YouTube stars are today’s self-made celebrities—people who have built an audience by creating video material targeted toward teaching, entertaining, reviewing, and generally being excellent on the internet.
The majority of these small-screen celebrities do what they do only for enjoyment—to satisfy an itch for producing things and being in front of an audience.
Making money may not have been your primary motivation for launching a YouTube channel, but the wealth of available earning options will be a pleasant surprise once you learn how many of them there are.
How To Make Money On YouTube
Although your YouTube channel’s earning potential may be unlocked by your audience, as is frequently the case with Instagram influencers or bloggers, it is the creation of additional revenue streams, whether through side hustles or enterprises, that allows you to make money.
Fortunately, there are a variety of innovative ways to generate money on YouTube:
- Join the YouTube Partner Program
- Sell products or merchandise
- Crowdfund your next creative project
- Let your audience support your work through “fan funding.”
- License your content to the media
- Work with brands as an influencer
- Become an affiliate marketer
Let’s take a deeper look at each of these income streams.
1. YouTube Monetization
Ads are most certainly going to be the first money stream you investigate. Whether you want to make money on YouTube without creating videos or as a content creator, signing up for the YouTube Partner Program and configuring monetization is a critical first step.
The YouTube Partner Program is only available in certain countries and regions, and you must agree to follow all of YouTube’s monetization regulations to participate. Then, if you’ve reached 1,000 members and 4,000 view hours over a year, you can apply for monetization.
Listed below is the procedure to enable YouTube monetization:
- Sign in to the YouTube account you want to monetize.
- Click the icon for your account in the top right corner.
- Click YouTube Studio.
- In the left menu, select Other Features > Monetization.
- Read and agree to the YouTuber Partner Program terms and eligibility requirements.
- Create a new Google AdSense account or connect an existing one to your channel. (You need an AdSense account to get paid.)
- Set your monetization preferences.
Once you’ve completed this, return to the dashboard and select the Analytics tab from the left-hand navigation bar. To get an idea of your projected YouTube revenue, you’ll need to choose Revenue from the tabs at the top of the page and then scroll down to the Monthly Estimated Revenue chart at the bottom.
What is YouTube Premium?
YouTube Premium is a paid subscription service that allows users to watch and support their favourite video creators without advertisements interrupting them. There aren’t many changes for creators since they will continue to get compensated for videos consumed by non-members on YouTube and content consumed by subscribers to YouTube Premium.
YouTube Premium creators are compensated based on how many subscribers see their work. Consider revenue earned from YouTube Premium subscribers as an additional revenue stream and the income you already make from advertisements.
However, while generating money through advertising as a YouTube Partner is simple to set up, it is far from the most lucrative revenue stream you can establish for yourself.
Why You Should Look Beyond Ads For Revenue
Because it decided to be more upfront about advertising on the network and what qualifies as “advertiser-friendly” material, YouTube has gotten significant negative feedback recently.
For the most part, YouTube creators were concerned that they would be unable to earn the advertising revenue essential to their channel’s survival due to the nature of their content.
According to YouTube, your work may be removed from ad revenue if it contains any of the following elements:
- Content with sexually provocative elements, such as partial nudity and sexual humour
- The use of violence, including serious injury demonstrations and events associated with violent extremism
- Harassment, profanity, and obscene language are inappropriate words.
- Selling, using, and abusing narcotics and regulated substances is prohibited under federal law.
- Controversial or sensitive issues and events, including those relating to war, political strife, natural disasters, and tragedies (even if graphic imagery is not shown), may be discussed in this section.
Nonetheless, the reality is that YouTube has been demonetizing content that it does not consider advertiser-friendly since 2012. This has occurred through an automated process without notice and the content creator’s consent.
The issue has improved with the advent of notification when their content is flagged and the ability to appeal each time they believe a video was mistakenly banned from YouTube’s advertising network.
Using advertising to generate passive income for producers may be widespread practice; nevertheless, YouTube’s parent firm, Google, can keep approximately 45 per cent of all advertising revenue.
In short, YouTubers should look for alternative cash streams to support their creative activity. We’ll show you how to get money from YouTube without using AdSense in the following section.
2. Sell products or merchandise
When it comes to selling things on YouTube, numerous options can assist you in making money. Selling merchandise (t-shirts, coffee mugs, tote bags, snapbacks, etc.) provides advantages beyond generating cash.
In addition to increasing your exposure by bringing your online brand and personality into the actual world, merchandise helps to enhance the bond between you and your fans by encouraging them to “buy” into what you’re doing on a more tangible level. Smile More is a brand used by creators such as Roman Atwood, who sells various items in his store.
