Microsoft Offering $3 per CPM for YouTubers to Promote Xbox One

[Alex Co]

Microsoft Offering $3 per CPM for YouTubers to Promote Xbox One

Microsoft is now offering Machinima video producers $3 per 1,000 views in exchange for promoting the Xbox One

Just in case you didn't know, YouTube videos showcasing video games has exploded the last couple of years and has become a viable platform for companies to advertise in -- a fact not lost on Microsoft. Machinima, possibly the biggest YouTube network that focuses on games as its content, is now the latest beneficiary of Microsoft's latest marketing blitz, as it's now offering Machinima producers $3 per 1,000 views -- or "Cost Per Thousand (CPM)" -- just to promote the Xbox One.

Details of how this partnership works can be read below from an internal email circulating within Machinima video producers.


Hello Influencers!

Machinima is happy to offer YOU a $3 CPM bonus when you participate in our continued promotion for the Xbox One!

It's easy! Here's how:
1. Incorporate at least 30 seconds of gameplay of footage of ANY Xbox One game
2. Verbally mention in the video that you are playing on the Xbox One
3. Tag your video with XB1M3
4. Follow the guidelines listed in the assignment
5. Submit the LIVE YouTube link through Poptent

The campaign will start on January 14th and will go until February 9th, or until a collective 1.25 million views have been reached


While $3 might not seem much, keep in mind, this sum is a bonus on top of what video producers make per CPM, so it does add up. In your opinion, does this compromise the integrity of some YouTube video producers when it comes to gaming coverage?

For the latest in Xbox One news, Microsoft says it's time to end the console war hate. [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/131416-Xbox-One-Top-Selling-US-Console-in-December-According-to-NPD]

Source: iGameResponsibly [http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=753566]

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[weirdee]

eh, only overstepping if it's not labeled as a paid advertisement like everybody else

maybe it'll be an improvement on the hyperbole ads that microsoft has been pushing lately

best thing to happen to mankind? seriously?

 

[tippy2k2]

What the heck is a CPM? I Googled it and no definition I saw right away pointed what that meant (I assume it's a confirmed view of some kind). Thanks for the update news guy!

It's an excellent idea by Microsoft but the execution is likely to flop. Maybe I'm giving the Internet too much credit but I have to assume that people will raise their eyebrows and question you when you verbally gush about the Xbox One with the tag under your video. It might as well be a giant red flag for anyone searching for reliable info.

Then again, I don't Youtube much of anything so maybe the Internet deserves less credit than I'm giving it.

 

[Nimcha]

Would most people really care about namedropping the system someone is playing on? I think most people watch the video because of the game. I hope so anyway.

So anyway, not a bad idea in my opinion.

 

[Rad Party God]

Would most people really care about namedropping the system someone is playing on? I think most people watch the video because of the game. I hope so anyway.

So anyway, not a bad idea in my opinion.

I guess it might make sense for people doing research about wich version of a game to buy, like, say, Assasins Creed 4, but that's stretching it a bit in my opinion.

OT: Well, it's just an optional bonus for anyone who wants to have these bonuses, it's not like Microsoft is hamfisting this into everyone's throat, also it'll be interesting to see how it's implemented on the videos with this kind of ad.

 

[Alex Co]

What the heck is a CPM? I Googled it and no definition I saw right away pointed what that meant (I assume it's a confirmed view of some kind).

It's an excellent idea by Microsoft but the execution is likely to flop. Maybe I'm giving the Internet too much credit but I have to assume that people will raise their eyebrows and question you when you verbally gush about the Xbox One with the tag under your video. It might as well be a giant red flag for anyone searching for reliable info.

Then again, I don't Youtube much of anything so maybe the Internet deserves less credit than I'm giving it.

I mentioned it's "per 1,000 views." Amended it so it's much clearer. "M" here stands for 1,000. =) It's a common advertising term used by sites, video channels.

 

[omega 616]

snip

I used to know CPM stood for but it's gone now, it the if I remember correctly the C is the roman numeral so 100 and the P is per but I can't remember the M ... or I could just be talking out of my ass! it is to do with how much cash you get from each view on youtube though, which is all you wanted to know anyway.

