OTT revolution began in the early 2000s, with the advent of online video platforms such as YouTube. They enabled users to upload and watch videos on demand at any time — usually for free. Since then, other services emerged that allowed people to pay for content directly from the rights owners: Hulu, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, and Netflix.

OTT services provide consumers with a more personalized viewing experience, and it’s easy to see why: viewers can watch "whatever", "whenever", "wherever" they want to watch it. That was the whole idea behind the video on demand (VoD), which is the most popular form of OTT content delivery method along with live streaming. Viewers no longer have to wait for their favorite TV shows — instead, entire seasons are at their fingertips to binge-watch!

Today's generation doesn't like commitments or restrictions in anything, let alone entertainment consumption habits. Millennials and Gen Z want to access the content on their own terms and the device of their choosing. OTT platforms are giving them exactly that!

OTT subscriptions are cheaper than cable, and the payoff is a lot greater! For less money every month (the average monthly subscription for Netflix in the U.S. costs $9.99), viewers get access to thousands of movies and TV shows without any advertisements or commercial breaks — something you won’t find on traditional cable channels.

OTT Platforms: How They Work?​

So, how exactly do these platforms work? To understand that, we first need to look at the differences between them and traditional TV providers.

The main difference is in the way content is delivered to viewers’ homes — or devices (since many people who use online services don't have TVs).

While cable companies send out signals via satellite dishes and wires before reaching your screen with linear TV channels, streaming services transmit digital video directly over an internet connection using video delivery protocols like HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) or Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (MPEG-DASH). This allows them to provide content, like movies or TV shows, on demand. Unlike linear TVs, these delivery protocols can upscale or downscale video quality based on the end-user's device or network conditions.

The schema for a multi-bitrate MPEG-DASH manifest fileThis also leads to their second difference. For content providers, the lean architecture of online video delivery eliminates any additional delivery costs while providing more control and an evolved viewing experience to the users. Also, unlike cable companies which typically use their own set-top boxes (STBs) to deliver content at home, OTT content can be accessed through most modern devices.

The third difference is the way these platforms make money: by subscription fees (like Prime Video), transactional charges (like Udemy), advertisements (like YouTube), or a unique combination of them! For example, Hulu offers ad-supported content while Netflix does not. Similarly, YouTube operates mostly on ad revenues while also having a premium tier with no ads.

And lastly, both content providers and viewers enjoy unprecedented flexibility. For instance, Netflix has licensing agreements with different content owners to carry their on-demand programming at a global level. Similarly, HBO Max is only available in certain regions, but soon it will be launched across the world! The viewers, on the other hand, can subscribe or unsubscribe to any service instantly. They can also do away with fixed formats such as "prime times" altogether.

OTT Services: Types Available​

With so many options out there today — from free streaming platforms like YouTube or Twitch TV (live streaming platform) that rely heavily on ads for revenue; subscription-based models such as Disney+ or Hulu; pay per view (PPV) or Transactional Video on Demand (TVoD), where viewers pay upfront costs to watch certain events live online without any ongoing fees afterward – how do we categorize all these OTT services?

Well... quite easily! Let’s take a look at some of the most popular types:

1. Subscription Model (SVoD)​

It includes services like Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Amazon Prime Video where viewers have access to all content for one flat monthly fee. There are also ad-supported versions, such as Sony Crackle or Tubi TV.

2. Transactional Model (TVoD)​

This is when users “own” particular pieces of media by paying upfront costs before viewing them on demand without any fees afterward. Think iTunes purchases or renting movies from Redbox kiosks in convenience stores! The transactional video market has grown significantly over time. It’s because consumers often prefer these models due to their flexibility and convenience factor.

3. Free Streaming Services with Ads (AVoD)​

These are services like YouTube where advertisers pay money based on how many people see an advertisement while watching videos online. But subscriptions may also be available for an improved viewing experience.

4. Pay-Per-View (PPV) or TVoD​

Commonly used in sports events like boxing matches, which are charged through cable providers with one flat fee regardless of whether viewers want to view the whole event or just a part of it being broadcasted live! The interesting thing about TVoD nowadays is that they're starting to offer much more than merely sporting events: concerts, movie premieres, courses, and even novelty show such as “Fight Night” are available to purchase using this method!

5. Hybrid Model​

This is the most popular format. In fact, many of the services mentioned above are actually hybrid (inclining more towards the respective model they’re a part of). A hybrid model combines both paid subscriptions with free streaming service offerings. The customers can decide which type fits their needs the best. For example, YouTube Premium has a subscription option for $11.99 per month or you can watch videos without paying anything at all by seeing ads during the playback time.

Now, that you understand various models of OTT services, let us examine what impact these spinning wheels are having on the media industry.

OTT Impact on the Media Industry​

The media industry is in a state of flux as it undergoes the most significant transformation in decades — and at the center of this revolution are OTT video streaming services.

To give you a perspective, YouTube has 2.6 billion monthly active users across the globe – that’s one-third of the global population for you! The platform’s viewers also watch over a billion hours of videos every day. And this is just one of the many OTT video platforms out there.

In other words, everyone’s video consumption habits are changing drastically. They no longer passively watch TV. Now, they actively seek content that suits their tastes and interests.

The emergence of OTT services has sparked a dramatic shift in the way people consume media. This is the chief reason why an increasing number of people are moving to OTT streaming services now.

But how exactly is this affecting the media & entertainment industry? Let’s find out.

1. Changing Content Consumption Patterns​

Traditional TV channels are a thing of the past for younger viewers. It seems this younger generation simply has no time for the old ways. 90% of 18–24-year-olds prefer streaming their favorite content on an OTT service. Also, 16–24-year-olds only spend an average of 53 minutes a day watching traditional broadcast TV, a drastic drop of two-thirds over the past decade. This is seven times shorter watch time for traditional TV as compared to people aged 65 years and above.

2. Cord Cutters are now also "Cord Shavers" and "Cord Nevers"​

Nowadays instead of cutting their cords entirely from cable TVs, cord-cutters have turned their attention to a new trend called “cord shaving” or “skinny bundles.” This involves keeping cable TV connections but reducing packages down by selecting just those channels that they watch regularly.

Another popular alternative is known as the "cord never" option: people who prefer not using any of these services at all because most content is available online anyway! A survey revealed that over 20% of millennials have never had a cable TV subscription.

3. OTT Content Consumption is Rising while Traditional Media Declines​

Over-the-top video consumption has grown rapidly over the past few years due in part to its convenience factor — viewers can access content anywhere, anytime on any device via an internet connection without being tied down.

For instance, the average Netflix subscriber spends more than 3.2 hours per day streaming content on their devices. This has led to a decline in traditional media consumption. Instead, viewers opt for OTT platforms like Hulu and HBO Max since they're easier to navigate through menus without having so many channels thrown at them all once!

4. The Media Industry has to Adapt or Perish​

Media companies are being forced into this transition whether or not they like it.

