![\"Adobe](\"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0070/7032/files/adobe-premiere-rush.png?format=webp&v=1651253818\")
From TikTok to Instagram Stories and Reels to YouTube, video has undeniably become an essential tool for marketing your business. In fact, in an independent study performed by Wyzowl, 91% of businesses said they’re incorporating video marketing into their strategy in 2023.
\nYou can edit your video right on your favorite iOS (iPhone or iPad) or Android device with a variety of free video editing software. To help you choose the tool that’s right for you, we created this list of the 15 best video editing apps that are user-friendly and free or have paid versions that add value.
\n\n
Best for simplified mobile video editing
\nAdobe Premiere Rush is a video-editing app with two modes:
\nAdobe Premiere Rush also has a built-in music library to add a soundtrack.
\nFeatures include:
\nCons:
\nAvailable for: iOS and Android
\nPrice: Premiere Rush Starter is free. Users can upgrade to Adobe Express for $9.99 per month, which includes cinematic color tools, flexibility with camera formats, video tutorials, and sound refinement.
\nBest for automated quick editing
\n![\"screenshot](\"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0070/7032/files/Quik.png?format=webp&v=1683128013\")
From the makers of the action camera GoPro, Quik is an app that was designed to edit video on the go. Simply capture your video, edit, and post. Quik makes it easy by searching your footage to find the best moments, automatically editing clips and adding transitions. You can also edit your footage manually if you want more control over the process.
\nFeatures include:
\nCons:
\nAvailable for: iOS and Android
\nPrice: Quik offers a free basic plan. Users can upgrade to GoPro Plus, which offers a larger music library, unlimited storage, and premium support, for $1.99 per month or $9.99 per year.
\nBest for combining multiple clips
\n![\"Splice](\"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0070/7032/files/splice.png?format=webp&v=1651253861\")
If you’re new to editing, Splice simplifies the process by offering an intuitive interface. As its name suggests, this tool helps you splice together clips to create a cohesive video with customizable transitions. The built-in music library makes adding a soundtrack easy.
\nFeatures include:
\nCons:
\nAvailable for: iOS and Android
\nPrice: Splice offers a free version as well as tiered subscriptions. Sounds+ is $12.99 per month ($129.99 per year) for 100 monthly sample download credits, access to both the desktop and mobile app, and the ability to preview sounds in your DAW with Bridge. For $19.99 per month ($199.99 per year), Creator offers 200 credits and adds beatmaker drum machine and astra synth plugins. Creator+ also includes the plug-ins, but ups the perks to 500 credits for $39.99 per month ($399.99 per year).
\nBest for no-frills editing for Instagram Stories
\n![\"inshot](\"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0070/7032/files/inshot.png?format=webp&v=1651253905\")
If you want a simple video editor for creating Instagram Stories, InShot is an all-in-one tool. Easily trim your clips, change the speed of your footage, and add filters. You can also rotate footage, a feature not all editing apps provide. Highly rated on Google Play, this app is a popular choice.
\nFeatures include:
\nCons:
\nAvailable for: iOS and Android
\nPrice: The basic plan is free. InShot also offers in-app purchases.
\nBest for advanced video creators
\n![\"kinemaster](\"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0070/7032/files/kinemaster_3cc3cc9b-fb28-4f69-9175-87e17635db45.png?format=webp&v=1651253942\")
If you’re ready to move up to professional features, KineMaster offers a video-editing app more robust than some of the others. This tool allows you to edit frame by frame, for the most detailed results.
\nDial in to adjust color, brightness, and video speed. You can also use unlimited layers on your video, including animation effects and handwriting. While this tool offers maximum power, its intuitive interface makes it easy to use.
\nFeatures include:
\nCons:
\nAvailable for: iOS and Android
\nPrice: The basic plan is free. Users can upgrade to the Pro Edition for $3.99 per month.
\nBest for beginner iPhone and iPad video users
\n![\"imovie](\"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0070/7032/files/imovie.png?format=webp&v=1651253983\")
Apple users who are new to video creation and editing should consider starting with iMovie, an intuitive drag-and-drop interface that’s easy to use. Quickly trim video clips, add music, and record voiceovers. iMovie comes preloaded on most iOS devices, which means you can get started right away.
\nFeatures include:
\nCons:
\nAvailable for: iOS
\nPrice: Free.
\nBest for collaborative video creation
\n![\"screenshot](\"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0070/7032/files/wevideo_91649c8c-548d-4af0-bc5e-4bd366333b8c.png?format=webp&v=1683128438\")
For video creators who want more editing functions, WeVideo offers all of the basic editing and then some. Trim clips, apply filters, and add music, text, transitions, and video effects. The app also offers premium plans with advanced features, such as a library with commercially licensed music and up to 4K resolution.
\nFeatures include:
\nCons:
\nAvailable for: iOS and Android
\nPrice: The basic plan is free but very limited. Users can choose upgraded plans starting at $4.99 per month for Power, with access to a greater choice of royalty-free video clips, images, and music. The Unlimited plan is $7.99 per month with 4K Ultra HD resolution, Professional is $19.99 monthly, and Business comes with three team licenses and collaboration tools for $36.99 per month.
\nBest for sharing photos in video format
\n![\"screenshot](\"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0070/7032/files/picplaypost_2ec5cd40-4a63-47f0-b051-f0998d1b1c51.png?format=webp&v=1683128518\")
If you want to create video from pictures, PicPlayPost is an easy-to-use app that lets you create automated slideshows and collages. Combine up to 365 photos, videos, and GIFs, and then upload a voiceover to explain the action or a soundtrack. You can also add custom watermarks and branded logos, as well as custom backgrounds.
\nFeatures include:
\nCons:
\nAvailable for: iOS and Android
\nPrice: The basic plan is free, with in-app purchases available at varying prices.
