to promote my new ‘Top Ten’ template I am looking for some lovely individuals to use the template to create their very own top ten of whatever they wish and upload it to Youtube.

I will send you the template for free and would only ask that you include the following text/link to the template on Videohive within the Youtube description.

Text to include:

This video was created using the ‘Top Ten’ template on Videohive which is available to purchase here: http://videohive.net/item/top-ten/2285716?ref=smudgethis

(Only youtube entries using this text will be entered into the competition)

The youtube video with the most views at the end of July 2012 will win a single use licence for every single template within my Videohive portfolio.

For those who want to take part in this, please send me an email via my contact form quoting ‘TOP TEN COMPETITION’ on the first line of your email. I will then send you the template and you can start racking up those youtube views.

GOOD LUCK!!!

Now this may gain similar attention to the bomb building guides written by scientists who are publishing exacting diagrams and potentially lethal schematics because they genuinely want to help other like minded individuals understand their thinking. I must re-iterate to all of those who are busy enough to have the time to read this that I am only trying to demonstrate the theory and not advocating the practice of what I am about to write.

(Isn’t it lame that I have to say that before writing something even mildly suggestive!)

I receive on average, 2 emails a week suggesting that I have been the victim of piracy and that some of my files have somehow found themselves on file sharing sites such as Mediafire, Rapidupload and other far far inferior struggling competitors.

The email is almost always of the following format:

1. Introduction: Hello my name is (Mr X)

2 Reason for contact: and I am sorry to inform you that whilst searching Google (presumably for stupidly dressed animals and compromising Justin Bieber videos) I happened across a few of your files on file sharing websites.

Now what do you think the odds are of them finding those links!!! It sure is nice of them to inform me of my misfortune, now I can contact these individuals and kindly request they remove my files from aforementioned inferior file sharing websites. But I really don’t have the time to send out a basic email template to all these links, if only there was someone who was able to do this for me, possibly for money.

3. The pitch: I recently set up a service to protect individuals such as yourself from this exact problem.

NO WAY!!!

4. The push:I am able to remove all these links within 72 hours and am only charging $59 for the service.

THAT’S A BARGAIN, THEY SHOULD BE CHARGING TWICE THAT

4. The money shot:I normally charge $139 but $59 is my rate for first time customers.

Boom! I’m hooked, quickly, where’s the buy now button!?

Although, thinking about it, this guy might be onto something. I mean it’s not out of the question for an individual to post these links on file sharing websites, send a few emails out to various authors of online content, and then generously offer the service of a newly founded startup to remove the links.

I thought about sharing this thought with (Mr X) but I had just stepped in a massive puddle whilst trying to walk and read my email at the same time so I thought sod him, let him get his own money making idea! Lazy bastard.

Also, as an extra encouragement to anyone considering the venture into template sales, I have to say, there is no better feeling than being sat on a beach with a mojito in hand, knowing it is being paid for by income being generated 24/7 without having to lift a finger… except when you need a top up.

It is my intention to spend a lot more time blogging about this over the coming months and to provide some tips and advice on how to setup your own passive income stream via Videohive. With the current climate I think it is definitely in everybody’s interest to setup another source of income away from your 9 till 5, be this after effects templates or another method, hopefully you will find some inspiration in my ramblings to make a start.

In classic ‘I haven’t got a clue as to how long this will take to get written up’ fashion… watch this space. I will be posting updates on my blog as well as on facebook and twitter.

If you are a twitter fan then follow @smudgethis for regular updates to the blog and my work. If you are more of a booky facey kind of person you can follow Smudgethis on facebook for more of the same.

It is very early days and I am intending on making a lot of small amends in the coming weeks and months but for now I hope you all like the new format and if there is anything not working then please let me know (via my fancy new contact form).

*5 minutes is a rough estimate with a potential variance of plus or minus 4000 hours.