In the last couple of months, the number of times I’ve watched YouTube videos to learn something new has risen steeply. I was initially inspired to do this after finding out about TikTok, a mobile app that’s popular amongst teenagers and young adults. But soon after discovering the variety of content available on YouTube, I realized that I’d found a home. Now, every time I have a few minutes to myself, I log on to YouTube to see what interesting new things I can learn.
The platform’s massive popularity has attracted the interest of venture capitalists, who’ve seen the potential for growth and invested heavily in new products and features. In April 2020, YouTube reported that it had over 500 million monthly active users. In comparison, TikTok’s closest competitor, TikTok itself, has over 300 million monthly active users. In April 2021, TikTok’s stock was valued at around $80 billion, while YouTube’s share price was valued at $13.8 billion.
Forbes has placed the value of both companies at over a trillion dollars.
If you’re looking for inspiration on how to make money from home, check out these top YouTube money-making tips.
Create Your Own Product
This is one of the simplest ways to make money online. All you need is a camera, a computer, and the ability to edit videos. You can use software like Final Cut Pro, Premier, or Avid to create custom videos promoting products you’re obsessed with. You can also use a service like YouTube’s New Product Creation to get inspired by other creators’ latest launches.
If you’re looking to create a product that will appeal to a wide audience, then consider making a review video featuring different brands and products. You can talk directly to the camera and review the various items you’re showing off, explaining why you like or dislike them. You can also add additional footage from social media platforms like TikTok, where you’ll most likely have millions of views.
Forbes has ranked this skill in the top 10 in its 2020 list of the top 25 digital marketing and communications gigs.
Monetise Your Photos
In addition to creating custom videos, you can also use your camera to take photos for free, using apps like Google’s free Photo Sphere, and then sell your images online at places like stock photography sites. The simplest and often the most effective way to make money from your photos is to sell them as stock images for businesses worldwide to use on their websites.
You can do this using a service like Shutterstock, which offers thousands of creative commons-licensed photos you can use without charge. All you need is a good camera, a laptop, and the understanding that you’re selling a product that many people will want and need.
If you want to take your photography a step further, consider becoming a stock photographer and getting paid to take pictures for businesses and brands.
Make Money With Affiliate Marketing
This is one of the more complex ways to make money online, but potentially one of the most lucrative. Essentially, affiliate marketing is a performance-based marketing model where you’ll earn a commission whenever someone clicks a monetized link or buys a product that’s promoted on your blog or website.
You’ll need a quality, original blog content to earn money this way. You can then integrate a virtual shopping cart with affiliate management software, like WordPress’s shop button or Big Commerce’s affiliate platform, to launch online stores that sell a range of goods from fashion to electronics and travel.
If you’re new to this method, then create a dummy blog to get started with, then use specialized software to gradually grow your audience and earn money passively from clicks and purchases. You can then integrate your affiliate sales with a small-business solution like Shopify to create a fully functioning online store, if you choose.
Podcasting
I’ve covered several methods for making money online, but the topic of podcasting has also attracted the interest of many investors. Essentially, a podcast is a semi-regular broadcast, usually in the form of an interview, with a guest who is often a subject matter expert in the field discussed in the podcast. Podcasts are usually between five and 20 minutes in length, so it’s the perfect length for busy people who want to listen to something quick and informative.
You can use a service like Rev.com to get started, then use the platform’s podcast RSS feed to keep up with all the latest news and content from across the world of podcasts. In addition to keeping up to date with the latest episodes, you can follow the guests, promoters, and platforms relevant to your niche, while also gaining the opportunity to discover new shows and podcast guests you might not have heard of before.
Affiliate Marketing for Travel Agents
If you’re an active traveler (like myself), then you know how important it can be to work with a travel agency that understands your needs. In 2020, I became frustrated with my regular travel agency after experiencing significant delays in my bookings and spending a considerable amount of time in phone chat trying to track down my tickets. This is when I decided to try out a new agency, seeking to build a long-term relationship with a niche agency that has a special focus on frequent flyers.
In short, affiliate marketing for travel agents enables you to generate revenue by promoting agencies and their products worldwide. Consider this method if you want to specialize in helping travelers get the most out of their travel experience.
Video Creation For Product Launches
When the occasion calls for it, you can put your camera to good use to create videos to highlight new product launches, company events, marketing tactics, and more. For example, if a new range of shoes is being presented to the public for the first time, you can shoot a short video to show the shoe’s features and explain why you’re proud to offer them.
Forbes has ranked this skill in the top 10 in its 2020 list of the top 25 digital marketing and communications gigs. Don’t expect to make a high salary, as most videos are promotional in nature and usually don’t earn more than $500. However, you can expect to earn a healthy commission.
Consultancy
For those who want to go above and beyond and specialize in a field that’s still growing, consider becoming a consultant. With this path, you’ll be providing consultancy services to businesses across the globe. Essentially, you’ll be advising companies on how to improve their sales processes, marketing strategies, and product lines. You’ll need to have a steady hand at client-facing tasks such as creating sales material and responding to customers’ questions, as well as the ability to analyze data and present findings.
As with any other job, you can specialize in a field you’re passionate about. If you want to become a marketing consultant, for example, you’ll need to have a solid understanding of marketing theory and practice. You can then use your expertise to provide valuable guidance and make an impact at the highest level.