\nBest for professional-looking videos fast
\n\nIf you want a free online video editor, Vimeo Create uses AI to automatically turn your existing product images and text into polished videos. Just answer a few questions about your product, add your footage and logo, and choose style customizations—Vimeo Create then automatically edits and makes your video. It even makes suggestions for colors, themes, music, and fonts (though you can also choose your own).
\nVimeo is a popular video software solution with over 200 million users. Plus the app connects directly to your Shopify store, so you can publish your videos to your storefront, social media profiles, and other marketing assets.
\nFeatures include:
\nCons:
\nAvailable for: iOS and Android
\nPrice: Vimeo Create has a free version. Starter ($12/month), Standard ($20/month), and Advanced subscriptions ($65/month) offer access to a wider range of editing tools and templates. Vimeo Create’s free software is available online, no download required.
\nBest for adding text, themes, and overlays to customize your videos
\n![\"filmorago](\"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0070/7032/files/filmora-go.jpg?v=1651254123\")
If you want a free video-editing app for creating Instagram Stories, FilmoraGo is a comprehensive tool that covers all of your basic needs. Add music from its built-in library or use your own music. FilmoraGo also lets you add overlay themes, text and titles, and elements.
\nFeatures include:
\nCons:
\nAvailable for: iOS
\nPrice: Free.
\nBest for beginning video editors
\n![\"movavi](\"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0070/7032/files/movavi.jpg?v=1651254151\")
If you’re new to video editing but still want to create high-quality videos, Movavi Clips is a great mobile app to start with. Movavi Clips is a free video editor that makes the learning curve to the editing process seem easy. What’s more, the free version gives you access to all of the basic video editing tools you’ll need as a beginner.
\nFeatures:
\nCons:
\nAvailable for: iOS
\nPrice: Free. Paid plans start at $2.49 per month (for any new features and removal of Movavi watermark).
\nBest for mobile journalists, filmmakers, and professional video producers
\n![\"screenshot](\"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0070/7032/files/image2_14e39c46-8f49-4213-b210-ab1521f4adae.png?format=webp&v=1683128813\")
LumaFusion is a powerful video editing app that gives you advanced tools. There isn’t a pro version or subscriptions or extra costs—it’s a one-time purchase and you get everything you need to make professional videos.
\nLumaFusion does have a few extras you can purchase, like Frame.io integration and Final Cut Pro video file exports, but that’s it. Everything else is included.
\nFeatures:
\nCons:
\nAvailable for: iOS and Android
\nPrice: A one-time fee of $29.99, with the option to make additional in-app purchases.
\nBest for expert filmmakers
\n![\"filmmaker](\"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0070/7032/files/filmmaker_pro.png?format=webp&v=1651254235\")
Filmmaker Pro’s free video editing app is great if you make a lot of videos. It allows you to create and manage an unlimited number of projects, so it’s perfect for the budding TikTok or Instagram star who wants to create daily content.
\nFeatures:
\nCons:
\nAvailable for: iOS
\nPrice: Free. Premium is $7.99 per month or $35.99 per year.
\nBest for action videos
\n![\"screenshot](\"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0070/7032/files/image4_a18cd44e-bce6-4a5d-a531-042b58a47664.png?format=webp&v=1683128964\")
ActionDirector is a video editing app geared toward creating action videos created by CyberLink for GoPro videos. With features like 4K uploads and being able to edit and filter 360-degree videos, it’s perfect for making those epic surfing and skydiving clips.
\nActionDirector also has a lot of great presets that help make the most out of the videos you capture, no matter how shaky or dark they may be.
\nFeatures:
\nCons:
\nAvailable for: iOS and Android
\nPrice: Free trial, then a one-time fee of $49.99 applies.
\nBest for cloud storage capabilities
\n![\"clipchamp](\"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0070/7032/files/clipchamp.png?format=webp&v=1651254317\")
When you’re editing videos using mobile devices, storage can be a real issue. So finding a video editor like Clipchamp that’s designed to integrate with cloud solutions can solve a lot of problems.
\nClipchamp also has a pretty good free version of its software, which supports features like green screens and screen recordings. You can create professional quality videos using just the free version of Clipchamp.
\nFeatures:
\nCons:
\nAvailable for: iOS
\nPrice: Free, then $39.99 per month.
\nVideo content is unquestionably engaging, which is why it dominates social media. While it used to feel prohibitively expensive to film and edit, today all you need is a smartphone, an app, and a sense of adventure.
\nVideo editing software for desktop and mobile have evened the playing field for small-business owners with modest marketing budgets. Now is the best time there’s ever been to create, polish, and distribute video content to your audience.
\nSo grab your iPhone or Android device, download one of these editing apps, and press Record. You never know whether your business will create the next viral video.
\n\n\n
If you’re looking to create more creative content, LumaFusion is a great video editing app that will let you create professional looking videos. However, if you’re just looking to edit together a video blog, something more basic like iMovie or Filmmaker Pro might be best for you.
\nhttps://www.shopify.com/blog/video-editing-apps
\nAt every point in the life cycle of a product, humans have a choice. Each choice can contribute to the massive effort to conserve resources, protect the environment, and slow down the impact of consumerism. Or, it can lead the product on a one-way trip to the island of plastic.
\nSmall businesses, seen as leaders in their communities, are in a position to effect positive change. The decisions you make as you build your brand can impact generations to come. But how do you make the right choices? How do you implement sustainable business practices at every step?
\nAhead, learn from sustainable businesses at the front of the movement and explore eco-friendly measures you can take today.
\nContents 🌿
\n![\"A](\"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0070/7032/files/sustainable-companies-young-generation.jpg?v=1683040575\")
The most obvious reason to invest in a sustainable business strategy is to protect the planet for future generations. But the almighty bottom line often prevents businesses from making what can be expensive changes to business practices. The good news is that sustainability efforts often reap other rewards.
