How to make money on YouTube: 9 strategies
Have you ever dreamt of turning your YouTube obsession into a lucrative gig? Perhaps you’re looking to make money online through a side hustle, or maybe you aspire to turn to YouTube full-time as an influencer or entrepreneur. Either way, this blog post is for you.
With this beginner’s guide to making money on YouTube, creators will learn everything they need to know about making and monetizing a successful YouTube channel. Ready to transform your hobby into a serious cash flow? Let’s dive into the world of how to get paid on YouTube!
Summary/Overview
1. Enable monetization
YouTube monetization allows content creators to earn revenue from the videos they produce. When creators opt into monetization, advertisers will pay YouTube for ad space on their videos. YouTube will then share some of that advertising revenue with the video’s creator.
This monetization option is available for any YouTube creator with at least 1,000 subscribers who has either achieved over 4,000 watch hours in the past 365 days or 10 million public Short views in the last 90 days. The video creator can apply to join the YouTube Partner Program (YPP) when this threshold is met. If accepted, they can begin to monetize their videos.
Here is a step-by-step guide to enabling monetization on YouTube:
- Abide by YouTube’s policies and guidelines. Before applying for monetization status, check to ensure that your video content complies with the monetization policies and eligibility requirements – check out YouTube’s Community Guidelines, Terms of Service, and AdSense Program Policies.
- Set up and connect a Google AdSense account. From YouTube Studio, click the Earn tab from the lefthand menu. Then, click START on the Sign-up for AdSense for YouTube card. Enter your YouTube account information and choose which Google account you want. From there, set up your account by providing the required information.
- Submit your channel for review and receive approval. Submit your AdSense for YouTube account application for review. AdSense will inform you via email if your account has been approved. Although this typically takes several days, it can sometimes take two to three weeks.
Adsense is a Google-run service that allows content creators to receive payments for the revenue generated from YouTube ads placed on their videos.
On average, a creator can earn approximately $2 to $5 per 1,000 video views on YouTube. This number varies depending on the type of content being created and the topic of the video. Still, it’s a good indication of what a creator can expect to make from their channel.
2. Create high-quality content
This might sound self-evident, but creating high-quality content is crucial to making money on YouTube. The better the content, the more people will watch it, the more subscribers you will get, and the more money you will make.
Here are some tips for creating standout content:
- Understand your target audience. Your target audience is the specific group of people most likely to be interested in your YouTube channel. Research your audience’s preferences and adjust your content to match their interests.
- Consistency is key. Regularly uploading content keeps your audience engaged and builds anticipation for future content. Create a content calendar to plan your videos and hold yourself accountable.
- Invest in video equipment. Shoot in at least 1080p resolution, and pay attention to color grading, composition, and framing to enhance visual appeal. Audio is also critical, so invest in a good microphone so voices will come across clearly and background noise is minimal.
- Pay attention to lighting. Good lighting is a crucial part of video quality.
- Create eye-catching thumbnails. Visually speaking, thumbnails are the first thing viewers will see when clicking on your video. An attractive or interesting thumbnail is a great way to catch viewer’s attention, spark their curiosity, and drive them to your video.
- Engage in search engine optimization (SEO). SEO plays a vital role in video titles, descriptions, and tags. Research relevant keywords related to each video and incorporate these terms into your titles, descriptions, and video tags. Using applicable terms helps your videos get discovered through YouTube and Google’s search engines and recommendation algorithms.
3. Affiliate marketing
Affiliate marketing is an online advertising strategy where businesses reward people (affiliates) for driving sales or traffic to the company’s products or services. Affiliates generate unique links that they can then promote across their social channels. When a person uses that link to carry out a predetermined action, such as completing a sale, the affiliate earns a commission.
YouTube allows content creators to include affiliate links in their video descriptions, pinned video comments, and the YouTube Community tab. This is an effective way for creators to generate additional income from their videos rather than relying solely on ad revenue.
