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As a blogger who established her online business through writing, I must acknowledge that videos are currently the most captivating form of content. It’s widely known that video has been the favored content format for several years now. In fact, 91% of consumers crave more videos from brands, which is evident in the popularity of YouTube, TikTok, Facebook videos, and Instagram reels.
Since you love watching videos every day, wouldn’t it be amazing to get paid while watching them? Too good to be true? Probably a scam?
That’s what I thought too until I encountered the activities below. It turns out there are apps that incentivize you to watch videos while some companies pay you to watch a movie for them. You can even create your website based on the movies you’ve watched and earn money from it!
If this has gotten your attention and you’re intrigued about how to do this, then you’re in for a treat. Listen up, video addicts — it’s time to monetize your love for watching these types of content.
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1. Swagbucks
My long-time readers know how much I love Swagbucks! I’ve been using it since 2009 and to say that I’ve greatly benefitted from the company is an understatement.
For those who don’t know, Swagbucks is a website and application that offers its users reward points for doing different tasks. You can watch videos or answer surveys for money and you’ll be given Swagbuck points in return. These points are what allow you to redeem free gift cards or cash.
Personally, I use surveys more often than watching videos since they’re quite easy to answer and fast to finish. In my years of using Swagbucks, I have never encountered a problem when redeeming my favorite gift cards like Amazon, Starbucks, and a few of my go-to local restaurants. I’m sure my friends would say the same thing since they’re active users as well!
The types of videos you’ll be watching here could be:
- Hulu clips
- Food videos
- Music videos
- Movie trailers
- Celebrity clips
- Advertisements
- Behind-the-scenes clips
You could earn an extra $300 to $1,000 every year just by being active on Swagbucks. The users who earn big here are the ones who spend most of their time on the app, so if you have a lot of free time on your hands, you can explore and make money on the application!
I’ve also written an honest Swagbucks review for you to know more about how to make money on it.
2. Start A TV Show Review Blog
The benefit of writing online goes beyond making money, it’s also finding like-minded people who have the same interests as you. When I started this blog, not only was I able to monetize it but I found people who also love to make money online!
Many entertaining blogs talk about TV shows or movies. An example of this would be TVFanatic. She talks about different shows and just categorizes them for easy navigation. Her content is simple, she’s just writing about her feelings and opinions toward the show.
To help you with what blog to start, below are some ideas that you can ponder on:
- Movie Recommendations – Write about a movie you like and who it is for. You can write along the lines of “If you want to be motivated and be inspired in life, I highly recommend The Pursuit Of Happiness…” Then explain why it’s a must-watch without giving any spoilers!
- Niche-focused Blog – If you don’t want to be all over the place, you can focus on one genre of movie – choose from Drama, Thriller, Comedy, Romcom, etc. Then you go on to write about the different movies in that niche.
- Netflix Movies/Shows – Want to be on top of movie or TV show culture? You can create a blog that’s solely about what’s upcoming on Netflix.
Once you start blogging, you’ll realize how freeing it is for your creative side. You don’t have to follow strict rules or guidelines for your content. You can write about anything you like and in any way you prefer.
That’s one of the main reasons why I’m consistent in posting blogs after all these years. I like the feeling of having full control over what I write and put out online. No boss to follow and no coworkers to listen to. Plus, I get to help my readers with their financial situation as well.
If you’re quite unsure of how to start a blog, you can read my beginner’s guide on how to create one. After that, you can learn how to monetize your blog so you make money while talking about the movies you like!
3. Create A YouTube Channel About Movies
One of the best things to do on YouTube is to show your creative side to the world. You don’t have to be like the other channels in your niche, you could be doing a completely different thing and people would still watch your videos.
If you’re planning to create a YouTube channel about various movies, there are different routes that you can take here.
- Movie reviews – This one’s the most common on this list. You’ll share your opinions and thoughts on the different movies you’ve seen. A good example of this type of content is Interpreting the Stars.
- Movie Facts – Everybody loves to know different facts about a movie they’ve watched. They want to know whether a scene was CGI or if it was based on a true story. Your channel could be the go-to for this need. The channel Fun Fact Films publishes these types of videos.
- Reacts channel – Reaction videos have gotten a ton of buzz no matter the niche. It seems like people are genuinely curious to see the reaction of others when it comes to scenes in a movie or television show. REACT is a great example of this.
As you can see, the route of your YouTube channel depends on you. What’s important is you’re having fun and entertaining your viewers.
When monetizing your channel, the most common way would be being part of the YouTube Partner Program. It opens up your channel for having revenue on ads.