Having an environmental strategy for your business can actually save you money in energy costs and potentially qualify you for tax breaks, government funding, and incentive programs.
\nAs consumer trends change, the actions you take—or don’t take—to tackle climate change and give back can also impact your sales. Today, Gen Z and Gen Alpha consumers are wise to the effects of global warming and fast fashion. These generations actively seek out brands with strong social responsibility and transparent sustainability commitments. In fact, 40% of people across all demographics surveyed in one study said that sustainability factors contribute to purchase decisions.
\n![\"An](\"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0070/7032/files/sustainable-companies-green-business-interior.jpg?v=1683040598\")
A sustainable business strategy for your brand is good for the earth—and your bottom line.
\nWhich brands are striking the balance? Get inspired by these 15 sustainable companies leading the charge on environmental responsibility by reducing waste, minimizing footprint, and giving back.
\nCategory: Product
\nWhere they shine: Sustainable materials
![\"A](\"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0070/7032/files/earth-day-yohola_ded99284-9f2e-4ab6-84ca-c47441cc0df4.jpg?v=1683040996\")
Yoloha Yoga mats are made from cork: a natural, renewable, and recyclable material obtained through sustainable harvesting. The trees are stripped by hand every nine years, rather than cut down.
Category: Product, social responsibility
\nWhere they shine: Organic ingredients, giving back
![\"An](\"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0070/7032/files/100percentpure.jpg?v=1683041038\")
Even 100% Pure’s brand name speaks to its commitment to offer pure, natural ingredients derived from plants. The company is transparent about its ingredient mix and commitment to cruelty-free practices. 100% Pure also gives back through a one-for-one meal donation program.
Category: Product
\nWhere they shine: Vegan materials
![\"A](\"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0070/7032/files/bloom-2.jpg?v=1683041065\")
Bloom is a French brand of footwear made from animal-free materials. Leather is a product of the animal agriculture industry, responsible for suffering, high greenhouse gas emissions, and pollution from the tanning process. Bloom’s founder sought to build a fashionable shoe brand using cruelty-free alternatives to leather.
Category: Manufacturing and sourcing
\nWhere they shine: Locally produced
![\"Close](\"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0070/7032/files/helm-1.jpg?v=1683041094\")
Helm Boots are made proudly in the US, and as a bonus, Helm will resole your boots, keeping them out of landfill for life. Creating durable goods that never need replacing is a sustainable trend catching on as the effects of fast (disposable) fashion become more widely known.
Category: Product, social responsibility
\nWhere they shine: Recycled materials, charitable donations
![\"A](\"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0070/7032/files/earth-day-recycled-firefighter_273b32b1-0ece-4c50-92e5-6c9e0049f2eb.jpg?v=1683041117\")
Jake Starr is a former firefighter and founder of Recycled Firefighter. His company repurposes retired fire hoses into durable accessories, and donates a portion of proceeds to support burn victims.
🌿 Read more: How One Firefighter Turned Recycled Gear into a 6-Figure Business Using Instagram
\nCategory: Product, manufacturing
\nWhere they shine: Recycled materials, sustainable production
![\"A](\"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0070/7032/files/dick-moby_4b16e4cd-e21b-4853-bb63-ce5d2077db00.jpg?v=1683041142\")
Dick Moby sunnies are produced using recycled acetate and microfibre cleaning cloths from recycled PET bottles. The brand’s manufacturing process was also created with the planet in mind, using less water and electricity and producing less carbon than conventional eyewear manufacturing.
Garments for Good 🩱 Get inspired by these brands that take a mindful approach to business to protect humans and the planet. 👉 READ: 40+ Sustainable Clothing Brands
\nCategory: Operations
\nWhere they shine: Recycling program
![\"Overhead](\"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0070/7032/files/mission-band3_1440x1440_crop_center_6b7d8a12-23da-4c25-87c2-fa2025767b6f.jpg?v=1683041191\")
Buy some Nice Laundry socks and send back your old ones. The company works with 2ReWear Inc. to repurpose socks as textiles or insulation—and keep them out of landfill. The brand has recycled over 550,000 items as of April 2023.
Category: Operations
\nWhere they shine: Refillable containers
![\"An](\"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0070/7032/files/Square_Photo_Template_copy_26_7ae654f1-2b7a-4702-90b4-64c907caf8b2.jpg?v=1683041230\")
Natural cleaning and beauty product company Common Good is cutting back on plastics by offering a refill program at several locations across Canada and the US.
Category: Product
\nWhere they shine: Reusable product
![\"Woman](\"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0070/7032/files/1_1_static_cucumber_1080x_91f1ae9e-faed-4dee-a159-393bde689702.jpg?v=1683041257\")
Abeego was the first reusable beeswax wrap to hit the market, solving one of the biggest landfill culprits: disposable plastic wrap. The company is also a B Corp certified brand.
Category: Social responsibility
\nWhere they shine: Job creation
![\"Close](\"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0070/7032/files/ebel-nell.jpg?v=1683041286\")
Rebel Nell was created with the purpose of employing, educating, and empowering disadvantaged and unhoused women in Detroit’s shelters, helping them move from a life of dependence to one of self-reliance.
🌿 Read more about Rebel Nell: Refurbishing the Rust Belt: Founder Stories from Detroit
\nCategory: Social responsibility, product
\nWhere they shine: Job creation, ethically made and eco products
![\"A](\"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0070/7032/files/avenue.jpg?v=1683041318\")
Avenue employs talented artisans with disabilities, providing vocational and skill development opportunities. The store also stocks ethically-made products from other select brands.
Category: Product, operations
\nWhere they shine: Reusable materials, recycling program
![\"A](\"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0070/7032/files/Anew-homepage-hero_1_687c7dc0-b3d1-4e43-bdad-aad26f4eedbc.jpg?v=1683041340\")
Anew makes bottled water with a twist: the plant-based bottle is built to be used over and over again. When it hits the end of its life, Anew recycles it into another bottle.
