The Top 12 Ways You Can Profit from Web Video

By Joe Chapuis - The WebVideoZone
 

The long awaited promise of high-quality, fast-loading web video has finally arrived. And with it, comes enormous opportunity. The more I think about it, the more opportunity I see.

I'm not saying you'll get rich overnight with these ideas, but it is possible to create multiple, passive income streams using these web video business models. So, here are the top 12 ways you can start profiting from web video today...

1. Upload Your Video to Ad Revenue Sharing Sites

YouTube is the big daddy of user-submitted video web sites. With 35,000+ video submissions each day, their daily traffic places them in the top thirty most visited sites on the web.

YouTube is the leader, but they are not alone. There are dozens (if not more) copycats trying to break into the online video sharing market.

I'm still not sure what their business model is (rumor has it, they're not too sure, either). It costs them a small fortune to serve video to millions of people each day, and most venture capitalists don't enjoy seeing their money disappear into the ether.

A likely scenario is that sooner or later, in order to stay afloat, they will have to invite advertisers to help foot the bill. If so, they won't be the first to give the ad-supported business model a try.

That honor, goes to Revver.com...

 

Here's how Revver works...

 

1. You upload your video to Revver.

2. They attach a brief, unobtrusive ad at the end of the video.

3. People watch your video at Revver.com, or on other sites where people have embedded your video.

4. If someone views your video and clicks on your ad at the end, Revver deposits a portion of the click-through value into your account.

5. You then track your video's performance through your Revver account (e.g., how many times your video has been seen, and how much money you've earned).

6. Eventually, they send you money.

If you can consistently create and upload videos, this can be a good strategy for developing a long-term, passive income stream. Other sites that offer revenue sharing similar to Revver include Blip.TV and eefoof.com.

2. Place Affiliate Links in Your Videos

People come to your site to watch your video. You have their attention. Then what happens when the video is over? Re-direct them to an affiliate partner who sells what you covered in your video!

For example, if your video is about:

 

• Powerdrills... send them to an online hardware store.

• A newly released book or DVD... send them to Amazon.com.

• An exciting vacation location... send them to Priceline.com.

...just be sure to do it with an affiliate link so you earn a commission if a sale results.

This is easy to do with The Web Video Player™ (available at http://www.WebVideoPlayer.com ). Just put your affiliate link in the End of Movie URL" field, and use one of the "Click Here for More Info" buttons available in the player image gallery. Viewers who click on the closing graphic will be taken to the URL you specify.

3. Create Google Video Web Sites

Most movies available on Google Video can be embedded on any web page. If the option is available for the video, there will be a link next to it that says "Embed HTML." Click on it, and the necessary code to display the video on a web page will be shown. Add the code to any web page where you want the video to appear.

How to monetize Google Videos...

What you want to do is create a theme-based site on a certain niche or industry (e.g., martial arts, quilting, etc.). First, search Google Video for using those theme keywords to make sure there are already videos online related to your chosen niche.

If so, register a domain name such as martial-arts-videos.com or free-quilting-videos.com, and create a basic web site using the name. Use blogging software such as WordPress or MovableType to simplify the process.

Create a web page for each video, including a text description of what's covered in the video. Depending upon the theme, you may be able to find hundreds of related videos. Each one would then have its own unique web page on your site.

Add Google AdSense ads and/or related affiliate links to each page. Include an opt-in box so people can join your mailing list, allowing you to notify visitors of new videos and special offers related to your theme.

If you have success with one theme-based site, find another topic, and repeat the process with additional sites.

4. Sell Your Video Content at iStockVideo

iStockVideo.com is a new service from the the folks who brought us iStockPhoto.com, a wonderful royalty free stock photo web site (learn more about royalty free stock photos). With iStockVideo, you'll get paid for uploading video (stock footage) that other people want to use in their videos...

 

Since this is new, it's hard to say how much money you can make. Either way, if it's anything like iStockPhoto, it's going to be a wonderful resource for web video creators.

5. Find Sponsors for Your Videos

Are your videos interesting, professional, and do they target a specific market that advertisers would like to reach? If so, there's a good chance you might be able to find sponsors who will pay you to reach that audience. (If not, these web video tutorials will help you create better videos.)

With the The Web Video Player™, you can give sponsors the opportunity to advertise during and after your video using the Logo Image and Exit Image features. 

Charge sponsors by the month, per click-through, or per unique viewer. By checking your web video player stats, you and your sponsors will know exactly how many people watched the video, and when.

6. Use Web Video to Sell/Support Your Own Products

Do you have your own products/services to sell? If so, use video to help tell your story and turn prospects into customers. Using the The Web Video Player™, you can easily use video to...

 

• Show your products in action.

• Demonstrate the problems they (you) solve.

• Sell your products on eBay.

• Show video tours of your facilities.

• Do short video introductions of your staff (customers like to know there are real people behind the scenes).

• Use video to explain your guarantees.

• Show video testimonials of satisfied customers.

• Use video for support issues (e.g., how to solve common problems).
  
   

Almost anything that can be sold online can benefit from a well-made internet video supporting the product or service.

7. Combine Web Video with Affiliate Marketing

Sure, you can use web video to help market your own products or services. While this may at first seem like a no-brainer, there are more opportunities here than you might realize.