Some popular affiliate programs include:
- Amazon Associates
- eBay Partner Network
- CJ Affiliate by Conversant (formerly Commission Junction)
- Rakuten Marketing
- ShareASale
- Clickbank
- Shopify Affiliates Program
When including affiliate links in your video descriptions, they must fit within the scope of your content and reflect your moral compass. By doing so, you can ensure that you properly represent yourself and your brand when promoting products or services through these affiliate links.
4. Sell products or merchandise
YouTube shopping is an excellent way for eligible creators to showcase their own products or branded merchandise on YouTube. By connecting their online store with YouTube, creators can make a channel store and tag their products in their videos, Shorts, and livestreams.
To sell products on YouTube, follow these steps:
- Check eligibility. To be eligible to use YouTube shopping, your channel must either meet the subscriber threshold for the YouTube Partner Program or be an Official Artist Channel. Check specific eligibility requirements here.
- Set up channel memberships. If you haven’t done so already, click on “Monetization” in the left sidebar of YouTube Studio. In the Memberships tab, set up channel memberships by following the prompts.
- Enable Merchandise Shelf. In the “Monetization” tab in YouTube Studio, you can enable the Merchandise Self under the “Supers” tab.
- Link to a merchandise provider. YouTube requires creators to link their channels to an approved merchandise provider. Some standard providers include Spring, Merchbar, and Spreadshop (although there are many more options). Follow the instructions from your selected merchandise provider to link your shop to your YouTube channel and upload products.
Once you have set up YouTube shopping, start promoting your merchandise in your videos. Before uploading, select the specific products you promote in your video from the Merchandise Shelf – this will allow you to tag the products in your video and create shoppable links.
Selling products or branded merchandise on YouTube is a great way to make money. However, creators should keep in mind the type of content they produce and how it will resonate with their target audience. For example, if a creator has a cooking channel, it would be confusing if they sold music-themed apparel – instead, it would make more sense if they sold kitchenware, cookbooks, or cooking-themed t-shirts.
5. Crowdfunding
Crowdfunding allows content creators to monetize their YouTube channels and generate additional income. Crowdfunding is when fans voluntarily contribute funds to support the production of content or to help fund a creator's particular project.
Fan funding can be done through platforms such as Patreon, Kickstarter, or GoFundMe. Crowdfunding provides both short-term and long-term income for content creators and allows them to build relationships with their fans.
When setting up a crowdfunding campaign, it’s essential to ensure that you are offering something of value in return for your fans’ support. For example, you can provide exclusive access to new videos or behind-the-scenes content and ask for donations in return. Additionally, you can create rewards tiers that incentivize fans to donate larger amounts. This could include early access to videos or exclusive merch.
6. Sponsorships
Collaborating with brands to create sponsored content is a great way to make money on YouTube. When creators partner with brands, creators get paid to feature and promote a brand’s products or services. This revenue stream can be lucrative for several reasons:
- Direct earnings: Brands typically pay creators directly for sponsored content, and it’s up to the creator and brand to negotiate a contract – this can include a flat fee, a commission on sales generated, or a combination of both.
- Enhanced credibility: Collaborating with reputable brands is an excellent way to increase credibility within your niche and signal to your audience that respected companies consider your content valuable.
- Brand relationships: Creating successful sponsored content can lead to long-term, lucrative relationships with brands.
To craft brand partnerships, reach out to brands directly and pitch the sponsorship by outlining your channel, audience demographics, and proposed collaboration. Alternatively, you can sign up for influencer marketing platforms that match brands with creators.
Be transparent and authentic, and craft quality content that integrates the brand’s desired message while staying true to your unique style. Once the content goes live, promote it to maximize reach and visibility.
7. Channel memberships
YouTube Channel Memberships are a great way to make money on the platform. This feature allows viewers to pay a monthly subscription fee to access members-only perks such as badges, emojis, exclusive content, and more. Channel memberships are available to all channels that meet specific eligibility requirements.
Creators have control over setting the price for each membership level and the perks associated with each tier. Regularly engaging with your members and creating a sense of community is vital to maximizing the benefits of channel memberships.
It’s essential to promote your Channel Membership on your channel as well as other social media platforms. With the right approach, YouTube channel memberships can be an effective way for you to build relationships with your viewers and monetize your channel.
