#1 Pinterest’s Creator Fund and shoppable Pins

Pinterest recently announced its very first in-platform monetisation program called the Creator Fund. This $500k funding program is in testing and was designed to financially support a small group of Pinterest creators from underrepresented communities.

As the Creator Fund expands, Pinterest pledges that 50% of the creators taking part in the program will be from underrepresented groups. Currently only available to fashion, photography, food and travel creators in the US, Pinterest says, “The creators went through training, creative strategy consulting and received a budget for content creation and ad credits." 

The platform also just announced its first set of tools that allow creators to earn money off shoppable Pins. Similar to the way affiliate links work, creators can get a cut of purchases they drive with their Pinterest content.

Creators will be able to browse a business' available product pins and integrate them into their Idea Pins, showcasing how the product works to their audience. The product tagging tool within Idea Pins will launch for all users in the US and UK with a business account. However, global access will roll out over the coming months.

#2 The Creator Accelerator Program and direct payments on Clubhouse

The hot new invite-only audio platform, Clubhouse is already making plans for creators to monetise their content. The app’s Creator Accelerator Program was launched to financially support an expert group of Clubhouse creators helping them “host amazing conversations, build their audience, and monetize their work.”

While this program is only open to 20 creators at the moment, Clubhouse has also just released a new feature in testing that allows users to directly pay creators who open and moderate rooms on the app. Users will be able to send direct payments via the creators' Clubhouse profile. The creator will need to have this feature turned on for the user to be able to click “Send money”. It’s reported that creators will receive 100% of these payments, as Clubhouse won’t be taking a cut from them.

#3 YouTube ads, the Applause feature and the Shorts fund

One of the most well-known platforms to jump on if you’re looking to monetise your content is YouTube. Ads on the long-form video platform have been around for years.

But just recently, the platform has updated its advertiser-friendly guidelines so more of your YouTube videos can be monetised. Check out the full policy update here. If you want to gain access to ad revenue on YouTube, you need to apply to join their Partner Program.

YouTube is also testing a new ‘applause’ feature with a select few creators via the desktop site. Users will be able to purchase and gift a creator with an ‘applause’ for a standard amount of $2. These tips will be split 70:30 between the creator and YouTube, with creators receiving the 70%. There will be four different types for viewers to purchase and their donations will be public on the content they are supporting.

Finally, YouTube recently launched the Shorts Fund, a $100M fund that will be distributed over the course of 2021-2022. Its aim is to bring more creators over to the platform's new short-form video feature. Anyone is eligible and all you need to do to be considered is create unique and engaging Shorts content. If your videos receive some of the highest engagements and views that month, YouTube will reach out to you to reward you and ask for your feedback. Learn more here.

#4 Facebook’s video ads

Social media giant, Facebook has recently created an opportunity for influencers to make money through short and long-form videos. Videographers can now earn revenue through their video content thanks to newly placed ads. One-minute-long videos will have an ad run 30-seconds into the video, and 3+ minute videos will have an ad play 45-seconds into the video. 

The app is also continuing to explore in-stream ad formats that build engagement through rewards or product interactions. These engagements will likely increase your revenue and provide viewers with a higher-quality video experience. 

To join Facebook’s program to access these features you must have the following:

• 600,000 total minutes viewed from any combination of video uploads in the last 60 days.
• Have five or more active video uploads or previously Live videos.
• Videos must be published, not deleted, and compliant with Facebook’s content monetisation policies.

#6 Instagram’s Live Badges and IGTV ads

Jumping on the Live gifts bandwagon, Instagram’s Live Badges allow creators to generate revenue from hosting a Live. After testing has wrapped up and the feature is launched globally, viewers can purchase up to three different types of badges during your Live. They are:

• One heart = $0.99
• Two hearts = $1.99
• Three hearts = $4.99

They will be super useful for creators who use their platform to educate and teach their audience by hosting lives for exercise classes, photography and videography masterclasses or cooking and beauty tutorials.

Instagram has also come out with IGTV ads and is now starting to share ad revenue with content creators. The app will be sharing an ‘industry standard’ 55% cut with a select few creators around the globe, with a goal to expand this test group to more.

IGTV ads will begin to play when viewers click to watch a video from an in-feed preview. They’ll be vertical and up to 15 seconds long, but developers are working on a ‘skip ad’ feature. Creators who wish to have their IGTV videos monetised will also need to strictly follow Instagram’s monetisation policy.

Learn more about how to make money on Instagram here.

#7 Check out our no-nonsense infographic that swiftly takes you through each social platform and their monetisation features:

#8 Join Vamp’s creator community

When you join Vamp’s creator community, you’ll never be asked to create content for free. All of our brand collaborations are paid and we provide our creators with opportunities on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. If this sounds like a creator community you want to be part of, download our free Vamp app from the App Store or Google Play and apply to join.