Are you still stuck in the vicious cycle of chasing views, likes, or one-time sales….only to have your efforts go to waste as the algorithm lets you down? 😔
It’s time to finally break free.
If you want your audience to not only stay committed but also pay for exclusive access to your content then video membership business is your way out.
Continue reading to learn what a video membership business is and how you can start one.
Let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
Understanding a Video Membership Business
Let’s assume you have a skill, knowledge or a content piece that people can not retrieve with a quick Google search.
That’s gold right there.
Instead of sharing it for free… why not package it in a video and put a price tag on it? 🙂
That is exactly what a video membership business is all about.
When your videos are only accessible to paying members, it creates a sense of scarcity that encourages long-term commitment.
And here’s the thing: the right audience will be more than willing to pay to access your video content.
In essence, a video membership business has the following features:
- Offers a library of exclusive video content
- Has elements like membership or subscription
- A recurring fee is charged to access videos
Types of Video Membership models
1. On-Demand Streaming
On-demand streaming is exactly what the name suggests.
Subscribers pay a recurring fee to access a library of video content whenever they want, often including movies, series, documentaries, and other niche content.
With no set schedule, the subscribers have unlimited control over what and when to watch.
Take Netflix as an example.
It is one of the largest on-demand streaming platforms everyone is familiar with, and chances are, you are already subscribed to it yourself.
Their large library of entertainment videos is available only to those who purchase their membership.
And the cherry on top?
Their ad-supported plans serve as an added source of monetization.
2. Live Streaming
This business model centres around real-time broadcast videos often seen in the entertainment, education, and fitness niches.
Creators host live streaming to add exclusive value to their content, not seen in pre-recorded videos.
This model is useful for hosting webinars, workouts, concerts, and Q&A sessions.
It allows the paying members to be part of a community where they can engage with the creator in real-time.
3. Course-Based Videos
This model can be best described using Coursera as an example, a well-known course-based video streaming platform.
The platform partners with top universities and offers online courses.
These courses are organized sequentially as video lectures covering several subjects.
Subscription options on such websites allow members to access a variety of courses for a recurring fee.
These platforms often charge for certificates upon course completion.
This type of video membership business is famous among students or those wanting to develop skills online at their own pace.
Why Start a Video Membership Business
So, how is a video membership business any better than traditional streaming platforms?
👉 Scalable Recurring Revenue
It’s a great source of predictable income that grows with your audience, and your workload remains the same as your business scales.
👉 Brand and Content Ownership
If you choose to self-host your platform, you have complete control over your video content and branding without the interference of third-party ads on your platform.
👉 Multiple Options for Monetization
Apart from subscription-based earnings, you can monetize through one-time purchases or live sessions for added revenue.
👉 Stability in the Face of Changing Algorithms
Your video content ranking is not dependent on the evolving algorithm and platform rules.
👉 Consistent Engagement
Members stay active and subscribed to your plans, returning for fresh content.
How to Start a Video Membership Business
Starting a video membership business might feel overwhelming at first, but the benefits make it well worth the effort.
By now, you’re probably convinced to launch your own video membership business, but it might seem scary allow us to show you exactly how to get started:
1. Identify Your Niche and Audience
This is the foundational step in creating your business model.
First, determine the specific theme or area of expertise your videos will focus on.
Your library should not be a mess of videos on unrelated topics; instead, narrow down to a subject you’re both passionate about and skilled in. For example:
- Fitness and wellness
- Education
- Entertainment
- Lifestyle and hobbies
Once the niche is defined, recognizing your audience becomes a lot easier.
Determine who your audience is (age, gender, profession) and if your content aligns with their interest.
For instance, if you plan to film fitness videos, your audience demographics may include beginners seeking easy-to-follow training videos or busy professionals looking for quick home workout videos.
Vintage Sewing Scool is a great example of a niche-specific video membership business. It targets a very defined audience: people interested in vintage techniques of sewing.
2. Create a Collection of Videos
Content and quality go hand in hand when it comes to any video business.
Before diving headfirst into filming, take time to plan and script your videos. Additionally, investing in a good-quality camera and microphone will boost the overall production value.
But do you know what the real bottleneck is when it comes to creating high-quality videos?
Editing.
We cannot emphasize enough the importance of editing in the video industry.
Instead of taking it upon yourself to edit all your videos, use subscription based video editing services to add a professional touch to your videos.
When you use our affordable services at editvideo.io, you can dedicate all your time to focusing on video production and growing your video membership business.
3. Choose a Video Membership Platform
When it comes to choosing a platform you have got two options:
- Self hosting — Requires building your own website on WordPress.org with membership plugins like MemberPress or Restrict Content Pro and integrating video hosting.
Pros:
✔ Provides freedom to integrate any tool or CRM.
✔ ️Allows complete control over video streaming setup and enables self-customization of user experience and security.
✔ No third-party ads or branding on your website.
✔ Lower long-term cost for large-scale streaming or high traffic.
Cons:
⚠️ Set-up and maintenance require technical expertise.
⚠️ Without proper optimization, videos can lag, affecting user experience.
⚠️ High cost of initial setup, such as investing in hosting plans.
- All in one platform — Enables easy setup by combining all the tools in one place with platform-integrated features such as video hosting, subscription management, security, and branding
Pros:
✔ Quick and easy setup with minimal technical skills and user-friendly dashboards for easy video uploads.
✔ Built-in tools for membership, payments, and community.
