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Managing Content Libraries: Tips for OTT Providers
September 24, 2025
Managing a content library isn't easy, but when you do it well, your streaming service is going to soar in popularity. Here are a few tips on organizing your content and choosing the right OTT platform to ensure the best results for your service.
Managing Your Content Library
Organize
You start by categorizing content into clear genres, like drama, comedy, or documentaries, which will simplify navigation for your viewers. Then, create subcategories for niche interests, like true crime or sci-fi thrillers. Once that's done, assign detailed metadata tags that include titles, cast names, and release years to each video so your viewers will get accurate results when they search for things. When you've got things pretty well categorized, you can start grouping content that's related, such as franchise movies or series that have multiple seasons.
The Right Tech and OTT Platform
As you get things organized, make sure that all your videos are encoded in formats that are compatible with multiple devices and resolutions, from standard up to 4K. Optimize your file sizes with compression techniques so that buffering is reduced without a loss of quality. You want to make sure your content is stored on secure servers with redundant backups, so you need to make sure you're working with the right OTT platform.
At Lightcast.com, your content is secure, and we can help you configure your content delivery networks for the most efficient distribution of your videos and to minimize latency. With our tools you'll easily monitor server performance, test playback on various devices, be able to adjust video quality quickly based on your viewers Internet speed, and also advertise and monetize effectively.
Metadata and Search Optimization
In addition to just titles, genres, and actors, you also want to craft detailed metadata for each title, including synopses and keywords that align with what people usually search for. You also want to add tags for specific themes, like "family friendly." Optimize your video thumbnails with vibrant images that reflect the tone of the content, and incorporate alt text for images to improve accessibility and search engine indexing.
Content Curation and Updates
To keep things fresh, you'll want to analyze viewing patterns and match them to titles to make sure you're always presenting things that will be a hit with your audience. When you've got new releases, feature these prominently through banners and rotate your recommendations based on things like holidays or cultural events that have captured public interest.
Periodically, you also need to remove any outdated or low-performing content to make sure things don't get too cluttered. Make sure you've scheduled regular updates and that you're monitoring the platforms of your competitors to see where there might be gaps in your library that you can fill. Make sure you're also setting up good viewer feedback so you know what to prioritize and what formats are most popular so your library is always up-to-date and in demand.
There's a lot more that can go into curating a library of content, but whatever your needs, we can help. Reach out to Lightcast.com now for a free demo to learn more.