Category: Manufacturing and sourcing
\nWhere they shine: Ethical production
![\"A](\"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0070/7032/files/ethnotek_147e5767-c2ab-4096-8340-b534b613779e.jpg?v=1683041360\")
Bag manufacturer Ethnotek sustains employment in hand printing, weaving, and embroidery through partnerships with artisan villages in Ghana.
Category: Operations, manufacturing
\nWhere they shine: B Corp certification, sustainable production
![\"Two](\"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0070/7032/files/BiancaOrangeCosmosButtonedDress_6_-2.jpg?v=1683041428\")
Rachel is a legwear and fashion brand that boasts B Corp certification (a global certification program that measures brands on a number of sustainability measures). The garments are also made from sustainable materials including those produced with less water and energy than traditional cottons.
Category: Social responsibility
\nWhere they shine: Giving back
![\"A](\"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0070/7032/files/RegularPadsLynn.jpg?v=1683041469\")
Stunned by the fact that many girls in developing countries miss school due to their periods, Tsuno founder Roz Campbell set out to create a feminine hygiene brand that gave back. She built a one-for-one program that donated products (and martial profits) to organizations providing education to girls.
\n🌿 Read more: Every Woman Needs Access to Feminine Hygiene. Period
\nRecycling dates as far back as 1031 when, in Japan, recycled waste paper was first documented. In the 1930s and 1940s, nylon, rubber and metal were rationed and recycled as part of the war effort. Then in the 1950s, when the economy boomed, the planet seemed abundant with resources and cherry soda floats.
\nEarth Day debuted in 1970, hand-in-hand with mounting global environmental awareness, and the UN discussed the ozone layer for the first time. Recycling programs ramped up over the next decade, with more than 1,000 US cities offering curbside pickup by 1988. Germany, however, made a move that would forever impact our thinking: in 1992, it shifted the responsibility of the material life cycle from the consumer to the manufacturer.
\nIn the late 1990s and 2000s, as eco-friendly became more fashionable, companies cashed in on the buzzwords, slathering packaging with greenwashing (the practice of misrepresenting sustainability claims) that attracted misinformed but well-meaning consumers.
\n![\"Rows](\"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0070/7032/files/pexels-jatuphon-buraphon-348689_1024x1024.jpg?v=1683051144\")
Sustainable companies are those that consider their footprint across all areas of business. There are a number categories to consider as you establish sustainable business practices and develop your business model. If you’re looking to build a green business, consider sustainability initiatives at every step of the way.
When choosing a product to sell, there are other questions to ask yourself in addition to market fit and current trends: Can it be produced using sustainable or recycled materials? Can you source ingredients that are organic or cruelty free?
\n🌱 Tips:
\nProducing goods overseas adds to the footprint of products that travel many miles. While producing locally is a great alternative, it isn’t always as cost-effective. If you do manufacture abroad, consider working directly with factories to stay connected to their conditions and wages, empower communities by working with fair trade co-ops, and support small family producers.
\n🌱 Tips:
\n![\"A](\"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0070/7032/files/sustainable-companies-recycling-program.jpg?v=1683040841\")
Consider donating back to causes close to your heart, working with registered charities, or purchasing carbon removal. Aligning your business with a social cause isn’t just good for the soul—younger consumers increasingly choose socially responsible companies over other brands.
\n🌱 Tips:
\nThis is an area full of low-effort wins for businesses looking to be more sustainable. Some of it may even cut your overhead costs. How is your office or warehouse lit and heated? Can you swap out wasteful packaging materials for post-consumer-waste or compostable alternatives?
\n🌱 Tips:
\n![\"A](\"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0070/7032/files/sustainable-recycled-eco-friendly-waste.jpg?v=1683040760\")
Consumers continue to be more suspicious of sustainability claims, even though 60% report they seek out products with these claims and 93% say they increased sustainable purchase habits in 2022. Brands looking to win customers through sustainability initiatives need to build trust with transparency and a demonstrated commitment to sustainability across a number of areas and products.
Making sustainability efforts in your business isn’t just about doing the right thing to protect the planet for the next generation. If implemented authentically and with intention, it’s also good for your bottom line.
\nSome sustainable business examples include those that directly address climate change with strong environmental sustainability programs. Others are leaders in their communities by giving back, providing meaningful employment and living wages, and choosing ethical business practices. Large sustainable business examples include IKEA, Patagonia, LEGO, and New Belgium Brewing.
\nA sustainable business is one that carries out business practices that consider what’s best for the planet’s natural resources, animals, and people. A company can be considered sustainable if it proves to be making a positive impact in at least one of these areas. Implementing fair hiring practices and good factory conditions, using renewable energy to limit greenhouse gas emissions, or committing to zero-waste production are all sustainability initiatives that companies can consider.
\nThere are many ways you can implement sustainability initiatives to reduce your company’s carbon footprint and make a positive impact. Here are a few examples:
\nWhat we now call members of the creator economy, we also call artists and entrepreneurs. Roman gladiators earned money for endorsing olive oils and wines that promised (presumably) that gladiator glow, and Leonardo da Vinci reportedly earned the contemporary equivalent of several million dollars a year for art sales and commissions.
\nThe 21st-century creator economy operates on many of the same principles: Influencers and creators can earn money through paid brand partnerships or by selling products. The key difference is that today’s content creators don’t need to reach celebrity status to generate income. Anyone can use digital content distribution and monetization tools to earn money online.
\nShortcuts
\nA content creator is a person who makes and distributes content. It’s a broad category—journalists, musicians, poets, videographers, and painters are all technically content creators.
