There are many ways to make extra money online. This article will show you how to build a video website with very little programming knowledge. Before we move on, let’s clarify some things. What is a video streaming site exactly? And how does it work?
Video Streaming Site: What It Is and How It Works
The purpose of a video streaming website is to stream live or prerecorded video on demand. This means that you can view whatever video you like whenever you want, regardless of whether it is on TV or on movie schedules.
How does this site work? Technically speaking, all videos are stored on a server. A codec then breaks them down and compresses them.
The pieces are then transported in a container format. This is also known as a distribution protocol. The parts are then temporarily reassembled, and the video is played to the person who requested it.
The following is a simplified explanation. Think about buying something on Amazon. They will store it until someone requests it (server). They will then package the product for transport (codec).
The product will then be shipped to you via a delivery company in a container format. Your purchase will be delivered to your door (device).
You now know what video streaming sites are and why you should use them. Let’s take a look at some statistics.
Why create a video website?
The primary purpose of a video website is to make money. You will hopefully create a website that is large enough to provide financial support. It might allow you to quit your job.
It’s easy to see why you could make so much money with a video streaming site. Video content is more engaging than text. 83% of users will share videos related to their interests with friends. Studies have shown that people spend 88% longer on websites with videos than those that don’t.
A little over 72% of consumers prefer to learn about a product or service via video. Cisco predicts that video content will account for 82% of all internet traffic by 2021.
As more people search for VR experiences on platforms such as Netflix, the rise of VR technology will fuel even greater growth.
You can also make a video website if your YouTube channel is active. According to statistics, 96% of YouTubers live below the poverty line. Your own website can help you create additional income streams to better provide for yourself.
These are all very telling statistics that should give you an idea of the benefits of a video streaming website. Let’s now look at the benefits of creating a video website.
A Video Website is a great idea
Instant Video Playback
It is long gone the days of downloading a video to view it. All you need to do now is click the play button, and then enjoy. With little to no waiting, you can also rewind and fast-forward.
No Storage Space Requirements
You don’t have to have enough storage to play large videos. Neither do people who visit the site.
Accessible from Anywhere
To stream content from a streaming site, you will only need to have internet access. It doesn’t matter when or where you watch the video.
Always in Control
You can view as much content or as little as you like. You will not be interrupted by ads during a viewing session, depending on which service you use. You can pause the video and continue playing whenever you like.
Variety
You can choose what you want to watch. You don’t even need to leave your house to enjoy professional videos such as movies and TV series. You can also view user-generated content to enjoy some fun or informative programming.
You can also tune in to live streams so you can see the event as it happens. There are endless possibilities!
It sounds great, right? These are not the only benefits of video streaming websites. You can provide more benefits for your users and yourself if you have the imagination.
Let’s now see the features that you should be looking for before we move on to the steps of creating a video website. This list isn’t exclusive.
Video streaming website features
Mandatory Features
An attractive homepage is essential for a video streaming website. It should make a good first impression. This will allow users to quickly see what you have to offer and what they can expect. Highlight your most recent and most popular videos to achieve this.
You should also ensure that your website is easy to use. This is crucial when you want to attract new customers. You will lose visitors if they can’t navigate your website. To provide the best user experience, you should create a category page and search bar.
It is also important that everyone has their own account. This will allow them to interact with you and one another. This will increase user engagement which you should strive for. The comment section could be a treasure trove for content. Moderators will need to remove trolls from low-effort comments.
It is important to make registration and login as simple as possible. Ideally, you should register using either an email address or a social media account.
The flexibility will be appreciated by your users.
You should then consider two-factor authentication to increase security. However, it is possible to skip this feature at the beginning.
You should also allow users to personalize their accounts. You will dramatically improve the user experience by allowing them this freedom.
You should limit the amount of personal information and avatars that they can change. You could then allow people to change their profile background, add images, or make videos public.
They will be happier if they have more control of how they interact with your site.
Features that are beneficial to consumers
It is essential that your video streaming website has a search bar. This will make it easy for your viewers to quickly find the content they are looking for. As your website grows, you will need to add advanced search options.
You could also add filters such as general topic, date and location, genre, language or length of the video. Different streaming sites will have different search filters. Consider the best search filters for you and then work towards implementing them.
A video library can be a great addition to any person who uses video streaming sites. It allows users to save their favourite videos and create custom playlists. Users can also rediscover old content that they may have lost.
