Okay, ad revenue is the most obvious way to make money on YouTube. But it’s not the only way or, to be honest, the best way.
(Spoiler alert: the best way to make money on YouTube is all ways.)
YouTube is the half of the internet: that’s 1.9 billion users logging in every month. But at the same time, 500 hours of video are uploaded to the site every minute.
So you know this article won’t be about how easy it is to buy a Swiss watch with ad revenue. of your YouTube views. (Although if you have millions of video views, you could probably at least rent one. Wait, don’t.)
Read on and we’ll introduce 7 ways to earn money from your YouTube channel, complete with step by step instructions.
How to make money on YouTube
1. Join the YouTube Partner Program
The YouTube Partner Program is how regular YouTubers get access to special features on the platform.
You don’t need to be a partner to earn money on YouTube (Just setting up an AdSense account and getting views is enough to handle that), but being a partner makes it so much easier.
YouTube partners have access to multiple sources of income: no just video ads, but also YouTube Premium subscription fees and features that tap into your loyal fans’ wallets directly like Super Chat, channel memberships, and the merchandise shelf (more on that later).
Step 1: Start a YouTube channel
Don’t worry, we have a helpful guide for this. It’s called “How to Create a YouTube Channel”.
Step 2: Make your channel successful enough to qualify for the YouTube Partner Program
To join the program, you need a minimum of 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours in the previous 12 months.
Here are some ideas on how to get more of those precious YouTube views.
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Step 3: Set up an AdSense account
This is simple. Just follow the official YouTube guide for AdSense accounts.
Step 4: Explore your new monetization features
Each monetization channel has different requirements of eligibility. For example:
- Ad revenue: To earn ad revenue, you must be at least 18 years of age and create advertiser-friendly content. Basically, the less controversial your videos are, the more comfortable YouTube advertisers will be running ads on them, and the more money you’ll earn.
- YouTube Premium Earnings: if you’re a YouTube member Premium watch your video, you get a portion of their subscription fee. (This is automatic, which is nice.)
- Channel Memberships: to sell channel memberships to your subscribers (meaning your fans choose to pay you an additional amount) , you must be at least 18 years old and have 30,000+ subscribers.
- Product Shelf: To sell products from the YouTube Product 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 be able to pay to have your messages featured in their live chats during your broadcast , you must be at least 18 years old (and live in a country where the feature is offered).
Step 5: Submit rolling reviews
As a YouTube partner, your channel will be held to a higher standard, according to YouTube. You must follow not only the YouTube Partner Program policies, but also the Community Guidelines. Not to mention staying on the right side of copyright law.
2. Sell Your Own Merchandise
Maybe you identify as a content creator first and an entrepreneur second. (Just remember that even Drake sells T-shirts.)
Alternatively, you’re an entrepreneur first and a video creator second, which means you probably already have a product and are designing your YouTube marketing strategy. to sell it.
Either way, merchandise is a viable way to make money with YouTube.
Step 1: Imagine and design your product
Your channel’s merchandising is meant to both represent and nurture your audience’s connection to you. That means your merchandise needs to be unique.
Hawaiian YouTube star Ryan Higa launched his milk-based energy drink Ninja Melk to build on the popularity of his viral sitcom Ninja Melk. While he also sells t-shirts and other merchandise in his online store, Ninja Melk’s appeal is broad enough that he has his own website.
Pro tip: it’s possible that you have more ideas for merchandise than you can possibly store. So start by dipping your toes in the water with one or two items. But be sure to involve your audience in the decision-making process. Find them about what they want. Or build buzz by offering unique products tied to big subscriber count milestones.
Step 2: Source and/or Build Your Product
In most cases, you will need a manufacturer, supplier, or wholesaler to manufacture and deliver your product. product. Some vendors will deliver it to you, and others will save you the headache of inventory, shipping, and returns by handling it themselves.
If you’re not sure where to start, check out Shopify’s tutorial in the topic to find a physical business to make your dream come true.
Step 3: Create your store and landing page
You’ll need a separate website to handle shopping. If you want to link directly from your videos (and you do), check out YouTube’s list of approved product sites.
Step 4: Enable your product shelf for YouTube partners
YouTube partners can also use the shelf feature to sell their channel’s merchandise. If eligible, follow YouTube’s instructions to enable it.
Step 5: Promote your product in your videos
This is where your charm comes in. use your merchandising in your videos. It shows viewers that they have purchased it and are using it. (If we were on another platform, we might call this “user-generated content” or possibly “solid gold.”)
And don’t forget to add your store link to your video descriptions, and include end screens and cards with compelling calls to action.
Pro Tip: Don’t forget to say thank you. Because he’s polite. But also because it’s an excuse to remind people how cool and popular your product is, once again.
3. Create Sponsored Content
You don’t have to be on Instagram to be an influencer. The advantage of the #sponcon strategy is that you don’t have to give YouTube a piece of your earnings. You negotiate directly with the brand and they pay you directly. It’s no wonder it’s a popular way for YouTubers to make money.
If you can offer brands a large and/or engaged audience, and your content is relevant to your target market, chances are you’ll they want to hear from you.
For example, YouTuber Aaron Marino, also known as Alpha M, is big in the men’s lifestyle space. How big? So big that even their videos explaining their brand associations have brand partners.
Step 1: Find a brand to partner with
The quality is important, when it comes to the names you work with. You probably already have a wish list of dream brands. Whether you’re shooting for the stars or building a grassroots style, be sure to hone your brand pitch before you send it out.
Also consider signing up for an influencer marketing platform. These are intermediary websites that help marketing teams find suitable influencers to work with. FameBit was one of the first to target YouTubers, for example.