\nDigital content creators represent a subset of this group. Digital creators make and publish content online, and many earn money selling work to brands or agencies or through paid brand partnerships.
\nCommon digital content types include the following:
\nCreate a simple store in minutes
\nThe Shopify Starter Plan offers an easy, no-code setup. It’s perfect for sharing products across social.
\n![\"Graphic](\"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0070/7032/files/starter_plan.jpg?v=1668796822\")
\n
Content creator pay varies widely. Creators with celebrity status can earn millions of dollars per partnership, while a nano-influencer might earn less than $100 for a Facebook post. In general, brands expect to pay influencers around $100 per 10,000 followers, plus content creation costs—though some creators can command more.
\n![\"Circular](\"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0070/7032/files/image1_a7b8f0bf-badf-4871-b9ad-3817f18f04a1.png?format=webp&v=1683838375\")
Generally speaking, rates depend on content type, audience segment, and the value of the content creator’s personal brand. The major factors at play include:
\nCreating digital content can be a full-time job, a lucrative side hustle, or even a source of passive income. Here’s a list of eight ways content creators earn money online.
\nBuilding your social media audience and personal brand can help you earn paid brand partnerships. Once your social media accounts reach a certain size, you can charge for sponsored social media posts. Typically, you’ll create content featuring a brand’s products or services and post it to your personal social media accounts in exchange for a fee.
\nFind influencers who drive sales
\nShopify Collabs: Collaborate with creators to promote your products to new audiences.
\nInfluential writers can also secure brand sponsorships. Once you’ve reached a certain level of notoriety and website traffic or a certain number of email newsletter subscriptions, brands might pay you for sponsored content in which you feature or review their products or services.
\nYou can also generate money by accepting guest authors. Typically, brands write content and pay for the privilege of publishing on your blog or in your newsletter under a company byline.
\nMany top brands establish long-term partnerships with influencers, known, in this case, as brand ambassadors. Brand ambassadors may create and publish branded content on multiple channels, explicitly endorse a company’s products, and host or attend events on behalf of their sponsor.
\n\nMany influencers and creators use online stores to generate additional revenue streams. You can sell merchandise featuring your brand (like TikTok star Charli D’Amelio’s hoodies) or use your personal platform to launch an associated line of products—for example, a yoga influencer might develop and sell fitness apparel, and a child development expert might create a line of educational toys. If you sell digital art or stock photography, you can use an online store to display and sell your products.
\nShopify’s starter plan is designed to help influencers and content creators quickly set up an online store and start selling products on social media channels.
\nSome platforms pay qualified content creators directly out of creator funds, which are resources set aside to support promising creators and encourage more production on the platform. To receive creator funds, you need to meet the platform’s eligibility standards, and, in most cases, submit an application. TikTok, for example, requires influencers to have at least 100,000 video views in the previous 30 days to apply.
\nPopular social media platforms with creator funds include TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Twitter, and YouTube. Platforms base compensation on metrics including follower activities, views, and ad proceeds—so the most lucrative platform for you will depend on your audience size, engagement rates, and specific activities on a platform.
\nSome influencers with websites or newsletters earn money through direct advertising. Essentially, you’ll sell ad space directly to a brand (instead of to an ad network) and display ads on your website or read ads on your podcast, livestream, or video blog.
\nAffiliate marketing programs are a specific type of commission-based brand partnership. You’ll request an affiliate link from a brand and distribute it to your audiences—for example, by posting it to your social media accounts, including it in a newsletter, or incorporating it in a blog. When a consumer uses your unique affiliate link to make a purchase, you’ll earn a percentage of the revenue.
\nAffiliate marketing programs can generate a passive income stream: Once an affiliate link is live, you won’t need to take any additional actions to continue earning money.
\nSome influencers create both free and paid content—the free content elevates your personal brand and allows you to leverage influencer marketing revenue streams, and the premium content generates money through paid memberships. You might distribute a paid newsletter, release members-only podcast episodes, or use a membership site to run a subscription service.
\nConsider using your personal social media accounts or social media advertising to promote exclusive content to potential customers.
\nCreators with particular areas of subject matter expertise or knowledge of a craft can use online learning platforms like Udemy or Skillshare to create and distribute free or paid online courses. Free options can elevate your personal brand and help you build your following, and paid courses generate revenue by monetizing an existing audience or meeting a market need.
\nWhen it comes to content, the sky’s the limit—a business owner might design an intro to small-business finance, and the king or queen of cupcake decoration might offer a six-module course in cutting-edge techniques.
\nYes. A 2022 survey found that 21% of all content creators make over $50,000 a year, and more than 35% of content creators with four or more years of experience make $50,000 a year or more.
\nContent creators define success based on content type and individual creator goals. Common digital content metrics include the following:
\nTikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Twitter, and YouTube all pay qualified content creators directly out of established creator funds. Platforms base compensation on metrics including follower activities, views, and ad proceeds—so the most lucrative platform for you will depend on your audience size, engagement rates, and specific activities on a platform. /p>
\nContent creators set rates based on follower counts, engagement rates, content type, and audience segment. Consider using an influencer platform or conducting research to determine the going rate for content from similar creators. Once you’ve set your starting rates, experiment with what the market will bear, keeping in mind that you can always raise your rates over time.
\nhttps://www.shopify.com/blog/get-paid-to-create-content
\nA clear snapshot of your business’s financial performance can help you secure funding, obtain loans, and, for so many reasons, reduce headaches.
\nFor that, your balance sheet is crucial. After all, scrambling through piles of receipts or scrolling for emails is stressful with a deadline looming or an auditor watching over you. You don’t want to miss an opportunity for an acquisition, investment, or loan because your financial records are unorganized or unbalanced.
\nIf you’re in a time crunch to create a balance sheet, don’t worry. We’ll walk you through all the important steps, share balance sheet examples, and show you the balance sheet format to follow so you can get your financial records up to date—fast.
