Top 9 Video Platforms for Making Money As a Content Creator
So, you are interested in making money as a video creator… Well, it used to be a lot easier than it is today, but it is still VERY possible. Our biggest encouragement is to find the one platform that best works for you and stick with it until you have fully learned how to brand and show up in that platform best. Then, once you are making money there, expand to other platforms. Too many creators are trying to do them all and getting very limited results. Pick one, try it, if it works, keep going for 6 months and then make decisions on what’s next. The next decision would be whether to expand to another platform or simply dig in and make even more and better content for your current video platform. At any rate, we are adding here a list of the best 9 platforms out there for monetizing as well as a little bit of details on what you can expect from them. This list is in no specific order. It is listed simply as the 9 we know are working to monetize at this time.
NUMBER 1 Daily Motion
Profit share: 70% | Minimum payout: $100 | Sign up | More details
Dailymotion’s video monetization program earns you a revenue every time an ad is placed in your videos. It supports in-stream video ads to generate maximum earnings and helps you cultivate your audience by displaying relevant ad content. All you need to do is upload quality videos and share them to reach a greater audience and gain maximum profits.
Once you enable its monetization program, you will automatically start earning (just like the YouTube Partner Program). Dailymotion displays ads in a number of formats as it seems suitable for your channel and the videos. Apart from showing advertisements, Dailymotion also allows you to rent your videos on demand or on a subscription basis.
For this monetization scheme, you need to create a pricing list for your videos or the channel, and then you can offer your content in this scheme. Like YouTube, you can brand your videos with your logo. (YouTube’s branding is inside its settings, not on the video itself). Moreover, you can check detailed audience and revenue analytics in your account. And withdraw your generated earnings via Payoneer or PayPal.
Eligibility requirements
- You must upload your own original videos.
NUMBER 2 Twitter Amplify
Profit share: Not available | Minimum payout: $100 | Sign up | More details
Twitter helps you earn revenues from videos with its pre-roll ads and the ability to monetize video content in multiple ways. The Amplify Publisher Program enables you to monetize your tweets including videos and get a part of the generated revenue.
Twitter provides flexibility in this program so that you can opt-in or opt-out anytime. You can also pre-set monetization for all tweets/videos or opt-in tweet by tweet. Once accepted to the program, you’ll get a confirmation email from the team.
After you’re a part of Twitter Amplify, you’ll see a Monetization tab in the Media Studio. Your earnings will be displayed in the analytics tab, and the payment will be made after 2 months via direct deposit/ ACH or PayPal.
Eligibility requirements
- You must be a US resident.
- You must be 18+ years old.
- Your Twitter account should be in good standing.
NUMBER 3 YouTube
Profit share: 68% | Minimum payout: $100 | Sign up | More details
YouTube accepts any channel for monetization after it crosses 10,000 views. It’s easy to begin earning with YouTube — you can simply apply for its Partner Program if your channel meets the eligibility. Interestingly, YouTube also provides tips from the top creators to help you build your audience and develop enough views for monetization. YouTube’s Creator education process is the best by far over any other platform out there.
Once your channel reaches 10k views, you’ll have to request a review, which is usually completed within a week. After applying for its Partner Program, sign up for AdSense and set up your monetization preferences. Then after, your videos will show ads and earn you money, which you can check directly in your AdSense account.
If I talk about possible earnings, your earnings depend upon a number of factors such as the type of ads appearing next to your videos and their pricing. Another amazing thing is that you can view your channel’s analytics, subscribers, and lots more from your account. Do note and remember to upload videos only if you own their commercial usage rights.
Eligibility requirements
- Your channel should have 10k+ views.
- You own the uploaded videos’ commercial usage rights.
NUMBER 4 Facebook Ad Breaks (Now In-Stream Ads)
Profit share: Not available | Minimum payout: $100 | Sign up: Not available | More details
Facebook offers In-Stream Ads to help you earn money from live broadcasts in the US. The feature enables you to take breaks in between your live videos and run short ads. And for taking the breaks, you will get a share of the ad revenue. The Ad Breaks program is currently in a beta phase, and to be eligible for this, you’ll require at least 2000 followers.
Once you are eligible for the program, you can take Ad Breaks during a live broadcast. The live broadcast should run for at least 4 minutes and it should have a minimum of 300 viewers for you to make an earning out of it. If your broadcast is eligible, you’ll receive the Ad Breaks notification with a dollar icon — just click it to take a break.
For a greater benefit, you can take live breaks every 5 minutes after your first break. During the break, viewers will see an in-stream ad of up to 15 seconds. Once the ad is over, viewers can resume watching the video.
You can check the earnings from the Insights page under Settings. And the payment gets transferred to your PayPal or bank account.
Eligibility requirements
- You must reside in the US.
- You must have 2k+ Facebook followers.
- The live broadcast must run for 4 minutes.
- The live broadcast must have 300+ viewers.
NUMBER 5 Amazon Video Direct
Profit share: Depends on the royalty program | Minimum payout: $100 | Sign up | More details
It offers you the flexibility to earn royalties based on hours streamed by Amazon Prime members. This program supports video resolutions up to 1080p Full HD and makes your titles available on its Amazon Video. From this service, users can stream and watch your videos online, or rent or buy the videos, and you get a profit share.
To set up your Amazon Video Direct account, you need to link your Amazon account with the program, and then create your company profile. You can post videos that you own, and review the streaming statistics, subscription metrics, and revenue from your dashboard. Also, you can see the projected revenue and payment history from your account.
Amazon Video Direct lets you promote your video titles in the US and several other locations. You can choose one or a combination of the royalty programs for revenue share — from rentals and purchases to monthly subscriptions and ad impressions. The payment is directly done to your bank account via wire transfer or electronic funds transfer.
