Income from Vlogging
Published by tagami on 23 Jan 2006 at 8:31 am.
14 Comments.
Filed under Vlog News.
Videoblogging is many things: creation, sharing, opinion, expression, etc. This is all fine and good. But how can a Videoblogger generate revenue?
Earlier this month Ron Watson, from the Yahoo Videoblogging Group, challenged the group to think of ways Videobloggers could create revenue without advertising. He wanted us to use a tool called a Provocative Operation, which is a tool used for proposing an idea which may not necessarily be a solution or a ‘good’ idea in itself, but is designed to move thinking forward to a new place where new ideas may be produced.
Here is what he posited:
Goal: How can videoblogs generate revenue for vloggers?
Provocative Operations: Advertising does not exist, and; Ban advertising on vlogs.
Using this methodology, what are some ways you can think of to generate revenue?
Here is my original response:
I’ll start by making two assumptions.
Assumption #1: No advertising is the Provocative Operation.
Assumption #2: The Goal of Revenue is to offset costs; provide for you (and your employee’s, if any) living expenses; and increase your overall quality of life/time. This may or may not also include shareholder value depending on the scale of the endeavor.
We therefore have at least 5 obvious choices exposed:
(1) Donation,
(2) Subscription/Purchase,
(3) Sponsorship,
(4) Benefactor, and
(5) no revenue model (creation for creation’s sake).
Donation: relies on the random good will of your viewership. If donations do not reach revenue goals in assumption #2, you will need to advertise yourself to your viewership (think public radio/television) to keep your P&L (Profit and Loss) in check.
Subscription/Purchase: In order to view content viewer must pay a fee. This generally reduces your audience, especially in the Internet space where price is constantly being pushed to zero. As in donation above, if P&L goals are not reached you will again be looking to advertise yourself to your visitors in hopes of converting them to paying viewers.
Sponsorship: A cousin of advertising, more closely tied with branding. This may include a logo or “bug”, or perhaps a “brought to you buy”, or “This program made possible by” types of messages.
Benefactor: Find yourself a Sugar Daddy that loves what you do, and they pay you for it. Think de’Medici.
No Revenue: decide that “real musicians have day jobs” and leave it at that.
Using this Provocative Operation methodology, can you think of other ways Videobloggers can directly generate revenue?
Kitka on 23 Jan 2006 at 9:33 am: 1
At the moment I’m using choices (4) and (5), my boyfriend helps out a lot by buying me videoblog-related presents and the rest is funded by my paycheck.
I’m currently working on choice (6): Merchandizing to help support the costs of hosting, etc.
Kitka
Steve Garfield on 23 Jan 2006 at 10:38 am: 2
I’ll add using the video blog as a calling card for services that you provide outside the blog such as consulting and video production.
chuck olsen on 23 Jan 2006 at 11:55 am: 3
how about, advertising.
i’ll second what Steve said. there are lots of barter/trade options.
i shot some video for our local public radio station and showed them how to make a Flash video player, etc. — in exchange I got a big banner ad on their web site for a month. that’s not money, but it’s value and a new audience that’s a good match for my video.
Peter Parker on 23 Jan 2006 at 1:13 pm: 4
I’ve been using a new video hosting site called Revver.com that pays its users by placing an add at the end of your video. I know this counts as an advertisement but it’s not as obtrusive as a banner ad or even a link field. It pays per click on the ad. I’ve made a few dollars within the last month or so of using it. I imagaine if you have a good stream of traffic you could make a good bit of money.
Bre Pettis on 23 Jan 2006 at 1:37 pm: 5
I’d add selling stuff through cafe press. Great article Ted!
Harry on 26 Jan 2006 at 9:43 pm: 6
You could the keep the daily or weekly video free but provide extras for payment: a long interview with someone, special reports. Put those on Google Video or similar.
When you have done enough videos, make a DVD for sale. Advantages: they get full D1 quality video, a nice box and a booklet. Plus a few exclusive videos/re-edits.
Edmund Yeo on 30 Jan 2006 at 8:13 pm: 7
Yep. Cafepress is the way.
We Are The Media : Rocketboom Does Ebay on 31 Jan 2006 at 10:13 pm: 8
[…] For more information about making money in the vlogosphere, see Ted’s excellent article on Income from vlogging. And don’t forget to get on over to Rocketboom and check out their ideas–who knows, there may be something in it for you. […]
Ron Watson on 2 Feb 2006 at 4:04 pm: 9
It’s funny, I did a google search for “ron watson video” , and I was led here. That is cool that someone followed up on this.
Personally I find Harry’s comment to be the most valuable for this conversation.
In fact, I am looking to do similar things with vlogging. I am using it as a teaser for our dog training and discdoggin’ business (instruction, performance and competition). I think if we give people a taste of what we have to offer and they will come to us for more.
I am have been wanting to do a training video, or video series for some time now, thanks to vlogging, I will have a tool to inform people, to tease them into giving us a try.
Harry’s idea of the vlog being a vehicle instead of the product is a good one, hopefully I can capitalize on it. Thanks Harry!
http://k9disc.blip.tv
http://k9disc.blogspot.com
http://k9disc.com
http://k9athlete.com
http://pawsitivevybe.com
Dennis on 3 Feb 2006 at 7:06 am: 10
These are awesome suggestions. Thanks for the input. I had never looked at it from that point of view, either.
Barry Bowen on 5 Feb 2006 at 8:14 am: 11
Licensing content to others. (Example: making stock footage available to stock video libraries and news services)
Harry on 9 Feb 2006 at 12:12 am: 12
On the subject of possibly licensing content in the future I would just say to people be very careful where you upload your content to at the moment. Always read the small print and think about the consequences for the future.
Many well-known names are taking a ‘perpetual royalty free license’ in any content that is uploaded. It’s possible in the future that you may want to sell your content but will find yourself competing against your own material which is being given away by one of these services under the terms you agreed to.
I have written an article on my blog about some of the terms and conditions.
Our content is unique and valuable and it doesn’t make sense to give away rights in it in exchange for just a few Dollars of free hosting.
Will Luers on 22 Feb 2006 at 2:19 pm: 13
keep the personal stuff free.
find sponsorship for video podcast projects. advertising without contextual meaning is dead, but vlogumentaries will be a powerful tool for small businesses, non-profits and educational programs.
ifranz.tv - vlog@life » Archives » How can a Videoblogger generate revenue? on 18 May 2006 at 10:40 pm: 14
[…] Wer mehr wissen will, hier ein Artikel auf “We Are The Media”. Tag: Video Podcast […]