VoD streaming has become more popular than ever, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. COVD-19 has forced people to change their habits as most users have switched from cable TV to streaming platforms that not only offer international content but are also affordable.
One of the most effective streaming platforms, Netflix, saw a rise in paid subscribers worldwide at 209 million in Q2 2021.
It is not surprising as the VoD streaming platform is one of the most popular services out there with a wide content library. So, if you want to be as successful as Netflix and want to attract a large number of viewers, there’s a lot to consider.
To get you started, here are the 12 most user-friendly features that your streaming platform MUST have.
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User-friendly Interface
Did you know, 70% of customers say they abandon purchases because of a bad user experience. Viewers don’t have time to figure out your streaming platform, instead, they want something familiar and easy to navigate.
If your streaming platform is hard to navigate, and it’s taking viewers a lot of time to search for their favorite movies and shows, it’s a big failure. For a successful streaming platform, it’s crucial for the platform to have a user-friendly interface where everything is accessible. Make sure to provide content categories and a search tab for quicker results.
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Customization
Users crave customization and the ability to personalize their accounts online. Including customization features in your streaming platform will allow viewers to take control of their accounts and create their unique profiles. Here are some customization features to look out for:
- Video playback speed options
- Subtitle option
- Audio option with dubbed content
- Floating window, and picture-in-picture feature
- Resolution option
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Global Content Library
One of the major reasons why viewers switch streaming platforms is because they cannot find the content they are looking for on a service. Make sure your platform hosts content of different regions, languages, cultures, and genres.
Don’t only offer Hollywood movies or typical genres. Offer your viewers a wide content library with genres from all around the world. Make sure to include TV shows, movies, anime, cartoons, documentaries, sitcoms, sports, and more.
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Website/ App Security
Nowadays, there are plenty of websites that offer easy access to content, however, most are not safe. To ensure the online security of your viewers, make sure your platform has high-level security and is scalable in case you need to expand later.
Also, take care of the encryption standard you are using, along with security protocols. The latest encryption standard being used by websites is Advanced Encryption (AES).
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Video Content Management
Content Management System is a must for streaming platforms. It helps viewers to access content within the system easily. Video CMS categorizes all your content into categories like genre, year of release, and more, so users can easily navigate around.
A video content management system also allows viewers to create their personal favorite list to quickly access their favorite movies and shows.
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API for third-party apps
APIs (Application Programming Interface) lets the viewers personalize their streaming experience. With API integration, viewers can integrate third-party tools and other programs to customize settings to their liking. API also enables connectivity with other devices and also syncs multiple platforms.
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Device Compatibility
This is perhaps the most important feature – your streaming platform has to be compatible with various platforms and operating systems. It should be compatible with popular devices such as laptops, smartphones, gaming consoles, Blu-ray players, Smart TVs, and set-top boxes.
Users should also be able to cast screens from other devices from anywhere easily.
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Offline Access
To give your viewers more flexibility and convenience, create offline access to content. This way users will be able to download movies and shows to watch them offline, where internet access is limited. You can allow access to offline content for seven days like Netflix, or 30 days like Amazon Prime Video and Hulu.
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Data Usage Options
Because streaming generally takes a lot of data, make sure to give data usage options to viewers so they can manage their usage. You can offer various resolution options, including 360p for people with less data limit. Moreover, you can also include a mobile data mode that takes up fewer data and automatically changes video resolution to 360p or lower.
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Parental Controls
A lot of viewers online are children, so your streaming platform should have parental controls. With this feature, parents can create separate profiles for kids (like in Netflix) and set up an age limit so you can offer age-appropriate content to them.
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Different Pricing Plans
Make sure to offer multiple pricing plans for users, depending upon subscription time, content access, and more. And, don’t forget to offer a free trial as well so viewers can test your service risk-free. You can even offer some of the content to stream for free as a teaser.
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Regular Updates
To offer the best user experience to viewers, make sure to keep your platform updated with the latest security patches and tweaks. Watch what your competitors are doing, maybe they are offering a new feature that is missing from your platform. This way, you can keep your site fresh and up to date with viewers’ ever-changing expectations.