I earn £120,000 a year making social media videos go viral - BBC News
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Paths to Success
I earn £120,000 a year making social media videos go viral
Eknoor Singh/Getty Images
Eknoor Singh's successful social media video clips include one of popstar Dua Lipa. The 22-year-old Londoner is a professional "clipper" – earning over £120,000 annually by creating short, vertical videos for social media with the hope of them going viral.
"The more views a clip gets, the more money I make," he says.
The process typically involves a client – from clothing brands to influencers – providing a longer video. The clipper then selects 30-60-second clips they believe will resonate with the target demographic and uploads them to platforms like Instagram, YouTube, or TikTok.
Clippers can earn up to $3 per 1,000 views, making it a lucrative side hustle. Singh started after making $300 from a Dua Lipa video and now earns "at least £10,000 a month."
He seeks engaging content, like Sabrina Carpenter's reaction to a fashion faux pas at the Met Gala, which became viral.
AFP via Getty Images
24-year-old Ethan Weems from Wichita, Kansas, also makes a good living from clipping, earning "at least $1,000 a month" by creating short videos for YouTuber and podcaster Caleb Hammer.
However, social media consultant Lia Haberman notes that while some clippers succeed, most make little to nothing. Streaming industry analyst Devin Nash agrees, emphasizing the time and effort required.
Clippers can find jobs on various platforms, including general forums like Reddit and Discord, as well as dedicated clipping sites like Clipping Culture, Vyro, Whop, and Kick.