Vimeo Adds Features To Help Filmmakers Before They Release Projects On Demand

As it continues to build up and tinker with its Vimeo On Demand platform, Vimeo is looking to give its creative partners more control over their pay-to-view content. The video site’s two newest features both affect Vimeo On Demand projects before they go live: Users can now set up “coming soon” pages weeks in advance, and they can distribute special access codes to VIP viewers.

The coming soon pages allow users to begin to generate buzz for their work before releasing any videos. “If you’re ready to upload your videos and start making sales, you can release your stuff right away,” reads a Vimeo blog post discussing the new features. “But if you’re still in the early stages of production, or raising money for your project, or want to launch an early marketing campaign, you can publish just your page now, and release your videos later. That way, you’ll be able to direct traffic back to the same page where, one day soon, your video will be for sale.”

The VIP codes, on the other hand, cater to content creators whose projects were financed by crowdfunding campaigns. Many of those creators have promised free downloads or early access to their backers, and with the VIP codes, they can deliver on that promise without changing their selling plans. Vimeo’s blog post also notes that you can give a VIP copy of your work to your mom, if you’d like.

The two new features are not the last updates Vimeo plans to make to its selling platform. Its blog post also notes that “more tools for marketing and selling your videos are coming soon for you.”