Three Side Hustles That Are Perfect For Video Editors

From writing to starting your own YouTube channel, here are 3 ways to diversify your revenue stream with a new side hustle.

When I first started out as a freelance video editor, I asked a more experienced editor for his greatest piece of advice. I expected to hear something about creativity or how to connect with the right clients. Instead, he surprised me with this reply:

Make sure you develop a second source of income alongside editing, and make it something that links to your existing skill set.

I was a bit dumbfounded by this response, as I had already bought in on the idea that a single income stream would be the most beneficial to my career (and my bank account).

I have to say, I’m thankful I took his advice. Quiet times are inevitable in any freelance career, even without a global pandemic, so supplementary side-hustle income is a good way to keep the lights on when the pickings are slim. Plus, it’s exciting to shake things up in a “variety is the spice of life” kind of way, and if the side work empowers growth in your main career, well, even better.

If you’re a freelance video editor, check out these three side hustles that make use of skills you already have.

1. Write About Video Editing

Earn extra money by teaching others your craft. Image via Jacob Lund.

Aspiring editors are scouring the internet right now in search of tips, tricks, and techniques that can improve their skills. Meanwhile, seasoned video editors are walking around with an encyclopedia’s worth of knowledge in their heads. See where I’m going here?

There are many, many websites that will pay you to write posts about video editing — how-tos, thought leadership, workflow hacks, you name it.

You can expect to earn anywhere from $50 to several hundred dollars per post, depending on the depth of info, length/word count, and other variables that the blog editor will make clear.

When coming up with ideas for posts, I like to reflect on what best-selling author Tim Ferriss calls “scratching your own itch.” What skill would you have searched for help on a few years ago? What have you recently discovered that’s transformed the way you work?

If you know the answers to those questions, but maybe feel like your writing chops aren’t what they should be, here’s a tip: Read more. And write more. And then read and write even more. You already know the language, you just have get comfortable using it in a new way.

If you’re really nervous about it, it might be beneficial to seek some guidance from a paid tutor. They’re out there, and they’re looking for work too. It’s a worthwhile investment that will pay for itself in time.

2. Create a YouTube Channel

Start a YouTube channel showcasing your wealth of knowledge on a topic. Image via Flamingo Images.

2019’s highest-earning YouTuber brought in $26 million from their channel. While it’s unlikely you’ll make that sort of money, it’s definitely possible to develop a profitable channel if you’re persistent.

In the early days, growing a channel could be a frustratingly slow endeavor. However, these days, many users describe a “snowball” experience. The more popular your channel gets, the more likely YouTube is to promote your videos and the more views you can expect.

In order for your channel to get monetized, you must acquire over 1000 subscribers and 4000 watch hours. Obviously, this is only achievable by those with a degree of patience. Once monetized, your videos can continue to bring in money long after you’ve created them. You can wake up having earned money while you slept!

You can expect to earn around $3-$5 per 1000 views. This might not sound like a lot, but if you had 100 videos gaining 1000 views a day, you wouldn’t be complaining about the daily $400 your were earning.

When deciding what to create your content about, it’s worth (once again) considering the “scratch your own itch” philosophy. Think about what fascinates you. You inevitably have a wealth of knowledge on video editing, so why not create a series of how-to videos around the topic.

Alternatively, reviewing an editing kit that you already own could also gain you numerous views. Who doesn’t watch video reviews before purchasing editing hardware? Bonus: Your years of editing experience will likely make your videos stand out in a big way.

3. Explore Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is when an online seller pays you a commission by sending them traffic. Image via everything possible.

Last year, I bought a fantastic pair of new headphones to use for work. I discovered these by typing, “what are the best headphones for video editing” into Google. After clicking on a blog post about this exact subject, I skimmed through and clicked a link which lead me straight to Amazon, where I could purchase the top reviewed pair. This is a classic example of affiliate marketing.

Affiliate marketing is when an online seller pays an individual or company a commission to send them traffic and/or sales. So, the author of the article that I made my purchase through will have received a percentage of the amount of money that I spent after clicking their link.

The easiest, most accessible way to make money from affiliate selling is through Amazon — you’ll receive 1-10% (depending on the items) of any money spent on their website. Their affiliate scheme is effortless to join.

How do you get potential buyers to click your links? Why not consider creating a blog, like the one I purchased through? Or, you could put affiliate links into the descriptions of your YouTube videos. You can make it even simpler by putting affiliate links in social media posts, which, if you have a large following, could be enormously profitable.

There are many other companies that you can work with in this way, so it’s always worth researching to see if an online seller has an affiliate program.

It’s not going to make you into an overnight millionaire — you’ll need to create high-quality content over a number of years before it pays dividends. Might as well get started now, right?

I appreciate that, despite being perfect for video editors, each of these earning opportunities does require a significant time investment to get started. They might not be right for you, or they might not be right for you right now.

If today’s the day you go for it, try focusing on just one of these ideas to begin with. You might find, like me, that you’ve discovered an interesting and profitable side hustle.

For additional information on relative subjects, check out these inspiring articles:

• What I’ve Learned From Starting a YouTube Channel in 2020
• YouTube Creators Set to Earn Extra Income with Change to Ads
• 5 Solid Ways to Make Money on Your YouTube Videos
• SOCIAL PACK: 50+ FREE Social Media Marketing Elements and Designs
• Diversifying Your Revenue Streams as a Modern Filmmaker
• 3 Simple Tips for Stabilizing Smartphone Videography

Cover image via Bruce Rolff.