How To Boost User Base With Custom VOD Platforms?
The power of content in this digital age is exceptionally strong and can pull and influence users. Businesses are constantly looking for better ways to sell their products and services, and a Video on Demand (VOD) platform is one of the most effective ways to achieve this. But the question is, can all companies need this unique platform?
A custom VOD platform can provide control over the content they want to broadcast, how they can create brand awareness, and even user experience. But this platform needs high investments along with technical expertise to run successfully.
This article will discuss why companies need a custom VOD platform and how to build such a platform.
Why Do Companies Need A Custom VOD Platform?
Listed below are many reasons companies would need or consider using a custom Video on Demand (VOD) platform. Some of the reasons are -
Brand awareness and control
A custom VOD platform helps companies ensure that they retain and maintain their brand identity. They can personalize and customize the platform to sync with their brand and what it stands for, thus giving their customers and users a consistent look and feel.
Control over content
A custom VOD platform lets companies exercise complete control over the content that they wish to show. This control can include decisions about what content will be made available to customers, the timing of its release, and how long it would be available on the platform.
Content monetization
Companies using custom VOD platforms can choose their model for monetizing content. It can be based on subscription, pay-per-view or advertisement support, depending on what is most suitable to their business model.
Data Ownership
Digital products generate huge volumes of data, and custom VOD platforms are no exception. The data can offer information about user preferences and behavior, and this can be used by companies to make informed decisions about the type of content that can be telecast and in designing marketing strategies.
Customer relationships
Custom VOD platforms enable companies to have a direct relationship with their customers. This allows companies to offer better customer service and direct communication with customers. Companies can get feedback and resolve issues that increase customer satisfaction.
Steps For Building A Custom VOD Platform
Identifying needs
A company should first identify the reasons why it needs a custom VOD platform. This can be done by understanding the goals, its target audience, and the type of content it will host on the platform. It requires a clear understanding of various aspects, such as the company’s vision about what it expects to achieve from building this platform, how it would be monetized, and what type of user experience it aims to provide. Questions about essential features, uniqueness of content, and how the users can interact with the platform must be addressed. And the answers can help them in the platform development and design process.
Planning for the platform
Platform planning requires companies to outline the platform structure, which can include user interfaces, user experience, and overall workflow. Companies should also outline how they expect the users to interact with the platform. Planning also factors in the design, navigation and search functionality. This step aims to develop a platform that can be visually appealing, user-friendly, and efficient. This step creates a foundation for the development process that ensures the platform meets user needs and expectations.
Choosing the technology stack
Choosing the technology stack involves selecting programming languages, databases, server technology, and other tools that can be used for building the platform. The selection should be based on factors such as the budget, platform requirement, team expertise, and scalability. The stack should be able to support high-quality video streaming, be compatible with different devices, and have the capacity to adjust for growth and expansion. Technology stack selection should be a very calculated decision as it can affect the performance and success of the platform.
Platform development
This step involves front and back-end development of the platform. Users interact with the front end of the platform, and it has to be designed for ease of use, while the back end involves server configuration, database setup, and ensuring that the platform can handle video streaming demands. It requires skilled manpower to develop a functional platform per design plans. The process also involves coding and testing the platform to ensure that it works smoothly and efficiently.
Integrating monetization methods
The next step is for companies to decide how to monetize the platform. It can be through subscription, pay-per-view, advertisements, or a combination of these methods.
Testing the platform
It is essential that the platform is thoroughly tested for bugs, errors, or other issues. Ideally, this should be done throughout the entire development stage, while retesting at the final stage is critical.
Launching and marketing the platform
Once the platform is ready for the market, it can be launched for public use and various marketing strategies can be used to attract customers.
Maintaining and updating the platform
The final step is to regularly update and maintain the platform, which helps ensure that it remains relevant for the users and meets their needs and requirements.
Conclusion
The need for a custom VOD platform depends on many factors, including the company’s brand identity, content requirements, monetization, and goals regarding customer relationships. A custom VOD platform can offer many benefits but also requires sizable investment and technical expertise. Partnering with a VOD streaming app development company can help a company strategically as it can help and provide much-needed guidance and technical support. A custom VOD platform can offer companies the power of video content in this age of digitization.
