Everyone knows how much money is made from advertising in the digital age — but what if you could make some extra cash through your favorite tech company's product without ever having to leave the comfort of your home or even opening up an AdWords account? You can do just that with embedded content like YouTube videos.
You might not think this would be possible, but there are actually several ways you can get paid for showing Google's products in your own web pages or apps. And while these methods aren't exactly lucrative (especially when compared to other types of online adverts), they're worth considering because they don't require any sort of investment on your part. All you need to do is have a relevant channel on YouTube and put together some compelling copy. Let's take a look at whether embedded YouTube videos can be monetized and which ones should give you the best results.
Yes! There are many different ways you can earn money from embedded YouTube videos, so long as the creator of said video has enabled monetization options. This means that users who watch the video will see overlays either above or below the video itself. These advertisements are called "In-Stream" and "InVideo," respectively. The former appears directly over the video, whereas the latter sits beside or beneath the screen where the user first sees the video.
The easiest way to find out whether you've done everything correctly is by checking your analytics page. If there's a player installed on your site or app, you'll see a section labeled "AdSense." Clicking here lets you check how many impressions each video received, along with its clickthrough rate. A good ratio between clicks and plays indicates positive things about your ads.
If you want to know more than that, however, you can also look into what kind of ads were shown during playback. Open up your Analytics dashboard, expand the Content network header, then choose View all next to Video & audio. On the resulting menu, select Impressions. Scroll down until you reach the end of your list of videos and open the one you'd like to examine. Next, head back to the previous menu and choose Traffic sources. Choose Sources > Campaigns/Bid Manager. Here, scroll down once again until you reach the very bottom of the screen, then input the number of impressions under Bid manager. Finally, go ahead and change the date range to whatever suits your needs. From now on, whenever you use this method, you'll only need to enter bid amounts instead of impressions.
Depending on how many impressions your viewer receives, you could potentially make anywhere from zero cents to hundreds per day. For example, if a person watches a 10-second clip of a Justin Bieber music video 100 times, you'll receive $1.00. Of course, you won't receive this amount every time, but it certainly beats spending thousands on Facebook Ads.
That being said, this isn't something most people tend to try. Most creators simply set their bids too high, thinking they'll sell tons of units and thus rake in millions overnight. But unless you have massive traffic coming to your site or app daily, setting your prices low enough to attract advertisers doesn't guarantee success. Instead, consider experimenting with lower price points until you find a sweet spot that works well for both viewers and sponsors.
So why bother trying to turn embedded YouTube videos into passive income streams? Because no matter how big your audience gets, YouTube continues to grow exponentially. According to Business Insider, the platform grew 1 million new subscribers every single week last year. With such numbers, there's absolutely nothing saying that in five years, we'll still be using traditional forms of media to consume our entertainment. By making some quick cash doing what you love, you stand to benefit yourself and future generations alike.
Here are three popular uses for embedded YouTube videos:
A blog post
An article or story on your website
An app update
Keep reading to learn how to maximize profits from these three scenarios.
When deciding whether to host your own video files or serve them via another service, keep in mind that your target market likely already enjoys existing relationships with those companies' services. As such, serving up branded clips via YouTube or Vimeo is probably going to work out cheaper and easier than hosting locally. Not to mention, a lot of sites allow you to customize the experience further by changing thumbnails, adding annotations, and editing subtitles.
However, there are benefits to hosting your own video file, namely speed and reliability. When uploading content to platforms like YouTube, Vimeo, Instagram, etc., it must pass through servers before reaching users. Depending on the size of your file(s) and how busy those servers are, this process can take minutes to hours. Your uploader can run behind schedule due to poor internet speeds, overloaded servers, or simple human error. However, if you create your own video file and add it to your server immediately, you never have to worry about getting bogged down by external factors.
Of course, if you plan to distribute the link to your hosted version of the video among friends and family members, it's easy to convert it into standard MP4 format. Just right-click on a blank portion of the timeline and hit Save Video As.... Then name your file and save it wherever you wish. It's important to note that converting the output file to H264 can drastically reduce quality.