If cable providers don’t adapt quickly enough, there will be no place left for them because consumers would’ve already moved to advanced video platforms. For instance, people now prefer using search engines like Google where everything is available instantly within seconds rather than waiting for minutes or even hours for a typical TV broadcast!

Big names like Disney, NBCUniversal, and others have already begun to take notice. They’ve started investing heavily in OTT platforms for their content distribution strategies as well by creating streaming services of their own. Prime examples include ESPN+ (ESPN), Disney+ (Disney) and NOW (Sky).

This means we'll see a lot of interesting developments taking place in the OTT market, producing high-quality and original programming over time. It will also mean less reliance on advertising revenues from cable networks since they're no longer needed. Instead, it should be focused elsewhere – namely subscription models based upon consumers' willingness to pay for access.

5. Skyrocketing Demand for Niche Content​

There is a growing demand for niche content amongst viewers and OTT platforms have stepped up their game in response. The increasing popularity of specialized streaming services like Crunchyroll (anime), Shudder (horror movies), etc., has led some experts predicting that these will eventually become more popular than general-purpose ones such as Hulu or Amazon Prime Video.

This could mean trouble down the road if traditional TV networks don’t get on board soon enough with similar offerings before they lose out entirely!

What does this mean for you?​

As a content creator, publisher, or distribution network, it’s important to understand just how significant this shift will be.

OTT media services are here and they're going to up the ante in the future. So, rather than going against the force, it makes more sense to flow with the wave and leverage these platforms for your content distribution strategy.

This ongoing broadcasting overhaul could be your perfect break to create your own OTT platform and deliver content right to your audience’s digital doorsteps.

Even if you're a small-scale publisher, it's now easy to create your own OTT streaming service with OTT solutions providers like Teyuto. All you need to do is drag and drop to create your own feature-intensive OTT channel. If you're inclined more towards a highly customized service and develop a completely unique set of services, Teyuto helps you with white-label OTT app development.

So, what are you waiting for? It’s the time to get started with your own OTT video platform!

Reach out to a leading OTT provider like Teyuto and begin your revolutionary journey toward building a successful digital media business. There’s also an ongoing free trial to let you experience Teyuto’s powerful platform firsthand.

Stay on top of the trends. Start your OTT journey today!

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As the world of entertainment evolves, over-the-top (OTT) platforms have become a game-changing force in the media industry. They allow users to stream content to their devices without a traditional cable or satellite subscription. Simply put, OTT media is all about streaming content directly to viewers!

At Teyuto, we are passionate about the potential of OTT platforms and the opportunities they present.

In this blog, we will explore the challenges and opportunities of launching an OTT platform. We will also have a close look at the potential for growth and innovation in the OTT market.

So, whether you are a content creator, a media company, or a consumer of OTT services, this blog will provide invaluable insights into the ins and outs of launching an OTT platform. Let’s begin with the hard part first!

The challenges of launching an OTT platform​

In theory, launching an OTT platform seems fairly simple. You can set up a website, purchase some video management software, and start uploading content. In reality, however, it is much more complex.

There are several challenges that you need to address for a successful OTT platform. For starters, the viewer wants a personalized experience. This can be in terms of suggested movies, TV shows, and other content to watch.

Then, there is the matter of subscriptions. How can you make the purchase process easier and more seamless? How can you make it so that the subscription renews automatically?

You also need to ensure that the platform is secure. You must protect the content from piracy, and at the same time, you need to ensure that the user’s data is safe.

All of this is while ensuring that your video content is as accessible as possible across all devices and platforms.

So, let's delve deeper into the major challenges you'll face while launching an OTT platform.

1. The competitive landscape of the OTT industry

As the OTT industry continues to grow, the competition is becoming increasingly fierce. There are several top OTT platforms for consumers to choose from, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and Disney+ alongside others.

To stand out from the crowd, you need to offer something different. You need to offer something that isn’t already there. This could be in terms of content or the user experience.

Before you start working on your OTT platform, research the market thoroughly. Identify the gaps in the OTT industry, and think of how you can address those gaps.

1. The cost and technical challenges

Building and maintaining an OTT platform requires significant financial investment and technical expertise.

From infrastructure and hosting costs to developing a user-friendly interface and ensuring smooth playback, the costs can quickly add up. But your users won't care about these costs.

They will only be bothered about how user-friendly and glitch-free the platform is. They will not think twice before leaving if they cannot resume a video on your OTT TV app after having watched a part of it on their smartphone.

To give a ballpark figure, the cost of building a high-quality OTT platform can range from tens of thousands to millions of dollars, depending on the scope and scale of the project. Additionally, OTT providers need to be prepared to invest in ongoing maintenance, R&D, and infrastructure upgrades to keep their platforms running smoothly and stay ahead of competitors.

However, you can minimize these costs by:

● Leveraging OTT solutions providers like Teyuto

● Developing a minimum viable product

● Outsourcing your development work

1. Securing content and licensing agreements

The success of your OTT platform will be largely dependent upon your ability to secure content and licensing agreements. This is a particularly challenging task for new OTT platforms, as content creators are often reluctant to do business with unknown entities.

You will need to convince content creators and producers that your platform is a good fit for their content and that you will market it effectively. You will also need to negotiate licensing agreements and fees. This can involve securing rights for different regions and languages, as well as dealing with exclusivity clauses and other legal hurdles.

1. Comprehensive video management

Managing large amounts of video content is a crucial part of operating an OTT platform. It requires a robust video content management system (video CMS) and a scalable OTT architecture that's compatible with all devices. Your platform needs to handle aspects like load balancing, uploading, transcoding, organizing content, gathering analytics, and reporting on viewership & engagement. This can involve multiple video management tools, licenses, and services, which can get difficult to manage and be expensive.

1. User acquisition and retention

It's great to have a cool new OTT platform. But you need people to use it. For this reason, user acquisition is a top priority, especially for new OTT platforms.

You must create a marketing strategy that will attract new users and encourage them to sign up for your platform. You’ll have to generate coupons, gift cards, and other promotions.

You also need to work on user retention. You’ll have to know and avoid abandoned carts, drive reselling campaigns, and even push cross-sells to your viewers. You must further engage your users with rich features like live comments, in-video polls, in-video CTAs, and so on.

1. Staying ahead of changing technology and consumer preferences

Consumer preferences change, and they change fast! The rise of streaming services (and the decline in linear TV viewership) is a prime example of it. So, consumer-centric innovations and content addition should not be an afterthought.

Today, the OTT TV industry is evolving rapidly, with new technologies and platforms emerging on a regular basis. This makes it all the more important to stay on top of trends and ensure that your platform always has an edge.

You may need to invest in ultra-low-latency streaming, Artificial Intelligence, or other technologies down the line.

Although launching an OTT platform is no easy task, the pros of launching an OTT solution clearly outweigh the cons. So, now, let’s take a look at some of the most promising OTT opportunities in the segment.