Step 2: Make a deal
According to this recent study by the marketing platform From Klear influencers, YouTube videos are, on average, the most expensive type of sponsored content that brands can buy from influencers. Basically, YouTube influencers can charge more for their videos than they would for Instagram Stories or Facebook posts, because video is more expensive to produce.
While your fee will vary depending on the your audience size, engagement and relevance to your potential partner, know your value before you sign a contract.
Step 3: Be transparent about your #sponsored #ad
Sponsored content is advertising. That means you need to make sure you’re in line with Google’s advertising policies. Both the FTC (US) and the ASA (UK) have guidelines that you should also consider if you are American or British. Transparency is good for your legal health, but also for the relationship with your audience. YouTube has a visible disclosure feature to help you make sure your audience knows you’re advertising to them.
4. Become an Affiliate Partner
If your YouTube audience is loyal and engaged, but hasn’t broken down to the personal level yet, look for companies that invest in affiliate marketing.
YouTubers Business affiliates encourage their viewers to visit the brand’s online store or specific product pages. They then get a percentage of the sales made through their, you guessed it, affiliate links.
In terms of setup and logistics, affiliate partnerships are similar to sponsored content offers, so stick with it. Steps in Tip #3 get you started.
5.Get your fans to pay you directly
This strategy for making money on YouTube includes a few different sources of income, but they all have one thing in common: you have to make it easy for your fans to show their appreciation. with your credit card.
Step 1: Set up live chats where people can use Super Chat
In early 2017, YouTube replaced its feature previous Financing of fans with Super Talk. This is a feature that is only available to YouTube partners while they are streaming live.
Essentially, your viewers can make your comments more visible: they are highlighted and pinned for a set period of time depending on how much they pay, in the live chat stream.
Step 2: Encourage your fans to become channel members
YouTube offers the ability to allow viewers to pay you to become members of your channel. In return, they get custom emoji, badges, and access to member-only exclusives like live chats with you.
For example, Wintergatan is a Swedish band that also makes elaborate marble machines and posts videos about it for his YouTube channel. They regularly thank their channel members in their videos. They also make it clear what the membership money is backing:
You will need to come up with a strategy promotion to convince people to become members, which may or may not include various levels of membership. Like Super Chat, this feature is only available to YouTube partners.
Step 3: Encourage your fans to become YouTube Premium subscribers
This step is last on our list for this strategy because it benefits your channel only indirectly. That being said, when YouTube Premium members watch your channel, you get a portion of their subscription fee. (And so do all the other channels they watch.)
6. Use crowdfunding
Requesting donations online is now commonplace. Whether you’re looking to generate ongoing income from a pool of small monthly donations or looking to fund a personal channel-related project, crowdfunding is the way many YouTubers make money.
Step 1: Set up a crowdfunding account
YouTube has a list of approved crowdfunding sites to choose from.
For recurring funding, Patreon is the best option. In the meantime, sites like GoFundMe or Kickstarter are better for one-off campaigns to get a new microphone, a new laptop, or a new… spleen.
Even household names like Walk Off the Earth or Veronica Mars (well, she’s a fictional character) have used Patreon to fund their projects, be they music videos or feature films.
Step 2: Promote your campaign in your videos
Detail your specific goals so people know exactly what to expect when you’ve been successful .
Plus, offer attractive perks that add up as your fans choose how much they want to donate.
For more information and inspiration, check out this step-by-step guide to crowdfunding strategies.
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Step 3: Go beyond YouTube
A successful campaign is a cross-platform affair. We’ve got some tips on how to promote your YouTube channel (and by extension your crowdfunding campaign) elsewhere.
7. License your content to the media
When a video goes viral, every media outlet wants to get their hands on a copy to play for their audience. Fortunately, established media companies are well aware that they have to pay for what they use. And voila, you have another way to make money on YouTube.
As a content creator, licensing the media of your most successful work can be as simple as making sure you’re easy to find.
Step 1: Keep your contact details up to date on your About page
You never know when lightning will strike. Even if you don’t have a business manager, set up a generic email account that you can point to for business inquiries.
Step 2: Sign up for a video rights marketplace
Jukin Media is a great place to start.Even if you don’t have a viral video like the lady in the Chewbacca mask (see below), the media often need timely footage to complete their reporting.
For example, Jukin has a complete catalog of ‘news of interest’. ‘ videos you can contribute to, if you have exclusive footage of a major natural disaster, plane crash or locust infestation.
How much money can you make on YouTube?
Sadly, this age-old question has an infuriating answer: it depends.
Heaven is heaven limit, as the story of 9-year-old YouTuber and billionaire Ryan Kaji demonstrates. But getting into 7-digit territory takes a lot of time, hard work, and luck.
YouTube’s revenue is highly dependent on AdSense. In simple terms, YouTubers get paid for every ad view on their channel. But rates vary across geographies, demographics, and even industries (software ads can have a higher CPM than, say, clothing ads).
On average, YouTubers earn $3-$5 per 1,000 video views through AdSense. . If your channel is reaching a lot of people, this can add up to a nice paycheck. It’s not uncommon for big name creators to make over $200,000 each month from AdSense alone.
But even if your channel is trending and AdSense revenue is filling your bank account, remember that YouTube fame depends on many factors. , some (or most) of which are out of your control: YouTube’s algorithm can change, as can the tastes and needs of your audience.
To make sure the money you earn on YouTube becomes a constant income, follow our 7 tips and diversify. Merchandising, brand deals, and crowdfunding can earn you money even if, for whatever reason, your AdSense paychecks drop.
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