Easy commenting and direct messaging are essential if you want your site to have more interaction. However, it is important to not make comments that are too similar to YouTube’s.
Subscribers and pay per view can be very useful. Before you implement them, ensure they are appropriate for your website.
Accepting payments is a must. You should ensure that the process is simple and fast. It is easier for people to follow it. You should also allow for multiple payment methods. The most popular payment methods are PayPal, credit and debit cards.
If you use WordPress, WooCommerce can be a great eCommerce plugin. Depending on the primary user base, cryptocurrency payments may also be beneficial. You will also earn bonus points from privacy-conscious users by doing this.
Features for Content Creators
Creators have different needs than consumers. They need features that make it simple to upload videos from different devices. They might be looking to upload videos from their mobile or desktop devices, or even from a screen record or live video. Pre-upload processing is essential for final review before uploading the video.
A creative studio allows content creators to better manage their videos and channels. It’s a useful feature that will please content creators. You should also include channel analytics and video.
It might be a good idea to include the ability to record screen in real-time when creating a video website. This is particularly true if your site will be similar to Twitch and Mixer.
A tipping system can be a great way to motivate your video creators. People who like a video creator’s work will be able tip them directly. This feature can also be used to generate revenue by taking a portion of the total tip amount.
Existing content creators will benefit from the ability to import videos from other platforms such as YouTube and Vimeo. This will make it easier to transfer all of their work to your platform. Creators will be more inclined to visit your site and bring their followers with them.
Scale is important!
It might be a smart idea to hire admins and moderators as your video streaming site grows. These roles will increase the credibility of your website and add an additional layer of control.
These roles will enable you to manage content, monitor quality and pay for your services. It’s best to only add these roles when your user base is large enough. You’ll end up wasting resources.
Now that you know the basics of creating a video website let’s get into the details.
Plan Your Site
Pick a Niche
First, choose a niche. What is the main topic of your videos? You can choose anything from:
- Movies and TV Series
- Gaming
- Anime
- Concerts
- Sports
- Shows involving games
A video website must initially be focused on one topic in order to attract a small group of users. You must cater to their needs so that they return again and bring their friends. You can expand your user base according to your goals and the desires of your community.
This strategy was also used by Amazon. It started out as an online bookstore. It grew to become the largest online retailer. You can also achieve this feat with a little luck and hard work.
Take a look at your content
Once you have chosen a niche, think about the content you would like to create. Answer these questions:
- Do you plan to create videos?
- How will you make them happen?
- How often will your uploads be?
- Are there other ways to add videos?
- Identify the users that you wish to attract.
- Then, identify with the users you want to attract:
- What makes your website unique?
- How can you retain and attract users?
- How can you motivate them to share your content?
A video website should be unique and easy-to-use. This will increase your brand’s credibility and your brand. You can also look for similar websites and learn from them. But don’t duplicate everything they offer. Find something that users are most interested in and make it more valuable.
Define Your Website Type
Although it might seem appealing to have a website that is all-inclusive, this is often not the best idea. You will be too spread out and you might miss niches with high growth potential.
It can also be difficult to make money with all-in-one sites because of the high competition.
There are three options to make a video website. There are three options:
- YouTube and Vimeo are video-sharing platforms.
- Movies, TV Series, and TV Show Sites like Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime
- Live streaming such as Twitch, Ustream and Bambuser
Video-Sharing Platform
Video-sharing platforms are a great way for content creators to connect. People will be more likely to visit your site if it has all or most of the features that they require.
Keep in mind, however, that your recurring traffic will greatly impact the number of content creators who you attract. If your monthly traffic is less than 1,000, you won’t be able to attract big names such as PewDiePie.
You don’t necessarily need to attract a lot of content creators. Even smaller content creators with dedicated fans will work, in fact. If they are abusing YouTube or another video-sharing site, you will have a high chance of pulling someone like this.
Movies, TV Series, and TV Shows
It can be difficult to make movies and television shows. You will need a license to stream the content to your website to create a successful video website. This can cost thousands of dollars. This is not feasible for most people.
To justify your pricing, you’ll need to have a content library that is comparable with major players. You could stock up on niche movies and TV series, but this would require a large budget.
If you want to make a movie website, you must take some risks. There are ways to reduce your chances of being in legal trouble. This will be discussed in greater detail later.
Live Streaming
Live streaming is another option. This content is very popular and has a high growth potential. Twitch is a major player in this space, and you can take lessons from their success.