The opportunities in launching an OTT platform​

OTT offers innumerable opportunities to content creators, media companies, and consumers. Let’s take a look at some of the most exciting opportunities in the OTT industry.

1. The potential for growth in the OTT industry

As more people cut the cord and turn to streaming services, there is an ever-growing need for new OTT platforms.

According to Statista, the revenue in the OTT video segment could’ve already reached $275.3 billion in 2022. By 2027, this figure is expected to be $476.7 billion. Owning just a small pie of this growing market can lead to millions of dollars in revenue, even if you’re starting from scratch.

Also, there’s a growing demand for original and niche content, which can be a good entry point for new OTT platforms.

1. The ability to reach a global audience

One of the biggest benefits of launching an OTT platform is the ability to reach a global audience. With an OTT service, you can reach viewers all over the world, something that's not possible via traditional TV networks.

The burgeoning market for localized content also means that new OTT platforms can create content that is tailored to specific regions and languages.

The demand for such services is only increasing. By offering tailored content for specific regions and languages, you can stand out in a crowded industry and give your audience exactly what they want.

1. Flexible Monetization

You can monetize your OTT platform however you want. There are several ways to monetize OTT content, from Subscription VOD (SVOD) and Transactional VOD (TVOD) to advertising (AVOD), paid promotions, and hybrid monetization.

Generally, new OTT services offer a "freemium" model, which is a hybrid monetization strategy that allows users to access basic content for free and pay for premium content.

This approach is a great way to get new users hooked on your platform. Once they're hooked, they will be willing to pay sooner or later.

Another approach is to partner with advertisers. This could involve having an ad at the beginning of a video or including ads within the video itself, even if you’re live streaming (using VAST technology).

1. Robust analytics and user engagement

For great results, you need to have a strong understanding of your users. That's precisely where analytics comes in.

Analytics tools provide valuable insights into how users are interacting with your content, so you can make data-driven decisions about what to publish on your platform.

Additionally, you can use these tools to understand how your users are engaging with each other. What are they saying about your platform? Analytics tools can also help you understand where your users are coming from, or how they found your platform in the first place.

Now, having a strong understanding of your users is only half the battle. The other half is keeping them engaged. Backed by these insights, a major opportunity area for you is to uniquely engage users.

Perhaps, you can set up a workflow automation every time a user makes a purchase. Or, send emails and push notifications to update them about a video they may be interested in.

1. Unique and exclusive content

Unique and exclusive content is the need of the hour. That's why you can see leading OTT platforms investing their resources in creating original content. The only thing is they can't create content around everything! It sets your OTT platform's original content apart from them.

The OTT industry has brought a few tectonic shifts within the global entertainment landscape. First, it has lowered the barrier to entry for content creators. Second, it has increased the appetite for quality and original content globally.

So, if you think that you can quench this global thirst, the world is your oyster.

1. The potential for partnerships and collaborations with other industry players

As the OTT industry continues to grow, so does the need for collaboration. By partnering with other OTT platforms, you can expand your reach and offer a more diverse selection of content to your users.

In addition to collaboration, there is also an opportunity for video OTT platforms to partner with other industries. This could lead to a win-win scenario where collaborating players can tap into each other’s advantages.

Now that we’ve understood the pitfalls and the opportunities of OTT platforms, let’s find out how Teyuto can help you realize your dream – with a simple touch of a button.

How Teyuto can help launch your OTT platform?​

As we know, the world of OTT services is complex and constantly changing. For this reason, it can be difficult to get it off the ground.

Fortunately, there are companies like Teyuto that specialize in helping OTT entrepreneurs launch their platforms and overcome the challenges they face.

Here are some of the ways that Teyuto can help you launch your OTT platform.

1. Create and launch your powerful OTT platform

Teyuto is a global OTT solutions provider that specializes in building and launching OTT platforms. You can launch your OTT service in minutes using Teyuto’s no-code, drag-and-drop platform builder.

Deemed the best OTT provider, it helps you design and build a fully-customized, white-label OTT platform from scratch. Moreover, it also supports you to publish and maintain your OTT app. Teyuto has expertise in building powerful Mobile OTT Apps, TV OTT Apps, and web-based OTT platforms.

1. Feature-intensive yet Cost-effective

Despite being a category leader, Teyuto is the most cost-effective OTT service provider out there. Its plans start at just €29 per month! With Teyuto, you won’t have to spend several thousand or millions of dollars, even if you’re building a high-performance OTT platform.

Teyuto also provides a 14-day free trial. So, you can test the platform before you buy.

1. Monetize your OTT platform

Teyuto helps you monetize your OTT platform by providing a range of monetization options. These include Subscription VOD (SVOD), Transactional VOD (TVOD), and advertising (AVOD). Unlike other revenue share OTT builders, Teyuto doesn’t charge you anything for your user payments and subscriptions. So, you can reinvest that money in your business and grow at a faster pace.

1. Offer the best video search engine

A video search engine is the heart and soul of any OTT service. The challenge is that most of the solutions providers extend tag-based searches. This approach often returns no results when the "keyword" isn’t an exact match.

However, Teyuto's search engine will allow your viewers find exactly what they're looking for, leading to a seamless platform experience. It also has a great recommendation engine that can recommend series and packages to your users based on their usage patterns.

1. Seamless user experience

Teyuto's goal is to help you provide a seamless user experience to you and your viewers. One way it does this is through its Content Management Solution (CMS), which makes it easy to manage all of your content in one place. It also includes features like bulk uploading, auto recording (live streaming videos to VOD), organizing content as Collection, Series, and Packages, and a whole lot more!

Teyuto also enables you to improve your OTT platform by providing robust analytics and data. Its analytics features include watch time, number of plays, video views, top series and videos, and other detailed statistics. It also integrates with Google Tag Manager and Google Analytics to provide even more data about your OTT platform. Ultimately, all of this helps you make informed decisions for your platform's constant evolution.

1. Protect your content and users

At Teyuto, the safety of your content and viewers is one of the top priorities. The OTT solution provider extends a secure and reliable OTT platform with highly encrypted videos and signed URLs that prevent any unauthorized access. Teyuto also offers two-factor authentication on all of its plans. Other security features of Teyuto include simultaneous login sharing protection, geoblocking, malicious bot detection and removal, and SSL encryption.

1. Grow your OTT platform

Teyuto provides a wide range of marketing and engagement features to grow your OTT platform. These include unlimited coupons, unlimited gift cards, integrations with email marketing, and abandoned cart lists to name a few. On top of that, it also offers eCommerce integrations both in video and video players.

1. 24/7 support

Teyuto wants you to thrive! And, for it, it provides 24/7 support including email support, live chat support, and 1-on-1 onboarding calls. Its customer support team is highly experienced and trained to help you with any issues you have. On certain plans, you also get a dedicated account manager to help you with any questions you have.

