Periscope Business Model: A Live Streaming App

Last updated on May 24th, 2024

Live streaming platforms have seen a meteoric rise in popularity over the past few years, underscored by the introduction of pioneering applications like Periscope, Twitch, and Facebook Live. These innovative platforms have completely transformed the landscape of content sharing and consumption. They have opened up a new world where users can broadcast live video content to a vast audience from anywhere, at any time, and in real-time.

This groundbreaking technology has thoroughly democratized the process of content creation, breaking down barriers that once limited the production and distribution of media to professionals. Now, anyone armed with a smartphone or computer can become a content creator, sharing their experiences, thoughts, and precious moments with a global audience. This shift has given rise to a new era of personal broadcasting, where ordinary individuals have the power to reach millions with their unique stories and perspectives.

The immediacy and authenticity offered by live streaming are what set it apart from traditional media. These qualities create unparalleled opportunities for engagement, allowing viewers to interact with the content creators directly through comments and reactions as events unfold live. This level of real-time interaction fosters a deep sense of community and connection among users. It effectively bridges geographical divides, bringing people from all corners of the globe together in a shared virtual space where they can connect and partake in each other’s experiences as if they were there in person.

Moreover, live streaming serves as a powerful tool for businesses and influencers, providing a platform to engage with audiences in a more direct and personal way than ever before. The ability to respond to viewer comments and questions in real time adds a human touch to digital interactions, enhancing customer engagement and loyalty.

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Periscope Stats and Facts: Funding and Major Milestones

Since its inception in 2015, Periscope has achieved significant milestones and garnered impressive funding. Here are some noteworthy stats and facts about the popular live-streaming platform:

Periscope was founded by Kayvon Beykpour and Joe Bernstein and was acquired by Twitter before its official launch.
In March 2015, Periscope announced that it had raised $1.5 million in seed funding from investors, including Scott Belsky, founder of Behance.
Periscope was launched publicly on March 26, 2015, and became the most downloaded app in the App Store within its first week.
In June 2015, Periscope announced that it had surpassed 10 million registered users.
Within just four months of its launch, Periscope had already hosted over 100 million broadcasts.
In 2016, Periscope introduced a new feature that allowed users to save their live streams and share them for up to 24 hours after the broadcast ended. This feature was later adopted by other popular social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook.

Also Read: Build a Streaming Application Like ShowBox App: A Step-by-Step Guide

The Story Behind the Making of Periscope

The idea for Periscope was born out of a need to bridge the gap between real-time experiences and digital interactions. The founders, Beykpour and Bernstein, were inspired to create a platform that would allow people to share live moments with their friends and followers from anywhere in the world.

Beykpour had the idea while traveling overseas and wanted to show his family and friends back home what he was experiencing in real time. He realized that existing social media platforms did not offer this capability, and thus, Periscope was created.

How Does Periscope Work – Insight into Periscope Business Model

Periscope works as a live-streaming app that allows users to broadcast themselves or their surroundings in real-time. The app uses the camera and microphone of the user’s smartphone to capture and transmit live video and audio content.

The business model behind Periscope is based on advertising, with brands paying for promoted content within the app. Another source of revenue is through partnerships with media companies and publishers, who use Periscope to broadcast live events and reach a larger audience.

1. Watch a broadcast

Users can access Periscope through either the mobile application or the website, allowing them a convenient way to browse through an extensive list of live and previously saved broadcasts. Additionally, they have the option to search for specific topics or users, enabling them to tailor their viewing experience according to their interests. This feature encourages users to follow those who share content that resonates with their preferences, creating a more personalized and engaging experience.

2. Create a broadcast

Creating a broadcast on Periscope is easy. Users can start broadcasting with just a few taps on their phone screen, making it accessible to anyone with a smartphone. The app also offers options for users to interact with their audience by allowing them to comment, send likes, or join the broadcast as guests. This feature enhances user engagement and encourages more people to use the app.

3. Follow Friends and Family

Periscope offers users the ability to connect with friends and family by following their accounts. This feature allows users to stay updated on the latest broadcasts from those they care about, making it a great way to keep in touch with loved ones who may be far away. Users can also choose to receive notifications when their followed accounts start broadcasting, ensuring that they never miss out on any important content.

