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If you create videos on a regular basis, you have many ways to bring in revenue for the online content you post. Perhaps you post videos on social media feeds. Perhaps you’ve added videos to your own website to engage your followers. Or you may film short clips to market your products and services.
As you think about how to monetize videos, there are a number of strategies that apply to all these different kinds of online content. In fact, you can use several video monetization strategies at the same time to increase your income streams. Read on to learn more about earning income through your videos.
Placing ads in your videos
Most of us have watched ads on broadcast television and online videos since we were young. When you think about how to monetize social media videos, advertising may be the first strategy that comes to mind.
For good reason: The advertising revenue that YouTube brings has grown steadily over the years—rising to almost $29 billion in 2021, according to the company’s own figures. When you opt to monetize YouTube videos, you can select which forms of video or overlay ads will appear with your content, and you earn a portion of the proceeds. Keep in mind: Not every user is eligible to monetize their content using the platform’s tools. Plus, you’ll only make significant income from this kind of advertising if you have many active viewers.
Another way you can integrate advertisements into your videos is by partnering directly with brands. You can either co-create videos with companies to share with your audience or earn income from product placements in video content you create on your own.
Creating a video library
Add a page to your website to share all of your videos in one place. This way, casual browsers on your site can see a preview of the videos you have. With Squarespace, you can set paywalls on individual videos, so you can share a couple of free previews to draw in viewers. Visitors can also read descriptions for each video, so they know what they’re getting before they decide to buy.
Having your own on-demand video library on your site also gives you more control over your video content. Instead of relying on third-party platform algorithms, you can drive visitors to your site and establish a connection with them.
Learn more about creating paid video libraries
Selling membership access to your videos
Another way to monetize your videos is to post them to a member-only content section of your own website and charge your followers to gain access. Squarespace offers the opportunity to gate member-exclusive content by adding Member Sites to your website.
The benefit of creating gated video content is that you can tailor it specifically to your audience. In addition, if you are posting videos on a hosting service like Squarespace, you can use streaming platforms that allow you to embed higher-quality videos.
You may want to continue to post select videos to your social media channels for people to preview your gated content and to expand your reach. Just remember to direct viewers to your website in the descriptions of those posts.
Selling goods and services
People who watch your videos—especially regular viewers—develop a relationship with you. They value your perspective, personality, and knowledge of your subject matter.
You can nurture that trusting relationship in a number of ways:
Advertise your consulting services. If you think about your videos as a group class, you can let viewers know you’re available for personalized one-on-one instruction or advice as well. Provide a link to a website where they can contact you, or offer consultations through an online scheduler by embedding Acuity Scheduling into your website.
Develop in-depth courses. If you’ve grown a following because of your expertise, you can create and sell access to online courses that dive deeper into specific topics. Promote these advanced-level courses by filming free, intro-level videos and posting them publicly.
Sell products. If you’re a retailer, making videos about the products you stock may be an ideal way to demonstrate how they work and inspire your customers to buy them. If you are a content creator, you could develop merchandise (e.g., stickers, T-shirts) that your followers can purchase through your website or a third-party vendor.
Embedding affiliate marketing links
Thousands of brands—including web hosting services like Squarespace—offer affiliate marketing programs. When you enroll in a brand’s affiliate marketing program, you’ll receive a link that you share alongside your content. You receive a commission every time a viewer follows that link to the brand’s site and makes a purchase there.
There are two ways to use affiliate marketing links in videos:
The easiest way is to embed the link in the video description or a comment you pin to the top of a social media post.
If you are posting the video on YouTube, you may be able to use the platform’s tools to create a five-second card, containing an external link, that plays inside the video itself.
The benefit to creators for participating in affiliate marketing programs is that you don’t have to sell anything yourself. You’re simply pointing your followers to products or brands you endorse. However, it’s a good practice to let your audience know that you may earn a commission if they click the link, in order to maintain the trust you’ve built with them.
Learn more about how to charge subscriptions to your content
This post was updated on March 7, 2024.