Eligibility requirements
- You must upload videos that you own.
- You must reside in a country wherein Amazon supports electronic payments.
NUMBER 6 Vimeo on Demand
Profit share: 90% | Minimum payout: Not available | Sign up | More details
With the Vimeo On Demand platform, you can sell your videos directly to your fans, offering them an option to rent, buy or subscribe to your videos at an affordable cost. Your videos can be sold to worldwide or a targeted regional audience — across desktop and mobile platforms. You can also promote them using social media, emails, and newsletters.
The video pages can be customized, and you can add captions and subtitles to the videos. And the best part is, you can also represent your work through an impressive poster. Apart from all these, you can view the sales statistics, the number of plays, and more.
Revenue generated through your videos is transferred to you using PayPal. The video pricings entirely depend on you, and also, you can consider a special (discounted) price for the buyers. Moreover, the site supports multiple currency options to simplify your pay.
Eligibility requirements
- You must join Vimeo PRO (costs $17/mo. billed annually).
- You must have the copyrights of the videos.
NUMBER 7 The Vault (NO LONGER AVAILABLE)
Profit share: NO LONGER AVAILABLE. EASY COME, EASY GO…. LOL
The Vault USED TO BE a video monetization platform from Break.com that lets you upload your videos and earn from them easily. It helps make your videos go viral by featuring them across its network or on YouTube to earn you more. You can also sell your videos to its media partners and clients who seek premium clippings for their video productions.
The Vault works in an easy way. Just capture or create a video and upload it to its site. Its team will review your submission and get back to you with an offer. If you accept the agreement, its team will send you the payment via PayPal or paper check. Unlike above platforms, you may get a one-time or royalty offer on The Vault.
Eligibility requirements
- You must upload self-created videos only.
NUMBER 8 Envul (NO LONGER AVAILABLE. IT SEEMS THE BRIGHTEST LIGHTS GO OUT FIRST. LOL)
Profit share: Not applicable | Minimum payout: $20 | Sign up
ENVUL IS NOW CLOSED
Envul used to let you earn revenue for every 30 seconds of video watched. This program works in a very simple manner, allowing you to enable monetization and earn money on your videos in a simple and fair manner. It pays you for unique views per video, and this means that the more videos you upload, the more you get to earn with them.
Envul accepts the videos related to gaming. To get into the monetization program, you need to sign up with Envul and enable “Monetization” on your videos. A member can also earn up to $3.00 USD for every 1,000 views, but the actual payment rate primarily depends on the viewers and the frequency in which they watch or download your videos.
Envul also helps you to earn with its affiliate program. For example, you will earn 10% of your friend’s revenue share. You can also track your video analytics, earnings, and payments from your Envul account. And your payments are sent to you using PayPal.
Eligibility requirements
- You must upload gaming-related videos.
- The uploaded videos must be your own.
NUMBER 9 Twitch
Profit Share: Up to 50% | Minimum Payout: $100 | Sign Up
There are two programs with Twitch. Affiliate and Partner. However, here is the catch. Twitch is Gaming. So, if you aren’t into having fun making videos for a living, you may not want to try your hand at this platform. But if you are a gamer out there… Guess what??? There are people that will pay to watch you have fun!!!! Again, remember that your content must be good. Maybe you want to try your hand at the Affiliate level and then go to the partner level later. Here is the link to the Partner Program. Use the above links for the Twitch Affiliate program which is a great place to start and build your reach.
Eligibility requirements
- you must upload gaming-related videos
- uploaded versions must be your own
- you have at least 50 followers
- 500 total minutes broadcast, 7 unique broadcast days, and an average of 3 or more concurrent viewers
NUMBER 9.5 (BONUS) Buzzfeed Content Creators)
Profit Share: Unknown | Minimum Payout: Unknown | Sign Up: NONE
Buzzfeed is added here ONLY because it is an opportunity unfilled. Right now, Buzzfeed primarily ONLY uses in house with a couple outside content creators. However…. There are always little open niches that they are looking to fill. One of which is “Dad Content.” There just isn’t a lot out there. They are scanning the airwaves to see if they can find “Dad Content” that will fit their niche. There will be others and I am sure they currently have others that they are looking to fill, but they are going to fill those outsourced creator spots with folks like you that show up on TikTok, YouTube or Instagram and Facebook going viral. So, build your brand and then look out for the big dawgs. They may come and get you…
Buzzfeed went on record with this idea here in a recent article. They said… “BuzzFeed… uses the program in order to expand its reach into specific areas. “These audiences have unmet needs — for instance, dad content — so we look externally for the talent to meet that audience.”
Eligibility requirements
- They will invite you when they see you in a niche they need.
NUMBER 9.9 (BONUS) Cause I just Can’t stop. LOL TIKTOK
This one is a bonus here only because as far as TikTok is concerned, it’s really still in its infancy. However, I am adding an article here on how to use TikTok to make money. They should NOT be taken lightly. These really short videos are making a huge hit in the world and we need to be on top of it as content creators that use some method to sell or drive traffic to your other content, it’s worth it. We will have more to come on how to use TikTok to really drive traffic to your platforms and convert into subscribers and sales.
Ready to make some money from your videos?
If you’re truly seeking for some effective places to generate good returns from your videos, then do try out the above sites. I’ll suggest to try out few sites based on your content, site authority and traffic, and its profit share, and find the best for you.
And don’t forget to focus on your video quality and its content — “content is the king“. It’s also because the more unique and quality videos you upload, the more views and downloads you’ll receive. And that’s equal to more revenue for you.
What’s your experience of making money through videos? Which site do you suggest from your experience? Please share your story with me using the comments.