Although you can make a website that streams video games online, the market is saturated. It will be difficult for most people to copy Twitch’s business model. You will need to find a niche.
Live streaming can be used for any event. A streaming website can be made about sports, beauty pageants and concerts.
Each niche is unique and will require a different approach. Before you start a video website, make sure you study your direct competitors. This will allow you to determine the most important features your website will require. Next, think about how you can give more value to visitors to your site.
Are they going to make it faster than other models? Is it going to have a better design? What features will it offer? It all depends on your niche and who you are trying to attract.
Users need to be able to interact with one another while streaming live. This is essential in order for the site’s potential benefits. Also, ensure your website is compatible with multiple devices so viewers and streamers can use their smartphones, tablets, and computers.
You should also offer recordings of past events to increase your visitors’ engagement. You can bundle streams from the past into playlists and charge a premium for them. You don’t need to make it expensive.
It will surprise you how much people value convenience. Even a $0.99 price tag can be quite effective.
Find a Video Player
Most themes that are video-specific will include their own video players. You won’t have to search for one. But, is the built-in player capable of all your needs? You might consider looking for another player.
Before you begin your search, it is important to know what you are looking for in a video player. The right mix of features and flexibility will be required to improve your viewers’ viewing experience.
Hence, it is important to look out for:
- Supported video formats — the more, the better
- You can customize skins to match your theme
- SEO optimization — to get videos indexed by search engines
- Social sharing — for users to share with their friends
- Video host API connection — to automatically update playlists
- Superb video quality and play speed
- Subtitle options
- Offline player
To create a video website, there are many premium and free WordPress video plugins. Think about the essential features that you need. Next, decide which features you need. Don’t overload your videos with buttons. It will distract viewers.
It’s all great but how do you make a video streaming site? Continue reading to learn the steps.
Build Your Site
Choose a Domain
The domain name of your streaming website needs to be relevant, simple, and memorable. You should choose a name that will resonate with your target audience and clearly convey the purpose and content of your website.
If you are curious about whether the name you desire is available, many hosting providers have an option to check availability. Name.com also offers a tool that allows you to check availability and estimate the cost. Keep in mind, however, that pricing can vary between providers for the same domain.
Most often, the reason for the disparity in fees is:
- There’s a sale
- Domains are not the primary product. Although domains are very affordable, hosting, privacy and customer service can make the entire purchase extremely expensive.
- Additional services are included — Always check what comes with a domain name purchase. It might be that you don’t need or want certain services.
Choose a hosting provider
For playing videos without any problems, reliable storage is essential. Excellent connectivity and latency will increase your website’s availability. Your reputation can be seriously damaged if your website goes down even once.
There are many hosting providers available, but it can be difficult to choose the right one. We recommend that you choose an offshore hosting provider to create a video streaming site. If you plan to use illegal streaming websites to create content, it will offer greater security and protection against copyright violations.
No one is surprised that DMCA complaints can be filed against you if you create a video site. If you don’t buy the license rights, you can expect that to happen. An offshore host can help you avoid these problems and protect your privacy. It will prevent your site being taken down or make it more difficult to do so.
It can take some time to find the right host. It is possible to switch between several providers before you find the right one. This list will help you choose the best. Each pick will have its pros, so make sure you choose wisely.
If you prefer to skip the tedious reading, we recommend you choose AbeloHost. This is a great offshore host in the Netherlands. They will guide you through the setup and handle all technical details. AbeloHost will create the plan that suits your needs.
Get WordPress
WordPress is the most widely used content management system today. is used by more than a third to create websites. WordPress can be used by anyone to create a video website. This is why it’s so popular.
The builder is easy to use, and you don’t even need to know any programming. It is easy to create a streaming website.
You should be aware that WordPress’.com domains are not the same as WordPress’.org domains. The.com domain is free and provides both a CMS as well as hosting. The.org domain can be hosted by you, but you will need to search for a hosting provider.
If you have a case like yours, wordpress.org is the best choice. It offers more flexibility and is free. Offshore hosting is essential to build a video streaming site, as we have already mentioned.
The large selection of themes and plugins available will make it easier to build and maintain your website. The different themes available can change the look of your website, while plugins add additional functionality.
If you have any questions, you can find help from a large and active online community. If you have any questions, you will find the best help online. You can use WordPress forums, Stack exchange and Reddit.
