How can you take advantage of new film distribution platforms?

1 Know your goals

Before you decide on a distribution strategy for your film, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve. Do you want to build a fan base, generate revenue, raise awareness, or create buzz? Different platforms have different advantages and disadvantages for each of these goals, so you need to do your research and compare your options. For example, if you want to maximize your exposure, you might consider releasing your film for free on YouTube or Vimeo, but if you want to earn money, you might opt for a pay-per-view or subscription-based service like Amazon Prime or Netflix.

2 Understand your audience

Another key factor in choosing a distribution platform is knowing who your target audience is and where they are. You need to identify your niche, your demographic, and your geographic reach. You also need to understand their preferences, habits, and behaviors. How do they consume media? What kind of content do they like? How do they discover new films? How do they share their opinions? By answering these questions, you can tailor your film and your marketing to fit their needs and interests.

3 Create a budget

Distributing your film online might seem cheaper and easier than going through traditional channels, but it still requires some investment and planning. You need to create a realistic budget that covers the costs of preparing, delivering, and promoting your film on the chosen platforms. Some of these costs might include: encoding, transcoding, captioning, metadata, artwork, hosting, licensing, fees, advertising, social media, press releases, newsletters, and analytics. You also need to account for the revenue share or commission that each platform takes from your sales or views.

4 Build a brand

One of the challenges of new film distribution platforms is the competition. There are thousands of films available online, so how can you stand out and attract attention? One way is to build a strong brand identity for your film and yourself as a filmmaker. This means creating a consistent and appealing visual style, tone, and message across all your platforms and materials. You also need to create a compelling story and a hook that summarizes your film and its value proposition. Your brand should reflect your goals, your audience, and your unique selling point.