8. YouTube Premium
YouTube Premium is another effective way for YouTubers to make money. With YouTube Premium, viewers pay a monthly subscription fee in exchange for ad-free viewing and access to exclusive content. In return, when YouTube Premium subscribers watch your videos, YouTube pays you a share of their subscription fee, which is determined by the amount of time they spend watching your content.
As such, YouTubers can create content that they know will draw in premium subscribers while still earning revenue from the ad views on their regular videos. To maximize the advantages of YouTube Premium, YouTubers need to understand how the feature works, optimize their content accordingly, market their channel, and engage with their audience regularly.
9. Super Chat and Super Stickers
Super Chat and Super Stickers are features that allow viewers to support their favorite creators during live streams. Viewers can pay to highlight their messages or send animated stickers during a live stream.
Super Chat allows live stream viewers to purchase highlighted messages to appear prominently on the live chat feed, making it more likely that the creator will notice the message. Viewers can choose the amount they want to pay for a Super Chat – the more a viewer pays, the longer their Super Chat will remain pinned.
Super Stickers is a feature that allows viewers to purchase and send an animated sticker during a live stream. These stickers express different emotions or reactions and are a fun and visually appealing way for viewers to engage with creators.
To make the most of the Super Chat and Super Stickers, make sure to engage with fans who purchase these features. When livestream viewers see other fans get shoutouts and direct interactions from their favorite creators, it makes them more likely to pay for a chance to be featured as well.
10. License your content
Licensing your content can be a great way to monetize your channel and generate income. It allows you to protect the intellectual property of your videos while also making them available for commercial use by other parties, such as broadcasters or streaming services.
One of the most effective ways to monetize your YouTube channel is through media outlets paying for viral videos. This involves creating content that has the potential to go viral or become hugely popular and then selling it to media outlets who will use it in their own programming or advertising campaigns. In this way, content creators can generate more income from their videos.
Applying for a copyright license for your YouTube videos is vital in protecting and monetizing your content. With the correct license, you can ensure that others can’t reuse or repost your original creations without compensating you.
Before applying for a copyright license, it's crucial to understand how copyright works and what types of licenses are available. The most common type of copyright license is a Creative Commons (CC) license, which allows content creators to grant permission for others to use their work if they follow certain conditions. This includes attributing the original creator and not using the content for commercial purposes without prior consent. While it’s possible to apply for a CC license for free, other types of copyright licenses may be more suitable for certain types of content.
Another option for creators is to join a video rights marketplace. A video rights marketplace allows content creators to license their videos out to broadcasters and streaming services, allowing them to earn royalties from the use of their content. This type of marketplace offers a variety of benefits that can help content creators capitalize on their content and make the most out of their channels.
Tips for growing YouTube revenue faster
There's always the question of learning how to maximize revenue potential and grow YouTube income faster. There are many strategies that content creators can use to increase their subscription base and bring in more money, such as creating high-quality content, leveraging collaborations, and optimizing ads.
1. Focus on video types that are easy to monetize
When it comes to making effective, profitable content, focus on the following types of videos:
- How-tos and tutorials: These videos can provide viewers with helpful information, such as instructions on how to do something or tips on using a specific product or service. This type of content can help creators grow their YouTube income more quickly and earn more as viewers purchase products and services through their recommendations.
- Product reviews: Providing honest opinions about products and services can help content creators capture the attention of potential buyers and encourage them to purchase the products they have reviewed. Product reviews can be monetized through affiliate links.
- Unboxings: These videos are a great way to show off products and give viewers an inside look at what they can expect to find when they unbox a new item. By creating unboxing videos, content creators can provide potential customers with valuable information about a product and increase sales.
- "Best of"s: This is a great way for content creators to showcase their favorite pieces of work and engage with viewers. These types of videos can provide an opportunity to highlight the best parts of a video or series and offer insight into why these moments are so special.
YouTube Shorts is YouTube’s latest innovation that allows content creators to make short-form videos. These videos can be as short as 15 seconds and are designed to be watched quickly and easily on mobile devices. As such, they offer an alternative form of content creation for those who prefer creating shorter pieces of content.
