How to Sell Your Viral Video to the Media: A Step-by-Step Guide

Sell My Viral Video: The Complete Guide to Making Money from Viral Footage

If you’re wondering, “how do I sell my viral video and actually make money from it?”, this guide is your roadmap. Capturing a viral video can be a life-changing experience. Whether you’ve captured a jaw-dropping event, a heartwarming family moment, an adorable animal video, or an eyewitness account of breaking news, your clip could be worth real money – but only if you license it the right way.

This step-by-step guide walks you through identifying the value of your video, licensing it to major media outlets, and protecting your rights — all while maximizing your earnings.

Step 1: Is Your Viral Video Worth Anything?

Before diving into distribution, you need to figure out whether your footage has genuine licensing potential. Just because a video gets a lot of shares doesn’t automatically mean it will sell — but many videos do if they meet the right criteria.

The first step in selling your viral video is determining its newsworthiness. This involves assessing its appeal to both traditional hard news outlets – think online news sites, TV news shows and documentaries – as well as softer, entertainment-focused platforms, usually on social media, all of which are in the market for viral video content to boost views and their own revenue.

What Do News Outlets Look For?

When selling a viral video to hard news outlets (like TV news or global publishers), editors are usually seeking the following:

• Timeliness: Was this filmed recently, and is it relevant to current events?
• Impact: Does the event affect a large number of people or have significant consequences?
• Visual clarity: Can viewers easily understand what’s happening without explanation?
• Prominence: Does it involve well-known individuals or organizations?
• Rarity: Is it something unusual or rarely captured on camera – like a meteor streaking across the sky or a dramatic rescue?
• Current Affairs: Does it showcase a moment that is receiving a lot of attention? Think of weather moments during a hurricane or demonstrations during political upheaval.
• Oddity: Is it unusual, surprising, or out of the ordinary?
• Human Interest: Does it evoke strong emotions like empathy, sadness, or joy?

Compare that with entertainment and lifestyle outlets, where virality tends to lean more emotional and shareable. Here’s what they care about:

• Emotion: Does it have a strong emotional hook, whether positive (heartwarming, funny) or negative (shocking, outrageous)?
• Uniqueness: Is it something rarely seen or experienced?
• Relatability: Can the audience connect with the people or situation in the video? Does it resonate across different demographics, making the audience wider?
• Shareability: Is it something people will want to share with their friends and family?
• Entertaining: It’s obvious for entertainment outlets, but does it entertain people – if not, it’s just not going to land.

If your video fits either of these molds, you’re already ahead of the game.

Step 2. How to Sell Your Viral Video to the Media

Now that you know your clip has value, let’s get it in front of buyers. But how you do that depends on your time, experience, and appetite for negotiation.

You can go it alone – but be aware that means more than just sending a few emails. You’ll need to identify the right decision-makers at media outlets (not always easy), craft compelling pitches, follow up, negotiate fees, and potentially draft or review licensing agreements. Without industry contacts or legal know-how, that process can be slow, frustrating, and risky – and often leads to lower payouts or missed opportunities, especially when the video is time sensitive and appealing to news outlets.

Alternatively, using a trusted licensing agent or platform removes most of that friction, gets your video in front of the right editors faster, and helps you secure stronger, clearer deals with less stress. But you do have to sacrifice some share of the licensing fees for these services. But sometimes, taking a smaller share of a much larger volume of sales, with bigger fees overall – making it more profitable in the long run.

Let’s dive into the weeds of each option, to help you figure out which is right for you, your video, and your circumstances.

But first, some basics regardless of which option you go for. These will set you up to ensure you unlock the full potential when selling your viral video.

Secure Your Footage: Ensure you have the original, high-quality video file safely stored and backed up. Don’t just store it on your phone. Sync with a cloud storage system, save it to a desktop, hard drive or thumb drive. Use the classic 3-2-1 backup rule, which is a data protection strategy that recommends having three copies of your data, stored on two different types of media, with one copy kept off-site or offline.

Record the Backstory to the Video: If selling your viral video to media outlets, they are going to want to know the story behind the video. A good guide is to ensure you know the 5 W’s: Who, What, Where, When and Why. By knowing – and noting down – these details, you can quickly and easily supply media outlets with the context they need to turn your raw viral video moment into a fully fedged news piece or production.

Include Additional Footage: If you have more video from before, during, or after the main event, include it to provide a fuller picture.

Edit for Impact: Consider creating a shorter, more impactful version of the video to grab attention while pitching.

Secure Releases: If your video features recognizable people, obtain their consent to use their image and likeness. This can speed up licensing and ensure you do not fall foul of any legal requirements around likeness.

Now that you’ve secured your footage and recorded the details, let’s explore the different routes you can take to match your footage with media outlets and turn your viral moment into cash.

Option 1: Go Direct

You can approach media outlets and publishers on your own – this works best if you already have connections at media outlets or your video is tied to a breaking event. Search for assignment desks or editorial contacts, and pitch a short message explaining:

• What the video shows
• When and where it was taken
• Why it matters
• Who it features

(Notice this is our 5 W’s!)

Also, attach a low-resolution preview or screenshots of key moments to avoid piracy. And mention you have the high-res version available upon licensing.

But fair warning: inboxes at media companies are overflowing. Without the right contact or timing, your pitch may never be seen. If your video is of a breaking news moment, then you only have a small window to get it placed. In a few days’ time, the news cycle will have moved on and your video’s value will have plummeted.