Find a Theme
Next, you need to search for and purchase a video streaming theme. Pre-made themes are an excellent choice as they come with all the features you need. They are also quick and easy to use, which is a major advantage over creating a new video website.
The number of themes available will depend on your niche. You can choose from a free or premium video streaming website template.
Although they are limited in functionality, the free ones might still be worthwhile if you enjoy doing DIY projects. They’re also free! If you choose to do something different halfway through, you won’t be losing much.
Here are some examples of topic requirements for niches. Also, where to find them.
Movies and TV Shows
There are many themes that you can use to create a streaming website for movies, TV, games, and concerts.
If you don’t see one that you like, you can check this list of WordPress movie streaming themes. These themes can be used to easily create a movie website.
A step-by-step guide to setting up your movie theme on WordPress is also available.
You can also use a clone template to create a website that features movies. Clone themes are exactly replicas of popular websites’ designs. Because they include everything in the box, they are particularly user-friendly for beginners.
You already have all the necessary features to create a video streaming site. It is up to you to personalize the site and give it a unique appearance. Netflix’s clone theme is very popular due to its familiar design and success.
It’s easy to find one. It can still be difficult to choose the right theme for you. It is important to consider the features that you require and the ease of navigation. This curated list contains the top Netflix clone themes.
Anime
It is harder to find anime streaming templates for WordPress. It’s easier to reuse existing themes. You can actually use any of these themes. It is entirely up to your discretion.
You can also use anime streaming software if WordPress is not your thing. Both the front-end as well as back-end are included. A PHP script includes its own content management system (CMS), prebuilt web pages, as well as features specifically designed for anime websites.
Some can automatically add anime to your computer, so you don’t have to do it manually. You only need to customize.
Some scripts may require you to know coding. Before you buy a script, ensure that you are able to use it.
Support might be required, too. You should look for a theme or script with dedicated support if you are a beginner. You will be frustrated if an issue arises.
Video Sharing Platform
A script is better than WordPress if you are looking to create a video sharing site where anyone can upload their videos. You will find the website to be faster and have all the features that you need.
It can still be difficult to find the right one. If you have trouble finding one, check out this list of top video streaming scripts and templates.
You can also use existing YouTube Clone scripts. YouTube clones are just like other clone-scripts. They have a copy of the site’s design, features, and layout.
They are helpful if you’re a complete beginner, as we have mentioned. You should budget accordingly. You might be surprised at how expensive some of these options are.
You can also use WordPress. You don’t have to be a professional web designer. It will take you a lot of time to finish it.
Customize It
Next, personalize the chosen theme or script according to your preferences. You don’t usually need to modify any code. It takes just a few clicks to give your website a professional look.
Some scripts include a visual builder if you decide to use one. Some scripts have visual builders, while others do not. You should verify their descriptions before you buy.
You must select a WordPress theme with a page builder. It should support at least existing themes if it doesn’t. To customize it, you’ll need to have coding skills.
Beaver Builder makes a great choice. It is easy to use and offers many customization options. It is compatible with WordPress 4.0 and receives regular updates.
Create a Homepage
Your homepage is the most important aspect of your video streaming website. It will most likely be the first impression that people have of your site. It should be appealing visually and provide a clear indication of what users can find on your website.
You must still optimize your homepage. It is important to discover what works for your audience, and how you can keep them on your site longer.
Make It Easy to Navigate
It is essential to learn how to make a streaming site that is easy to navigate. One of the best ways for video sites to achieve this is to categorize their videos.
Make it easy for viewers to search for the videos they are looking for on a video streaming site. This should only take two clicks.
You should also place your most popular videos prominently. These videos will keep visitors on your site longer and encourage them to explore other content.
Add a Blog
A blog is a great way to reach more people. It’s even better if users are able to contribute their own content.
Blogs can help make your website more trustworthy, especially if you can relate to the topics they cover. It will also boost your SEO and increase visibility , driving traffic to your website.
It can be difficult to create a high-quality blog. It takes time to make a blog. It takes dedication and consistency to keep it up. How do you create a video website and a blog?
Start with an FAQ section. This will answer the most frequently asked questions about your site. Your users will appreciate the detail you provide. While engaging video content is another option, you should also consider a video marketing strategy.
video marketing campaigns can include a variety of videos. These videos can range from customer testimonials to explainer videos. You should create multiple videos that will help you reach different goals.