Most people think this is limited to putting promotional videos on their own web sites, hoping this will increase sales. Sure, done correctly, it should. But let's take this a step further...

If you sell your own products and services, you need to look at using web videos to draw prospects into your site. For example, by combining the The Web Video Player™ with your own affiliate program, you'd be packing a powerful "one-two punch" when it comes to your internet marketing.

And here's how you do it...

By using the WebVideoZone's Video Affiliate System™, you can make it simple for your affiliates to place your videos - with their affiliate links built into the player - on their sites. This system integrates seamlessly with any affiliate program.

If someone who views the video then clicks on the call-to-action features of the player (e.g., your custom logo) and then buys at your site, the affiliate gets credit for the sale.

For example, you can combine the The Web Video Player™ and Video Affiliate Sytem™ to promote your site via...

 

• A video "tip of the week" report

• Video product reviews

• Video news reports for a specific industry

• A regular vlog

• Video tours of remote locations
  
   

As long as you have something to sell, use can profit from combining web videos with your affiliate program. In essence, the video player you'd be offering your affiliates would be a giant, eye-catching affiliate link pointing back to your site!

And remember, when you update your video at The WebVideoZone, it will automatically update on your affiliates' sites in real-time. Your affiliates don't need to do anything.

8. Put Google Ads Next to Your Videos

If you create your own videos, put them online, add a good text description, and put some Google AdSense ads next to them that might be of interest to your viewers.

For best results:

 

• Make sure your video is on a subject that appeals to an audience which advertisers are trying to reach.

• Limit your videos to one per page, unless they're on the same topic.

• Be sure to use relevant keywords in your page title, headlines and descriptions.

• Create an email opt-in list, allowing you to contact your visitors when you have news or special offers to share.

9. Create Short Promotional Videos for Local Businesses

For less than $2,000, you can start your own side business where you create short web videos for other local businesses. And even if you don't yet have the skills, you can learn everything you need to know right here, in a short period of time.

Who might be interested in these types of videos? The most obvious clients would be...

 

• Realtors - offer home tour videos of newly listed properties

• New and used car dealers - create short videos that car dealers (especially luxury car dealers) can put on their web sites, helping them to move inventory.

• Travel and leisure destinations - B&Bs, hotels, resorts, restaurants, ski resorts, tour groups, clubs, etc.

• Retailers - antique shops, galleries, stores with interesting inventory to display

What do you need to get started?

 

1. Digital video camcorder camera - $500-750 (see article on How to Choose a Camcorder )

2. Computer for editing - you'll need lots of storage space (250+GB hard drive), and the more RAM you have, the better (at least 1GB) - $1,000+

3. Editing software - Sony Vegas Movie Studio will do the job for less than $100

You can easily customize the The Web Video Player WVZ Player to blend in with your clients' sites. For an extra fee, offer them the ability to include special offers at the end of the video - which you control.

You can keep the price to shoot the video low, and make it up by charging the client a monthly fee for hosting it and providing the player.

Don't sell the video outright - but instead, sell a license for your clients to use it on their sites. If the client stops paying, simply de-activate their video player in your WVZ account's control panel. Watch how fast you get your next check.

Print up some business cards, start knocking on doors and go shoot some video!

10. Create Video Ads for Other Businesses

Google Video Ads are the latest ad format to appear on the Google content network. This means you can now lure targeted traffic to your site by placing short advertising videos on other sites.

This means there are going to be a lot of businesses that want to have video ads for their web sites, but most aren't going to want to do the video production themselves.

This advertising tool is so new, that if you start now, you can easily position yourself as the leading provider that people turn to when it's time to have Google Video ads created.

11. Syndicate Your Video Content

If your video content is specialized and unique enough, other site owners may be willing to pay you for the right to put it on their sites. You can charge a yearly or monthly fee for the license to display your content.

The The Web Video Player™ makes it easy. Simply give your syndication partners the small line of javascript generated by the WVZ Player Maker, and the video will instantly appear on their sites.

12. Earn Up to 50% Commission as a WebVideoZone Affiliate Partner

And last but not least...

As a member of the WebVideoZone, you are eligible to participate in an affiliate program and earn up to 50% commission on membership and service fees.

Commissions are paid on monthly recurring fees in addition to the new membership fee. This means you'll continue to collect on-going commission payments for all members you refer, month after month.

Making Money with Web Video - Summary

Keep in mind, you don't have to rely on just a single revenue model. Try different ones to see what works best for you. Also, it can make sense to combine different strategies.

For example...

 

• If you enjoy producing videos and working with clients, you can create promotional videos and Google Video ads for other businesses.

• You can activate the The Web Video Player™ affiliate link, put it on web pages with Google Ads, and use the Logo/Exit Image features to promote other affiliate programs.

If you have any other ideas or suggestions, please share them with us. Remember, internet video is in its infancy, so now is the time to get started. Good luck!
 

Article by Joe Chapuis, founder of The WebVideoZone located at www.WebVideoZone.com.

The WebVideoZone provides tools and information to help small businesses profit from internet video. In addition to web video tutorials and articles, site members have access to The Web Video Player™ (www.WebVideoPlayer.com), a powerful internet video player that makes it fast and easy to add interactive video to any web site.