Facebook is trying to catch up with user-generated content machine YouTube by introducing more video monetization options for its creator community.
The social network giant already offers ad breaks to eligible creators in more than 40 countries and in 17 languages. But, the company is working on giving creators more control over ad placement by giving them the option to only show non-interruptive ad formats like pre-roll or image ads in a video.
Facebook also allows for fan subscriptions with monthly recurring payments. The company just added the ability for creators to offer supporter-only Groups as a fan subscriptions benefit so that supporters can interact with the creator and each other in a private space.
“In testing, we're encouraged at the potential of this feature to help fans form deeper communities and stronger bonds with creators on Facebook,” the company wrote in a blog post.
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Facebook is also expanding Stars – a feature currently used as a way for users to send one-time monetary support to live gaming streamers – and making the feature available to video creators. For every Star that creators receive during live streams, Facebook pays them $0.01.
Facebook today is also making updates to its Creator Studio suite of tools. The company is adding a dedicated Monetization Overview section that will let creators see and manage all of their monetization products in one place, and add other monetization products. The company is also integrating Instagram insights, content management, and publishing tools for both Instagram feed posts and IGTV into Creator Studio and launching new insights to give video creators a view of demographics, viewing behaviors and interests of their audience.
The updates are arriving in coordination with the company’s second-annual Facebook Creator Day U.S. in Malibu, California this week.