✔ Uses CDNs to ensure smooth video streaming across various devices.
✔ Reduces security management burden through anti-piracy controls and automatic DRMs within the platform.
Cons:
⚠️ Less control over platform branding, data ownership, and customization.
⚠️ May take a large share of your revenue due to higher monthly subscription fees as your business grows.
⚠️ You are completely dependent on the platform’s policies and uptime.
Take your time choosing a video membership platform, as the one you select directly impacts the success of your business.
Make sure the platform you choose has the following features:
✅ Content Management:
This feature is a must-have for organizing videos and smooth streaming.
The platform must support bulk and scheduled uploading and organizing videos of various formats (short and long form) into easy-to-navigate playlists, courses, or categories.
It must also offer seamless hosting and streaming of videos across various devices for a smooth, quality playback.
✅ Security and Support Features
To safeguard your content from piracy and unauthorized access, look for platforms that offer digital rights management (DRM) and watermarking.
In addition, it should consist of privacy regulation compliance features (GDPR and CCPA) and reliable customer care for members’ queries and issues.
✅ Flexible Membership and Monetization
Your website should provide members the flexibility to select their own subscription plans, so choose a platform that supports different types of memberships to make it possible.
Additionally, features like free trials and discount coupons on your website can tempt new members and boost conversions.
Your platform should also support multiple currencies and secure payment methods such as credit cards and digital wallets for hassle-free payment.
✅ User Engagement and Community Building
A dedicated area for your members to interact can be a standout feature for your website.
Your platform should be able to support community features such as member forums and discussion boards.
Whereas live streaming integration with real-time chat and Q&A can build connections and create a robust experience for your members.
4. Set Up Your Website
Once you have chosen a platform for your video membership business, begin building your website:
1. Customize the Look of Your Site
When it comes to branding, your website should look and feel yours.
Make sure your logo, brand colors, fonts, and design remain consistent across all your web pages.
You can also customize your navigation menu to guide users straight to your video content (Courses, Video Library, Pricing) and design your homepage to feature your video membership offering for quicker access.
Take a look at the snapshot of the School of Visual Storytelling homepage. The header features an easy-to-navigate menu, while the brand color scheme appeals to the targeted audience.
2. Upload and Manage Your Video Library
Upload videos in formats like MP4, which is widely supported to ensure compatibility across various devices and a smooth streaming experience.
If your videos are large in size, uploading them can feel like ripping your hair out — slow to upload and even slower to stream.
Make sure to break them into smaller ones.
Once you have uploaded videos, create a library consisting of different categories, playlists, or series.
Depending upon the type of content you offer, you can name the categories accordingly.
For example, fitness videos are often categorized into home workout videos or follow-along workout videos with a timer.
3. Create Membership Plans
This is a crucial step in creating a successful video membership business.
Define your membership tiers based on how members access your content and how often you want them to pay.
Define your plan structure based on:
👉 Tier Levels — To cater to the different needs and budgets of your users, offer at least three tiers (e.g., Basic, Standard, Premium).
👉 Tier Access Rules — Determine what and how much of your video content each tier gets to access. Basic tiers or plans should provide limited videos and perks, whereas upgrading to higher or premium plans will let users unlock more content and features.
👉 Billing Intervals — Provide payment options such as monthly, quarterly, or annual memberships for flexibility. Ensure your prices, content accessibility, and additional benefits are clearly communicated.
Take a look at the Filmmakers Academy membership tiers for inspiration.
4. Set Your Price and Payment Options
Your pricing strategy should accommodate both the cost-sensitive users and those willing to pay for premium content and experience.
Introductory offers such as limited-time discounts can attract potential buyers.
Whereas, first-time users might be more willing to buy your paid plans if you offer free trials and freemium tiers first.
To handle membership and one-time purchases, integrate trusted payment gateways like Stripe, PayPal, or Square, and make sure the checkout process is secure and user-friendly.
5. Market Your Membership
Your platform might have built-in marketing tools, or you will need to integrate them into your website.
To market your video membership business, begin by creating a list of emails — the direct line to your potential customers.
Once your marketing tools are in place, emails can be collected through free lead magnets to use for building trust.
These can be free plans, courses, or additional resources like guides to deliver to the user’s inbox.Take a look at the landing page in the Daily Burn website as an example.
You can further expand your reach through:
- Social Media — Share teasers and clips to spark curiosity on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.
- Paid Ads — Target people interested in your niche through paid ads on third-party video streaming platforms like YouTube.
- Blogging — Drive organic traffic from Google through writing articles in the same niche as your video content.
5. Test and Launch Your Website
Before your website goes live, walk through the entire user journey to look for any technical issues within your platform.
Go through the process of signing up, choosing a plan, making a payment, and streaming videos and testing across various devices (desktop, tablet, mobile) to confirm everything works smoothly.
Additionally, you can request a few trusted people to act as beta testers of your website and share feedback.
Once you have eliminated all bugs and errors, it’s finally time to launch your website.
Final Words
Starting a video membership business can feel overwhelming, but once your website is up and running, it’s worth all the effort, especially as you watch your audience grow.
The success of your business depends on growing and retaining subscribers through effective marketing, attractive subscription plans, data-driven optimization, and quality content.
In the chaos of it all, unlimited video editing services like editvideo.io make your life easier and edit your videos, as your content is the heart of your business.
This way, you can focus on creating and growing your community while leaving the technical work to experts.