Selling branded swag is less complicated than it appears at first glance. Using freelance websites such as Fiverr, you may get affordable designs specialized for certain products, such as t-shirts, for reasonable prices.
You may also combine your store with services like DSers or one of the many print-on-demand suppliers that will handle shipping, fulfillment, and customer service. This will allow you to reap the benefits of a print-on-demand business while putting forth less effort.
Another option is collaborating with an established merchandising network for creators, such as DFTBA (Don’t Forget to Be Awesome). It is true that you will be competing with other YouTubers and that you will have less control over things like adding items, offering discounts, integrating your content, and all of the other benefits that come with having your eCommerce website.
Take it a step further by creating and selling your original products and promoting your business on YouTube, as Luxy Hair did to sell its hair extensions alongside how-to video instructions on how to style your hair extensions.
As a YouTuber with a large following, you’ll have two advantages that other store owners would be envious of: first, you’ll have two benefits from the outset that other store owners would be jealous of:
- The creation of a content engine that brings regular traffic to your store
- Your audience’s trust, which you have won by providing them with your brand of material regularly for free.
3. Crowdfund Your Next Creative Project
When money is the only thing standing between a concept and its realization, crowdfunding is a viable option for bringing it to fruition.
Whether you need assistance with purchasing better equipment, recruiting actors, or covering other production costs, you can solicit contributions from your audience. The crowdfunding community provided your concept is interesting enough.
Consider creating a video to explain your idea or give people a taste of what they can expect. For example, check out this popular Kickstarter for Kung Fury, a short film that pays homage to ’80s action movies to get people excited about what they can expect from your project.
These are some of the most popular crowdfunding sites, and they have a proven track record of successful campaigns from YouTubers:
- Kickstarter. One of the most well-known crowdfunding platforms is excellent for funding innovative products and creative ideas. Make a realistic financing objective because you will only be able to acquire funds if you achieve the target you have set for yourself.
- Indiegogo. A Kickstarter alternative allows for more flexible fundraising possibilities than the popular crowdfunding platform.
4. Audience Support
You can set up “fan fundraising” streams to solicit money from your audience, like how you would crowdfund a project.
As a creator, you add your voice to the internet without requiring your audience to pay a fee to listen to you speak. As a result, if you’re providing high-quality content, your audience may be more eager to support you regularly.
Many fan-finding platforms provide content creators with an additional platform for people to discover their work and a tool to engage their most devoted audiences and reward them for their support of their work.
Wait But Why not only produces more long-form written material than YouTube videos, but it is also an excellent example of how to receive support from the Patreon community.
If you decide to go the crowdfunding route, adhere to a few recommended practices to ensure success. First and foremost, ensure that the money is spent openly and transparently. This will encourage your followers to become emotionally immersed in your tale or cause, and they will come to believe in the worth of your material.
Second, provide tempting incentives for higher-quality pledges. The more you can persuade contributors that they are receiving something special in exchange for their support, the more likely you will accept donations and more significant pledge amounts.
Some of the most common fan financing alternatives are as follows:
YouTube’s Super Chat:
In live streaming on YouTube, the function known as Super Chat is used to communicate with viewers. It enables you to set up a tip jar for your viewers to donate to whenever and however much they feel like contributing to your video. As previously said, you’ll need to configure your YouTube account for advertising purposes.
Channel Memberships:
Channel memberships allow viewers to support your channel by making monthly payments in exchange for exclusive benefits available only to members. You must be a member of YouTube’s Partner Program to use this service, similar to Super Chat.
Patreon:
The membership platform simplifies the process of getting compensated for creators. With a monthly subscription as low as one dollar, fans can support their favorite creators while also receiving exclusive incentives.
Tipeee:
It is possible to receive one-time and recurring donations through this platform.
Purchase a cup of coffee for me. Buy Me A Coffee enables entrepreneurs and artists to receive donations and membership fees from their fans through a simple online platform. Because it has more than 300,000 creators, it is referred to as the “#1 Patreon Alternative.” Among the distinctions are that it’s easier to take donations with Buy Me A Coffee, that there’s a fixed 5 percent cost for all features (against up to 12 percent for Patreon), and that payments are made instantly rather than in installments.
5. License Your Content To The Media
If you manage to make a viral video with widespread appeal—for example, an amusing clip involving your dog—you can sell the rights to your content in exchange for money.
If your videos become viral, you may receive inquiries from news organizations, morning shows, online news sites, and other content creators regarding the possibility of using your footage.
You may also list your films in a marketplace, such as Trusted Media Brands, where the relevant individuals will be able to find and purchase your material more quickly.