1. Integrate with other applications

Through its API and Zapier integration, Teyuto allows you to integrate with other applications. The platform also provides webhooks for custom integrations. As an added advantage, its integration with Zapier not only helps you automate workflow processes but also connects these automated workflows with other popular apps like Mailchimp, Facebook, Hubspot, Google Sheets, Gmail, and 5000+ other platforms.

1. Stay at the top of Innovation

Lastly, and most importantly, Teyuto always remains at the edge of innovation in the OTT industry. This means that you get all the latest features, innovations, and best practices to offer the best possible user experiences. In other words, your OTT platform is always ahead of the curve and ready for whatever the future may bring without ever having to worry about R&D or development costs.

Final Words​

Disrupting the status quo, OTT platforms are game-changers in the media industry.

The competition is fierce. The growth is rapid. A lot of challenges have to be overcome. Many opportunities to be seized.

The time to act is now.

If you’re interested in launching an OTT platform, Teyuto is here to help. Get in touch with us if you have any queries or sign up for our 14-day free trial today. Godspeed!

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Imagine you are an employee of a courier company, and you've been asked to watch new express delivery guidelines on the intranet. What do you do? You go to your intranet, search 'express delivery guideline', and hope to get the video you're looking for.

But, hey! It says "Video Not Found."

You recheck your keyword or maybe refine it a bit further. But you get the same result again even after adding more keywords to make your search term more precise. Your takes include 'new express delivery guideline', 'express delivery guideline new', and 'new guidelines for express delivery. Still, no luck! What do you do now? Chances are, you might just give up on searching.

Now, think, do you want this to happen to your employees or end-users? Absolutely not!

If you are running a video OTT solution and want to keep your customers engaged and satisfied, you need to do two things:

1. Enable your users to find the exact content they are looking for

2. Speed up the search process

So, what you need is a smart video search engine. Yes! A smart video search engine works differently than traditional OTT platforms' native ones (if they have any at all).

But before we dig deep into how this new generation of the video search engine works, let me briefly explain why the keyword-based approaches aren’t optimal… and what semantic search means for Video OTT providers.

Tag-Based Approach: The Problem with Traditional Video Search Engines​

Most video OTT platforms have a tag-based search algorithm to find videos. In some cases, it means you can only get results if the keyword typed exactly matches a particular video tag.

When we talk about finding content on OTT platforms (and other verticals like corporate websites or news portals), this approach fails miserably! Why?

Because as per a U.S. study, 91.8% of search queries are long-tail keywords. This means people use complex and long phrases to find what they need. If you are using a traditional search engine that’s entirely based on the lexical search, your users might not get what they need.

How to solve this problem?

Well, there is a solution: "Semantic Search!"

With semantic web technologies hitting their stride in recent years, it's time for Video OTT Platform Providers to build smarter solutions for clients and the end-users.

What is Semantic Search? Why is it unique?​

The concept of the Semantic Web was introduced by Tim Berners-Lee back in 1999 as a way of making information on the internet more accessible. To be precise, the technique aims at making data machine-readable instead of human-readable; hence enabling computers and programs to make sense of the internet.

As of today, semantic search is used in various industries (including eCommerce) to help customers and businesses find what they are looking for. It understands their intent. So, unlike traditional keyword- and tag-based approaches, exact query matches are not necessary.

For example, when you say "I need a Chinese recipe" or "Chinese dish", a semantic search engine will understand your query and provide relevant results. If there’s no video with the exact "phrase match", it may come up with Dim Sums or Wonton Soup, which are essentially Chinese cuisines. This makes the user experience more fulfilling.

Here's how Semantic Video Search works​

Semantic Search Engines do four things to come up with relevant results. They are:

1. Categorize data

2. Find the distance between search terms embedded in a latent space

3. Present search results

4. Generate metadata and analyze user trends to improve their learning curve

Let me explain these four steps with an example. Suppose you are looking for a video about "Hacking" or maybe "Ethical Hacking."

Before you even begin searching, the search engine would’ve structured the data in a way that makes it easier to look it up. It would’ve assigned a weight to different parameters (such as title, description, genre, cast, etc.) to all videos available in the backend.

Then, it will pick up your query and analyze it. It will determine the correlation between one or more search terms, and find out the distance between them in a latent space (similar terms create a cluster of keywords with low spacial distance). In other words, it will try to find out how each keyword is related to another by mapping them in different ways.

This also taps the previously generated metadata on the platform, which may include words like cyber attack, computer security, etc.

Then, it provides the user with the most contextual results.

Lastly, but most importantly, a semantic search engine will keep adding new data points every day based on customer behavior. So, the results keep improving with every search query and user interaction!

Leading OTT solution providers like Teyuto have begun their journey into semantic search by giving weightage to the description, categories, casts, and so on.

For instance, if a user types "Rowan Atkinson" instead of "Mr. Bean", Teyuto’s engine will find relevant matches based on the actor’s name and show "Mr. Bean" videos in the result as well.

And that's not all; the service provider also plans to tie its searches with an AI recommendation engine. This will give users an even more delightful experience. Therefore, if a user searches for "Hacking", it may not only show all the videos related to hacking but also other content such as "Cybersecurity" or "Cryptography", depending on what other users have watched before.

Why Semantic Search is important for your OTT solution?​

With the constant growth of the internet and content, it's almost impossible to keep up with the ever-growing demand for relevant content. That's where a smart semantic search engine comes into play; it makes your job easier and faster by:

1. Providing a better way to find what people are looking for – be it a product, service, how-to guide, or any other content on your platform!

2. Helping to find those long tail keywords that traditional video searches often miss out on! In turn, your users will get what they need (even if they don't know the exact keyword or phrase.)

3. Improving user experience like never before, which helps video platforms engage better with their customers and drive superior results.

4. Giving you an edge over your competition. And ultimately...

5. Helping automation tools provide intelligent solutions, so that humans can focus their efforts elsewhere. If someone asks "I am looking for something funny" or "Show me some good movies", these semantic search engines will present users with exactly what they need without doing it programmatically.

Tips to Keep in Mind for a Better User Search Experience​

Although a good video search engine will get most of your work done, you still need to do a couple of things. So, check these things off your list:

1. Understand How it Works​

At the heart of it, everything ultimately depends on the data that’s already available. Even the best video search engine may not do much if there’s no data, to begin with.

Make sure you not only have an in-depth understanding of how these correlations are forming but also help optimize the process by feeding rich data to your system.

2. Improve CTAs (Calls-to-Action)​

Have clear calls to action on your platform. It will help your users navigate through videos with ease! The more visual cues you provide, the better results will be returned by your customers. It will create a positive feedback loop for your engine.

As an added benefit, this exercise will further improve your engagement rate, and even transactions directly made through your video catalogs!

3. Use Tags​

Your tags should be perfect! Don't just add random names that have nothing to do with your video. For instance, avoid using tags like "best" or "amazing" in your tags.

