Monetising a Facebook page

[Simpo Two]

Forgive me if this sounds dim but I know nothing about how advertising on social media works.

Myself and a friend are making a film, a very complex home movie with about 50 cast and quite a few sets, that will run for about an hour. It's had a dedicated FB page for a couple of years (the film is taking some time to make!) and we're up to 230 Likes. I know, tragic isn't it. But we have the opportunity to do some networking and grow this across the Pond. Can we connect this to advertising revenue, or not, or do you need 1,000,000 Likes to get £0.01p? We've invested a few hundred quid in the production and if we can get a few beans back it would be nice.

[Digitalize]

I don't think you can earn money off a Facebook page, definitely not one that small! I think all possible connected advertising revenue would go straight to Facebook. You'd have to get companies to pay you to post sponsored content, which again no one would do to such a small audience.

Also it sounds like you're making an indie film, gives it a bit more credibility than 'home movie'.

You could setup a Patreon that gives donaters an inside look in to the production and work being done? But the main way you'd probably get any of your investment back is by charging a small fee to view it, but this could kill any potential 'viral'icity of it.

I think you need to look at any money put in to it as an investment in a potential career, or just part of the money involved with enjoying the hobby of filmmaking.

[Simpo Two]

Thanks very much for the thoughts; it is indeed a hobby for the fun of it. Patreon is a new one to me though I don't think anyone would want to donate or pay a fee... and at present our FB friends and likers keep tabs on progress via the existing page. We'll file it under 'free fun hobby' and move on

[technodup]

Simpo Two said:

Patreon is a new one to me though I don't think anyone would want to donate or pay a fee..

You'd be surprised at what some people throw money at. A lot of Youtubers use Patreon for additional revenue.

[LDN]

You'd need to spend money before you make it... on FB. You need a massive following and once you have eyeballs on your page, you can monetise it.

As said; look at crowdfunding... Kickstarter, Indiegogo - among others. I'm sure you'd get support if you did a good enough job presenting the film / with a trailer and some blurb.

[Simpo Two]

If I was 20 and trying to get into film-making as a career I'd do all of that. But this is a retirement thing and when something gets too serious it stops being fun. Yesterday I was dangling outside an airliner in flight with a teddy bear strapped to my back. I'll stick with fun

[ozzuk]

Not an area I know anything about but have you looked at youtube? I know the money is usually really small though, one car guy had a million views and something like £700 for that. Perhaps better suited for short clips though.

[Simpo Two]

The film could certainly be posted on YouTube when finished. How does the advert/money side work? I guess it's much easier to get hits on YT then likes on FB.

[Thurbs]

FB is purely an advertising platform and unlike the tube there is no kick back for your page.

To get revenue from the tube you need your viewers to click the adverts. Even then only people like AliA make money.

Patron or KickStarter is the way to go.

[Hoofy]

Agree with the above. FB would be great for promoting your film, targeting the right audience and getting them to buy tickets or whatever.