In contemporary times, those who make a name for themselves on YouTube are essentially self-made stars, having garnered a following through producing content focused on instructing, entertaining, evaluating, and generally being impressive on the web. The majority of these online luminaries engage in their craft purely for the sake of doing so, driven by a desire to create and perform in front of an audience.
Although your primary motivation for creating a YouTube channel might not be to generate income, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn about the numerous opportunities for earning that exist. Additionally, you may want to consult our manual on earning money on the internet.
Ways to make money from YouTube
Looking beyond the wealth accumulated and number of subscribers acquired, there are some key insights to be gleaned from Forbes’ ranking.
YouTube channels can generate revenue even with fewer than millions of subscribers. Your earning capacity is not limited to the number of subscribers and views you acquire, but is also influenced by the extent of audience interaction, the specific market you cater to, and the revenue sources you try. However, this doesn’t mean that the count of your subscribers is insignificant – see our recommendations for increasing your subscriber base on YouTube.
1. Join the YouTube Partner Program and earn money from ads
One of the most common ways to make money on YouTube is through advertisements. If you’re interested in generating revenue on the platform without producing content, or if you’re a content creator yourself, it’s essential to sign up for the YouTube Partners Program and arrange for monetization. To do so, you need to meet two requirements: gain at least 1,000 subscribers and accumulate at least 4,000 hours of watch time in the previous 12 months before applying.
How to enable monetization on YouTube
- 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.
- Create a new AdSense account or connect an existing one to your channel. (You need an AdSense account to get paid.)
- Set your monetization preferences.
After completing the previous task, return to the dashboard and select the Analytics tab situated on the left-hand side. Then, click on Revenue among the options at the top and proceed to scroll down to the Monthly Estimated Revenue graph, which will provide you with an estimate of your anticipated earnings.
How many views do you need to make money
The correlation between views and revenue is not always congruent. Even if your video accumulates several thousand views, any lack of ad engagement will prevent you from earning any profit. This is due to YouTube’s policy of only billing advertisers when a viewer either clicks or watches an ad in its entirety (for a duration of either 10, 15, or 30 seconds).
Thanks to YouTube Premium, you no longer have to depend on advertisers to produce captivating or intriguing advertisements in order to generate income.
Check out YouTube Premium
With YouTube Premium, fans can subscribe to a membership program for a fee in order to enjoy ad-free content from their cherished content creators. For creators, the process remains essentially unchanged, as they will continue to receive compensation for their content both on YouTube and YouTube Premium, regardless of whether or not the viewer is a member.
Creators receive compensation from YouTube Premium depending on the amount of content viewed by members. Regard the earnings from YouTube Premium as an additional source of income to supplement the revenue generated through advertisements.
Although setting up advertising as a YouTube Partner is simple, it is not the most profitable means of generating income.
Why you should look beyond ads for revenue
YouTube faced extensive criticism after it announced they would increase transparency regarding advertising on their platform and the standards for content deemed “advertiser friendly.” The main concern among creators was that their content could potentially lead to a loss of ad revenue, which plays a crucial role in channel sustenance.
If your content contains any of the following, YouTube may exclude it from earning ad revenue:
- Sexually suggestive content, including partial nudity and sexual humor
- Violence, including displays of serious injury and events related to violent extremism
- Inappropriate language, including harassment, profanity, and vulgar language
- Promotion of drugs and regulated substances, including selling, use, and abuse of such items
- Controversial or sensitive subjects and events, including subjects related to war, political conflicts, natural disasters, and tragedies, even if graphic imagery is not shown
Since 2012, YouTube has been utilizing an automated process to demonetize content that it perceives as not suitable for advertisers, without notification or the content creator’s awareness.
Currently, creators receive notifications when their content is flagged and can dispute any wrongful exclusions from YouTube’s advertising network. Although advertising is a popular way for creators to earn passive income, they must forfeit around 45% of ad revenue to YouTube.
In summary, individuals who create content on YouTube should consider other sources of income to continue their artistic pursuit.
2. Land a brand deal and make sponsored content
Your channel’s audience may attract companies who are willing to sponsor your videos or provide product placement opportunities, which are commonly referred to as brand deals in the industry.