It may make you feel like you're offering the best content on the internet; but, it will confuse the system and make your search results worse. Rather, use tags like "funny" or "romantic" to describe your video, so that the system can understand it better and present the right videos to the viewers. Also, try to use similar tags for similar videos.

4. "Descriptive" Description​

Provide a description for each video on your platform. Then, try to make it as descriptive as possible. This is because your description would also have a certain degree of search weight attached to it. Try to include as much detail as possible. It will make your videos more discoverable.

5. Use Related Keywords​

Make sure you use as many relevant keywords in your videos as possible. For example, if people are searching for "Learn Python" and you have a video called "How to Use Flask", then add keywords like "python" or "learn python" in your description.

6. Create Great Thumbnails​

Make good thumbnail images for each video uploaded on your platform. This will help users who can't find what they're looking for with tags/category names to locate something based on a picture instead!

7. Enrich Your Metadata​

You can use semantic search engines to enhance your metadata. This way, you'll have more accurate results and better search performance. And if possible, add captions or subtitles with every video too!

8. Update Titles​

Update your titles regularly. For instance, if you've created an e-learning course called "The Ultimate 2021 Node JS Tutorial", and now it's 2023, then updating the title (and content, wherever applicable) seems to be a good idea.

9. Categorize​

Lastly, and most importantly, make the task of your video search engine as easy as possible. Avoid letting a machine assume what to do.

Because a machine only thinks in binaries. For it, “a video” (without capitalized "v") is different from “a Video” (with capitalized "V"). And this is just one example.

When you have a video library of 10,000 videos, there could be n number of assumptions that it may be making.

So, make sure you have adequate guardrails in place. Add tags, categories, genres, and every other relevant information to help users find what they need faster! This will give more accurate search results.

Final Word on Semantic Search...​

Semantic search is evolving quickly. It will soon be a crucial part of the video OTT industry and take the user experience to a whole new level. The sooner you start using it, the better!

So, if you are planning to build a video platform or looking to improve your existing one, make sure you utilize a great content discovery solution like Teyuto.

So, what are you waiting for? Head over to Teyuto now; have a chat with the team, and give your users/customers an all-new experience like never before!

Are you looking for the best OTT solution providers to create your own OTT platform? If yes, then this post is just for you. Over the Top (OTT) Platforms have transformed the way we consume media and entertainment content over different devices such as smartphones and PCs.

To us unaware muggles, it looks simple to just “stream” the content online. But, behind this simple streaming process, there's a complex tech stack of OTT services with a lot of moving parts (such as video encoding, transcoding, transmuxing, device detection, last-mile content delivery, digital rights management, load balancing, and more.)

If you consider that all of this is done in a few hundred milliseconds (1 second is 1000 milliseconds), a smoothly playing video on any device is nothing short of wizardry!

No doubt then, that choosing one of the best OTT video service providers for your needs is crucial to ensure a successful and smooth launch of your own streaming service.

In this post, we will discuss what is an OTT platform, how it works, and the best OTT providers for building your own customized OTT platform.

What is an OTT Platform?​

OTT stands for Over-The-Top (OTT) media services that provide audio-visual entertainment content such as movies, TV series, corporate videos, etc., directly via the internet to end users of these services. Such video delivery services bypass the conventional broadcasting ecosystem of cable TV and satellite TV.

OTT platforms are also known as OTT video platforms, OTT streaming platforms, OTT video services, OTT video solution, OTT service providers, OTT video service providers, OTT video solutions, or, simply, online video platform providers.

Examples of popularly known global players in this space are Netflix, Apple TV+, Hulu, Prime Video, etc. Some examples of corporate OTT solutions include intranet, custom video portals, and industry-specific OTT platforms.

Examples of OTT Platforms​

Some of the use cases for an OTT solution include:

1. OTT Video Platform for Enterprises​

Enterprises can use an OTT platform to create their own intranet or custom video portal. This allows them to share corporate videos, training materials, and other content with employees in a secure manner. It also helps them save on travel costs by conducting virtual meetings via live streaming of events such as townhalls, conferences, etc., over the internet.

2. Educational​

OTT platforms can be used by educational institutions to create their own video portals for sharing course content with students. This helps them save on the costs of printing and distributing study material, while also allowing them to create an advanced, data-driven learning environment. The generated data can help them personalize training modules for their students.

3. OTT Streaming Platforms​

OTT streaming platforms are ideal for media companies that want to launch their own branded online TV channels or subscription-based VOD services such as Netflix, Hulu, etc. This is one of the most popular use cases for an OTT platform. OTT streaming platform enables you to reach your audience while bypassing conventional channels of broadcasting and their red-tapism.

4. Content Creators​

Content creators can use OTT platforms to launch their own branded streaming services and monetize their content via subscription-based models. This allows them to brand themselves better, reach a wider audience, and ensure they get fairly paid for the value of their work!

5. Sports Streaming​

Both sports broadcasters and individual teams can create an online TV channel using an OTT platform provider and live stream matches over the internet. It can increase fan engagement as well as revenue from ticket sales or sponsorships by reaching out to fans around the world.

They could even offer exclusive behind-the-scenes footage on demand so viewers feel like they're part of something special instead of just being mere spectators sitting passively in front of screens without any interaction whatsoever.

6. Religious Streaming​

Religious institutions can use OTT platforms to live stream religious ceremonies and other events over the internet. In today’s digital-first age, this approach ensures maximum attendance and helps ordained ministers to take the word of God where it should be – amongst the common masses!

7. Government Organizations​

Everyone is going online. And government organizations and departments aren’t behind! In fact, they’re leading the way with their digital services. Smart governments are using OTT platforms to make live streaming of important announcements or news easy for everyone – no matter what kind of device you're on! And that's not all… They can also create custom video portals where citizens will find government-related resources such as reports, policy issues, etc., in one place instead of having them scattered across multiple websites.

8. Nonprofit Organizations​

Nonprofits have a lot going on and it can be hard for them to get their message out there without some help from technology. It’s not about fundraising anymore – now there are many more different ways for nonprofits to use OTT platforms like live streaming events, creating videos that explain their cause with the help of an expert panel from across different fields, etc., or even making announcements while they're on the go!

9. Political Parties​

Politicians and political parties can use OTT video platform solutions to stream rallies so people who can't access those kinds of events in person still get to see what's happening firsthand - no matter where you might be located physically!

10. Private Live Streaming​

OTT platforms can also be used for private live streaming of events such as birthdays, weddings, or any other personal celebration. Here’s how it works! Just invite your friends and family members to watch the event in real-time on their TV sets while they're chilling out at home (or even if they're away from home). They'll never miss a moment again because, with OTT video platform solutions, you don't have ANY limits when presenting content over internet connections. You also don’t have to worry about annoying advertisements shown before every clip starts!

Different Implementations of OTT Platforms​

There are two ways in which you can build your own OTT platform – either by building it from scratch or using an existing white-label solution.

