Growing Video-Based Businesses To Boost Views And Income In 2026
For years, video has been pushed as the key way for businesses to get recognized online. And now, video is the business for many. YouTube creators have been earning money for years from subscribers and sponsorship, while other platforms like TikTok and OnlyFans are giving individuals and businesses ways to make money purely by monetizing content.
It’s an exciting space to be in, but being successful isn’t just about going viral. There is a lot of competition out there, so creators need to start thinking like business owners, and develop strategies that will help improve content, attract more views and secure audience loyalty.
Get the help you need to grow your video-based business with these tips.
Choose the right platform for your niche
There are a lot of different video platforms on the internet these days, but they don’t all work in the same way. Long-form content tends to do well on YouTube, for example, while subscription-led and more mature content may land better on OnlyFans. TikTok appeals to a lot of different niches, but trends and shorter-form content do well here. While you can publish across multiple platforms, it’s best to focus on your niche and the platform that works best for that type of content.
Treat your channel like a business, and not just a hobby
If you’re serious about having a successful channel, you need to start thinking about it like a business instead of just a hobby. Having a strategy for going viral on TikTok needs to sit alongside actions like posting on a consistent schedule, creating a brand or a recognizable visual style and setting some goals for yourself.
Once you have a baseline of your earnings, you can set some realistic objectives for growth that will help guide your strategy and help you get into a business-focused mindset.
Focus on more than one income stream
While your current income strategy may be working for you now, things can change very quickly in this industry. A simple algorithm change or an update to monetisation features can really impact your performance. Having different revenue streams is not only wise in case one method slows, but it can also help you maximize your income.
The various video monetization platforms come with different features that can help creators make money. Some of these include:
Creator funds and views-based earnings
Ad revenue
Brand partnerships
Affiliate marketing
Subscription content
Digital products and courses
Merchandise
While you may not want to chase all of these at once, they are definitely worth exploring to help you enjoy both long-term growth and a steady income brought in through different avenues.
Use analytics to help you grow your platform
Analytics can be vital for helping you grow your platform. Working blind can mean you waste time creating content that doesn’t serve your audience, costing you time and money in the process. There are a lot of great analytics apps that can help you get the insights you need. The OFManager Campaign Tracker is ideal for digesting OnlyFans data, while platforms like TikTok have some built-in analytics tools to help you dive deeper into your content’s performance. Spending time looking at your data will help you see what audiences are responding to, and crucially, what is bringing in the most money.
Keep your audience loyal
It can take a piece of viral content to get your channel noticed by someone new, but that might not keep them watching. Your loyal followers will bring in more income, as they’re more likely to watch your content consistently and engage with it. Focus your strategy on building trust with your audience, and be sure to respond to comments, provide exclusive content and offer more of what your audience wants. A loyal audience can be far more valuable than a large one, so keep that in mind when planning your content schedule.
Stay ahead of the algorithm
Algorithms are a tricky and confusing phenomenon. Not only can they change at the drop of a hat, but it’s very rare to hear about changes before they happen. Keeping an eye on trends and joining communities can help you hear of changes and see how you can stay on top of them. Learning SEO can also help you optimize your platform to help you feature more prominently in search engines. Search-first approaches are going to be a big part of content creators’ strategies in 2026, so make sure you don’t fall behind.
Growing a video-based business isn’t just about the quality of your content; it’s about strategy. Taking the time to understand your audience, your platforms and how to make them work for you can boost your income significantly and help you focus on the long game. Whether you’re killing it on OnlyFans or have a popular TikTok channel, you need to treat your content like a product and learn to market it effectively. 2026 looks set to be another exciting year for video creators, so make sure you make the most of the money-making opportunity that’s right in front of you.