One of the benefits of creating Shorts is that they can help increase your YouTube channel’s viewership and engagement, which in turn can lead to more views and subscribers. Better yet, YouTube has announced plans to monetize these videos with ads, allowing creators to generate revenue from their content.
2. Invest in higher video quality
Investing in the right equipment is essential for content creators to produce high-quality videos and grow their YouTube income. This includes investing in cameras, tripods, microphones, and lighting to capture the best quality images and audio possible.
Content creators should also consider investing in a high-quality microphone that can capture clear audio and provide viewers with an immersive viewing experience. Additionally, using the right lighting equipment can help ensure that videos are well-lit and properly expose all of the details in each scene. This can make a massive difference in the production value of a video and can be especially helpful for content creators who want to create videos in different environments or with varying levels of light.
Finally, investing in video-editing apps or software is essential for content creators to produce high-quality videos that attract more viewers. These apps and software allow users to add effects and transitions, adjust colors, and make other video changes before publishing them online.
Choosing creative assets such as royalty-free music, royalty-free stock videos, and templates is an integral part of creating high-quality content for a YouTube channel. Creative assets provide content creators with options that add extra flair to their videos and make them stand out from the competition. These assets can be used in various ways, such as creating intros and outros, adding background music to videos, or even creating entirely new videos with templates. Royalty-free assets are relatively inexpensive and can help content creators make unique videos without breaking the bank.
3. Make sure you’ve optimized your entire channel
Asking viewers to subscribe to a YouTube channel is one of the most effective ways for content creators to monetize their content and grow their audience. It can provide an additional source of income, help content creators increase viewership, and create an engaged community of viewers who are invested in the success of their channel.
One way to ask viewers to subscribe is by creating a call-to-action (CTA) at the end of each video. This CTA should be short, clear, and concise and give viewers an easy way to click on the subscribe button. Content creators should place CTAs throughout their videos to encourage viewers to stick around and watch more of their content.
Content creators should also optimize the homepage of their YouTube channel by including a well-crafted description, profile picture, and banner that accurately reflect the theme and purpose of their channel. This is important for search engine optimization (SEO) purposes and to create an inviting atmosphere for viewers interested in exploring more of their content.
Creating a recognizable brand is essential for content creators who want to grow their YouTube income and attract more viewers. Developing a consistent brand identity can help content creators differentiate themselves from the competition and create an engaging atmosphere for viewers. Keep your brand consistent across the various social media channels – consider promoting your YouTube channel on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn, or any other social media channel your audience tends to utilize.
Here are some additional tips for building a cohesive brand strategy on YouTube:
- Make an eye-catching logo, banner art, and other graphics that reflect the theme and purpose of the channel. As viewers learn to recognize this, they will be more likely to subscribe and watch more videos on their channel, resulting in a more extensive viewership and increased revenue.
- Create a custom URL on YouTube to make your channel more recognizable and increase its chances of being found by potential viewers. A custom URL makes it easier for viewers to remember the channel’s name, making it more likely that they will return to watch additional content.
- Make custom channel trailers to engage both current subscribers and potential viewers. By crafting two separate trailers — one for subscribers and one for non-subscribers — content creators can capture the attention of both audiences and encourage them to watch more of their videos.
- Create eye-catching thumbnails for videos – these are the first things viewers see when they scroll through YouTube, making them incredibly important in making viewers click on a video. Creating thumbnails that stand out from the competition can be the difference between getting viewers to watch a video or skipping it altogether.
- Incorporate clickable subscription tools in YouTube videos. Adding an interactive element to videos provides viewers an easy way to subscribe and stay updated on new content. YouTube's clickable subscription tools allow content creators to easily add interactive elements such as pop-ups and subscribe buttons to their videos with just a few clicks.
- Releasing videos on a consistent basis is an integral part of generating YouTube income and getting more viewers. By providing regular content, creators can build a loyal fanbase and keep viewers engaged with their videos.
Creating a successful, monetized YouTube channel takes hard work, dedication, and understanding how to leverage the platform’s features. By following these tips, content creators can create high-quality videos that will attract more viewers and grow their YouTube income faster than ever before.
This blog post was updated on February 2, 2024.