Tips for Negotiating Licensing Terms: Don’t just email saying, “I want to sell my viral video”. Discuss the licensing fee, usage rights, price, and any exclusivity clauses with the buyer up front before you send the high-res file. And beware of common pitfalls such as “payment in exposure”, offers to simply credit you but not compensate, and media outlets that are part of larger organizations or networks asking for affiliate rights. You can inadvertently permit your video to be licensed or syndicated far and wide without additional payment.

Option 2: Use a Viral Video Agent or Licensing Platform

This is often the better route — particularly if you want speed, reach, and negotiation support.

Agencies like SellViralVideo.com or media licensing platforms have pre-established relationships with thousands of publishers, broadcasters, and production companies. They act as your representative, pitching your footage, negotiating rates, drafting contracts, and ensuring you retain the rights you want to keep.

Key advantages:

• They know who to send your clip to — and when. Finding media contacts is no easy task. Simply firing off emails to a generic inbox is unlikely to get results, and may not even be actively monitored. To avoid your outreach falling into a cyber black hole, use an agency to ensure it gets seen by decision makers in real time.
• They have large, pre-existing distribution networks. Viral video agencies have built huge networks of media outlets, social publishers, TV shows and brands all who turn to them when they need viral videos – whether breaking news or evergreen. They’ve also cultivated personal relationships with key decision makers at those outlets.
• They have bespoke licensing platforms. These sites offer media companies round-the-clock, frictionless access to viral videos, often with one-click checkouts. This makes is super easy for media outlets to use the video, reducing lengthy individual negotiations and email back-and-forths, as often happens when a video owner tries to go direct.
• They’ll negotiate better than you can alone. These agencies have been doing this for years. They have industry know-how, access to up-to-date licensing data to optimize pricing and avoid over- or under-selling.
• They handle legal and contractual complexity. Let’s face it, no one likes reading through reams of legal jargon. But ultimately, when selling your viral video to the media, you have to do this. Not having a licensing agreement in place is a recipe for disaster and opens you up to losing your copyrights or seeing your video distributed far and wide for little compensation. Viral video agencies have these processes built in, with legal know-how at your disposal for no extra cost.
• They get you paid faster. According to a survey by Intuit QuickBooks, a significant portion of invoices (73%) are paid late. That problem is exponentially bigger when it’s an individual without the clout to get accounts to pay the invoice. Viral video agencies have accounts teams who chase and ensure payments are paid promptly by media outlets, which, in turn, get you paid faster.

Quick Note: Understanding How Fast Media Moves

Timing matters. A lot.

• Breaking news clips can sell in under 24 hours. If you’ve captured something tied to current events (think natural disasters, protests, celebrity moments), it’s vital to move fast. Delay too long and the story cycle may move on.

• Evergreen videos, such as cute animals or inspiring family moments, have a longer shelf life – but buyers might be more selective. In these cases, getting your video in front of the right people at the right time (for instance, a seasonal content push) is the difference between a sale and a pass.

Viral video agencies can help with both of these factors, but utilizing their networks for fast distribution, and leaning on their huge contact books for selective pitching.

Step 3: Choosing the Right Agent

If you’re not going it alone – in which case, don’t hesitate and get moving before your video’s newsworthiness diminishes – the your next step to selling your viral video is to select an agent to represent it.

Not all media agents are created equal, though. Some specialize in news, others in lifestyle or fails. Others have specific niches. Picking the wrong one can cost you opportunities or rights.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the major players:

SellViralVideo: High-touch agency, offering individual support to video owners. Covers everything from breaking news videos to viral moments across multiple verticals, including animal, weather, and family moments. A one-stop shop for those looking to sell a viral video.

Newsflare: Breaking news, eyewitness footage, global events.

ViralHog: Short, viral social clips.

Jukin Media: Funny fails, lifestyle videos, entertainment; owns FailArmy.

T&T Creative Media: Heartwarming, uplifting, family-friendly content in English and Spanish.

Storyful: Political, conflict, verified news content — especially for hard-news publishers.

Top tip: Don’t just choose based on name recognition. Look for an agency with experience licensing videos like yours, and who offers transparency in their reporting and payouts. Check online reviews to gather past content partner feedback.

Step 4: Protect Yourself and Your Rights (And Get a Fair Deal!)

Before signing anything, understand exactly what you’re agreeing to. Many first-time sellers accidentally give away all their rights — including future income — because they didn’t understand contract terms.

Here’s how to protect yourself:

• Look out for contracts with no termination clause. These often mean you’re giving away everything with no way of exiting if you’re unhappy.

• Be cautious of higher percentages. Sometimes a bigger percent doesn’t mean a bigger payout. Some agencies work on a pure volume model, selling low but in bigger numbers. This means while you may be getting a bigger percentage, your overall earnings are much lower.

• Compare deals. If you get more than one offer, compare the terms to find the most favorable one. Don’t just sign the first deal.

• Seek legal or agent advice. If you’re unsure, get help. SellViralVideo.com, for example, handles contract negotiation for you and ensures your interests are protected. Our team can offer advice, even if you don’t choose to go with us – we hate seeing people taken advantage of or ripped off.

Final Word: Don’t Let Your Viral Moment Go to Waste

You only get one shot to sell your viral video while it’s hot. Waiting too long or pitching it the wrong way could cost you thousands in lost licensing fees.

If you’re thinking, “I want to sell my viral video but don’t know where to start,” this is your action plan:

1. Confirm its news or viral value.

2. Protect the original file. Back it up in more than one place.

3. Decide whether to go directly to the media or through a trusted viral video agency.

4. Move fast, especially if it’s breaking news.

5. Review all terms and protect your rights.

➡️ Want to remove the headache of selling your viral video to the media? Start now with SellViralVideo.com — the fastest, safest way to connect your footage to the world’s biggest publishers.