Other ways to make money on YouTube would include creating your own merch, having a paid subscription, or through sponsorships.
4. Host Podcasts For Shows
Starting a podcast show with your friends is another creative pursuit worth considering. You might think that you’re late to the podcast train, given that almost everyone you know already has one. However, the podcasting industry is still on the rise, so it’s not too late to join in on the fun.
If you’re thinking of whether you should start your own show, I highly suggest that you do. What’s the worst that can come out of it? Is no one listening to your show? At least you’ve tried it. Give it a year of dedication and posting weekly and you will surely build an audience around your podcast.
Treat it like you’re just having a normal conversation with your friends. Talk naturally and let the topic flow. That’s how you can keep the show be authentic as possible.
In terms of monetization, you can do that through sponsors or brand placements in your podcast. They usually come when you’ve amassed thousands of listeners and watchers on a monthly basis. Again, this comes with time and requires consistency.
Still on the fence? Here are some podcast ideas to help you get started:
- How Did This Get Made? – The show talks about bad movies that are still good enough to watch once.
- The Rewatchables – It’s a roundtable of interesting individuals discussing the best movies shown to the public.
- Denzel Washington Is The Greatest Actor Of All Time Period – Just by reading the title you’ll already have an idea of who the show is about. The hosts review every Denzel Washington movie in alphabetical order.
Aside from having a great time talking with your friends, you also get the chance to monetize your platform. You can do so through brand partnerships or through affiliate links!
5. Do Closed Captioning for TV Shows
Closed captioning means writing down the dialogue along with the sound description in a TV show, movie, or video. It’s called “closed caption” because viewers have the option to turn off or on the subtitles.
This one’s a fun job since you can caption videos remotely. You could be at your house with your home clothes on and still get paid to watch these shows.
Given that this job is quite foreign to some, here are the different things that a closed captioner does:
- Review captions and spell checks
- Makes sure that the captions are correct
- Checks if captions are in-sync with audio
- Quality assures the location of the captions
- Write captions for audio and pre-recorded videos
Aspiring closed captioners can also get certifications to make their applications stronger. There’s a certification called Certified Realtime Captioner by the National Court Reporters Association – it’s for entry-level captioners who would like to start a career in this field.
If you’re looking to apply for this job position, here are some websites that are looking to hire:
6. Work As A Netflix Tagger
I know what you’re thinking – is being a Netflix Tagger a real job or a myth?
People ask this because they rarely see a job posting for this position but have read that it exists somewhere.
The answer to that is Yes, it is a real job and Netflix does pay a person to watch shows and tag them with specific keywords. These tags make it easier for you when searching for things to watch.
When you search for “Netflix tagger” on their website, you won’t see that position pop up, instead, it’ll give you “Content Editorial Analyst”. That’s the position you should be aiming for if you want to get paid to watch as many shows as you like from anywhere and at any time!
Below are some of the responsibilities of a Netflix Tagger or Content Editorial Analyst:
- Be up to date with current affairs and cultural moments
- Meet tight deadlines while assuring a high-quality output
- Properly analyze, tag, and write about movies and TV shows
- Understands the underlying creative intent behind the shows
I haven’t seen a technical qualification for this role when I was browsing for this job position. Netflix just stated general qualifications like being passionate about movies and TV shows, knowledge of pop culture, strong leadership, and time management. If you embody those things, try searching for it if there’s an open position in your area.
7. Mystery Shopper
We all know that you can get paid to shop and dine in a restaurant, but did you know that you can earn while watching movies as well?
If you’re a fan of watching in movie theaters, this job is for you – you’re paid to go to those establishments and watch a movie while taking note of multiple things.
Mystery shoppers for theaters provide feedback on both the exterior and interior conditions of the movie house, the concession stand, the staff, and the equipment.
You’d be starting your mystery shopper duties as you get your first contact with the staff in the theater. This could happen outside of the building or when buying a ticket a the booth. When the movie is over, you’d still need to stay and observe whether there will be a staff that will clean up the seats for the next batch of moviegoers.
Although you’re not technically there to watch a movie for entertainment purposes since you’re mentally taking notes of what’s happening around you, at least you get to enjoy and relax while the movie goes on.
Looking to be hired for this job? Here are some companies that you can apply for:
8. Babysitting
Doing babysitting as a side hustle can be very lucrative for some. If you’ve established a good relationship with the kid and the parents see it, they’d pay good money to keep you as their babysitter.
The highest average pay for babysitting is around $31.84. Even just having four-hour shifts on the weekday makes you earn around $636 per week multiply that by four and you get roughly $2,500 per month. It’s a good side hustle since you’re basically at home and just looking over the kids.