The key factor to consider is your “audience.” This implies that such opportunities are more probable to arise after you attract a large number of followers. As your audience expands, you can directly approach the companies you wish to collaborate with or search for affiliate marketing websites that match your content style to find business partners.
By partnering with brands, you have the option to receive a one-time payment, earn a percentage from each purchase made, or receive complimentary products or services. It is important to note that when featuring endorsements or product placements in your videos, you must inform YouTube by checking a box in your video details.
3. Offer memberships
Monetizing viewership can be done through a membership model where viewers pay a subscription fee for exclusive access to perks and/or content tiers.
Patreon is a well-liked third-party platform for memberships. Although YouTube is gradually introducing its own channel memberships feature, only participants of the YouTube Partner Program are qualified for it. An increased number of viewers can translate to higher revenue, as usual. To lure viewers into becoming paid members, certain enticements such as personal video chats, private lessons, or other advantages may be offered.
4. Sell products or merchandise
There is a wide array of merchandise that can be sold to generate income for your YouTube channel. In addition to generating revenue, creating and selling items such as t-shirts, coffee mugs, tote bags, and snapbacks has other advantageous benefits.
By making merchandise available, you are able to extend your online brand and persona into the physical realm, which strengthens the bond with your followers as they financially invest in your endeavors.
Under his Smile More brand, Roman Atwood offers a diverse range of merchandise in his store. Contrary to initial beliefs, vending branded swag is effortless. You have the option of purchasing cost-effective designs customized for specific commodities, for example, t-shirts, via freelance platforms such as Fiverr.
You have the option of integrating your store with services like Oberlo or various print-on-demand providers that manage shipping, fulfillment, and customer support for you, allowing you to enjoy the advantages of a dropshipping enterprise that requires minimal effort on your end.
5. Take a cut with affiliate marketing
If your intention is to create product review videos, affiliate marketing is likely the most practical means to earn money from your YouTube audience. Its operation is as follows:
You discover a seller or company that offers an affiliate program like Amazon Associates and submit your application to become a member.
After being accepted, you will utilize their method to generate personalized links for the products you intend to showcase in your videos.
When uploading YouTube videos, you can showcase, analyze, or mention products and include your own personal affiliate marketing link(s) in the description section.
When you become a brand affiliate, you will be able to earn a commission by directing viewers to purchase the product through your own customized link.
Although Amazon Associates is a lucrative method to earn money on Amazon, there are numerous other options available. Explore affiliate marketing platforms like ShareASale and ClickBank to find potential business partners and merchandise to promote. Additionally, visit the websites of your preferred brands to obtain details on enrolling as an affiliate.
Remember to inform your audience clearly about your association with the brand or brands being showcased, and make sure to direct them towards the “link in description” when filming your video.
How much money can you make on YouTube
Even content creators who have a modest following can earn a decent income on the side or as a full-time job, while breakout YouTube celebrities with millions of followers have the potential to earn millions of dollars.
Forbes reported that Stevin John, the founder of the widely acclaimed children’s channel Blippi, earned $17 million in 2020, mainly from the massive 8.2 billion views and 27.4 million subscribers he obtained on YouTube. Such triumph is uncommon.
According to Business Insider, Kelly Anne Smith, a personal finance YouTuber with 50,000 subscribers, earned approximately $900 in ad revenue during the month of March 2022, which is considered a modest amount.
According to Sean Cannell, the co-author of “YouTube Secrets” and founder of the Think Media channel, new YouTubers should depend on affiliate marketing as the most effective method to make money from the beginning. He explained in a 2021 video publication that by selecting the proper niche and strategy, it’s feasible to generate $500 per week.
Earn an audience, and earn more in the long run
Although YouTube provides an opportunity for everyone, it is not a platform through which one can easily become rich. To earn on this platform, one needs to invest time, energy, and interact with their audience. However, you need not worry as with determination and repeated efforts, it is possible to generate revenue even before reaching 1,000 subscribers, which is usually considered a significant milestone.
Bear in mind these tips as you commence:
Reaching the viewing-hours threshold becomes easier as you create and upload more videos.
If you focus your content on a particular audience or niche, such as film photography, the probability of your viewers subscribing for additional content increases.
It is worth investing time and energy in the careful planning and production of engaging and insightful videos, as they are more likely to attract viewers.
Do not underestimate the ability of a specific headline and eye-catching image to capture the audience’s interest.
