The way we consume content has dramatically transformed over the years. Scheduled TV programming is growing apart from its golden days, and today, viewers can choose what to watch and when to watch it.
On-demand culture is here to stay for digital products. This shift is particularly obvious when we see the growing popularity of live streaming, which provides instant global access to content.
Statistics highlight this change, with reports predicting the live-streaming industry will surpass $137.70 billion by 2027. This impressive growth indicates that live streaming will become a mainstay in daily entertainment and information consumption.
Let’s look at the pros and cons of streaming.
The Pros of International Streaming
Live streaming presents a lot of options for personal expression, creativity, and business growth. It might be a tempting option for new generations, and there’s a business opportunity there.
Here’s more pros of streaming in detail.
Expanding Your Audience
Of course, one of the main advantages of international streaming is the potential to reach an enormous and diverse audience. Depending on the topic of your streaming and the language you use, you could reach international audiences in many different ways. In many cases, streamers have become more popular in foreign countries, rather than their own.
More Opportunities to Monetize
The broader the audience, the easier it’ll be to monetize your streaming; that’s not rocket science. The hard part comes when deciding which ways to opt for getting revenue on your streaming service. Let’s go through some options:
- Subscriptions: This will depend on the platform you use to stream and the kind of product you imagine. Some platforms can directly pay you and others will not. In fact, 99% of all U.S. households pay for at least one or more streaming services, this is a huge market to investigate. Your marketing strategy is key to understanding this as well.
- Donations: This will also depend on the topic of your stream. This option might be more suitable for news and informative streams.
- Sponsorships: Getting sponsorship could be hard but it is also a good way of ensuring a consistent flow of revenue.
- Merchandise sales: The most creative option is merchandising. Maybe it could be for the most experienced streamers and the ones with more economical possibilities but it’s worth the try too.
Cultural Exchange
If you stream internationally, not only you will be sharing your manners and cultural approaches to the world, but you’ll probably be learning a lot from your audiences too.
The truth to be told, that should be your main goal: to learn all you can from your audiences. This is, of course, useful for economic purposes, but also it will allow you to get rich insights into other people’s ways of living.,
The Cons of International Streaming
Creating a good-quality product can be time and money-consuming. Hard work is necessary to succeed in the streaming. Here are some of the other cons of streaming to consider.
Time Zone Could be Challenging
The main point of streaming is to go live, and that could be a boomer for international streamers. There are two key things to keep in mind to try to solve this problem.
Firstly, find a streaming schedule that works for your global audience. This may require flexibility from your side and a trial-and-error scheme.
Secondly, you should consider uploading your past streams and using them as content for social media. Repurposing content is not strictly streaming, but it could be helpful for your stream in the long term.
Consider Languages
This is pretty obvious, language can be a significant barrier when it comes to finding your audience. If you speak more than two languages, choose the most spoken one to do your stream, if you feel comfortable with it and want to aim at international audiences.
Consider doing audience research before starting your stream and choosing a language.
Technical Difficulties
Streaming to international viewers can sometimes be more challenging than doing it locally. Latency or poor video quality are some of the streamers’ worst enemies.
To ensure a good quality streaming experience, you will probably have to invest in equipment and a good and stable internet connection.
Legal Issues
Some might say this is a headache: legal issues are something every streamer should consider closely.
This will change a lot across the countries and areas you are covering, you might need to ask for legal advice depending on how large the audience you want to reach.
Here are some key aspects to keep in mind for legal purposes:
- Intellectual Property Rights: Understanding copyright and trademark laws helps avoid infringing on others’ intellectual property. Content creators must secure permissions and licenses for streaming copyrighted content and be informed about the usage of trademarked logos or brands without authorization.
- Licensing and Royalties: Streaming certain content, like music or sports broadcasts, often requires licensing or royalty payments.
- Privacy and Data Protection: Legal requirements might include obtaining consent forms from individuals appearing on your stream and following each region’s data protection regulations.
- Terms of Service and Platform Policies: Every platform has terms of service and policies to ensure a safe environment. These guidelines cover acceptable behavior, content usage, and copyright protection. Learning these terms will help you to avoid penalties.
Must-Know Tips for Successful International Streaming
If any of the pros and cons in this article resonate with you, give it a thought. You might be suited for a successful international streaming platform career. Here’s how you can get started.
Building a Consistent Schedule
Experiment with different streaming times to find what works best for your global audience. Use analytics tools to track viewer activity and establish a consistent schedule that maximizes engagement.
Using a VPN for Data Protection
Streaming internationally often involves connecting to various networks, some of which may not be secure. A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is an essential tool for protecting your data and maintaining your privacy. Use the best VPN for international streaming, and do not cut expenses when it comes to security.
Engaging with Your Audience
Create interactive content that encourages viewers to participate. Use polls, Q&A sessions, and live chats to engage with your audience and make them feel part of your community.
Staying Culturally Aware
Be aware of cultural differences and show respect for your viewers’ backgrounds. Avoid controversial topics and be mindful of your language and behavior during streams.
Make sure to seek professional help if you are not sure about any specific requirement and to take streaming as seriously as it is.
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