Create a Video Platform: 10 Tips for Development

The internet has now become a constant companion and is indispensable. This is especially true in industry and retail. Applications and web platforms enable companies to present their projects and services to customers and allow for online purchasing as well as the payment and processing of invoices and liabilities. But the internet also plays an important role in private life and education. Tutorial videos replace lengthy instructions and make it possible to learn online. Other platforms like YouTube or Vimeo guarantee users around the world many hours of enjoyment – whether it’s about listening to music, watching an event, or, for example, watching series and movies. In this article, we will show you what to consider when it comes to the programming and use of an online platform.

The Essentials in Brief

Which Online Platform Do You Want to Create?

What Exactly is an Online Video Platform?

Most people who use the internet know exactly what an online video platform is, even without special knowledge. The best examples are sites like Dailymotion, YouTube, or Vimeo, which allow users to watch all kinds of videos. This includes films and trailers as well as documentaries, musicals, or tracks from an album. Other portals are available privately or with restrictions – for example, for employees in a company for training or in schools for students. The range of uses is extensive and versatile. What many users do not know: the technology and code behind such portals is very complex and extensive.

YouTube is the best-known video platform and already an integral part of everyday life for new generations.

Advantages and Goals of an Online Video Platform

The advantages of an online platform are self-evident. They offer visitors, customers, employees, etc. the opportunity to watch videos. These can be tutorials or educational videos, but also classes, further training sessions, etc. A large part of the video platform such as YouTube is also used for streaming and entertainment. Here, you can watch trailers, movies, documentaries, and music videos. Some platforms also serve monetization purposes. Some successful YouTubers now earn a considerable income through the platform – an income that exceeds the average salary of many other jobs and is more than enough to live on.

The advantages are also obvious. A good online video platform is easy to use. It combines a variety of functions and is directly connected to the company and its database. For example, the platform can send emails, inform specific responsible persons, etc. Just think about the range of functions available to you when you are on YouTube. A whole array of features comes together – from notifications, a like and dislike function to watchlists, personal channels, and the possibility to follow users and channels. And: What you see as a user is merely the frontend. The backend with all its functions and tasks – who is informed when and how and how to interact with the platform – is an entirely different matter.

Ten Tips for Programming an Online Video Platform

Now that you know what an online video platform is, what advantages it offers, and what it is used for, it is time for you to learn how to successfully implement such a complex project. In this section, we present you with ten expert tips that will help ensure your project becomes a success.

Tip 1: Thorough and Forward-Looking Planning is a Must

As mentioned before, an online platform or web app is complex software. This cannot be compared to the creation and programming of a simple website. For this reason, you should begin your project with thorough and forward-looking planning. Consider what goals you want to achieve with the platform, what tasks it should take on, etc. Also consider how many users will use the platform and which other software or systems need to be connected. The planning and development of a concept for the success of a platform is an absolute must.

Tip 2: You Can’t Do Without a Server with Sufficient Capacity

An online platform consists of a number of subsystems. You need a database to store the data and, if necessary, additional tools such as the integration of frameworks, APIs, payment providers, etc. This must be taken into account when procuring a server. Especially with larger and more complex platforms, a high volume of data and traffic will quickly accumulate. The server must not only be able to process this, but the databases and hard drives must also provide the necessary storage capacity. Sufficient hard drives and memory are therefore important.

Professional video platforms have huge server networks to enable high traffic and data exchange.

Tip 3: Do Without Web Hosting or Shared Servers

We advise against using hosting providers – and in particular shared server hosting – when creating an online platform. On one hand, an online platform is very complex and requires high traffic volume, good bandwidth, ample storage space, and security. All of this is something a hosting service usually cannot offer. Moreover, a dedicated server can be upgraded as needed. If you run out of storage, you can easily add new hard drives and expand the memory. Another problem with hosting providers is that an online platform typically comes with very complex requirements and an elaborate configuration. Often, direct access to the server is required – something that hosting providers usually do not allow or only permit to a very limited extent.

Tip 4: A CMS is Not Suitable in Most Cases

When creating a website or an online shop, many webmasters and companies now rely on so-called shop and content management systems. This software is easy to install without prior knowledge and does not require any special expertise. Accordingly, it might seem natural to use such a CMS or shop system for an online platform as well. However, this is often not advisable, as such systems are not flexible enough in their functions and possibilities to create a complex online platform. They also lack scalability, and therefore, custom-developed platforms – although more expensive – are almost always the better choice.

Tip 5: Plan One Step at a Time

The implementation of an online platform should be carried out step by step. You should implement one function after another rather than tackling everything at once. This makes it easier to identify errors and ensures that the previous section is working correctly before you begin on the new section. This is important, as the temptation is great to implement an idea immediately during development so that it is not forgotten.

Tip 6: Hire a Professional Agency

The development of an online platform is a complex and extensive undertaking. Expertise and excellent knowledge of the various programming languages are a must. Moreover, the task is usually too large for a single developer. Therefore, if you do not have your own IT department with developers and specialists, you should hand over the task to a professional and experienced agency. They will not only develop your platform but also take care of maintenance and updates, etc.

Tip 7: Set a Budget Limit

Instead of hiring an agency and diving straight into development, you should determine and set a fixed budget as part of the project planning and preparation. This budget should serve as the basis for negotiations and the final platform. While deviations upward might be possible in an emergency, they should be avoided if possible. If the budget is not sufficient for the desired platform, you might consider planning a phased rollout and gradually implementing additional functions.

Tip 8: Plan Flexibly and Scalably

While it is wise to plan on a small scale and start cautiously, you must remain flexible and scalable. Your platform could unexpectedly become a success more quickly and need to grow. It may need to be capable of integrating new payment providers or working with a new shop, merchandise management, or accounting system. Perhaps a different database will be used. All of these are conceivable steps and scenarios that need to be planned for.

The video platform Vimeo has changed its focus so that it is not in direct competition with YouTube.

Tip 9: Ensure Adequate Service

Sometimes software does not run as planned. This affects both you as the administrator and your customers or visitors as regular users. In such cases, you should have fast, reliable, and secure support available. This support must be well-versed in the software. If you develop the platform yourself, ensure that new employees or potential successors to the programmer are properly trained. This ensures that even after an employee leaves your company, qualified support remains available. If the platform was developed by an agency, you should have some employees trained by them in the system and support. This applies even if the agency takes over support. After all, you never know what might happen. Perhaps the expert is temporarily unavailable or the agency may no longer exist in a few years. Be prepared!

Tip 10: Provide Updates and Patches for the Platform

Usually, problems with software only become apparent after it has been used live by users and administrators for some time. In such cases, the developer – whether that is you or the agency – must resolve these issues with a patch. Perhaps security vulnerabilities need to be closed or new functions added. In either case, an update must be developed. Therefore, make sure that the software is update-friendly and that you have a team with the necessary personnel to handle these tasks.

Conclusion and Summary

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