There are plenty of free tools available that let you import videos onto your computer, edit the metadata, trim unwanted portions, and export the final result. One great option is iMovie, which comes preinstalled on Mac machines. Other programs include Adobe Premiere Pro, Sony Vegas Movie Studio Platinum Edition, CyberLink PowerDirector Premium 9, Avidemux 2, HitFilm Express, KineMaster, Da Vinci Resolve, Cinelab Storymaker, and Apple Motion 5.
As for formats, remember that MP4 offers higher compatibility across devices, supports subtitle tracks, and allows for greater customization. Although it takes longer to encode, HEVC provides smaller file sizes overall since it stores less data in each frame. FLV files are convenient, but you shouldn't rely on them solely. They often lag behind MP4 in terms of performance, offer fewer features, and aren't compatible with certain devices. Lastly, OGG does provide slightly larger file sizes than MP4, but it tends to compress sound effects and voice recordings poorly.
Lastly, if you decide to host your own video locally, ensure you use an encrypted connection to protect against hackers. Otherwise, anyone snooping on your Wi-Fi network can steal your bandwidth. Plus, if someone gains access to your router, they can tamper with settings to redirect requests away from your machine.
For maximum privacy, you should encrypt your entire system and install antivirus software. Avoid public networks altogether and secure your device using strong passwords. Also avoid downloading random programs from unknown websites, especially if they claim to improve your PC's performance. Doing so opens you up to malware, keyloggers, ransomware, spyware, Trojans, worms, viruses, phishing attacks, and similar threats.
No. Even though viewing a YouTube video multiple times counts towards your total playtime, it doesn't equate to additional views. Why? Simply because YouTube treats repeat visits differently than brand new encounters. Every time a viewer watches the same clip, YouTube records this event as a separate session. While rewatches do affect the length of sessions, they don't increase exposure to your content outside of personal replay purposes.
This differs greatly from TV shows and movies, where reruns frequently air alongside special editions and collector's discs. People generally expect to pay more attention to episodes downloaded repeatedly rather than those that aired months ago. So yes, rewatchability matters in that case.
Additionally, rewatches don't always mean increased engagement. Sometimes folks catch parts of a video accidentally or skip forward too quickly. Since YouTube gives users control over the duration of videos, sometimes viewers begin playing shorter sections of a clip to fit it within their allotted time. Thus, it's difficult to evaluate the efficacy of rewatch campaigns based solely on metrics like average completion rates, dwell times, and skipped frames.
Still confused? That's okay. We understand that figuring out the correct approach to embedded content marketing requires practice. Fortunately, there are numerous guides online detailing how to optimize your channels for profit. Some of the best include:
How To Monetize Your Channel Using Embeds [YouTube]
7 Ways to Earn Money Through Mobile Apps Without Spending Any Cash [Android Authority]
Monetizing embedded videos is relatively straightforward, provided you follow basic guidelines. Now that you know how to properly advertise your videos, get started exploring creative ideas today! Or perhaps you prefer starting small and growing gradually. No matter what path you take, remember that building a successful business involves consistent effort and patience. Good luck!
YouTube has been a popular platform since its launch in 2005 by Google Inc., but there are still some users who don't know about it. The YouTube video sharing service allows anyone with an Internet connection to upload, view, and share their favorite videos from across the world. However, there is one problem facing many content creators -- they can't make money out of this free service offered by YouTube. But why not? It's because most people think that even if you have a video up with copyright infringement issues, YouTube won't remove it. That's wrong! It happens all the time. So how do we solve this issue? Embedding solutions come into play.
In addition to being able to watch any type of video, embedding enables viewers to click through links within those videos. This makes them possible to go anywhere outside of YouTube while staying inside the same domain. And what better way than letting other sites use your copyrighted material freely? Yes, embedding is good. Let's see below how it works.
Yes, it is very good practice to let others embed your content. You should also consider allowing third party platforms like Facebook and Twitter. If you want more views, then just put your link everywhere. People will find it when they search for your name online. They might end up clicking on your profile page and following you on social media. When someone clicks on your link, it'll take him/her somewhere else where he/she gets the opportunity to check out your work.
