In today’s digital world, choosing the right platform to distribute your content is important for success. MSN might not be the first platform that comes to mind when it comes to video distribution, but you might be surprised to learn that it’s more than just a news site. MSN is a great platform to share your videos and earn revenue. In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about MSN, including how to monetize and distribute your content.
About MSN
MSN has been around for a while, but it’s come a long way since its early days. While some may think of it as just an old-school web portal, it’s much more than that now. Over the years, MSN has transformed into a major online platform that connects millions of users to a wide range of content, including news, videos, articles and more. Being part of the Microsoft Network, it integrates seamlessly with multiple Microsoft services, making its reach and impact much higher. This makes it an ideal place for video creators looking to distribute to a bigger audience. As it’s supported by Microsoft’s advanced technology, you’ll be able to deliver content not only to MSN.com, but also across Microsoft Start, Microsoft Bing and even Microsoft Edge.
The Different Platforms under MSN
As previously mentioned, the Microsoft Network consists of four main platforms. Let’s break down each of these and talk about what they offer.
MSN.com is the main hub. It’s packed with content ranging from news and sports to entertainment and lifestyle. For video creators, this site offers a huge opportunity to distribute their content to millions of users.
Microsoft Start provides a personalized news and content feed built into Windows and Microsoft apps. This means videos distributed through MSN can show up directly on users' devices, reaching people wherever they are.
Microsoft Bing, Microsoft’s search engine, helps boost video visibility even more. Videos distributed through MSN can pop up in search results, giving creators a chance to get their content in front of people searching for related topics. It’s a great way to expand reach beyond traditional video platforms and tap into a broader audience.
Microsoft Edge is Microsoft’s own web browser. Edge has a built-in news feed that shows videos and articles on the new tab page, making it easy for users to discover new content. This feature helps attract more viewers to videos hosted on MSN and Microsoft Start, blending content seamlessly into the browsing experience.
Monetizing Your Content on MSN
Monetizing your videos on MSN can be a great way to earn revenue while reaching a wide and diverse audience. Unlike some other platforms, MSN has a clear revenue-sharing model that lets creators make money if their content meets certain quality standards. This setup benefits both the platform and the creator, by sharing the profits from video engagement.
The revenue comes from Ad Integrations. Ads are seamlessly placed within or around videos on MSN, so they don’t disrupt the viewer’s experience. This way viewers keep watching your content, while still allowing ad revenue. Finding the right balance between ad placement and keeping viewers happy is important to boosting your earnings.
Although specific revenue share percentages aren't publicly disclosed, it's essential for creators to understand the terms and expectations set by MSN. This includes adhering to content quality standards, complying with community guidelines, and meeting technical specifications for video uploads. You can read more about these guidelines here and here. Being aware of these requirements will help you plan your content strategies effectively.
Next to meeting the guidelines, there are some important factors that influence your revenue:
Video views: The more views your video gets, the more revenue you can make. To get more viewers, make sure your content is optimized for search and is able to attract a wide range of viewers.
View duration: If your average view duration is higher, your earning potential gets boosted. Not only does it mean that people enjoy watching your videos, it means that more ads will be seen, which means your revenue will increase.
Engagement: Likes, shares and comments matter, as it shows MSN that people enjoy your content. This can lead to your video being promoted more, resulting in more views and earnings.
Content relevance: Videos that match current trends or fit your audience’s needs tend to do better. Research which niches perform well on MSN and create content that fits.
By using these strategies, you can get the most out of your content and build a solid presence on MSN. Creating high-quality, engaging videos and following the platform’s guidelines will help you boost your earnings and reach more viewers. Monetizing on MSN isn’t just about making money - it’s a great way to grow your online audience.
Distributing Your Content on MSN
Distributing videos on MSN is a great way to grow your audience, but you need to understand how to do it. Unlike some other platforms, you can’t just upload videos on your own, and there’s an extensive review process.
To upload your videos, you need to work with an Official Microsoft Partner to handle the distribution. These partners manage the submission process, help you ensure that videos meet all the technical and content standards, and maximize your reach across MSN and Microsoft’s other platforms. This allows you to focus more on creating great content while leaving the distribution and approval details to the experts.
It's important to choose the right Official Microsoft Partner. A good partner should have a solid strategy for uploading, optimizing your content for MSN, and making daily adjustments based on analytics. These factors play a major role in determining whether your performance stays in the lower earnings range or climbs to five figures per month. Your partner should also have strong connections with MSN and extensive experience in MSN distribution to quickly address any problems or delays, as every brand and video is reviewed individually.
If you’ve partnered with an Official Microsoft Partner and your video meets the necessary requirements, the next step is to let your partner submit the video for approval. This part is important, as each video is reviewed individually to ensure it meets MSN’s quality and community standards. Approval is done on a per-video basis, meaning even if one video passes, it doesn’t automatically mean the next one will too. On top of that, the review process can take some time, so it’s wise to plan ahead and factor in potential delays, especially if your content is time-sensitive or tied to trending topics.
The approval process, partnership requirement, and network integration are what make distributing on MSN unique. By following the necessary steps and working with the right partners, you can effectively get your content in front of millions of users and make the most of MSN’s network.
MakersTV as Your Official Microsoft Partner
MakersTV, our sister company, is one of the few Official Microsoft Partners for video distribution. This special status shows that Microsoft recognizes our skills and experience, giving us access to their Partner Hub. With this, we’re able to help creators get their content on MSN and the other Microsoft platforms.
With MakersTV, you don’t have to worry about meeting the technical standards or managing the submission process on your own. We help you with everything - from making sure your videos meet all the guidelines to optimizing them for maximum reach and revenue. As your partner, MakersTV lets you focus on creating great content while we handle getting it out to millions of viewers across Microsoft’s network.
Ready to distribute your content to MSN? Contact MakersTV here!