\nTable of Contents
\nA balance sheet is a financial statement that shows a business’s assets, liabilities, and stockholder equity, and is shared either on a monthly or quarterly basis. The main benefit of a balance sheet is to know what a business is worth.
\nA balance sheet can help you obtain a loan, establish a value for your business, and keep financial records organized for tax agencies.
\nWhen a lender or bank is deciding whether to provide credit to a business, a balance sheet helps them estimate risk. Lenders typically look at liabilities to ensure a business isn’t overextending itself financially—lenders want to make their money back. If existing debts (i.e., liabilities) are much higher than assets, a lender may hesitate to extend further credit.
\nWhile lenders may look at your income statement to assess profitability (i.e., do you have more revenue than expenses), a balance sheet helps identify assets such as real estate, machinery, and inventory that could be used to recoup their money if you’re unable to pay back the loan.
\nAlternatively, Shopify store owners can obtain cash advances and loans through Shopify Capital. In lieu of a balance sheet, Shopify uses data from previous sales to see how much money the merchant is qualified to borrow. Shopify then takes a percentage of the merchant’s future sales to pay back the loan.
\nIf someone is looking to acquire your business, they’ll request a balance sheet to help understand your financial position.
\nOther aspects involved in setting a business valuation include the size of your customer base relative to the industry, competitive advantages, the employees and executives of your company (particularly during “acquihire” valuations), year-over-year growth, and revenue and profit.
\nA balance sheet can help you understand whether your business has more assets or liabilities at a moment in time.
\nOver the years, your balance sheet will also include historical data, which can help you—or your lenders or your investors—evaluate your financial strengths and weaknesses, and how they’ve changed over time.
\nSmall businesses may list only a handful of the items below. As with most financial documents, complexity scales with your business. Starting with a balance sheet template can make things easier.
\nAn asset is an item of economic value that a company owns. Most assets are tangible assets, but there are also intangible assets.
\nNew businesses typically have assets such as inventory, cash, equipment, or machinery—all tangible—and, in some cases, intangible assets like patents or trademarks. Enterprise assets may also include things like investments, accounts receivable, land, transportation, logos, brand recognition, and marketing assets, such as an email list or social media account.
\nThe balance sheet equation for assets is:
\nLiabilities + Stockholder equity = Assets
\nThere are two types of assets on a balance sheet:
\nCurrent assets are short-term resources, typically convertible into cash or used up within a year. Examples include:
\nNon-current, or long-term assets, are investments that are not expected to be converted into cash or used up within a year. Examples include:
\nA company’s liabilities refers to the debt it owes. It costs the business money over time and decreases the value of the business.
\nFor example, if you’ve invested your own money in a business, that’s called a shareholder loan. A shareholder loan is a debt that the business owes you, the shareholder. Many new businesses typically have liabilities, such as credit card debt and shareholder loans.
\nEnterprise-level businesses may have liabilities like accounts payable, lease contracts, payroll, bank loans, and deferred taxes.
\nThere are also current and non-current liabilities.
\nCurrent liabilities are short-term obligations due within one year. Examples include:
\nNon-current, or long term liabilities, are obligations that extend beyond one year. Examples include:
\nStockholder (or shareholder) equity is the value of the business after all debts and liabilities have been settled. It will always equal assets minus liabilities.
\nThe accounting equation to calculate shareholder’s equity is:
\nTotal net assets – Total liabilities = Stockholder’s equity
\nThe terms “stockholder equity,” “shareholder equity,” and “owner’s equity” essentially mean the same thing. Stockholder or shareholder equity is typically the term assigned to corporations, whereas owner’s equity is reserved for sole proprietorships.
\nFor example, if you have $20,000 in assets and $10,000 in liabilities, then you have $10,000 in stockholder equity. As your company’s total assets grow and liabilities shrink, you’ll have more stockholder equity.
\nIn the early stages, it’s normal to have a negative balance in stockholder equity—liabilities (i.e., your startup costs) are higher than your assets. You may invest $50,000 in your business before you ever launch to the public. You could be in the early stages of buying product inventory, building an app, or designing a website. However, you have no assets and no cash.
\nExamples include:
\nSeveral key stakeholders could request a balance sheet from you. For example, your local tax agency might randomly select your business for an audit. A balance sheet with a list of assets and liabilities can help an auditor get a clear picture of your business’s financial position.
\nHere’s what those assets and liabilities might look like for a new business:
\n![\"balance](\"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0070/7032/files/balance-sheet-example_7d40f86a-68ca-4dad-b073-5201f8d0fbcc.png?format=webp&v=1682808155\")
Simply make a copy of our balance sheet template to get yours now.
\nYou can use this Google Sheet to enter the numbers for your company and get a better idea of how a balance sheet works. It also includes other financial statements, like an income statement and cash flow statement to improve your bookkeeping as a business owner.
\n![\"free](\"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0070/7032/files/free_balance_sheet_template.png?format=webp&v=1682808186\")
Large enterprises are likely to update their balance sheets on a daily basis, whereas smaller businesses typically update their balance sheets every month.
\nYou can find balance sheet formats and templates with a quick Google search. Here’s one from Microsoft and another in Google Docs. You can also use small business accounting software to auto-create a quick PDF balance sheet based on numbers you input, credit card information, and bank account information.
\nTypically, assets are listed first, then liabilities, and, finally, shareholder’s equity. In the early stages of your business, you might not have many assets. It’s perfectly fine to include $0 for certain lines if that’s true for you.
\nTypically, people hire a legal team to assess and calculate the value of intangible assets. However, other methods can estimate the value of an intangible asset.
\nIn a market approach, you determine the market value of an intangible asset by comparing it to the value of the same asset sold by a comparable business. For example, if your business has a patent for a production process, and a similar business recently sold its patent for $67,000, you would value your patent at $67,000.