Stay Updated: Make sure to follow the accounts of friends and family to never miss out on any of their live broadcasts. Staying updated helps you remain connected and involved in their digital lives.
Instant Notifications: By enabling notifications, you’ll be alerted immediately whenever someone you follow starts a new live broadcast. This feature ensures that you’re always in the loop and can join in the moment the action begins.
Enhance Connections: Take an active role in strengthening your relationships by staying engaged with the live content shared by your loved ones. Participating in their live broadcasts can deepen your connections and show your support for their moments and milestones.
Personalized Experience: Customize your feed by selectively following those individuals you care most about. This ensures a tailored viewing experience that aligns with your interests and affections, making every moment you spend on the platform more enjoyable and meaningful.

How Periscope Makes Money: Revenue Model

Periscope’s main source of revenue is through advertising. As a live-streaming platform with millions of active users, Periscope offers businesses and brands the opportunity to reach a large audience through targeted advertisements during live broadcasts. These advertisements can be tailored based on user demographics, interests, and viewing history.

1. Advertisements and Sponsored Scopes

Periscope offers various advertising options for businesses and brands to promote their products or services. These include pre-roll, mid-roll, and post-roll ads that can be placed before, during, or after a live broadcast. Additionally, Periscope also offers sponsored scopes which are paid partnerships between the platform and advertisers. These sponsored scopes appear on users’ feeds as promoted content and are marked as such.

2. Super hearts

Super hearts are innovative virtual gifts that users can buy and send to their favorite creators during live broadcasts to show their appreciation and support. Available in a variety of denominations, these super hearts enable fans to express their support tangibly, helping to monetize the efforts of content creators. When a user purchases a super heart, they are essentially converting real money into virtual currency, which can then be used to send these animated hearts as a gesture of support during live streams. This unique system not only fosters a stronger connection between creators and their audiences but also offers a direct means of financial support. Periscope, recognizing the value in facilitating these interactions, takes a small percentage of the revenue generated from super heart purchases as a way to sustain the platform and continue providing services that benefit both creators and viewers alike.

Potential Challenges For Live Streaming Apps like Periscope

Despite experiencing rapid growth and achieving notable success, Periscope, much like other live-streaming platforms, faces unique challenges that could significantly affect its future direction. One of the main challenges is the constant demand for technological innovation to keep up with evolving viewer expectations and to outpace competitors. Additionally, managing user privacy and security is of paramount importance, as these concerns are at the forefront of users’ minds in today’s digital age. Periscope must also focus on maintaining a steady flow of engaging and high-quality content to satisfy a diverse and ever-growing audience. This requires not only attracting new content creators but also retaining them by ensuring they have the tools and support needed to succeed on the platform. Addressing these issues with effective strategies and solutions is crucial for Periscope to continue its upward trajectory and remain a key player in the competitive and fast-paced landscape of live streaming services.

What Can We Learn From the Creators of Periscope?

The success of Periscope is not only a result of its innovative platform and dedicated user base but also the skills, mindset, and strategies of its creators. One crucial lesson we can learn from them is the importance of staying ahead of trends and constantly evolving to meet changing market demands.

1. It is Crucial to Get the Core Functionality Right

Periscope’s founders recognized the potential of live streaming and focused on perfecting its core functionality, which is to offer real-time, interactive experiences. By prioritizing this aspect, they were able to create a strong foundation for their platform and attract users looking for an immersive and engaging experience. This highlights the significance of thoroughly understanding the core needs of your target audience and delivering on those requirements effectively.

2. Do Not Keep Waiting for Everything to be Perfect

While mastering the basics is crucial, the inventors of Periscope understood the danger of allowing perfectionism to stall their progress. Rather than waiting for everything to be flawless, they chose to adopt a proactive stance. They rolled out new updates and features regularly, fully aware that not everything would be perfect from the outset. This strategy wasn’t just about releasing updates—it was about creating a dynamic feedback loop with their user base. By actively seeking out and incorporating user feedback, they were able to make continuous improvements that were directly influenced by their audience’s needs and preferences. This iterative approach was instrumental in their ability to adapt quickly to the rapidly evolving demands of the live streaming market, ensuring they not only kept pace but often stayed several steps ahead of their competitors. In doing so, Periscope demonstrated the power of embracing imperfection as a pathway to innovation and market leadership.

