73 Ways to Make Money with Video
Here are 73 ways to make money with video:
(And yes, there are many more than this. My goal is to get your creative juices flowing.)
- Shoot commercials
- Shoot music videos
- Shoot live band performances
- Shoot a documentary about a band and sell it to their fans
- Shoot public service announcements
- Shoot dance performances
- Shoot documentaries
- Shoot narrative films
- Shoot a television series
- Shoot a web series
- Shoot supplemental video for an ebook
- Shoot video of improv comedy sketches
- Shoot practical joke videos (and watch them go viral on YouTube)
- Shoot behind-the-scenes videos for YouTube stars
- Shoot training videos and sell them (i.e., guitar lessons, ballroom dance lessons, etc.)
- Shoot corporate promotional videos
- Shoot corporate training videos
- Shoot any corporate event (sales meeting, company trip, etc.)
- Shoot a promotional video for a book
- Shoot video of birth announcements.
- Shoot weddings or other important family events
- Shoot behind-the-scenes for a film
- Shoot behind-the-scenes for any big project
- Shoot a reality show
- Shoot news segments
- Shoot legal video (such as depositions)
- Shoot video of professional sports teams
- Shoot video of amateur adult sports teams
- Shoot video of kids’ sports teams
- Shoot video of any competition (karate, chess, etc.)
- Make memorial videos for funerals.
- Shoot video of extreme weather.
- Shoot video of extreme sports.
- Shoot stock video and sell it on stock video sites.
- Shoot stock video and sell your own collections on your own site.
- Shoot aerial video.
- Shoot underwater video.
- Shoot real estate video tours of homes.
- Shoot real estate video of open houses.
- Shoot video of live plays.
- Shoot video of music recitals.
- Shoot video of high school musicals.
- Shoot video resumes for job seekers.
- Shoot corporate recruiting videos.
- Shoot video of trade shows.
- Shoot video for government organizations.
- Shoot video for your local chamber of commerce.
- Shoot video tours of theme parks.
- Shoot video tours of vacation areas.
- Shoot video tours of businesses.
- Shoot video tours of universities.
- Shoot video of university lectures.
- Shoot video for roofers that show off their completed work.
- Shoot video for landscapers.
- Shoot video for house painters.
- Shoot video for kitchen remodelers.
- Shoot video for bathroom remodelers.
- Shoot video for interior decorators.
- Shoot video for flooring companies.
- Shoot video for medical professionals.
- Shoot video of car shows.
- Shoot video tours of anything that people might want to see but can’t attend live.
- Shoot video of fashion shows.
- Shoot video of rodeos.
- Shoot video of radio-controlled aircraft competitions.
- Shoot video of any competition.
- Shoot video for live-action segments of video games.
- Shoot video of astronomy-related events.
- Shoot video of animal rescue shelters.
- Shoot experimental art videos.
- Shoot safety videos.
- Specialize in live-streaming (any of the above topics).
- Become any kind of specialist in an aspect of video (Steadicam operator, etc.)
Again, I realize there are many more ideas out there. I’m hoping this will get your mental wheels spinning.
One additional recommendation I have for you:
Pick one area and focus on building it as your specialty. If you focus on one area, then you might “become known” in that area and find that people start referring you to others. Plus your confidence and skills in that area will increase, which will help you do even better work.
This will help you create an upward spiral of success in that niche. Good luck!
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February 8th, 2013 at 10:00 am
This list is fantastic!! Thank you!
February 8th, 2013 at 10:04 am
Thanks, and you’re welcome. :)
February 8th, 2013 at 10:21 am
Thanks for these Izzy, a great round up to get the brain going on a Friday morning :).
February 8th, 2013 at 10:26 am
Inspiring as always! Thank You Izzy
February 8th, 2013 at 10:29 am
Thanks, Michael. Happy to help! :)
February 8th, 2013 at 10:29 am
Izzy rules :-)
February 8th, 2013 at 10:31 am
My pleasure. Glad to see it’s helpful — especially since I just received an email from someone asking me to stop doing posts like this and stick with software training. :(
I’m doing my best to keep everyone in mind. This site has visitors from experienced shooters as well as new shooters, so I’m trying to provide resources for all kinds of experience levels.
Anyway, thanks again. I’m glad it helps. :)
February 8th, 2013 at 10:34 am
Aw, shucks. Thanks. :)
February 8th, 2013 at 10:41 am
Great list – All begin with the word shoot except No 31 – very reverential considering the topic of death! How about No 74 – Shoot a self promotion video?
February 8th, 2013 at 10:45 am
Yep, that’s a great addition. :)
February 8th, 2013 at 11:04 am
I’m in a process of forming a video production company. I’m using video as an aggregator of local artists and a way to build community, bringing together local businesses who need video and artists with amazing traditional skills but no clue with video or computer in general. I watched your final cut pro training videos over and over again to make my first music video, and bought your advanced training videos. I’m going to sign up for membership now. Thanks so much for your great work.
February 8th, 2013 at 11:11 am
Excellent, thanks! And congrats on the success. :)
February 8th, 2013 at 11:14 am
Izzy…
Thanks I needed that kick in the rear.
Appreciate you caring about us all out here in production land.
February 8th, 2013 at 11:22 am
Award videos for sales meetings are a specialty of mine. Top sales people are golden. Many companies treat them that way, by chronicling “how they got there” in a way that honors their success and inspires the young or new salespeople in the company to do the same.
February 8th, 2013 at 11:51 am
My pleasure!
February 8th, 2013 at 11:52 am
That’s great feedback and well said! :)
February 8th, 2013 at 11:55 am
Awesome, Izz! Already doing a couple of these and getting started on another.
Can you share some thoughts about ways to price work? Even corporations are price sensitive these days! How do you recommend pricing video for small customers, like local tradespeople, realtors, etc.?
February 8th, 2013 at 11:58 am
Great question — though I’m hoping someone else chimes in with an answer because I don’t do client work. :)
February 8th, 2013 at 12:15 pm
Thanks for your advice!!
February 8th, 2013 at 12:18 pm
Great List!!
February 8th, 2013 at 12:42 pm
Great list! Here’s another that’s related: Shoot video of high school chorus, band and orchestra concerts. Sell copies in the lobby before, during intermission and afterwards by taking payment and addresses where to send the DVDs. You could also offer paid downloads on your website.
February 8th, 2013 at 1:14 pm
Thanks for great list.
I’m preparing to shoot 3 min vids for physically challenged people to cope with every day life encounters.
February 8th, 2013 at 1:22 pm
Nice addition too! :)
February 8th, 2013 at 1:22 pm
Nice addition to the list. :)
February 9th, 2013 at 5:41 am
Thanks for amazing list to go beyond.