Let's look at both these options in detail below:

Building Your Own Customized OTT Platform from Scratch​

This option involves developing all the components required for delivering video on demand (VOD) and live streaming, such as transcoding, DRM protection, CDN delivery network integration, etc., yourself.

Today, a user may discover your platform on a smartphone, access it via a laptop, watch videos on a tablet, and, later, continue viewing the video on a Smart TV. So, what you will also need are front-end applications for various devices like smartphones/tablets (iOS & Android), Smart TVs (Android TV & Apple TV), PCs/laptops (Windows & macOS), and licensed video protocols that work with respective platforms.

The advantage of adopting this approach is that you have complete control over every aspect of your service. Do you want to encode videos in RTMP? Check. Want your delivery protocol to be HLS? Check. The video player must have your logo as a watermark? Check. Want delivery to only be in a particular region? Check. Everything will basically be customized to your needs.

But this approach is not without its challenges.

You will need to hire a team of developers with expertise in video streaming technologies and front-end development for different devices. This can be expensive as well as time-consuming (it may take months or even years). Also, you will have to invest heavily in infrastructure such as servers for transcoding videos into multiple bitrates/resolutions and CDN delivery network integration.

And still, you may end up with several loose ends. They may either affect your user experience or lead to a major security concern. There’s no point in reinventing the wheel, especially when there are dedicated solution providers that will give precisely what you need for a fraction of the cost that you’d otherwise experience. This is where white-label OTT solutions like Teyuto come into perspective.

Using an Existing White Label OTT Platform​

This option involves using the existing white-label solution from one of the best OTT providers. Such players offer all the required components out of the box, including content management system (CMS), video encoding & transcoding services, DRM protection, monetization options (like SVOD, TVOD, AVOD, etc.), payment processing, workflow automation, and analytics along with white-label apps for various devices such as smartphones/tablets (iOS & Android), Smart TVs (Android TV & Apple TV) PCs/laptops (Windows & macOS).

All these features are available under your own brand name. So, it looks like you’ve built everything yourself! Another advantage here is that there's neither an upfront investment nor you need to worry about locking in the capital in infrastructure (hosting servers, licensing, or CDN delivery network integration.)

The only thing you need to do is focus on your content and marketing strategy, while the OTT service provider takes care of everything else for you. This approach also allows you to launch your own streaming platform in a matter of days or weeks instead of months or years!

Our two cents would be that it's not wise to reinvent the wheel. If you are looking to launch your own OTT platform quickly and cost-effectively, then using an OTT platform provider is the way to go.

Factors to Consider While Building a Successful OTT​

Several online video platform providers are available, each with its features. Therefore, it's essential to identify the critical aspects. Before choosing an OTT platform provider, here are a few things you should consider:

• Genre: Choose an appropriate genre while building your own OTT video solution to share content, On-Demand videos, events, or movies that meet users' needs.
• Target Market: Strategic content delivery can make your audio or video content adaptable and compatible for streaming across all platforms and devices.
• Enhanced viewing experience: Deliver original content and focus on providing an engaging viewing experience. Focus more on streaming relevant content to the masses now that numerous OTT video service providers are available.
• User Behavior: Because your target audience is more diverse and dynamic, it's crucial to provide a variety of content to appeal to them. You can do this by using analytical tools like real-time traffic updates, viewership statistics, user behavior analytics, revenue reports, etc., to understand how they think and how they behave.
• Monetization Business Tools: The best business models for monetizing online video include live streaming and video-on-demand. Select the monetization strategy that best fits your company's requirements to generate revenue more quickly by increasing viewing through advertising. As OTT streaming service providers, you have plenty of room to grow your lucrative revenue streams.

Plan your resources: Create your own OTT platform based on the type of content distribution that would appeal to your audience. To give your customers a better viewing experience, make sure that resources are appropriately planned.

Best OTT Platforms for 2023 and Beyond​

Teyuto​

Teyuto is a video delivery platform that provides complete white-label solutions for OTT services such as Live Streaming, Video on Demand (VOD), and Subscription Based Services. One of the best features of Teyuto is that, unlike other service providers, it also provides you with a drag-and-drop channel builder. You can use it to create your customizable UI Design and tailor your platform’s interface according to your specific needs.

It barely comes as a surprise then that Teyuto has been recognized as one of the most reliable OTT platforms by many leading industry experts! For instance, it is rated as the Best Video Solution provider by Gartner’s GetApp while also being highly rated by Capterra, Trustpilot, and Product Hunt.

The support team is available 24x7 via helpdesk and chatbot anytime during the day. They also provide quick resolutions!

Pros​

1. No upfront investment required

2. Robust CMS with ultra-low-latency delivery

3. Cross-platform support including smartphones and TV apps

4. Rigorous Security including SSL encryption, PCI service provider certification, signed URLs, 99.99% uptime, geo-blocking, etc.

5. In-video Q&As and Instant Polls

6. Conditional videos for Learning & Development

7. 0% transaction fee on user payments & donations

8. Live chat and comments

9. Full HD and 4K videos

10. Chromecast & AirPlay support

11. In-player file attachments

12. Detailed Insights

13. Lifetime referral earning

14. White-label platform development

15. Branded video player with company colors and watermark

16. Subscriptions start at roughly $30 per month

17. Great third-party support including 1000+ integrations with Zapier

18. Gift cards, coupons, and personalized marketing (including emails & push notifications)

19. Upselling and reselling of subscriptions

20. Paywalls & trial videos

21. Semantic video search for quick & easy video discovery

22. Proprietary video technology keeps your overall cost to the bare minimum

23. Two-factor authentication. Unlike other service providers that provide 2FA, Teyuto provides this feature on all plans

Cons​

1. No free tier (although the pricing is highly competitive and there’s an ongoing free trial)

Uscreen​

Uscreen is a video monetization platform for content creators. Uscreen provides you with the tools to build and monetize your own OTT service, which includes hosting & distributing videos online through an HTML5 video player (and/or apps).

There are many epic features in Uscreen, including mind-blowing aesthetics and a plethora of marketing, sales, and cognitive technologies that function on all devices.

In order to fit their brand, you can customize your website and apps, giving your audience a totally unique experience. With Uscreen, you can also fully control your clients' data because their database safely stores all billing and other consumer information, which can be extracted later.

Pros​

1. No upfront investment required

2. Paywalls and trial videos

3. Cross-platform support including smartphones and TV apps

4. Rigorous Security including SSL encryption, PA-DSS PCI compliant, 99.99% uptime, geo-blocking, etc.

5. Live chat and comments

6. Full HD videos

7. Chromecast & AirPlay support

8. Gift cards and coupons

9. Detailed Insights

10. Lifetime referral earning

11. White-label platform development

12. Great third-party support including 1000+ integrations with Zapier

13. Good design templates based on different use cases

14. Upselling and reselling of subscriptions

Cons​

1. Uscreen’s video player is not customizable

2. The barrier to entry in terms of price is high with basic plan starting at $79 per month

3. 4K video delivery not available

4. Unlike Teyuto, Uscreen is a revenue share OTT builder. Transactional videos involve a 5% commission. Uscreen also charges $0.5 per month per active subscriber.