3. Develop a Solid and Stable Foundation for Your App

Another key lesson we can learn from Periscope is the importance of developing a solid and stable foundation for your app. While it’s tempting to focus solely on adding new features and functionalities, neglecting the underlying infrastructure of your platform can lead to major issues down the line. From day one, Periscope invested in building a reliable and scalable infrastructure that could handle large amounts of data and traffic. They also prioritized security measures to protect user data and prevent hacking attempts.

Beyond technical considerations, Periscope also emphasized creating a strong company culture and team dynamics. By fostering a positive work environment and encouraging open communication, they were able to attract top talent and retain employees who were passionate about their product. This dedication to building a solid foundation helped Periscope weather challenges and grow into a successful company.

Benefits of using Periscope business model

One of the main benefits of using Periscope’s business model is its focus on user engagement and feedback. By constantly seeking input from their audience and implementing changes based on their needs, Periscope was able to create a product that users loved and remained loyal to. This not only helped with customer retention but also attracted new users through positive word-of-mouth.

Enhanced User Engagement: By prioritizing feedback and actively engaging with the user base, Periscope cultivated a loyal following, driving user retention and attracting new users through positive word-of-mouth.
Scalability and Reliability: Investing in a solid infrastructure from the onset allowed Periscope to scale efficiently and maintain performance reliability, accommodating growth without compromising user experience.
Innovation through Feedback: The emphasis on user feedback fueled continuous improvement and innovation, ensuring the platform evolved in ways that directly responded to user needs and preferences.
Attracting and Retaining Talent: A strong company culture and emphasis on team dynamics helped Periscope attract and retain a passionate and talented workforce, which in turn contributed to the company’s innovative edge and success.
Security and User Trust: Prioritizing security from the beginning built a foundation of trust with users, ensuring data protection and establishing a secure environment for personal and professional communication.
Market Leadership through Adaptation: Periscope’s willingness to embrace imperfection and adapt quickly to user feedback and changing market dynamics positioned the company as a leader in the live streaming industry.

How much does it cost to build a periscope business model?

The cost associated with developing a business model like Periscope’s can fluctuate considerably, influenced by a variety of factors. These include the overall scope of the platform you wish to create, the complexity and number of features you plan to integrate, and the geographical location of the development team you choose to hire. For instance, costs could escalate if the platform requires advanced features like live streaming technology, user engagement tools, and robust security measures. Additionally, development teams located in regions with higher living costs may charge more for their services, further impacting the overall budget. It’s essential to carefully consider these elements when planning your project to ensure a clear understanding of the potential financial investment required. Initially, the costs can be broken down into a few key areas:

Development Costs: Hiring a skilled development team to build a live streaming platform like Periscope can range from $50,000 to $150,000 for a basic version, depending largely on whether the team is in-house or outsourced, and their geographical location.
Infrastructure Costs: To support live streaming capabilities, robust server infrastructure is critical. Initial costs can start from $2,000 to $5,000 per month, depending on the expected user load and scalability requirements.
Design and User Experience: Ensuring an intuitive and engaging user interface is essential. Design costs can vary from $10,000 to $30,000, inclusive of user experience research and user interface design.
Security and Compliance: Implementing advanced security measures and ensuring compliance with data protection regulations can add $20,000 to $50,000 to the startup costs.
Marketing and Brand Building: Initial marketing efforts to build brand awareness and attract users can range from $20,000 to over $100,000, depending on the scale and channels used.

How can iTechnolabs help you to build a periscope business model?

At iTechnolabs, we deeply comprehend the intricate complexities and substantial challenges involved in crafting a live-streaming platform akin to Periscope. Our meticulously assembled team of seasoned developers, innovative designers, and astute marketers brings a wealth of experience from working on numerous projects similar in scope and scale. This diverse expertise enables us to offer invaluable insights, tailored strategies, and proven solutions to effectively navigate the competitive landscape. By leveraging our comprehensive understanding and hands-on experience, we are uniquely positioned to assist you in developing a robust and successful business model that stands out in the digital marketplace.

