Blog Layout
How to create a passive income with video
26 May 2021
If you run a business or have a skill that someone else would like to learn then you can use video to create online content that people will pay good money for.
This would enable you to generate a passive income. A valuable additional revenue stream that can continue earning you money for years to come ... you don't even need to lift a finger.
Building an online course
Sure there's some initial work to do creating all the videos, any additional content and then loading it all onto your website but once that's done, you can sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labour.
Do you make a living doing something that someone else would pay money to learn? You may even have a hobby that you've done for years. Building an online course or workshop is something I've done with amazing results. My first course was launched in 2014 and I'm still earning money from it every month. I've since built a second course and set up similar revenue streams for clients.
Let's go over the steps you need in order to make it happen.
1. Planning
The first stage is to decide on the subject and how you're going to deliver it.
You might decide to split up your course into sections delivered over several weeks or months. Alternatively you could provide one off workshops or even ongoing content where you can charge a monthly membership fee.
However you decide to do it. Step one is to map out a timeline. Decide what you want to teach, how you're going to split that up (if at all) and what happens at the end of each episode.
Then comes the long job of writing out the content. If it's appropriate you might even consider providing a written manual for your course that people can download as a part of the price. Doing this can have a hidden benefit which I'll come on to later.
2. Filming
Once you've decided on everything you want to say, it's time to get out the camera.
Remember you are intending to charge for people to watch this. So while the information you provide needs to be clear to understand and delivered in an easily digestible way, you also need to provide a good quality video product too.
Think about what you want to film, Will your videos benefit from adding some demonstrations? You might need to provide a little more than just you talking to camera. Remember that video is a visual medium and some people learn by watching video more effectively than just reading from a book.
Take a little time with this and make great videos that will almost sell themselves.
It's also of benefit to think about any time sensitive content here. If your videos are liable to date very quickly because the information you provide may change this is a good time to refer to a manual. You can briefly outline what you want to say in the video and then suggest your viewer learns more in the manual you have provided for them. Remember, making video is a time consuming process. So if you can make your videos timeless, you won't need to re-film them when the information changes.
3. Delivery and promotion
Once you've made all of your videos and written your manuals (if you need to). Then it's time to consider how you are going to deliver it to your hungry customers.
This can all be done on your website. Your content hides behind something called a 'pay wall'. This is a special page where customers have to make a payment before they get to see your course.
Your course is all tucked away on a hidden part of your website only available to those who have paid to see it. Once a payment has been made you can provide your customer with the link where they can watch your video and download your manuals or supporting information.
Then your work is done. Well almost. You will still have to tell the world about your shiny new course but it could become an additional source of income for many years to come.
Want to learn more about making an online course?
If you'd like to learn more about the best ways to construct an online video course, why not get in touch and book a 20 minute call. I'd be more than happy to answer your questions.
Alternatively you might want to get together with some friends or colleagues and book a workshop where we can cover many aspects of making video. From lighting and editing to filming and a whole lot more. Click here
to take a look.
Last Thursday I woke up to some bad news. I was sitting having my morning coffee, I opened up my Instagram and got a message from the Meta gods. "Your account has been deactivated" Apparently, they thought I did something that went against community guidelines and if I disagreed with this decision I could appeal. So I appealed. Saturday morning I checked the account again and it was working normally, like nothing had happened. No explanation from Meta about what I may or may not have done wrong. So even though I’m none the wiser I learned a few things and if you rely on Instagram for your business you should probably be doing what I did next.
It doesn't matter what kind of business you run, if you're using social media to promote what you do you could be missing something important. Turning followers into fans. Independent musicians, in particular, are terrible at this. Many focus on the numbers and post endless videos of them performing either live or in a studio. To truly succeed you need to start talking with your followers and not just singing at them. Here I’m going explain why engagement is the key to generating fans and give you three ideas to help you start conversations with your followers.
Throughout the whole of 2024 we're doing something really special. We're donating 2,024 minutes of our time to help the future of the music industry. Why? Well it's because we're frustrated. Frustrated by seeing so many independent and unsigned musicians struggling to get their music heard and ultimately make a living from the music industry. Here's how you can get some of those minutes this year.