Ordinary people, it is said, are earning six-figure sums after uploading home videos to YouTube. Through a partnership scheme, owners of original material earn a slice of the revenue from ads surrounding their video, although at about 60p per 1,000 hits, the big money is reserved for clips receiving hundreds of millions of views. So how can you turn your home videos into viral sensations?
When in doubt, use a panda
Pandas are funny because they look like people in panda suits, and if you can get one to do anything vaguely adorable you're normally on to a winner. Unfortunately pandas are rare, and therefore quite expensive to own, but if you don't mind a weird colour such as yellow you can pick one up for less than £3,000 on the internet. Oh, hang on – that's a Fiat Panda.
Record your baby's every move
Laughing babies are popular, twins doubly so, and videos of tiny babies playing with extremely large dogs constitute an entire market sector. Obviously you shouldn't put your baby at risk. See what happens when you give a doll to your rottweiler.
Film your cat appearing to say something in English
First find out what words, if any, your cat can pronounce. Second, turn your camera on and ask your cat a question to which that word appears to be an intelligent answer. This may take some months.
Don't record your own lame version of a popular song
You may get the hits, but YouTube won't compensate you unless you've secured all rights and permissions.
Make a video of a dog wearing shoes
Some people will think it's cruel, some will think it's funny and others will find it unbearably twee. That covers just about everybody.
Title your video "Just Try To Watch This Without Laughing."
Chances are people will queue up in their millions just to tell you how unfunny it is.