Here are some ways in which iTechnolabs can assist you in developing your Periscope business model:

Customized Development: We offer tailored development solutions to meet your specific requirements and budget. Our team can work closely with you to understand your vision and deliver a high-quality, feature-rich platform.
Cost-effective Solutions: With our extensive knowledge and experience in the industry, we can suggest cost-effective alternatives without compromising on quality. This helps you save money and launch your platform quickly.
Expertise in Design and User Experience: Our team includes skilled designers who can create an intuitive and visually appealing interface for your live streaming platform. We also conduct thorough user experience research to ensure a seamless experience for your users.
Advanced Security Measures: iTechnolabs prioritizes data security and compliance with privacy regulations. We implement advanced security measures to protect your platform from cyber threats and ensure the safety of your users’ data.
Marketing Strategies: Our marketing team can assist you in creating effective strategies to reach your target audience and build brand awareness. We have experience in utilizing various channels, such as social media, influencer marketing, and email campaigns, to attract users to your platform.

Are you planning to build a periscope like business model?

Choosing iTechnolabs for developing your Periscope business model comes with numerous benefits that can significantly enhance your platform’s impact and reach. Firstly, the customization aspect of iTechnolabs’ services allows for the creation of a unique and differentiated platform that resonates with your brand and vision, setting you apart in a crowded market. By leveraging their cost-effective solutions, startups, and established businesses alike can minimize their financial risks while still deploying a sophisticated and competitive product. Their expertise in design and user experience not only ensures that your platform is aesthetically pleasing but also intuitive and user-friendly, which is crucial for retaining users and encouraging engagement.

Furthermore, iTechnolabs’ commitment to advanced security measures is essential in today’s digital age, where user trust hinges on the assurance of data protection. This focus on security not only safeguards your business against potential cyber threats but also builds a strong foundation of trust with your audience. Lastly, their experience in crafting comprehensive marketing strategies allows your platform to achieve visibility and traction rapidly post-launch. Utilizing a mix of digital marketing channels effectively can catalyze your growth and foster a loyal user community.

Customization and Brand Differentiation: iTechnolabs specializes in crafting bespoke platforms that resonate with your brand’s unique identity and strategic vision. This tailored approach not only ensures that your platform reflects your brand’s ethos but also sets you apart in a densely packed market, giving you a competitive edge.
Cost-Effective Solutions: Catering to both nascent startups and well-established enterprises, iTechnolabs offers economically viable services. This affordability factor is pivotal, minimizing financial burdens and risks associated with launching and maintaining a sophisticated digital platform, making high-quality technology accessible to businesses of all sizes.
Expertise in Design and User Experience: At the heart of iTechnolabs’ ethos is a profound emphasis on elegant, aesthetic, and user-friendly design principles. By creating interfaces that are not only visually appealing but also intuitively navigable, they significantly improve user retention rates and engagement levels. This focus is instrumental in cultivating a positive user experience, which is a critical determinant of a platform’s success.
Advanced Security Measures: In an era where digital security is of paramount importance, iTechnolabs leads the way by implementing cutting-edge security protocols and measures. This proactive approach to safeguarding user data enhances trust and confidence among your user base, simultaneously protecting your business from the ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats and vulnerabilities.
Comprehensive Marketing Strategies: Leveraging their extensive experience across a multitude of marketing channels, iTechnolabs ensures that your platform doesn’t just launch but soars. Through strategic marketing initiatives designed to amplify visibility and foster engagement, they help build a robust and loyal community around your platform. Their marketing expertise is integral to achieving sustained growth and visibility in the post-launch phase.

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Conclusion:

Choosing iTechnolabs as your trusted mobile app development partner guarantees that your digital platform is managed by experts. Their extensive suite of services, which includes sophisticated design, advanced development, robust security measures, and innovative marketing strategies, ensures a comprehensive approach to establishing a successful and sustainable digital presence for your business. With iTechnolabs, you benefit from their team’s deep industry knowledge and commitment to excellence, making them the ideal partner for navigating the complexities of the digital world and maximizing your online potential.

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