Identifying topics that you can write about in the future is a good idea. Start by making a list of every topic you can think of and then work your way down.
You don’t have to be a writer. It’s not a skill you can learn overnight. You can hire an agency to assist you if you have the funds. For this, you can use Fiverr, Upwork and Freelancer.
Now that you have a basic understanding of how to create a video website it is time to develop a revenue model.
Monetize Your Video Website
Without implementing a monetization strategy, you can’t expect your website to make money. There are three main ways to monetize your site.
- Place ads (AVOD)
- Subscriptions (SVOD), which charge users each month for access, are called subscriptions.
- Individual streams are charged at a pay-per-view fee (TVOD).
Ads
Advertisements are the best way to make money from any website. They can be placed almost anywhere, without causing any inconvenience to the viewer. Adverts can be placed before, during, and after video.
You are allowed to place ads wherever you like, but don’t go overboard. You risk irritating your visitors and not letting them enjoy your content.
You will also need to search for ad networks that can place ads on your website. Look for platforms that allow you to place banners and video ads. You can also choose to use multiple ad networks to maximize efficiency.
Unruly and Primis are great choices to begin with. It’s a good idea to research the options and do your own experiments. This will help you find the best platform for you.
Subscriptions
Subscriptions can be a great way to guarantee a steady income month after month regardless of usage. This method offers two options.
You can hide all content behind a paywall, but you can give a peek at the available content. This can be done in the form a free trial, or content drip (when you give small bits of content periodically).
You can also offer a free version without ads. You can also offer a premium version without ads. You can make this work by adding additional benefits to the premium version, as well as removing ads. You can even make different tiers, with more perks for the higher tiers.
Simple membership is an excellent free WordPress plugin. AR member may also be an option, but this is only if you have the funds.
Pay-Per-View
You can make a lot of money with pay-per-view. For someone who just started making a video website, it can be difficult to build the brand strength and strategy that you need.
This market is also highly competitive and will be difficult to monetize due to the availability of free alternatives.
Live streams are the best type of video to pay-per-view. This makes it ideal for unique content and one-off events.
User Earnings
A revenue model that is especially beneficial for video platforms that collaborate with content creators is user earnings. This can be either a video sharing website or live streaming site.
It is possible to allow users to tip creators, and then receive a portion of their earnings. You can also allow content creators the freedom to create their own monetization strategies.
Twitch partners may collect fees from subscribers in order to access older content, higher quality streams, unique Emojis, and other features. Twitch receives a portion of the earnings because they are the middle man.
Accept as Many Payment Methods as Possible
You must make a website that accepts credit, debit, and PayPal. You have more options, which makes it more likely that people will pay.
Your payment system should be easy to use. You need to make it easy and fast for everyone involved. Potential customers will abandon their purchase if they have any payment issues.
How do you build a streaming website similar to that? WooCommerce, and its Stripe extension, are a great start. You can accept all major payment methods free of charge.
It might be worth accepting cryptocurrencies depending on the niche. It’s not a good idea to accept cryptocurrencies if you don’t have any interest.
You can still use GoUrl. This plugin is one of the most used WordPress plugins to enable crypto payments. It charges a 1.5% transaction fee, but it is an excellent feature that your users will appreciate.
Conclusion
Now you know how to create a video streaming site. Although it may seem daunting at first, everyone eventually gets there. The amount of time and research you do will determine your success.
Understanding the technology and its workings is key. This will allow you to choose the best option for your case. You must concentrate your efforts on a specific group of people in the industry.
Planning is therefore crucial. Be sure to choose your niche with care. You should find it interesting and reach a large number of people.
You have an advantage if you have prior knowledge. However, it is important to research what content visitors might be interested in.
The type of features that you add will depend on your niche. You should therefore be familiar with the features people want on your video site. You can do this by looking at similar websites within other niches and competitors.
The actual building of the video streaming website is what lies beyond the planning stage. First, register a domain and select an offshore hosting provider. Next, download and install WordPress. The theme you have chosen should be already selected. If not, this is the next step.
Once you have created the template, you can customize it. You can import an existing demo to make it easier and then start over. This will save you considerable time. Alternatively, you will need to add each page element manually, which can prove tedious.
You must also set up a revenue system. Its goal is to pay your expenses at first. As you grow, however, the monetization plan should be able to generate enough profit to make you some money.
Go create a video website now! Good luck!
