Cat videos have become an internet phenomenon, widely popular across social media platforms and video sharing sites. According to Wikipedia, in 2015 there were over 2 million cat videos on YouTube alone, with an average of 12,000 views each – higher than any other category on the platform [1]. The vast popularity of cat videos is likely due to the cute, funny, and entertaining nature of cats that appeal to viewers. Watching cat videos can also relieve stress and improve mood. Overall, cat videos have emerged as a major internet trend with a large, dedicated viewership across the web.
Monetization Options
There are several ways to make money from cat videos on YouTube and other platforms. The most direct is through YouTube’s Partner Program, which allows creators to monetize videos through advertisements. Once a channel reaches 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours over the previous year, they can apply for monetization (source). YouTube places ads on and around the videos, and the creator earns a percentage of the ad revenue.
Another popular monetization method is affiliate marketing. The creator links to pet products on sites like Amazon and earns a small commission for any sales resulting from their link. Many successful pet channels use affiliate links to treats, toys, litter, and other supplies featured in their videos. This provides an easy passive income stream from content they are already creating.
Merchandise sales are another way to profit from a pet brand and audience. Once a channel gains a following, they can create and sell custom t-shirts, mugs, calendars, and other merchandise featuring their pet. This allows fans to directly support the content creator. The initial merchandise creation does require an upfront investment, but it can become quite lucrative over time.
Building an Audience
With cat videos being such a popular genre on platforms like YouTube, building an audience can happen organically as people search for and click on cat videos. However, there are strategies content creators can use to expand their audience faster:
Using social media to promote new videos is important. Sharing on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. allows creators to reach fans directly. Asking viewers to like, comment, subscribe, and enable notifications can help the channel grow. Services like Facebook ads can further expand reach.
Collaborating with other pet influencers for “crossover” videos or co-promotions exposes each creator’s audience to new channels and content. Well-known pet influencers may agree to shout-outs in exchange for a fee.
Optimizing video titles, descriptions, tags, and metadata improves discoverability on YouTube and other platforms. Including popular keywords like “cute cat” “kittens” “funny cats” helps the right viewers find the content.
Sources:
https://tempestamedia.com/2016/02/10/why-you-should-incoporate-cat-videos-into-marketing/
Creating Quality Content
Creating appealing, high-quality cat videos requires care in filming techniques, editing, sound, and captions. For filming, pay attention to lighting, camera stability, and framing the cat. Avoid excessive background noise and aim for well-lit, close-up shots that highlight your cat’s adorable antics. Professional editing software like Adobe Premiere can help cut together footage, insert transitions, and add text or captions. Be sure to edit out unflattering or irrelevant clips. Clear audio, either recorded separately or overlaid ambient music, will elevate your production value. Consider enabling closed captions for reach and accessibility. With strategic filming, editing choices, and polish, amateur cat videos can meet professional standards that both captivate audiences and appeal to potential brand sponsors.
Source: https://www.pexels.com/search/videos/cat/
YouTube Monetization
The YouTube Partner Program (YPP) allows creators to earn ad revenue from their YouTube videos. To be eligible for the YPP, you must meet these requirements according to the YouTube Content Monetization Policies:
- Have at least 1,000 subscribers.
- Have at least 4,000 valid public watch hours in the last 12 months.
- Live in a country where YPP is available.
- Have no Community Guidelines strikes.
Once approved for the YPP, you can begin earning money through:
- Ad revenue – Google places ads on and around your videos.
- Channel memberships – Fans pay a monthly fee for special perks like emotes and badges.
- Super chats & stickers – Fans purchase highlighted chat messages and stickers during live streams.
The YPP provides multiple revenue streams for eligible creators. Consistently producing engaging content that meets YouTube’s guidelines is key to getting approved and unlocking monetization features.
Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing can be a great way to monetize cat videos by earning commissions on relevant products. Some popular affiliate programs for cat content creators include Chewy, Litter-Robot, Hepper, Two Crazy Cat Ladies, and more (https://www.authorityhacker.com/cat-affiliate-programs/).
