Direct distribution enables you to reach your fans where they’re already looking, and the Vimeo OTT platform is a solution for doing just that. The success of direct distribution is closely tied to publishers fully owning the selling experience. Your website has the potential to be a customizable, globally accessible space to connect with your fans and build audiences for your creative work, and Vimeo OTT can help you get there.
In this article
Why should I use direct distribution?
Direct distribution allows artists fewer restrictions and more control. Distributing directly to fans online relieves a lot of restrictions; content no longer needs to fit into a specific product, like a “feature-length film,” to be something that fans want to buy. The direct distribution also allows artists to command long-term control of the work they generate. They can be as creative with how they release content as they are with how they make it.
How do I minimize clicks between fans and content?
Your website is open for business 24/7, anywhere, on any device. It’s easy to share, and it’s mobile-friendly. Your website can be a central hub for fans and commerce, sitting there at the top of Google search results where everyone can easily find it. That makes it a no-brainer for selling content—you don’t have to direct your fans elsewhere once they’ve already landed on your page.
Your own URL is a seriously underutilized resource. And for good reason: it’s expensive to design a custom site, difficult to set up payment processes, and even more complex to manage. But Vimeo OTT can help you set your site up as a destination for viewing and subscription.
How do I design my digital identity?
As many creators know, finding and building an audience starts with your brand. Your website is a home for your digital identity—your mission, voice, and visuals can all be front and center. It’s an opportunity to make your selling process part of that identity. Think of your website as a more advanced version of a DVD, where the products and features help tell your story in new and different (and digital) ways. You can customize your Vimeo OTT site to help you tell that story.
How do I own my relationship with fans?
Your website is a venue where fans can have a direct relationship with you, instead of just buying one of many titles on a shelf. Selling from your own website gives you access to the people who buy your content, which opens the door for personalized messaging about your content now and in the future.
It also gives you the full picture of audience activity, from the moment fans land on your homepage, through purchasing and watching your content. You can use that data to easily analyze what’s working, and what isn’t, and, most importantly, to grow your audience over time for future releases. It’s not a black box of information owned by another company—it’s your customer data.