6. Work with brands as an influencer
Influencer marketing and sponsorships are becoming increasingly popular among brands allocating their traditionally substantial advertising budgets to influencers who have already earned the trust of their target audiences.
If you can negotiate the correct terms, this opens up many opportunities for you as a content provider.
YouTube marketing specialist and influencer Brendan Gahan recommends establishing a baseline flat charge by looking at the number of views your videos regularly receive and multiplying that figure by $0.05 to $0.15 per view, depending on the type of video (which is around what many brands are willing to pay for ideas via YouTube ads).
By Information provided by WebFX, the following are the possible prices for influencer marketing on YouTube:
- $200 per video for a YouTuber with 10,000 subscribers
- $2,000 per video for a YouTuber with 100,000 subscribers
- $20,000 per video for a YouTuber with 1,000,000 subscribers
You may be able to negotiate a higher agreement with the company if the brand is a suitable fit, depending on your leverage (such as your audience demographics, content quality, and how distinctive and successful your niche is).
One of the most important things to remember when collaborating on brand-sponsored material is to be clear about it, not advocate anything you don’t genuinely like or believe in, and explain why you’re doing it to your audience upfront.
Listed below are just a few of the several influencer marketplaces where you may list your channel and be discovered by brands large and small:
- Crowdtap. Completing modest content creation “tasks” in exchange for money or other benefits is encouraged. There is no limit to the number of followers you must have to participate.
- Upfluence. A full-scale influencer platform with a database of more than 3 million influencers on the market. Clients can search on Upfluence for artists based on a keyword and then contact them to develop a business relationship.
Some marketplaces provide you with freebies, but others are known for having significant firms willing to pay a greater premium for your services or endorsements, according to their reputation. Use the opportunities that best suit your requirements, but advertise yourself in as many areas as possible to ensure that your channel receives the most attention.
7. Become An Affiliate Marketer
Affiliate marketing earns a commission by advertising a product or service that another company manufactures. You can work as an affiliate marketer for brands, incorporating product placements, endorsements, and other content into your marketing campaigns. However, visitors to your films must be made aware of the partnerships through your movies.
This is especially effective if you use your YouTube channel to conduct product reviews for other people. Because there is no risk on the brand’s end (they only pay when they earn sales), getting started is typically a low barrier to entry.
ClickBank (1 percent to 75 percent fee, depending on what the merchant specifies) and Amazon’s Affiliate network are two of the most well-known affiliate programs available ( up to 10 percent per sale). Another option is to seek out firms in your market that already implement their affiliate programs, which isn’t uncommon in the eCommerce industry.
8. Become an Amazon Influencer.
A growing number of people are taking advantage of Amazon’s influencer program. This influencer program allows you to generate money by maximizing your YouTube (and social media in general) presence to earn money through Amazon referrals.
Following your acceptance into the program, you will be able to evaluate and promote products and lead your viewers to Amazon to make purchases using affiliate links.
The rewards earned when your viewers follow the link to Amazon and make a purchase are split between you and the retailer – usually 8 to 10 percent. In addition to product reviews, Amazon allows content providers to advertise their products through affiliate links. Therefore, you will receive the total earnings if someone purchases your item.
You can also monetize your audience by utilizing Amazon’s affiliate network, which allows you to do so without ever fulfilling an order yourself.
However, it should be noted that this program is not available to everyone.
When it comes to Amazon’s influencer marketing programs, the number of social media followers and other indicators determine the likelihood of acceptance.
Conclusion
That’s all there is to it. It would help if you now had all of the knowledge you require to understand how to make money from your YouTube channel or channel. I am confident that these ideas are excellent for anyone interested, but they are incredibly ideal for college students seeking an online position.
All that remains now is for you to put everything you’ve learned into action to begin creating and growing your audience on this lucrative platform.
Are there any additional YouTube monetization tactics that you’re aware of that I should know about? Please share your thoughts in the comments box below!
People Also Asked
How can I make money on YouTube without ads?
If you are not making a lot of money from ad views, there are a variety of additional strategies to make money from your YouTube channel. Here are a few of the most excellent alternatives:
- Add affiliate links to your video descriptions to recommend products and earn commissions on every sale.
- Sell merchandise, t-shirts, and physical products linked to your eCommerce platform.
- Sell digital products, online courses, and eBooks.
- Build your audience and get a YouTube sponsorship from a brand.
- If you’re an expert in your niche, sell coaching and consulting services and charge hourly.
Is it hard to make money on YouTube?
