YouTube Entrepreneurs

Dear Monica,

I heard a rumor that YouTube.com pays you for your videos.  How can I get YouTube to pay me for my videos?  Akwesasne VideoGrapher.

Dear Akwesasne VideoGrapher,

Yes, it’s true that YouTube.com will send you a check for your videos.  When you upload your videos you can check the option to “monetize” your videos and that will allow advertisers to include a link or short video intro on top of your videos.  I notice that the income is best from YouTube videos when the following general guidelines are followed.

1. Keep your Videos about 2 minutes long and focused on one specific niche topic.  2.  Share a link to your YouTube channel and specific videos on all of your social networking sites (Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook).  3. Ask your online friends to also share a link to your YouTube channel and specific videos.  4.  Ask your online friends to comment on your YouTube channel and specific videos.  5.  Keep your videos unique, positive, and informational. 

Besides the general guidelines, you will also want to use google to research how to earn income with YouTube videos.  You can use a simple smart phone to record your videos, but make sure the image is steady with little to no shaking.  iMovie is an awesome video editing software program and it’s best to edit your videos and remove anything that is blurry, anytime you say “ah”, “um”, or any type of nervous talking. 

Ideas for interesting and unique YouTube channels include weekly or daily videos focused on Kanienkeha, Endangered Languages, Gardening in Akwesasne, Traveling in Akwesasne, Life in Akwesasne, Stories from Akwesasne Elders, Sports Games, Beading Classes, Basket Classes, Moccasin Making Classes, and really anything that is focused on our culture, language, lifestyles, and way of life. 

Send your questions about computers and the Internet to [email protected] and I’ll do my best to answer you with future articles.