One thing worth mentioning here is using tools like CPM (cost per thousand) advertising rather than CPC (cost per click). With CPC, you get charged every single time somebody clicks on your ad. For example, you pay $0.10 for each visitor who clicked on your advertisement. On the other hand, cost per thousand offers much lower rates. You only need to pay once for 1000 impressions. What exactly these numbers refer to depends upon the advertiser, industry, budget, etc.
The bottom line is that if someone wants to publish your article on his site, he needs permission. He cannot simply copy and paste it as is without getting proper credit. As such, you must give appropriate attribution credits whenever necessary. Also, you shouldn't expect full ownership over the rights to your articles.
When you're creating original content, whether text or audio or video clips, you need to understand that there is no guarantee that you'd be successful at making money unless you market yourself well. There is a lot riding on your ability to create something unique. To start earning profits, you need to attract traffic. One way to do so is via embedding. Once visitors land on your website, you'll have ample opportunities to convince them that you have great stuff to offer. A simple call to action button would suffice.
This approach goes beyond attracting readers to read your blog post or article. Your goal is to bring targeted individuals to visit your actual business website. Make sure you provide relevant information that will keep potential customers interested. Just having a catchy title doesn't cut it anymore. Readers today demand quality content. Be prepared to answer questions, educate your audience, and engage them emotionally.
If you've ever visited a corporate website, chances are high you saw advertisements at the top and sidebars. Those were probably banners promoting certain products and services. Well, the same concept applies online too. Allowing third parties to embed your content means helping them promote themselves. By doing so, you're essentially marketing yourself indirectly. In fact, this idea is often referred to as "indirect" or "passive" marketing.
With passive marketing, you can focus on what matters most -- growing your brand awareness. Here are two ways to earn big bucks passively:
Create compelling content. If you're going after active clients, you need to stand out. Create interesting posts that include engaging images and graphics. These types of visuals help break down barriers between you and potential buyers. According to research, pictures influence buying decisions 70% percent more than words alone.
Integrate SEO techniques. Search engines love fresh content. Therefore, try incorporating keyword phrases strategically throughout your writing. Doing this helps increase visibility among organic searches. Try to incorporate related keywords in titles, headings, subheadings, body paragraphs, and captions.
You can also drive sales by offering incentives. Donating your product for sale on Amazon during Black Friday could lead to increased exposure. Furthermore, you can partner with brands to sell their merchandise. Some companies hire influencers to endorse specific items, thus increasing their sales.
These strategies aren't new either. They're tried and tested tactics used by professionals worldwide. Nowadays, businesses rely heavily on digital channels like blogs, websites, eBooks, white papers, presentations, and infographics. Why not leverage these methods to maximize your profit margins?
There are pros and cons to both sides. On the positive side, you control the content. You decide which advertisers appear alongside your embedded videos. You can choose to display any sponsor you wish. Conversely, you lose creative freedom. Other entities will have access to the code behind your embeds, meaning they can change anything they deem fit.
On the negative side, you'll receive less compensation. Advertisers usually charge higher prices for premium placements. Moreover, you'll face competition from other marketers trying to draw eyeballs away from your channel. As such, you'll spend more on marketing efforts compared to earnings. Lastly, your content becomes subject to changes made by external factors.
So, how do you strike a balance between benefits and drawbacks? First, remember that the main objective of posting your content was to make money. Hence, you should always aim to make enough revenue to cover expenses. Second, ensure that you have adequate knowledge of coding practices, especially HTML. Thirdly, learn about tracking software analytics. Finally, experiment until you find the best strategy that fits your goals.
After reading above, you now realize that you have options when deciding to let other people embed your content. Do note however that setting up embedding settings requires patience and persistence. After all, you wouldn't expect people to continue watching your video clip if it appears as part of another entity's webpage. As such, you need to optimize everything to boost engagement levels.
Here are key things to look out for:
Make your account private. Nobody likes spamming. Thus, hiding your username prevents random people from accessing your channel.