\nNot every intangible asset needs a value. For example, if you used an external designer to develop your logo, you could use a market approach to help determine what your logo might sell for in an open market. On the other hand, if your logo is simple text, it may not reach a threshold of creativity to be protected and, therefore, saleable.
\nWhen reading a balance sheet, a higher stockholder equity is better. It means your assets are higher than your liabilities.
\nBalance sheets are used primarily to assess equity in a specific moment, but you can also compare year-over-year changes to assets and liabilities to see how your business value has changed over time—and why.
\nFor example, in 2021, say a business’ assets increased by $15,000, from $235,000 to $250,000. Also in 2021, the same business paid off a loan, reducing its liabilities by $20,000, from $70,000 down to $50,000.
\nPreviously, the stakeholder equity would’ve been $165,000 ($235,000 less $70,000). The new equity would be $200,000, an increase of $35,000—helped by a growth in assets and a reduction in liabilities.
\nThat kind of increase would make your business a more attractive candidate for a loan or investment. But it may take time to get there. Even if you’re a new company and your balance sheet is in the red for stockholder equity, you need to know where you stand. It’s your best chance to get into the black—and stay there.
\nAnalyzing a balance sheet involves assessing a company’s financial health using various ratios and metrics. Some of the key financial ratios include:
\nThese ratios help evaluate a company’s liquidity, solvency, and efficiency. For a detailed understanding, compare these ratios with industry benchmarks or historical data to identify trends and potential risks.
\nThere are some limitations to be aware of when analyzing a balance sheet:
\nManage your money where you make it with Shopify Balance
\nShopify Balance is a free financial account that lets you manage your business’ money from Shopify admin. Pay no monthly fees, get payouts up to 4 days earlier, and earn cash back on eligible purchases.
\nWouldn’t it be great if you could recite a sales pitch to a stranger and within minutes they become a paying customer? Unfortunately, selling is rarely so simple. As seasoned sales managers know well, courting potential customers takes time and effort. The good news is customer conversions can happen when you follow a proven and standardized sales process.
\nHere’s an overview of this structured sales process and some of the tactics you and your sales team can use.
\nTable of Contents
\nA sales process is a sequence of seven stages that convert would-be buyers into paying customers. Understanding these sales stages—which include finding qualified leads, directing them into your sales funnel, closing deals, and following up—provides a road map for your sales reps as they pursue potential customers.
\n\nSales processes hinge on a symbiotic relationship between a seller and a customer. As a seller goes through the sales process, the customer experiences their own buying process, weighing whether they want to purchase a product. The burden, however, is on you, the seller, to gently lead a potential customer through the various stages of the sales process. This means showing knowledge of their needs, addressing their doubts, offering information about your products, and pitching solutions to their problems.
\nWhen you arm your sales team with a clearly defined sales process map, you help them work as efficiently as possible over the course of a sales cycle. They can recognize what a potential customer needs at any given point—whether that’s product information, a price quote, or just a friendly nudge to complete their purchase. Equipping your team with a defined sales methodology can make their work more efficient and potentially speed up your sales cycle.
\nIn the business world, the sales process is often broken into stages that indicate the flow of the seller-customer relationship. The seven-step sales process is as follows:
\nA successful sales process begins with prospecting, which involves seeking potential customers (sometimes called leads) for your business’s sales pipeline. Potential sales prospects include the target audience identified in your marketing campaign, people referred to you by existing clients, and people who found your website in an online search.
\nSeller preparation starts with examining the potential customers entering the sales pipeline. For maximum customer success, you’re looking for so-called sales-qualified leads (SQL) who seem well-informed about your offerings and are inclined to make a purchase. It’s also worth pursuing marketing-qualified leads (MQL), who may not yet be ready to buy but have some familiarity with your company. Sales reps use this stage, typically identified in a sales process flowchart, to research customers, understand their interests and pain points, and estimate their spending budgets.
\nThe approach is where you contact your prospective customer. This can be in person, over the phone, over video chat, or by email. Sales reps at this point tend to use one of three approaches:
\nThe next stage involves presenting your product to your prospective customer. If you’ve made it this far, the person across from you has enough interest that they’re willing to hear a sales pitch. This is where your research can pay off, helping you tailor your presentation to the client’s known desires and skepticism. Your goal is to present your product as the solution to the prospect’s needs.
\nIf you’re lucky, you may have a client who’s ready to buy the moment they hear your presentation. Otherwise, you’ll need to field questions and objections from your potential customer. Sometimes all the client needs is more information about your product or services. In other cases, you may need to negotiate to win a sale. This could mean offering discounts, including freebies, or adjusting the terms of a service or maintenance agreement.
\nAt this point, the entire sales process reaches a critical juncture, when the current sales process results in a deal or in both parties walking away. Your client may ask for a few more concessions before they’re willing to buy, and you’ll need to decide what you can afford to offer. You can also nudge the customer forward, perhaps by suggesting that a price increase is coming or supplies are limited. If you and your customer are on the same page, you’ll end up with a sale.
\nAn effective sales process continues past the moment when money changes hands. As a seller, you’ll follow up with the customer over time, making sure they’re enjoying their purchase, answering further questions, and troubleshooting any problems. This kind of customer service can result in long-term goodwill and the prospect for future business with the client, or with others in their network.
\nUse the following best practices to make each stage of the sales process as effective as possible:
\nSome sales cycles go more smoothly than others. Here are some well-known challenges and some common sales process mistakes to avoid:
\nYou measure the success of a sales process based on two metrics: the number of leads that convert into paying customers and the amount of money generated in a sales cycle. Some companies prioritize getting as many customers as possible, even if many of them don’t spend very much. Others place a higher value on total revenue, even if the money comes from a comparatively small set of clients. Set business goals that clarify which of these to prioritize.