5. You cannot brand the video player

6. In-video quizzes are not supported; conditional videos are not available

7. The apps are only available with a Uscreen plus plan, starting at $799 per month

8. Uscreen's video technology is not proprietary. It's licensed. This ultimately increases your cost of ownership.

Dacast​

Dacast has all the features that brands and content creators expect from top-quality OTT platforms. Their high-quality live-streaming video is excellent for marketing, communications, and sports coverage. One advantage of using their service is that all customers have access to live streaming, while other sites only let premium users use this function.

Dacast converts your video footage using transcoding software into a streamable format. Their cloud transcoding solutions utilize a variety of encoding settings to quickly and easily complete this procedure.

With a variety of monetization tools, clients may also monetize their VOD platform. With TVOD, SVOD, and AVOD formats, they can monetize using a secure SSL barrier. To earn money from advertising, they can place ads on their content. Additionally, Dacast includes a tool that allows content producers to provide discount codes or bundles of services at bundled prices.

Pros​

1. Plans starting at $39 per month

2. Full HD broadcasting

3. Unlimited concurrent viewers

4. Player customization

5. Secure delivery

6. Geo-blocking

7. Digital rights management

8. Video chapter markers

Cons​

1. Essential features such as DRM and bulk upload only available in scale plan (starting at $188 per month)

2. 4K delivery not available

3. Not-so-great customer support

4. Subscriptions are billed annually. No monthly billing cycles

Wowza​

Wowza is an OTT platform that delivers video-on-demand and live-streaming solutions. Wowza fosters innovation in every sector and delivers video deployments by acting as the partner that helps companies scale.

Wowza Video is the best option for companies that wish to use videos to improve their products and services since it combines all the essential streaming technologies your company needs into a single platform.

Wowza Streaming Engine is ideal for self-managed infrastructures and offline deployment due to its powerful and fully customizable capabilities.

Pros​

1. Reliable and efficient streaming engine

2. Ultra-low latency

3. UHD broadcasting

4. Robust CDN

5. In-depth Analytics

6. Plans starting at $25 per month

Cons​

1. Not many customizations are available

2. Pricing is somewhat hard to understand

3. Configuration and management of servers can be difficult

4. Subscriptions are billed annually. No monthly billing cycles

Brightcove​

By enabling its customers to design and deliver flawless video experiences across mobile, online, smart, and connected TVs, Brightcove helps them increase engagement, connections, and revenue quickly and affordably.

Along with customizable content management and significant market expertise, Brightcove provides them the option of various monetization models to increase their revenue.

Whether it's virtual town halls, weekly all-hands meetings, new hire onboarding, internal product or sales training, or other events, Brightcove's clients can track engagement while fostering strong ties between people and teams, which will ultimately help them retain talented employees, attract more of them, and promote their business.

Pros​

1. Easy to use

2. Good CMS

3. Branding

4. Audience analytics

5. Social sharing

6. Third-party integrations

7. Access control & permissions

Cons​

1. Service outages

2. You have to search videos by the exact tag they have

3. A simple report can take several minutes to generate

4. Pricing is opaque

Kaltura​

Several brands and people use Kaltura's live and on-demand video SaaS solutions Its Kaltura Cloud TV Platform combines pay-TV's scalability and dependability with OTT's features, flexibility, transparency, business models, device reach, and personalization. It enables businesses to provide viewers with a fully personalized live and on-demand TV experience across all platforms.

Kaltura can assist with cloud transformation efforts whether you are a pay-TV service provider or a media organization launching a direct-to-consumer service.

Kaltura is the one video cloud to power all your video needs, whether for team collaboration and knowledge sharing, online training and self-paced learning, internal and executive communication, marketing, or sales enablement.

Pros​

1. A host of specialized use cases including video messaging and meetings

2. Easy to use

3. Video embeddings

4. Branded microsite and landing page

5. Live reactions and group chat

6. Quizzes and polls

7. Detailed insights

8. Real-time notifications

Cons​

1. Videos can be slow to load

2. Not-so-great customer support

Muvi​

Muvi is an all-inclusive OTT Platform that lets you launch multi-screen Video Streaming Services like Netflix and Prime instantly! The platform comes with a complete set of features (including CMS, CDN, DRM, etc.) necessary to run your own video on demand or live streaming service.

Muvi takes care of everything from infrastructure deployment & management at scale so there's no need for expensive hardware investments upfront, which means lower total cost ownership!

Pros​

1. Fully-featured white-label app

2. Unlimited content

3. AI-based recommendation engine

4. Powerful CMS

5. Dedicated server with auto-scaling

6. No revenue share

7. Quick support

Cons​

1. Pricing starts at $399 per month plus $299 per month per app (for standard tier; $499 per app per month for professional and enterprise); additional infrastructure fees applicable if you do not use Muvi One CDN

2. DRM charges are $0.01 per view. AI recommendation is also charged per API request on top of a monthly charge.

3. Although platform customization is good, it can be tricky (no drag and drop.) Also, limited ability to modify templates.

Vimeo​

Vimeo is a popular online video platform that allows users to upload, share, and view videos. It was founded in 2004 and is headquartered in New York City. As a SaaS OTT provider, Vimeo is focused on providing high-quality, professionally-made content.

It has become a popular destination for artists, filmmakers, and other creative professionals to showcase their work. Vimeo offers a range of tools and features for both users and creators, including the ability to upload and share videos in high definition, as well as tools for customizing and branding videos.

In addition to its main platform, Vimeo also offers Vimeo OTT, a service that allows creators to distribute their videos directly to viewers through subscription and rental options.

Pros​

1. 4K & HDR Support & Dolby Vision

2. Branding in player & video

3. Q&A and instant polls

4. Great security with two-factor authentication

5. In-depth analytics

6. In-player calls to action

7. Video monetization

Cons​

1. Customer support is not good

2. Technical issues related to video search, buffering, playback, and video CMS

Final words​

Choosing the best solution provider to develop your streaming channel has become challenging as more and more companies enter the OTT sector. One of the right ways to do it is by using free trials provided by OTT platform providers to ensure the platform you use has all the features and tools you might need to build your OTT streaming.

If you have any queries, feel free to reach out to us, book a demo, or give a shot at our 14-day free trial.

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The corporate intranet was born out of a need. Employees wanted a place where they could find internal company information and collaborate. But, back in the day, the corporate intranet was nothing more than a digital filing cabinet full of static documents.

It would take days, if not weeks, for information to be updated, and it would barely have any relevance to the majority of employees. It's not a surprise then that only 13% of employees used their intranet daily back in 2012. 31% of them didn't use it at all!