EDIT: seems I was not only beaten to the punch but I was wrong ... close but wrong.

This is going to cost them A LOT! You will have ALL the COD commentators doing it "I am playing COD on the xbox one" and 'cos they all have a billion subs, it will work BUT I would put £50 down saying that the vast majority already know everything about the xbone and have either decided to get it or not.

basically, you're paying to preach to the choir.

 

[SinisterGehe]

No good Youtuber (even with Machinima) is going to do this because they know the harm it will do to their reputation and image. And that is all they have.
Also... This wont work.
I think some of the more cunning partners would abuse the hell out of this.
Also... Only 1.25million views. That wont last long.

 

[Alexander Kirby]

Until 1.25 million view eh? Well this isn't going to last very long. So how much money will Microsoft be paying out for this endeavor? A whopping $3750. I think this is just to test the waters so to speak, I expect that if they deem this 'successful' they'll likely return to the youtube community with a more aggressive offering.

 

[omega 616]

snip

You'd be surprised, Tmartn (a cod guy) actually had little xbox avatars (not the animated avatars, the tiny pictures) made and charged people for it ... I would bet they sold like fucking hotcakes!

I think people on Machinima will "sell out" for anything as long as it gets them a few extra bucks. Not hating on them for it 'cos frankly, I'm a little jelly and if I was in there position I know I would do it!

 

[FogHornG36]

They can do a video all about the xbox, they would do it about one of the games, but the video would get flaged, and that money that Microsoft would pay you would just go to who ever the copyright holder it.

 

[Dragonbums]

So literally any LP'er can start off the video with "I'm playing X game on the Xbox One" and do a play video that lasts up to 22 minutes long, and they will start raking in the cash. I mean, that's basically all they have to do. Then when they want to do the next set of game parts from that same game they can simply start off the video again with that phrase. Rinse and repeat.


Eeeeeeh, I don't think this was thought through very well.

 

[Diablo1099_v1legacy]

There are doing to be SO many copyright strikes given out by the time this is all over...

 

[Sicram]

Well, at least it doesn't directly say that the video has to be positive, although I guess it's in them guidelines which we don't get to see here.

 

[heroicbob]

i can see in this thread that a lot of people dont like this, but given recent developers approach to youtube its nice to see someone recognizing the power of web content instead of just trying to stifle it

 

[Andy Shandy]

It's nice for Microsoft to encourage YouTube gaming content instead of recently with gaming companies when it's all been bad, but I'm not sure this was the best way to go about it.

Genuine interest or not, anyone that covers Xbox One stuff will now be accused of being bought by Microsoft.

Still, it's not like they're paying out a huge amount if it doesn't work, since it's only up to 1.25 million views collectively, so perhaps they feel it's worth testing the waters.

 

[Pyrian]

Sheesh. Advertising-revenue media has been around for much longer than I've been alive, and yet it still seems like news to most people.

Remember: If you're not paying money to see something, you're not the customer. You're the product being sold.

 

[RoonMian]

I used to know CPM stood for but it's gone now, it the if I remember correctly the C is the roman numeral so 100 and the P is per but I can't remember the M ... or I could just be talking out of my ass!

The M most likely stands for "Mille" which is Latin for 1000.

 

[Cousin_IT]

How "I play Xbone games & get a share of the advertising revenue from you watching it" gives a youtuber credibility but "I play Xbone games & get a share of the advertising revenue from you watching it, & also Microsoft pay me a bit to stick this logo in the top right corner of the screen" suddenly loses it I don't know. If anything, given how Google's recent tinkering with youtube features/policy has impacted Lets Play/Machimina uploaders, opportunities to diversify revenue streams like this should be seized by any serious content producers.

It's all well & good to mock Vloggers like Fred, SXEPhill etc, but frankly most gaming related content uploaders seem to still have a lot to learn from them in terms of how to monetize their audience without a) losing all of them & b) getting shut down by copyright infringement claims, Youtube policy changes etc.