Here’s the next part of our side hustle case study series, where real people share how they make extra money in their spare time!
This week, Sian from the Little Miss Frugal blog is sharing an interesting side hustle – selling videos from your smartphone! Almost everyone has a smartphone these days, so this is a great way to earn some extra cash that anyone can try.
How to make money selling videos on your smartphone
Tell us a little about yourself and your side hustle.
I run a money blog called Little Miss Frugal where I share the best money-making and saving opportunities. I’m always looking for ways to make a bit of extra cash to help fund a better lifestyle. One of my favorite side hustles is uploading my smartphone videos to a platform called Newsflare. They distribute and sell these videos to newspapers, online publishers, TV production companies, and brands. If you’ve ever captured a video that makes your friends react strongly, there’s a good chance you can make money from it. The best-selling videos usually have a compelling moment, whether it’s shocking or funny. You’d be surprised at what can sell! For example, people love watching babies falling asleep while eating, wild weather moments, or cute pet antics.
How long have you been doing your side hustle? How did you get into it?
I’ve been doing this for about two years. I used to work in publishing and was always looking for new ways to save money while living in London. I got approached about a job at Newsflare and worked there for three years before leaving in early 2019. Even though I no longer work there, I still upload my videos to Newsflare and advocate for the platform.
What does the work actually involve? What does a typical day/work session look like for you?
Uploading a video to Newsflare is super easy. It’s more about having an eye for capturing moments that could make money. If you have a video that you think could go viral – whether it’s breaking news or a funny or heartwarming moment – it’s worth taking five minutes to upload it to the platform. You always own the video and can request its deletion at any point.
How much can you make doing this side hustle?
The amount you earn isn’t guaranteed; it depends on how compelling the video is and the demand from buyers. I’ve earned over £2000 in the last two years from my videos – some of which I wouldn’t have considered compelling! Uploading videos is a long game. I’ve had sales months down the line, and it’s always a nice surprise to get a congratulatory email. The best thing to do is sign up, give it a go, be patient, and upload plenty of videos for more chances to make money.
Are there any start-up costs and/or ongoing expenses with this side hustle?
Newsflare is completely free to sign up for. You just need to recognize that videos have value, and you never know – videos sitting on your smartphone right now might be worth something! Other than that, it’s just taking the five minutes to upload and fill in details like a title, description, and location.
What advice would you give to somebody who wants to get started?
Don’t underestimate what makes a great video; you’ll be surprised at what sells! My best-selling videos have been of a march against knife crime filmed from my window and a dog lying on the pavement refusing to walk!
Any recommended websites or resources?
You can sign up for a free account at Newsflare. If you’re stuck for inspiration, check out the video briefs or trending videos to see what Newsflare is looking for. Other companies that offer similar opportunities are Jukin Media, Storyful, and ViralHog. However, most of these operate a closed platform, meaning they will contact you if you have a newsworthy video, whereas Newsflare is open for anyone to start uploading.
Where can we find you?
Blog: Little Miss Frugal
Instagram: lmfrugal
Pinterest: Little Miss Frugal
Twitter: lmfrugal
Thank you, Sian, for sharing your experience with making money from videos! This idea for making extra money is fantastic and very accessible. Most of us probably have some videos on our phones we could upload, especially those of us with cute babies or pets! It’s great to know that you retain the rights to your video too.
Want more work-from-home ideas? Check out the other posts in our side hustle case studies series. If you have a unique side hustle you’d like to share, please contact me and let me know!