Making money online seems to be a trend that is here to stay. It’s convenient, it’s relatively simple, it’s usually free or inexpensive, and with the Internet constantly growing, your ways to make money online are multiplying as well. So what’s stopping you? I mean, you have the computer; you’re on the Internet; now all you need is some direction. So here it is. In this series of posts we’ll cover the three major outlets for making money online: YouTube, EBay, and Facebook.
Today we’ll start with YouTube.
A quick question: What do Justin Beiber, comedian Brooke Brodack, and yes, even Amber Lee Ettinger (with her crush on Obama), all have in common? Well, they all got their start on YouTube and today they’re reaping the rewards.
But what if you aren’t out to become a celebrity, or even “go viral”? Here are five ways anybody can make money off of YouTube—even if you don’t have a crush on Obama.
1) Join the YouTube Partner Program. This Partner Program basically allows you to share in the ad revenue from the ads YouTube places on your video. In order to apply for the Partner Program, just make sure that your videos are…
- Original and appropriate for online streaming,
- You own the copyrights and distribution rights for all audio and video content that you upload.
- You regularly upload videos that are viewed by thousands of YouTube users.
- You live in the US or Canada
If you meet these requirements, apply here. And for more information about the program, what better way than to check out this ridiculous video straight from YouTube!
2) Open an account at Blogger.com. This blog site is owned by Google, just like YouTube is. It’s easy to use, easy to navigate, and it’s free. Once you upload your video to YouTube, you can imbed it into your blog post with a short description, and from there, make money with Google’s AdSense program. Basically, they will run “contextual marketing ads” on your blog page, which just means the ads they use will have to do with the content of your video. So say your video is about playing music—the ads they run will be for guitars, music equipment, etc. For a step by step on how to apply AdSense to your Blogger account, click here.
3) Create a “tip jar.” Unfortunately, YouTube doesn’t offer a tip jar on their site for the videos you love and would love to help out. However, it’s pretty easy to just create your own! Just open up a PayPal account and include a link to your PayPal page on your YouTube page or your blog. Then, if viewers like your art, advice or the original content you’re providing , they can use their PayPal account to send you a “tip.” Make it clear that donations are entirely voluntary, and very much appreciated.
4) Make videos to sell your things. Do you have a knack for creating crafts? Jewelry? Art? You can use YouTube as a great place to showcase them, and then include a link to EBay or Craigslist. The more creative you are, the better! Just take Val’s Art Diary Videos for example. She garnered success by creating a video of a lovely painting and simply ended the video asking interested buyers to visit her EBay site. The piece sold for hundreds of dollars, and since then business has been pretty good for Val.
5) Talk to local merchants. If you have even a small following on YouTube, it never hurts to ask around for some backing! Just visit local businesses and be honest: “I have a YouTube video, I have about this many viewers, and I’d love it if we could help each other out.” They can pay you a small amount or give you free products, and in return, you can mention their business or even feature their products in your videos. It’s pretty straightforward, both parties benefit, and if nothing else, it is a great way to network!
And those are five pretty simple ways you can make money with YouTube. Don’t forget to come back next week when we’ll tell you how you can make money with EBay!
Do you have any other tips for making money online?
Sources: YouTube.com, WomansDay.com, FizDhanani.HubPages.com, Blogger.com, Google.About.com,
