Amazon Video Direct is a video sharing website, that let’s users upload videos and share them with Amazon Prime members. The video can be offered for free with Amazon Ads or sold/rented to viewers.
When I said video sharing website, I’m sure your immediate reaction was — Video Sharing Website? You mean like YouTube? It’s been done Hamza. How about you tell me something I don’t know.
Well, here is a little unrelated but related story. Louis CK is a well established stand up comedian. Hilarious guy. I love him. Obisiously he makes a good living from his work. Although he has to pay so many third parties to sell tickets (e.g., Ticketsmaster) or sell/rent his comedy specials (e.g., iTunes, Google Play). A few years ago he wanted to try something new and just cut of the middle man. C.K. innovated direct-to-consumer distribution of his and others’ work, selling tickets via his website in DRM-free format. In this way C.K. sold tickets for his stand-up tour, circumventing large ticket outlets creatively bypassing their overhead and the venues they control. Then he started selling his comedy special for $5 on his website instead of the usual $14.99. Genius. Now he’s even selling episodes of his new TV show HORACE AND PETE on his website. Anyway we’ll come back to this later on.
How To Utilize Amazon Video Direct as a Small Business
Amazon Video Direct isn’t for everyone. This not just Marketing anymore. We’re actually selling our content. This is mainly for professional and semi-professional video creators that would be able to attract millions of viewers rather than those who would just attract a handful. And, more crucially, it is directly targeted at established brands. Although there is room for Small Businesses.
Small Businesses are able to use Amazon Video Direct in so many ways — Let’s say you’re a personal trainer, and you’ve always wanted to create a workout DVD. Of course you don’t wanna give all your workout secrets for free on youtube. Now you can easily Monetize your content with Amazon Video Direct. Same would go for a chef’s easy recipes series. Photography workshops. Piano Lessons. Sewing classes. Your very own documentary or reality show. The possibilities are endless. Whatever your small business has to offer. If you don’t feel like giving away that knowledge and expertise for free on YouTube. Amazon Video Direct is the user-friendly alternative.
Benefits of Using Amazon Video Direct:
The following bullet points seems to be the main benefits of Amazon Video Direct (so far):
- Access to Amazon’s Most Engaged Streaming Audience: video providers can distribute their content directly to tens of millions of Prime members and earn royalties based on minutes streamed.
- Professional Looking Content: If people are actually paying to see your content. They not just followers anymore. These are customers. So professinalism and excellence are expected. Amazon Video Direct will make you look good.
- Paperwork and Taxes: When you start making money, you gotta pay uncle Sam. When you sign up you have to provide your social security and fill out some forms. That way you can easily get the information to fill your taxes.
- Expanded Customer Reach: Video providers can choose to make their titles available in any country where Amazon Video is available the United States, Germany, Austria, United Kingdom and Japan; with support for all the devices Amazon Video is available on Fire TV, Fire and other iOS and Android tablets, connected TVs, game consoles, iOS and Android phones, and laptops.
- Insightful Performance Metrics: You are given performance metrics. Such as number of minutes a title was streamed, projected revenue and history, or number of subscribers.
Final Thoughts
A lot of people are reluctant to share their expertise online for free. Its understandable. Especially if that’s how you make a living. Now things have changed. If you believe your video content is worth some cash. Go out there and get it. Amazon Video Direct is the perfect start.
And back to Louis CK. I brought him up as an example because his way of thinking is the fascinating part of the story. He didn’t always wait for a deal or a contract. He started selling his tickets and content on his website to make his offers cheaper. And of course have more creative control. That should be the goal for everyone with a creative potential. This is exciting news for everyone. Now, content creators and small business owners have more options to be heard and make money doing it.
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This is very interesting!
Cheers!!!