For many people, the dream is to earn money on YouTube. This is because YouTubers seem to have an amazing life and receive adoration from their fans. Additionally, since it is now easier than ever to create a YouTube channel, there is no harm in having ambitious goals.
Creating a YouTube channel is easy, but transforming it into a profitable venture is not so straightforward. Initially, you can earn a hundred dollars by selling a product or securing a sponsorship. Yet, to maximize your earnings, it is crucial to comprehend all available choices before fully committing.
We have prepared this article to guide you through the necessary information to learn how to earn money on YouTube. By the end of this article, you will be familiar with various methods for making money on YouTube and have the opportunity to expand your business using one of the largest online platforms globally.
Can you make money on YouTube
Yes, the short answer is affirmative. There are numerous individuals engaging in this practice, and it is not necessary for all of them to possess millions of subscribers.
Your earning potential on YouTube is not solely based on numbers, despite what many people might believe. It also relies on the specific niche you focus on, the level of engagement you generate, and the revenue streams you utilize. This does not imply that subscribers and views are insignificant, though. If you want to increase your views on YouTube, take a look at our simple tips.
Do you get paid for uploading videos on YouTube
Creators on YouTube are not compensated for uploading videos, nor are their videos automatically eligible for monetization. To begin earning money on the platform, you must activate monetization through your account settings. YouTube presents two possibilities: joining the Partner Program or having your videos showcased on YouTube Premium (further details will be discussed later).
How to make money from YouTube
1. Join the YouTube partner program
Becoming a YouTube Partner allows regular YouTubers to enjoy exclusive features on the platform. Although it is not mandatory to be a partner in order to earn money on YouTube (simply setting up an AdSense account and gaining views suffices), being a Partner greatly simplifies the process.
YouTube Partners can access various sources of income, including more than just video ads. They can also earn from YouTube Premium subscription fees and utilize features such as Super Chat, channel memberships, and the merchandise shelf, which directly involve loyal fans’ financial contributions. More information on these features will be discussed later.
Step 1: Start a YouTube channel
Rest assured, we have a practical manual for this task called ‘How to establish a YouTube channel.’
Step 2: Make your channel successful enough that it meets the YouTube partner program requirements
In order to become a part of the program, you must have accumulated a minimum of 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours within the last 12 months.
Step 3: Set up an AdSense account
To easily accomplish this, simply adhere to YouTube’s official AdSense account guide and proceed in a systematic manner.
Step 4: Explore your new monetization features
Each monetization channel has its own set of eligibility requirements. To illustrate,
- Ad revenue: to earn ad revenue, you must be at least 18 years old, and you must create content that is advertiser-friendly. Basically, the less controversial your videos, the more YouTube advertisers will be comfortable running ads on them, and the more money you make.
- YouTube Premium revenue: if a YouTube Premium member watches your video, you get a portion of their subscription fee. (This one is automatic, which is nice.)
- Channel memberships: in order to sell channel memberships to your subscribers (i.e., your fans opt in to pay you an extra amount), you need to be at least 18 and have more than 30,000 subscribers.
- Merchandise shelf: in order to sell merch from YouTube’s merchandise shelf, you must be at least 18 years old, and have at least 10,000 subscribers.
- Super Chat payments: if you want your fans to have the ability to pay to have their messages highlighted in your live chats during your live streams, you must be at least 18 (and live in a country where the feature is offered).
Step 5: Submit to ongoing reviews
YouTube expects a higher level of conduct from channels that are part of the YouTube Partner Program. This entails adhering to both the policies of the program itself and the Community Guidelines. Additionally, it is important to abide by copyright laws.
2. Sell your own merch
Perhaps you perceive yourself primarily as a content creator, and secondarily as an entrepreneur. However, it is important to consider that even successful artists like Drake engage in merchandise sales. On the other hand, you might view yourself as an entrepreneur first and a video creator second. This indicates that you likely possess a product already and are formulating your YouTube marketing plan with the intent to promote and sell it.
Merchandise can be a profitable means of earning money through social media platforms, particularly on YouTube.
Step 1: Imagine and design your product
Your merchandise should be unique as it is intended to represent and strengthen the bond between you and your audience.
Hawaii-born Ryan Higa, a prominent YouTuber, introduced his energy drink named Ninja Melk, which is made from milk, as a way to capitalize on the success of his widely popular comedic creation, Ninja Melk. In addition to offering an assortment of merchandise, including t-shirts, through his online store, the widespread appeal of Ninja Melk has prompted the establishment of a dedicated website for the product.
When you have many ideas for merchandise, it is advisable to begin with a small selection of one or two items. However, it is important to involve your audience in the decision-making process to ensure their engagement. You can gather their preferences by conducting polls or generate excitement by offering unique products tied to significant milestones in your subscriber count.
Step 2: Source and/or build your product
In order to create and distribute your product, you will typically require the assistance of a manufacturer, supplier, or wholesaler. Depending on the supplier, they may either deliver the product directly to you or take on the responsibility of managing inventory, shipping, and returns.
