Reuters reported today that YouTube will look for more ways to monetize their network.  The site is in the process of building out an e-commerce module that will sell music, videos, games, books, concert tickets and other media related items.

The site has partnered with Amazon and Apple for delivery.  When you view a video you can click a button that will take you to the appropriate store site for purchase.  Revenue will be shared by the partners.

YouTube is also experimenting with in-video ads, planning to run text that scrolls below a video.  The company already is selling pre and post roll ad, 10 to 20 seconds before or after a video for advertising.

For marketers, the additional advertising options should be considered for potential opportunities.  YouTube had 330 million visitors in August 2008, according to comScore, which measures Internet audiences.

For content producers, this has the potential to be a direct link from your marketing activities on YouTube direct to a distribution site.  One can only hope there is still some revenue left for you.  I’d love to hear any case studies from those independents that try out this new system.

Videos on the web are growing rapidly and many surveys show that a wide range demographic goes online at least once a month to view an online video.  The increased advertising opportunities could be an excellent alternative to traditional advertising, which continues to decline.