If you don’t have a lot of babysitting experience, but you’re already in your 20s, you have a major advantage over the younger ones. Not all parents are comfortable leaving their kids to teenagers. They want someone that can hold their ground and can be relied on when an emergency arises.
The different tasks here could be:
- Watching a movie
- Play board games
- Help with their homework
- Prepare snacks and meals
- Light cleaning of the house
Being a babysitter is kind of a laid-back job. You get paid to watch TV with the kids and tuck them to bed if needed.
You could look for a babysitting job on:
9. Become A Video Editor
Working as a video editor today is an in-demand job as people with businesses and personal brand wants to publish more video content for their audience. They’d want to hire someone who can edit their podcasts, vlogs, reels, and other types of content.
If you want to start a career in video editing, you can do so with these steps:
- First, learn video editing software. Play around with it and watch free content on YouTube on how you can use it to the fullest extent. There are also free online courses that teach you the basics of more complex things.
- Second, do your research. Check out the market today and observe what types of videos are being posted. Watch YouTube videos and TikTok to see how the most viewed content is being edited.
- Third, follow these video styles. Start building your portfolio and have your own edits.
- Fourth, look for job postings on different websites. You can also market your services on platforms like Fiverr.
- Fifth, as you apply for a position, include all your high-quality edits and your portfolio. Impress your prospects and be so good that they won’t think twice when hiring you.
Being a video editor is a job to make you money while watching and editing videos. If you’re able to get your clients’ views, they’ll be more than happy to retain you as part of their team.
10. Video Quality Assurance Specialist
The job of doing quality assurance can be present in multiple fields and niches but this is particularly important when it comes to published videos.
As a quality assurance specialist, you are the last line of defense for errors and misplacements seen in the video content.
Aside from checking the visible elements of the video, you’re in charge of thinking if the video is on-brand with the business or is in line with what the company stands for. If the business aims to be motivational, the video should be showing that to the viewers.
For other businesses, their video QA specialists also help in formulating strategies and pinpointing improvements for the team. This means you should be up to date on how the company can publish better and more engaging videos for their audience.
In terms of pay, these quality assurance specialists make an average of $51,000 per year which is quite big considering that the majority of your time is just watching videos and making sure it passes all company standards.
FAQs
1. How Do You Get Paid for Watching Videos?
There are different ways you can get paid to watch videos. You could join Swagbucks, be a Netflix tagger, do closed captioning, or be a quality assurance specialist for videos.
If you only want to make money watching videos on the side, Swagbucks is the application for you. No commitment and it’s easy to sign up. You can start earning as soon as you download the application or sign up on the website.
2. Can I watch videos to earn Swagbucks points?
Yes, you can indeed earn Swagbucks points by watching videos. This is exactly what I did when I was a broke student trying to earn a bit of extra money online.
I have watched Swagbucks grow from its inception, and today it has become a very popular rewards program. It allows users to earn points (known as SB) by performing various online activities, including watching short video clips. The Swagbucks platform features a wide variety of videos covering numerous topics, including entertainment, news, fitness, and more.
By watching these videos, you can accumulate points which can be redeemed for free gift cards, cash (via PayPal), and other rewards. The amount of SB you earn per video or playlist is generally small, so watching videos alone might not yield high earnings quickly.
Combining this with other activities on Swagbucks, such as taking surveys or using their search engine, can help you accumulate points more rapidly.
3. How Can I Make $100 A Day Online Watching Videos?
Out of all the choices above, I believe being a video editor is the best use of your time for two reasons.
If you’re working for the right client, you’ll get paid handsomely. On Indeed’s website, the higher end of the salary range is $40 per hour. In an 8-hour shift, you can earn $320 per day which is around $83,000+ in a year.
The second reason would be that video editing can turn into a service-based business for you. An example of this would be creating a short-form video agency where you create TikTok videos, YouTube shorts, and Instagram reels for personal brands and online businesses.
4. How Much You Can Earn Watching Movies?
The potential earnings for watching a movie can vary depending on your job position. Let’s discuss the pay for each point above that pays you to watch a movie.
As a Content Editorial Analyst for Netflix, you could earn as high as $100,000 per year but the estimated base pay is around $82,700 per year.
Being a Mystery Shopper on the other hand would only pay around $12 to $31 per hour and take note that your duties go beyond watching movies. So you’re in the building even way before the movie starts and ends. This is only good to do part-time.
If you want to get paid to watch movies, the best route to take is being under Netflix.
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