How To Make Money With Video Podcasting

A core component of what I teach inside Web Video University deals with video podcasting.  This is where you create episodic videos on a particular topic, containing pure content, and these videos are available to viewers through a number of ways (on-site, via RSS feeds, iTunes, etc.).

A lot of people mistakenly look at video podcasts as a way to rank easily in search engines for non-competitive keywords…and they’ll wonder “should I do a video podcast or just submit my videos to sharing sites?”.  While you certainly can rank easily for non-competitive keywords in search engines through video podcasts, that’s not the point of a video podcast.

The point of video podcasts is to build an audience that consumes the content you share in your videos.  An audience that comes back again and again…because they want to…because they enjoy your content…and an audience that will build your viewership for you by recommending your video podcast to others.

So how do you make money with this? Well, once you have an audience there are a number of ways…from using it as a platform to promote your own products…to promoting products as an affiliate…to being a compensated endorser for advertisers.

The last one is a biggie.  That’s because of the word “endorser”.  You see, by providing quality content continuously to your audience, you will build authority.  That means people will trust what you say.  And if you suggest or recommend a certain product, your audience will buy.

Leo Laporte of Twit.TV is a perfect example.  Leo has been doing tech related shows for a long time (I can remember watching him on Screen Savers, a long-ago canceled tech-TV show).  But on Twit.TV, here and there throughout his broadcast, he endorses products he really likes…and is compensated for it.  To the tune of around $1.5 million in 2009 (he claims operating expenses are around $350,000).

Not bad for just mentioning stuff you really like during a show.  But that’s the secret.  With video podcasting, you’re not selling stuff.  You’re not in people’s faces with some marketing pitch.  Instead you’re providing valuable information (for free)…which gives you authority…which gives your word a lot of weight when you do recommend or endorse a product.

And that’s how money is made with video podcasting.  By ensuring your word carries weight.  No, you will not get rich overnight…nor will you build an audience that fast either.  But keep at it religiously and you will be rewarded on an ever increasing scale.