(I know you don’t do viral full time either… but your a lot closer then I am.)

Thanks so much for all your well written posts. Its like a youtuber’s bible.

I run my own Printing Agency in the UK but have recently started to put together new & novel Viral Videos where the products actually talk to prospective clients. A large company has seen these on my web site and asked me how much do I charge for them.

I haven’t a clue what to charge, could you please, or anyone else out there, take alook at them and let me know what would be a decent charge.

The videos are on http://www.spencerprint.co.uk/social_networking.html

Many thanks,

Mike Spencer
mike@spencerprint.co.uk

Great article. At DadLabs we’re going with flat fees (currently $3K/week for all four videos we produce per). That’s more or less based on average “views,” but as you point out that’s a tough metric to quantify clearly/sell. Because we’re niche, advertisers are really starting to see value, and want to make long term purchases which puts us in a tough place. Lock in current low rates? Our audience is growing really fast. Try to sell based on projections months down the road. Good problems, but problems.

Right now, the bulk of my online video work/income has come from sites like Xlntads, and I also happen to like their position as “middle man,” for the same reasons you stated. Being from a small (tiny, actually) media market, my biggest challenge is getting local clients to understand the value in understanding that online marketing will be VITAL to the future (if not immediate) success of their business. Result? I don’t have a lot of local clients, and the ones I do have balk at my meager $100/hour fee. Enter Xlntads, who puts me in touch not only with other creators, but also with Brands and businesses who a) come from larger markets, and b) WANT to learn more about online video, and who, more importantly, understand that there’s a fee involved.

For me, what’s been working is selling the creativity and effectiveness of the product. I’m not yet a big enough Playa in the online community to be able to guarantee a certain number of views. However, I know how to construct and produce an ad. As “added value,” I try to make my client videos 30 or 60 seconds, and otherwise “broadcast friendly,” so that they’re also usable on TV, if the client desires to use them there as well.

Good news is, with each Xlntads and GeniusRocket success I enjoy, my worth as a creator increases, and better still, my knowledge of this medium increases. I’m hoping my next steps will lead to retainers and increased steady work from individual brands…

(Kev, you know, we probably oughta talk seriously at some point…)

we just created a new page that hawks our wares, rates, etc.:
http://rhettandlink.com/hireus

we’d appreciate any feedback.