Post date: Dec 20, 2011 12:43:58 PM
With YouTube enjoying more than 800 million visitors every month everyone can be famous for 15 seconds and some are making money from advertising revenues through YouTube Video Partnership Program.
UK-VIRAL VIDEO - It began with a walk in the park and ended with a dog named Fenton becoming an internet sensation and an unlikely money spinner for Ali and Jake Goodyear.
Father and son were watching deer in London's Richmond Park when a run-away labrador caught their attention. Ali Goodyear and his son Jake Goodyear, saying:
Jake: "Just out of no where you could just hear quietly hear the man calling his dog and then it got louder and louder and louder and then he just turned around with the camera and he saw the deer running. Ali: There was about 50 deer or so running. I didn't even see the guy, I only saw the back of the guy and he ran past me shouting out Jesus Christ, Fenton come back, you know, as loud as he could and then just disappeared off over the road and off into the sunset."
Jake had no idea that the video filmed by his dad would soon be viewed by millions world wide.
Jake Goodyear, saying:
"I just thought it would be funny to see how many views it would get if we put it on YouTube."
The 47 second clip has now received more than 2 million hits - enough to start earning Ali & Jake some welcome extra cash.
They've signed up to YouTube's Video Partnership program which links their video to interested advertisers.
The revenue is then shared - with the creator receiving the majority split.
Social media expert Matt Hodkinson says the potential to make money is there providing the content is catchy.
Matt Hodkinson,
"With some very well considered content and repeat submissions to YouTube the obviously those numbers can mount up certainly in the case of the Fenton/Benton video where they're getting in the millions of hits then it starts to become a very real revenue stream and something viable in terms of income."
The majority of videos that make it viral are relatively short lived says Hodkinson but there are some that have truly stood the test of time.
Charlie bit my Finger is one of them.
The short clip has been watched nearly 400 million times.
The video's stars are now a little older and their parents some £100,000 richer.
Matt Hodkinson, social media expert, saying:
"People do have the ability to make a second income, primary income it can be fairly difficult given the figures that are involved but with YouTube now enjoying 800 million unique visitors every month it continues to grow."
Herbie the tortoise is showing no signs of chasing anything - but Jake doesn't want to miss any potential filming opportunity.
Hayley Platt Reuters.