Video contest inspires micro-exporting

Upstart business coach Rueben Skipper believes development of the micro-exporting sector has "huge potential" for the New Zealand economy - and the sector could be something Dunedin becomes known for.

He estimated if every New Zealander made $20 per week in foreign currency from some online activity then micro-exporting would be the third-biggest export from New Zealand.

Mr Skipper came up with the concept of a Make Money On YouTube competition, which will be launched by the Otago Business School, Upstart Business Incubator and Audacious next month.

The competition, in which entrants produce their own videos and compete to get the most views, is open to Otago secondary school pupils and is designed to educate them about the benefits of micro-exporting and develop business talent in that sector.

Micro-exporting was a developing sector in the New Zealand economy, in which individuals made money providing products and services via the internet.

One prime example was YouTube. In 2011, operators of YouTube channels made more than $US200 million ($NZ250 million) from advertising.

The competition, which opens on August 1, already had the support of prominent New Zealand YouTubers including Matt Mulholland, a comedian who has achieved more than 12 million video views, and Shannon Harris, who has more than 50,000 subscribers and achieved 5 million video views on her YouTube makeup review channel.

Competition winners will receive cash prizes and scholarships for the Otago Business School up to a total value of $5000.

All winners will also be invited to a workshop at Upstart to assist them in building their channel into a business.

"We aim to achieve over one million total views, directly reach 20,000 people through entrants and their families and involve a minimum of 20 out of the 27 schools in Otago. This competition has the potential to be huge," Mr Skipper said.

In the difficult economic times, he said, instead of trying to build $50 million companies, he advocated trying to build a million $50 companies.

The competition was pitched at teenagers because they were the ones who were on YouTube often and they knew the market.

"They already do this. They already make YouTube videos every day. They do it without thinking," he said.

There had already been a great response from schools - "The kids love it" - and it was hoped to roll it out nationally.

Upstart wanted to hear from anyone wanting to be a competition ambassador in schools, to help spread the message. There was a $150 prize for the ambassador who could encourage the most people to enter.