Syndicating WordPress Content: A Successful Experiment in Multi-Channel Streaming

Last week we ran an experiment in syndicating the WordPress Speed Build content across multiple YouTube channels. This article outlines the result of streaming simultaneously to two YouTube channels: my personal channel with 158,000 subscribers and the official WordPress channel with 57,000 subscribers.

The results, measured 48 hours after the live stream, have been very positive, showing the potential of content syndication in the WordPress ecosystem.

Experiment Results

Our experiment involved streaming the same WordPress-related content to both channels concurrently.

Let’s break down the performance metrics for each channel.

Note* These are the stats 48 hours post live stream:

Personal Channel (150,000 subscribers)

• Total views so far: 2883
• Peak concurrent viewers: 233
• Total watch time: 162 hours 13 minutes 41 seconds
• Average view duration: 12 minutes 56 seconds
• Stream duration: 47 minutes 1 second
• Likes: 238 (98.3%)

WordPress Channel (57,000 subscribers)

• Total views so far: 1309
• Peak concurrent viewers: 75
• Total watch time: 50 hours 58 minutes 23 seconds
• Average view duration: 10 minutes 11 seconds
• Stream duration: 47 minutes 2 seconds
• Likes: 100 (94.3%)

Analysis of Results

The data reveals several interesting insights:

1. Reach Amplification: By streaming to both channels, we significantly expanded our audience reach. The personal channel, with its larger subscriber base, naturally attracted more viewers and engagement.
2. Engagement Levels: Despite the difference in subscriber count, both channels showed strong engagement. The personal channel had a higher chat rate and longer average view duration, indicating a highly engaged audience.
3. Content Relevance: The WordPress channel, although smaller, demonstrated solid performance, suggesting that the content resonated well with its audience.
4. Cumulative Impact: Combined, the streams generated over 213 hours of watch time and 338 likes within just 48 hours, highlighting the power of syndication in boosting content visibility and engagement.

Benefits of Content Syndication

This experiment underscores several advantages of syndicating WordPress content:

1. Expanded Reach: By leveraging multiple channels, we can tap into diverse audience pools, increasing overall visibility.
2. Community Engagement: Syndication fosters broader community interaction.
3. Resource Efficiency: A single piece of content can serve multiple audiences, maximizing the return on content creation efforts.

Future Opportunities

The success of this experiment opens up exciting possibilities for the WordPress community:

Collaboration with Other YouTubers
There’s a significant opportunity for WordPress content creators and YouTubers to collaborate on content syndication. By partnering with channels of various sizes and niches within the WordPress ecosystem, we can create a network effect that benefits all participants.

Official WordPress Content Syndication
This model could be particularly powerful for official WordPress events and content:

• WordCamps: Streaming WordCamp sessions across multiple channels could dramatically increase their reach and impact.
• State of the Word: The annual address by Matt Mullenweg could gain even wider viewership through strategic syndication.
• Product Launches and Updates: New WordPress features or major updates could be announced simultaneously across partnered channels, ensuring maximum coverage.

Implementation Strategies

To successfully implement content syndication:

1. Technical Setup: Invest in reliable multi-streaming tools to ensure smooth simultaneous broadcasts.
2. Content Curation: Carefully select content that appeals to a broad WordPress audience while still providing value to niche viewers.
3. Cross-Promotion: Encourage channel owners to promote the syndicated content to their respective audiences beforehand.
4. Consistent Scheduling: Establish a regular syndication schedule to build audience anticipation and habit.

Challenges and Solutions

While our experiment was successful, it’s important to address potential challenges:

1. Channel Identity: Maintain the unique voice and style of each channel by balancing syndicated content with channel-specific material.
2. Audience Overlap: Monitor and analyze viewer data to understand and mitigate potential audience cannibalization.
3. Content Relevance: Ensure that syndicated content aligns with each channel’s core themes and audience interests.

Live Streaming to X

We also streamed live on X to my personal X account.

The Tweet received 9000 views.

And the broadcast has been viewed 1252 times so far.

Conclusion

Our experiment in syndicating WordPress content across multiple YouTube channels has yielded promising results. In just 48 hours, we’ve achieved over 4,000 views and accumulated more than 213 hours of watch time, clearly demonstrating the potential for growth and engagement.

This success suggests that content syndication could be a key strategy for unlocking the full potential of WordPress content by leveraging our community’s distribution networks.

By expanding our reach across various platforms, we can maximize the impact and visibility of our content, potentially leading to increased audience engagement and brand awareness.