The key is finding affiliate programs that align with your niche and audience. For example, Chewy and Litter-Robot offer pet supplies, while Hepper focuses on cat health content. When viewers click your affiliate links and make purchases, you can earn anywhere from 2-20% commission.
To get started, create accounts with affiliate networks like ShareASale, FlexOffers or individual merchant programs. Then research relevant affiliate programs and apply to join them. Once approved, you’ll receive unique referral links to feature in your videos, descriptions or website.
Strategically place affiliate links near related content – for example, next to cat toy reviews or litter recommendations. Just make sure to clearly disclose your affiliate relationships to build trust with your audience.
With engaging videos that organically integrate affiliate links, you can transform your cat content into an income stream through affiliate promotions.
Merchandise & Sponsorships
Selling branded merchandise is a popular way for creators to monetize their content and brand. As this article notes, creators can design and sell custom apparel, accessories, home goods and more with their logo or brand name. This allows fans to publicly display their support while also providing the creator with an additional revenue stream.
Working with sponsors is another lucrative option. As explained in this guide, sponsorships involve collaborating with brands in various ways. This may include sponsored social media posts, product reviews and placements in videos, brand ambassador roles, custom branded content, giveaways and more. The key is finding sponsorships that authentically align with your brand and content style.
When done right, merchandising and sponsorships allow creators to monetize their influence and relationship with fans. However, it’s important to ensure these efforts align naturally with your content so as not to alienate your audience.
Building a Brand
Once you establish yourself as a creator of quality cat videos, the next step is building your personal brand and online persona around your content. According to Peter Field and Les Binet from Think With Google, video is one of the most powerful mediums for building an authentic brand identity. By consistently producing videos with your unique style, personality, and passion for cats, you can establish a recognizable brand that viewers associate with quality content.
Developing branded assets like logos, intro/outro animations, and consistent thumbnails and titles, is key to creating an identifiable brand. As suggested by Clipchamp, using your brand elements consistently in videos helps build familiarity and trust with your audience over time. Interacting with viewers and cultivating your online persona through vlogs and behind-the-scenes videos also allows fans to get to know the person behind the brand on a more personal level.
Legal Considerations
There are several legal issues to keep in mind when monetizing cat videos online, especially regarding copyright, licenses, and permissions. According to experts on Quora (https://www.quora.com/Are-there-any-legal-and-copyright-considerations-when-monetizing-a-YouTube-channel), some of the key considerations include:
Copyright – Using copyrighted content like music or footage without permission in monetized videos can lead to copyright claims and strikes. It’s important to only use original content or content you have licensed properly.
Licenses – Consider if any Creative Commons or other licenses apply to content used. These may restrict commercial use.
Permissions – Always get direct permission from recognizable people appearing in videos before monetizing. Personal rights like privacy and publicity come into play.
Fair Use – Fair use laws allow limited use of copyrighted content without permission under certain conditions, but this can be complex to rely on when monetizing (https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/9783148?hl=en).
Overall, consult an attorney specialized in online media law for personalized legal guidance before monetizing cat videos to ensure full compliance.
Conclusion
In summary, there are several effective strategies for monetizing cat videos. To generate revenue, focus on building an engaged audience and creating high-quality, entertaining content that people want to watch and share. Leverage built-in monetization platforms like YouTube’s Partner Program and Facebook’s Creator Tools to make money from ads. You can also generate income by promoting affiliate products, merchandising, sponsorships, and building your own media brand around a popular pet or cat-themed YouTube channel. With persistence and creativity, cat videos can indeed be profitable. The key is high view counts, an authentic connection with fans, and diversifying your monetization approach.
Cat videos have proven to be enormously popular across social media and YouTube. While silly cat clips may seem trivial, with the right strategy they can generate sizable earnings. Do your homework to find lucrative opportunities, produce viral content, cultivate a loyal fanbase, and explore multiple monetization avenues. Most importantly, make sure you and your furry friend are having fun in the process. With sound preparation and consistent effort, you can absolutely turn sharing cute cat moments into a money-making endeavor.