Set your privacy settings accordingly. Ensure that nobody except you can edit comments posted under your uploaded content.
Enable restricted profiles. Enabling this feature restricts viewing privileges to logged-in accounts.
Turn off auto-play. Videos embedded elsewhere tend to automatically open when viewed. Turning auto-playing off ensures that nothing interrupts your flow.
Optimize your description. Provide descriptive details regarding your contents. Give detailed explanations of any terms mentioned. Add tags that match the theme of your video. Use hashtags to categorize your videos.
Keep track of metrics. Always monitor statistics associated with your campaigns and activities.
Use multiple formats. Offer different versions of your video depending upon the target audience. For instance, offering a shorter version for mobile devices versus longer ones for computers.
Have fun!
If you're like most people who use the Internet, you've probably wondered how content creators make money from their work online. If you are an owner of a popular blog, there's no reason why you shouldn't want to get some income from your site. But if you don't have any cash flow problems, do you need to bother with all this hassle and expense just so you can make extra bucks here and there? The answer is yes...and maybe!
You see, if you were smart enough to create great original content, then you should also know that one day someone will pay you handsomely for publishing it. So what does "pay" mean in terms of dollars? Well, the truth is that making money from your published articles depends largely upon where those articles end up being hosted - such as websites, blogs, social media platforms, etc. Of course, other factors play a role too, but getting paid for your written words doesn't happen overnight. It takes time and patience. And it often requires a lot of hard work because it's not always easy to break into a new market without much experience.
But let's say we agree that writing original quality content is important, and that anyone who publishes it deserves to earn decent royalties. Does that imply that everyone should start blogging right away? Not necessarily. There are still many things people fail to realize about earning passive income through digital publications. One of them is the fact that while creating unique web pages for each article might take more effort than using prewritten templates, they won't bring nearly as much traffic over the long run. Why? Because search engines only index static HTML files. That means whenever you publish fresh content, it gets indexed by Google and Bing very quickly.
However, when you write something and post it to Facebook instead of uploading it directly onto your blog, it could stay hidden forever among thousands of posts (unless someone else shares it). This is why posting your best articles to both your personal profile page and business website would give you better chances of generating steady leads or sales over time.
In addition to increasing readership, another benefit of publishing regularly is that it helps boost overall organic rankings of your site/blog. What this really means is that search engine bots crawl these sites more frequently and thus rank them higher in SERPs (search results), which ultimately translates into greater visibility.
Lastly, consider this: Do you think search engines care whether you update your latest blog entry every week or once a month? Chances are high that the response will be negative. They certainly don't reward frequent updates with better placement within SERPS. On the contrary, they penalize publishers who constantly add junk to their pages. You'd be surprised at how effective penalties can drive down authority domains' ranking positions.
So now that you understand why it's beneficial to keep updating your existing content, let's talk about whether you can actually make money from doing so. As mentioned earlier, getting paid for your published writings requires a certain degree of luck, patience, persistence, and marketing skills. However, if you manage to overcome all obstacles, your efforts will eventually bear fruit - even though the amount of compensation per publication isn't immediately apparent.
Let me share two examples of successful campaigns I ran recently. Both deals involve my clients who requested assistance with promoting specific products via relevant affiliate programs.
The first deal was with a client whose goal was to increase his monthly commission earnings by $500. He had already built several profitable ecommerce stores selling various types of jewelry items. Unfortunately, he didn't have much budget left after paying taxes. After talking with him, I discovered that he hadn't posted anything new to his blog for almost six months. Furthermore, he wasn't actively participating in network forums or running regular email advertisements anymore. All of his past promotions seemed outdated.
To remedy the situation, I suggested adding contextual ad units above all product listings, plus designing additional promotional materials, such as banners, graphics, newsletter emails, etc. Then I recommended that he focus on boosting the number of clicks on his main landing page rather than spending hundreds of dollars on useless advertising tools.
After implementing our plan, he earned approximately $200 more in commissions during the following four weeks compared to previous periods. Since then, he has continued to improve his campaign strategies and now makes around $1,000 per month in residual profits.