Making money on YouTube is extremely difficult, and sure, there is a significant amount of hustle involved. According to YouTube’s community criteria, you must have 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 view hours in the last 12 months before you may be considered for membership in their Partner Program. Then you must produce a large number of views while keeping track of your cost per view (CPV) to determine how much money you are making from adverts.
Using affiliate marketing to monetize your channel is an excellent option if you don’t have millions of views on your videos. You can review products or give product instructions in your videos, including affiliate links in the video description. As a result, you can receive commissions on every transaction and earn more money than you would have made from your advertising CPV.
For starters, I recommend that you build a blog and link it to your YouTube account. In this way, you may promote affiliate links on your YouTube channel and your blog and embed your videos in your blog entries to increase the number of people who see them (and help your SEO).
How much is 1,000 views worth on YouTube?
There is no conclusive answer to how much a thousand views are worth. The business you operate, the number of people who click on your adverts, and the country you are based on are all factors. This contributes to your average cost per thousand impressions (CPM).
Additionally, marketers create a Google AdWords account and choose their ad approach based on whether they want to pay on a cost per view (CPV) or a cost per click (CPC) basis, depending on their budget.
For example, if a viewer clicks on a high-value advertisement, you could receive $0 for one view and $5 for another opinion. You may anticipate earning $0.75 – $1.00 per 1,000 views if you use banner advertisements or $6-7 per 1,000 views if you use ads that play before your video begins.
How many subscribers do you need to make money?
According to the YouTube Partner Program, you must have at least 1,000 subscribers to be allowed to monetize your channel. In addition, you must have logged at least 4,000 watch hours in the last 12 months and maintain an active Google AdSense account. Once you have applied to and been accepted into YPP, you will be able to customize your adoptions and activate monetization for the films you post.
Who is the highest-paid YouTuber?
The top YouTube stars bring in millions of dollars a year by monetizing their YouTube channels. Here is a list of the highest-paid YouTubers based on yearly revenue in 2019:
- Ryan Kaji: $26 million.
- Dude Perfect: $20 million.
- Anastasia Radzinskaya: $18 million.
- Rhett and Link: $17.5 million.
- Jeffree Star: $17 million.
- Preston: $14 million.
- PewDiePie: $13 million.
- Markiplier: $13 million.
- DanTDM: $12 million.
What is the best way to make money on YouTube?
The most effective strategy to make money on YouTube is to have a continuous topic running across your videos, whether it is humor, instructional, review, or vlogging in nature.
Youtube will add advertisements at the beginning and end of specific videos and will compensate you when someone clicks on these advertisements.
The greater the number of subscribers, views, and comments on your video, the more money YouTube will provide you when someone advertises their product on your video!
Why aren’t my videos making any money?
There are numerous possible responses to this question.
For starters, it’s possible that your visitors aren’t paying attention to all of the advertisements YouTube displays for you.
Second, it’s possible that your films aren’t compelling enough to compel consumers to view the advertisements.
Finally, depending on the genre of your video content, you may only have a limited number of commercials to pick from.
What kind of equipment do you need for YouTube?
Essentially, you’ll need a PC and a high-quality webcam.
You can also get a microphone if you wish to have more crystal-clear audio.
When filming your video, it is highly advised that you use a high-quality digital camera.
Make sure that the illumination is sufficient to ensure that you are visible!
Where can I get video editing software to make YouTube videos?
This top ten list of the finest video editing software is an excellent place to begin your search.
In addition, YouTube Studio is a Google-developed tool that allows you to edit videos, add intros and outros, speed up or slow down the pace of your video, alter the music in your video, and do other editing operations on your video content.
It is recommended that you back up your original file if you need to make changes later (for example, if you wish to re-edit an old video).
Can I use copyrighted music in my videos?
No! If you breach copyright, YouTube will remove your video, but they also have the right to prevent you from monetizing any other videos you create.
There are numerous legal options for music on YouTube. Thus, it is recommended that you use music that is not protected by intellectual property rights.
What should I title my videos on YouTube?
This is dependent on the message you want to convey through your video. – If you want to include keywords in your video for SEO purposes, include the most relevant ones in the title.
People looking for specific items will be able to locate your channel more efficiently, and you will receive more traffic due to this.
How much does it cost to start a channel on YouTube?
Nothing! Why not sign up for a free account and see what it’s all about yourself?
How do you become famous on YouTube?
This is a question with a wide range of possible solutions.
Generally, YouTubers agree that you should maintain consistency in your content, create high-quality videos, and interact with your subscribers and viewers. Furthermore, devoting the necessary time to researching topics that interest you will improve the overall quality of your movies by adding more information and accuracy to your productions.
To boost your chances of becoming famous, you should encourage people who watch your videos to leave comments and subscribe to your channel.