If you are unsure where to begin, you can refer to Shopify’s how-to guide on finding a brick-and-mortar company to transform your vision into a reality.
Step 3: Create your shop and landing page
In order to handle purchases, a separate website will be necessary. If you intend to directly link it to your videos (which is recommended), you should consult YouTube’s list of approved merchandise sites.
Step 4: Enable your YouTube Partner merchandise shelf
If you qualify, YouTube Partners are able to utilize the shelf feature to sell merchandise related to their channel. To activate it, simply follow the instructions provided by YouTube.
Step 5: Promote your product in your videos
Your charm becomes relevant at this point. Incorporate your merchandise into your videos, either by wearing or using it. Showcase viewers who have purchased and are utilizing the merchandise. (On a different platform, this might be referred to as ‘user-generated content’ or even ‘exceptional quality’).
To ensure you include your store’s link in your video descriptions, remember to think step by step. Make sure to incorporate end screens and cards that contain persuasive calls to action as well.
It is important to remember to express gratitude and thank people, not just because it is polite, but also because it provides an opportunity to once again highlight the exceptional qualities and popularity of your product.
3. Endorse affiliate products in your videos
Businesses are fully cognizant of the potential offered by YouTube channels that have a significant number of subscribers, and they are consistently seeking ways to take advantage of this to enhance their own enterprises.
Once you have built a significant audience on the platform, it is probable that businesses will contact you and ask you to promote their products for payment. In such cases, you may want to consider becoming an affiliate of these brands and incorporating product placements in your videos. Additionally, you can broaden your network of affiliates by enrolling in well-known affiliate programs.
When considering this, it is important to think step by step. It has the potential to be a lucrative method of generating additional income, but caution must be exercised. This is because the audience is very perceptive in recognizing when a product or service is being marketed.
To ensure compliance with YouTube’s policies, it is advisable to endorse products that you genuinely believe will be beneficial for your audience, and also make it clear to your viewers that you have a partnership.
4. Monetize live streams via super chat
Super Chat is an increasingly popular method of generating revenue from YouTube. This functionality enables viewers to purchase highlighted chat messages that can potentially be pinned to the top of the comments section during a live stream. Consequently, when you are live on YouTube, you have the opportunity to utilize Super Chat and earn money from your stream.
To make money from YouTube Super Chat, one should focus on organizing and promoting live streams as the monetization rates for Super Chat vary from $1 to $500, with the company retaining 30% of the revenue.
To boost their exposure, advertise them through videos, on other social media platforms, and anywhere else frequented by your target audience.
5. Become a YouTube influencer
As the popularity of influencer marketing increases, there is a significant chance for individuals like you, who possess creative abilities, to participate and benefit from this trend.
According to YouTube marketing expert and influencer Brendan Gahan, the initial point of establishing a flat fee is determining the number of views a creator’s videos usually receive and multiplying it by 15 cents per view.
WebFX, a digital marketing agency, provided a list of figures indicating the potential earnings for YouTube influencers.
- $20,000 per video for a creator with a million subscribers
- $2,000 per video for a creator with 100,000 subscribers
- $200 per video for a creator with 10,000 subscribers
In order to increase your earnings, it is important to collaborate with brands that offer products that are valuable to your audiences. Below are a few influencer marketplaces that can help you get noticed by potential partners:
- Channel Pages – Partner with brands as well as other YouTubers
- Grapevine Logic – Requires just 1,000 followers to join
When thinking systematically, rephrase the following text while keeping the meaning intact. refrain from adding new details and avoid omitting any information. Opt for opportunities that align with your requirements, as certain influencer marketing platforms can link you with major brands offering generous compensation, while others may provide complimentary products.
How to make money from YouTube videos
If you have been pondering on how to generate income from the YouTube videos you upload, there are several valuable suggestions you must remember while crafting the content.
1. Try to make your videos 10+ minutes long
If you make YouTube videos that exceed a duration of 10 minutes, your likelihood of earning more money from ad revenue will increase.
YouTube videos that exceed a duration of 10 minutes are more likely to accumulate greater watch time, leading to a positive impact on the generated ad revenue. Moreover, videos with a higher average watch time will be ranked higher in YouTube’s search results, thereby increasing the probability of users viewing your content.
2. Collaborate with other YouTubers
To earn money from YouTube videos, a strategy that can be employed is partnering with fellow YouTubers.
By following this method, you can effectively increase your YouTube presence, incorporate original content into your channel, and broaden your audience. Conduct research on active YouTubers in your specific field and approach them with an appealing video concept; they are likely to be interested in collaborating with you.
3. Create engaging and informative content
In order to be successful on YouTube, it is essential to understand that users are constantly seeking videos that can either entertain or provide them with value. If you are able to offer this type of video content to your audience, they are more likely to watch the entire video and return for more in the future.
To gain insight into which viewers are more engaged with your videos, it is recommended to delve into YouTube analytics. This exploration will provide you with a clearer understanding of the demographic that is most interested in your content. For instance, if you discover that your videos are predominantly popular among the Gen Z audience, you can experiment with incorporating some of their preferred slang into your video content.