\nYes. It’s always wise to align your sales process with the expectations of customers in your industry. If it’s common for customers to pay less than the sticker price of an item, empower your sales reps to offer discounts. If most customers expect face-to-face meetings, make time for those. You can assume your competitors will be accommodating customers in this way, so you’ll want to keep pace.
\nBusinesses qualify leads using criteria such as budget, decision-making power, location, and need. When your lead aligns with all or most of these criteria, they typically count as a sales-qualified lead (SQL) and warrant the effort that goes into the sale process. A prospect may also profile as an SQL if they know the salesperson directly or found your company via a strong personal referral.
\nYou can organize and streamline the sales process by using client relationship management (CRM) software. CRMs collect and store customer information, activity, and communications in a centralized and accessible database. You can use CRM data to track leads as they progress through your company’s sales funnel.
\nTraining is critical to a successful sales process. Sales managers train sales reps to learn about the business’s products and services. This lets them tailor their sales pitches and deftly answer questions from clients. Managers also train their sales teams on price negotiations, so they can offer discounts while preserving the company’s profit margins. Finally, but equally important, managers train their teams on the nuances of client interactions, including how to pursue a lead and entice them with carrots (such as discounts) and sticks (an impending price hike).
\nhttps://www.shopify.com/blog/sales-process
\nFor some small business owners, networking comes naturally. Maybe you started your business in part to expand your personal network, or maybe you just identify as a social butterfly. Other business owners fall firmly into a different camp—after all, a passion for your products or services doesn’t necessarily translate into a desire to spend social energy at conferences and cocktail hours.
\nThe good news is that effective networking isn’t an inborn personality trait—it’s a set of skills that can be learned. With a bit of practice, anyone can become an engaging, competent networker—and small business owners can use those skills to attract customers, stay up to date with industry trends, and generate peer support.
\n\nNetworking is the process of building relationships and making connections for the purpose of social or professional advancement. It can be informal and organic, like a water-cooler chat with the new intern, or structured, like an industry conference or a local young professionals meet-up.
\nNetworking can help professionals of all stripes land a job and elevate their personal brands.
\nFor small business owners and entrepreneurs, building a strong professional network is particularly critical. While some professionals might only network periodically (e.g., during a job search), business owners face an ongoing need to raise brand awareness, reach new audiences, and stay up-to-date with industry trends.
\nHere’s how networking can help:
\nAnybody can learn how to network effectively. Consult these networking tips to boost your skills and maximize returns on your efforts:
\nMost clichés contain a fundamental truth—and preparation really is the key to success. Here’s what to consider before you start networking:
\nBeing fashionably late isn’t helpful for professional purposes. When it comes to networking events, you want to be one of the first people at the party. You can ease into the environment and casually chat with other early birds in a small group setting.
\nAttending events is a great way to network—but so is waiting in line at your local coffee shop, taking a flight, and catching up with old friends.
\nSkilled networkers are good at building relationships in every context—and research shows that this personality trait is correlated with business success. You never know when you might have the chance to help somebody (or when they might be able to help you).
\nPeople rarely buy the first time they hear of you; rather, it takes multiple touchpoints to reach a new customer or make a sale. The same is true for building a new relationship. An in-person conversation represents one powerful touchpoint, and elevating your personal and professional profile can increase the likelihood that your new connections will encounter your name a second (or third) time.
\nYou might post on your small business’s blog, start a newsletter, or seek out opportunities to appear on podcasts or panels. These strategies can help you refine your talking points and improve the chance people will reach out to you as a networking target.
\nSeek opportunities to help people. You’ll build relationships, generate goodwill, and activate what psychologists call the reciprocity principle—when people receive help, they’re inclined to return the favor. For example, if you’re chatting with somebody at a networking event, you might offer to make helpful introductions or schedule a follow-up call to offer advice on a specific situation.
\nDon’t be afraid to make requests. Research shows people tend to underestimate others’ desire to help. Asking for help can also build relationships—when you seek help from somebody, you’re making yourself vulnerable and implicitly complimenting their expertise, both of which create trust. Studies also suggest that somebody who rejects a request for help will seek ways to help you in the future, which means that even if your new connection can’t help you now, making the request can pay off down the road.
\nOld networking strategies are prescriptive: use somebody’s name frequently in conversation, wear a suit, hide your quirks. But today’s professional environment is more welcoming of diversity and prioritizes authenticity in relationships. So, go ahead, let your quirks show.
\nYour professional persona might be a more polished version of you, but it will still reflect who you are. If you love to crack jokes, don’t stifle your instincts. If you dress in bright colors, work some into your professional outfits. If you’re naturally soft-spoken, that’s absolutely fine. You don’t need to imitate somebody else to build authentic connections—you just need to develop a professional persona that leverages your innate talents and personality characteristics. A recent Harvard study found that this strategy can decrease anxiety, improve performance, and increase your odds of making a lasting impression.
\nMake sure to follow up after every connection. Request a business card when you meet, and send an email or LinkedIn message after the event. If applicable, include some reflection on your conversation, a link to a relevant interesting article, or an invitation for future connection. You can also follow your new connection on social media platforms to stay in touch.
\nThe firm handshake is one piece of old-school advice that still applies in most cases. While you don’t need to have the world’s strongest grip or use a handshake to express dominance, offering a completely limp hand can be disconcerting for your new connection. Stand, smile, make eye contact, and match your partner’s level of pressure.
\nHere are a few key items to bring to a networking event:
\nActively listening is the process of attending to a speaker’s words, using non-verbal cues to gauge intent, and communicating attentiveness through verbal signals and body language. Here are a few tips:
\nNo. Attending networking events outside your industry can help you build connections with other business leaders, raise your brand profile, and stay up to date with trends in other industries that could affect your business.
\nhttps://www.shopify.com/blog/networking-tips
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