The only difference is that this isn't 2012. We are 10 years past that, and a lot has changed!

The corporate intranet of today is a far cry from its boring and neglected predecessor. It's now a hub for employee engagement, where employees can find the latest company news, collaborate on projects, access information quickly and easily, and even share the titbits they've been hoarding for months. All thanks to videos!

Yes, you read that right. Video has completely transformed the corporate intranet from being an afterthought to becoming the centerpiece of employee communication strategy. If you are looking for ways to turn your corporate intranet from boring to brilliant, here are 16 ideas to get the ball rolling with videos:

1. Video as an information source

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Your employees crave company information. It's just that they don't want to mine it from a pile of text documents or limitless scrolls. So, why not give them what they want in a format that they love?

Videos are the perfect way to communicate corporate announcements, product updates, and other important information you want to get across effectively. You can also notify your employees with superior personalization with innovative service providers like Teyuto.

2. Employee introduction videos

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New employees often feel like outsiders in their first few weeks on the job. Make new hires feel welcome with short introductory videos of your employees that new hires can watch before (or on) their first day. This will help break the ice and make it easier to know their colleagues right away!

It will also smoothen the path for existing employees during cross-department collaborations. So, it’s a win-win overall!

3. "Day in the life" series

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Help your employees understand what others do at work with a fun “day in the life” video series. People love making videos. Don’t they? Then, why limit their creative spark to Instagram and TikTok?

Give them free rein on your corporate intranet and see what interesting videos they come up with! A great idea here is to get team members to share a typical day at work with vlogs and mini-documentaries.

You can even turn it into a monthly, quarterly, or annual contest with gifts and goodies. Gifting also boosts employee motivation, productivity, engagement, and morale on top of other benefits.

4. Expert interviews

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Your employees are always looking to learn and grow. And who better to learn from than the experts in your company?

On your corporate intranet, create a series of interview videos with industry leaders, department heads, or anyone else who can offer valuable insights into various topics.

The formats and topics ultimately depend on what you’re looking for. Also, these videos don't have to be long-form content or a video series. Even 2-minute rapid questions work wonders.

5. How-to guides

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If your intranet is full of long and complicated how-to guides, chances are that no one's going to read them. But if you replace them with short and sweet video tutorials, you'll be surprised at how quickly employees turn up on your intranet!

How-to videos can be used for everything from explaining a new company policy to demonstrating how to use a particular software application.

Here, the key is to keep everything sorted. Remember, a how-to video on back-end development will barely be of any use to your marketing team and vice versa. So, make sure you have categories set up properly.

6. Personalization

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Speaking of keeping things sorted, one of the best ways to increase engagement is by personalizing the intranet experience for each employee.

Let this thought sink in for a moment. How much more engaged would you feel if the intranet you’re using is designed just for you? Not a single piece of information is what you don’t need.

Doing this is now possible with innovative video solutions like Teyuto. You can first use employee data to segment workers into different categories. Then, share targeted content based on people’s interests, needs, or even location! This will not only make it easier for your employees to find relevant information but also encourage them to keep coming back for more.

7. Live streaming

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Live streaming is one of the most powerful tools for employee engagement. It allows you to connect with your workforce in real time, no matter where they are. You can use it for everything from company-wide town halls to training sessions and product demos.

The best part is that it's not just restricted to big events – even informal “watercooler” moments like happy hours or birthday celebrations can be live streamed on your intranet!

8. Interactive videos and video CMS

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Interactive videos are a great way to make the intranet experience more engaging and fun. These videos allow viewers to participate in quizzes while (or after) watching a video. You can also use them to create branching scenarios where employees have to choose what happens next. In this way, you can spark design thinking in your employees effectively.

Interactive videos can also serve well as your Learning Management System. For instance, Video Content Management System (CMS) providers like Teyuto equip you with conditional videos, wherein the next video (or a section) is only accessible to employees if they meet a certain threshold (score or watch time).

Want to attach supporting documents? Go ahead. Do it in the video player itself with such video CMS solutions. Does it get any better? If you’re speaking with someone at Teyuto, you just have to ask!

9. Branding

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You speak of branding all the time! But have you ever thought how your brand looks to your employees if your intranet video player has someone else's logo on it? That's not what you want.

With advanced video intranet solutions providers, you can insert your own logo, color scheme, and branding into the video player and landing page. This will make sure the video experience is truly yours!

10. Employee-generated content

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Employees are the heart and soul of your company. This should also show on your intranet. Encourage your employees to create and share their videos.

This could be anything from a tour of their workstation to a quick tip on how they stay productive at work. Not only will this help increase engagement, but it will also give you some amazing ideas for future video content!

11. Video walls

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A video wall is basically a giant screen that displays a continuous stream of videos. It's the perfect way to showcase employee-generated content, product demos, customer testimonials, or even live streaming events.

The best part is that it's not restricted to office spaces – you can also set up video walls at trade shows or company events. So, take the stage and put on a show by connecting it to your video CMS!

12. Screencasts

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Quick and informative videos can be created by screencasting. But did you know that screencasts can also be used on a corporate intranet? You can use them to create how-to guides, product demos, or even short presentations. All you need is a screen capture solution like Teyuto Clip and a microphone. It is a lot easier to explain, especially how to do something, when you’re actually doing it.

13. Q&A sessions

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Don't just broadcast information outwards. Make sure there's two-way communication between senior leaders and employees across different levels within your organization. This can be done through regular Q&As where employees can submit their questions in advance or even participate live. These videos not only build transparency but also give employees a platform to share their thoughts and recommendations. It will make them feel more valued and hence, engaged.

14. Collaboration forums

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Set up collaboration forums where employees can post ideas, share resources, and discuss topics related to work (or even life in general!). These forums are a great place for employee-generated content like tips, tricks, or productivity hacks. And since they're organized around specific topics, it'll be easier for others to find relevant information. Plus, you never know – some of these discussions might just lead to an amazing new product or a process innovation!

15. Employee testimonials

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Nothing builds trust better than hearing first-hand accounts straight from the horse’s mouth. That's why employee testimonial videos are so powerful when engaging employees. In these videos, current employees may talk about what they love about working for your organization and what they’re excited about.

These videos can help create a strong emotional connection between employees (and the organization), especially if your employees trust their content. Our two cents would be to let employees share what can get better at the workplace as well. But it’s your call to make at the end of the day.

16. Employee recognition

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Last but not least, don't forget to love your staff! Recognizing their hard work and accomplishments is a great way to keep them engaged with the company. You can do this through regular “employee of the month” programs or even impromptu shout-outs in company-wide videos. Whatever you do, your employees must know that they are appreciated!

These were some of the ways you can use video to increase engagement on your corporate intranet.

So, what are you waiting for? It's time for a glorious future. It’s time to get creative!

If you need help with setting up your corporate intranet video, get in touch with a Teyuto expert today!

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