YouTube Reward Program and Competitors’ Reactions: Metacafé
Let’s start with the good old Metacafé.
YouTube revenue sharing expansion to potentially hundreds of thousands of new video content providers news came out on Dec 10. Metacafé has answered on Dec 12 by putting down the simple numbers of how much they have paid to their users so far in the framework of their Producer Rewards® program. They call themselves the leading payment program for independent video providers: “people have now collectively earned more than $1 million since the program’s launch on October 30th, 2006.” $1 million - regardless of your geographical location (YouTube revenue program is limited to US and Canada currently).
Here’s the snippet from the blog with the highlighted content. Do you notice something strange?
Is that number really correct? Is it a handful of five-hundred and fifty people or it’s a typo? Erick Hachenburg, CEO of Metacafe must know it better. But somehow I expected more than half a thousand content providers.
Never mind, here comes valuable market data (tips for topics) what can be hot sell if you want to earn money with user generated videos:
Among the most popular genres on Metacafe are:
• MacGyver-inspired how-to videos that bring out the super secret agent in all of us and provide hours of amusement using everyday household products;
• Amazing human stunt videos ranging from break-dancing babies to death-defying urban performance artists to fast-footed soccer specialists;
• Entertaining educational videos that teach you how to do anything from give a great massage to tune-up your computer skills; and
• Laugh-out-loud funny videos, scripted or spontaneous, that deliver a punch in a matter of moments.
As for How-to videos, read my interview with Kipkay, Metacafé’s how-to profit king on rolling out short DIY videos in a part-time job/ part-time revenue fashion.