Creating Your Digital Strategy: Key Points

It’s no secret that the digital age has radically transformed the film and television industry. With box office sales declining, and people cutting their cable in favour of online streaming, producers are scrambling for ways to monetize their content.

Pull Focus recently had the pleasure of hosting Matt Toner, a digital media producer, entrepreneur and president of social media company Zeroes to Heroes. Matt gave key insights about the new direction of multi-platform content, and the changing landscape of film and television distribution.

Here are a few of his key points for filmmakers and content producers.

1. Your digital strategy may be engaging and interactive. But it still needs to increase your bottom line.

A few years back, the idea of using multiple platforms to tell a story or promote content seemed like a marketer’s dream. Digital media strategists came up with elaborate tie-ins to films and tv shows that included video games, apps, and fan fiction contests. The problem was, these add-ons did nothing to increase the production’s revenue.

Online platforms that help you reach and engage with your audience, and build buzz around your project are still great tools to use. But don’t blow your budget on an elaborate digital strategy that won’t boost your ROI.

2. Our viewing habits are changing. Seize the opportunity.

Yes, we’re accessing content online and through VOD more than ever before and traditional models of distribution are, as a result, effectively breaking down. While it’s easy to merely bemoan this change, the smarter move is to seize the opportunity. As a filmmaker or content producer, you have far more distribution options than ever before.

Matt’s own company Zeroes to Heroes is about to release Wannawatch.It, a web app that aggregates consumer demand to see movies. Filmmakers can directly upload their content to the site, effectively eliminating the middleman. Once there is enough demand to see a particular film, it will be screened in a theatre.

3. Welcome to the Information Age.

Digital, New Media or Information Age – whatever you want to call it, one thing is certain: we have more access to data about people’s viewing habits and interests than we’ve ever had before.

How can this benefit filmmakers and content producers? It can help you find out who your audience is, and where they are. Google Analytics provides a wealth of information about users that visit your website. This info can be used to target specific demographics on social media sites and around the net.

Build your audience and ultimately, a community of supporters for your film, and you’ll be one step ahead of the game. You’ll also have the numbers to back you up when it comes to funding, or distributing your content.

For more exciting speakers, and cutting edge views on the future of filmmaking, stay tuned to this space.