As you'll learn below, there are dozens of ways you can profitably promote your stuff. Just remember that you must provide value to potential buyers before asking them for payment. Otherwise, they will simply ignore your offers and move onto others.
Here are three ideas you can try out today:
1) Create a free eBook that targets niche markets related to your primary field of expertise. Next, offer to distribute copies to interested parties for free or at low cost. Nowadays, free giveaways aren't uncommon. Many bloggers receive lots of positive feedback for offering their works for free. Don't worry -- you don't need permission from copyright owners either. You don't even have to include their names anywhere in your ebook cover design. Instead, put a picture of yourself next to your book title, along with a short description describing its contents.
2) Write informative articles based on topics of interest to your target audience. Offer to publish them for free on your blog or other websites. Make sure to clearly indicate when people can expect to find your future offerings inside your resource box(es). Also mention your top competitors' URLs wherever possible. Try to position yourself as an expert in order to attract visitors looking for solutions to similar problems.
3) Create mini tutorials covering specific aspects of your specialty area. For example, if you sell handmade crafts, create small guides showing how to weave scarves, sew buttons, paint pot holders, knit sweaters, etc. Add photos and descriptions with step-by-step instructions. Once again, make sure to specify when folks can access these projects. Use your own name and bio space (with link back to your site) to describe everything. Donate some of your finished products to local thrift shops and community centers. Consider giving them away for free during special events, as well as having them sold alongside donated books at charity fundraisers. Let your friends, family members, co-workers, and acquaintances know about these opportunities. Tell them exactly where to look for these goodies.
Keep in mind that not all businesses succeed at becoming self-funded. At least, not in the beginning. Most people working fulltime tend to spend less than half of their incomes on food, housing, utilities, transportation, health insurance, savings, debt payments, retirement accounts, education, entertainment, clothing, vacations, donations, and other expenses. Therefore, most individuals rely heavily on outside funding sources, namely loans and investors, to support themselves financially.
And speaking of financing, did you ever wonder whether embedded videos can be monetized? Yes, they can. Here's how it works: Embedding a YouTube video counts toward the total views your channel receives. When users click on links pointing to your channels, they can watch whatever video happened to appear on that particular webpage. A typical embedded player displays overlays known as AdChoices (ads shown on the screen), InStream Video Ads (which display ads near the video frame itself), and InVideo Overlay Ads (which appear within the video itself). These players allow advertisers to serve targeted ads based on user profiles.
Advertisers bid for ad placements against other companies wishing to reach viewers of your channel. This way, you can choose which partners to work with. More importantly, however, you decide exactly how much you want to earn from each advertisement. If a company wants to advertise through your channel, you set the price markup you wish to charge for each unit sold. Typically, you can negotiate a flat fee rate or percentage of gross margin. Some providers require that you maintain a minimum level of viewership, typically 5 percent. Other companies ask for exclusive rights to your content. Still others request that you place a banner ad on your site.
Yes, you read correctly. Those same embed codes can be used to insert banners, popups, slideshows, slideshow transitions, slide shows, photo galleries, image sliders, animated gifs, and more. Basically, there are limitless possibilities for incorporating your favorite creative assets into your video productions.
Another thing worth mentioning is that these ads usually come with tracking cookies. While they may sometimes seem intrusive, they prove useful in identifying user demographics. Based on data collected, marketers can develop customized plans designed specifically to meet the needs of individual customers. By targeting segments of audiences, brands hope to deliver the highest ROI possible.
Also, note that unlike traditional ads, embedded ads don't carry the risk of lower quality levels since the viewer sees them prior to clicking through to your content. With a little bit of tweaking, you can ensure maximum conversion rates.
Finally, if you're wondering whether embedded YouTube videos can be monetized, the answer is yes. Like I said earlier, advertisers generally accept these kinds of bids. Plus, the process involves putting together simple code snippets. Even novice coders can easily incorporate these pieces into their live broadcasts.
Just follow our battle-tested guidelines and rake in the profits.