Vimeo may be based in New York, but it’s aiming to appeal to a global audience. In an effort to gain more international traction and views, the online video site has added subtitling and translation features, Japanese language support, and the ability to purchase from Vimeo with currencies beyond the US dollar.
Bloomberg notes over 70% of Vimeo’s audience is outside the U.S., so the video site has introduced subtitles, caption, and translation options for its international audience. The subtitle and caption system is free for users through their own video settings page, or Vimeo creators can pay for professional captioning and subtitles through the service’s translators. And, according to The Next Web, creators who opt for the professional service can choose from a variety of options, from basic captions to full translations (up to 18 languages are allowed per video).
Vimeo also translated its own site to support Japanese. Previously, the online video destination was only available in English, French, German, and Spanish. Bloomberg reports Vimeo plans to add support for Russian, Korean, and Portuguese sometime in 2015.
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“The launch of Japanese language on the site kicks off an aggressive roadmap we have to be fully localized in select territories in 2015,” said Dae Mellencamp, president of Vimeo, to The Next Web. “Given Japan’s vibrant pool of creators, this is an important territory for us and we’re looking forward to the creative output our efforts will have with this endemic community.”
But quite possibly Vimeo’s biggest update is its support for more global currencies for its Vimeo on Demand platform, which initially launched in early 2013. On Demand now accepts payments in both US dollars and Euros.
“Having seen individual Vimeo On Demand titles sell on our platform in over 100 countries in US Dollars alone, we’re very bullish on the sizable impact accepting euros will have for video sellers worldwide,” said Kerry Trainor, CEO of Vimeo, to The Next Web.
TNW also reports Vimeo Plus and Pro subscribers can now pay for the online video site’s services with the US Dollar, Euro, British Pound, Canadian and Australian Dollar, Japanese Yen, Russian Ruble, Swiss Franc, New Taiwan Dollar, Swedish Krona, and Danish Krone.
All these new features and updates only point to Vimeo’s larger goal of keeping up-to-date with the non-localized nature of online video and the vast opportunities for creators involved in the industry (much like Netflix is realizing as it aggressively pursues international opportunities). With Vimeo’s recent initiatives to distribute high-profile YouTubers’ content and even start a subscription service, the online video site wants to offer international users the same ability to make money as those in North America.
“We want to be the open platform for that premium video experience where people can earn more money than they can in an advertising-supported world,” Trainor added. “This is for anyone who wants to sell at any length in any format and any genre.”
With these updates, Vimeo should start seeing higher revenue streaming in from the 70% of its non-North American users, and more international creators will get the financial rewards due for their video efforts. It’s a win-win for everyone around the world.
