YouTube is one of the fastest-growing platforms in the world. First launched in 2005 as a place where independent users could upload and share the videos they’ve created, it’s exploded into one of the world’s most recognizable and widely used websites.
With that growth came a unique opportunity for users: the ability to make money from the videos they produce and upload.
YouTube stars like Pewdiepie make millions of dollars a year on the platform, but there are still plenty of opportunities for newcomers to break into the space and make a living with videos.
Here’s how to make money on YouTube and start cashing in on this lucrative platform.
How to Make Money on YouTube
YouTube provides numerous methods for monetization, but you can make money on the platform in other ways, too.
Here we explore 11 ways to make money on YouTube whether through the YouTube Partner Program or independently.
The YouTube Partner Program
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YouTube pays content creators who join their partner program. To qualify, you need to obtain 1,000 subscribers and have over 4000 watch hours in the last year. Alternatively, you can apply with 1,000 subscribers and 10 million valid shorts views.
In 2023, YouTube expanded the Partner Program, decreasing eligibility requirements for creators in most countries. With the new guidelines, creators can apply with 500 subscribers, 3 valid uploads in the last 90 days, and 3,000 public watch hours in the last 12 months. Shorts creators need 3 million public short views instead of public watch hours.
How to Make Money on YouTube with the Partner Program
When you’re a partner, earning money on YouTube is a breeze.
Here are six ways YouTube Partners earn money in the program.
Display Ads
YouTube shares ad revenue with its partners. To start earning, you must set up a Google Adsense account. Then, you must accept the Watch Page Monetization Module on your YouTube Studio page. Shorts creators can also earn ad revenue by accepting the Shorts Feeds Ads Module.
Creators will earn approximately 20 cents per view, which doesn’t sound like a lot, but can add up when you go viral with thousands of views.
Super Chats and Super Stickers
Similar to the bits and cheers on Twitch, Super Chats and Stickers allow viewers to pay small amounts of money to send super stickers or highlight messages in chats.
In this way, fans can pay a nominal fee to support their favorite creators.
Only partners who livestream can earn money via Super Chats and Super Stickers, as the options aren’t available on video uploads.
Super Thanks
Super Thanks are similar to Super Chats and Stickers, but they’re available on uploaded videos and shorts rather than livestreams.
The Super Thanks allows viewers to purchase short, colorful messages to “thank” their favorite creators in the comments section.
Get Viewers to Join Your Channel
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Joining a channel on YouTube is the same as subscribing to an affiliate on Twitch. Users pay a monthly fee to gain access to custom emotes and additional content provided by the channel owner.
The significant advantage of using YouTube over Twitch is that YouTube gives creators more revenue. Twitch splits the subscription fee 50/50 with the creator, while YouTube only takes 30% of the revenue, giving the creator 70%.
YouTube also offers far more membership options. While Twitch offers only three subscriber tiers, YouTube offers over 20, starting as low as 99 cents a month, and going as high as $499.99 monthly.
YouTube Premium
YouTube Premium offers viewers the opportunity to watch YouTube without any ads if they pay a monthly fee. These users are called premium subscribers.
YouTube splits the revenue earned from premium subscribers between itself and its partners. Each partner receives a share based on the amount of time premium subscribers spend watching the individual channel.
YouTube Shopping
YouTube’s shopping platform makes it easy for partners to connect their products to their videos. It also helps creators connect affiliate products to their videos.
The module allows video creators to tag products in their videos. These tags integrate with YouTube’s platform to show viewers product information, including price and how to buy, in real-time as they watch the video.
Partners can connect their own products from outside websites, or affiliate merchandise from the YouTube affiliate hub.
How To Earn Money on YouTube if You’re Not a Partner
You must be a member of YouTube’s partnership program to earn money with all the above methods.
It takes a long time to meet YouTube’s strict requirements, but you can earn money on the platform before becoming a partner.
But don’t despair – here are seven ways you can earn money on YouTube whether you’re a partner or not!
Drive Traffic to Your Own Website
If you’re not in the partner program, consider using YouTube as a marketing tool to drive traffic elsewhere.
Bloggers, Twitch Streamers, Social Media Influencers, and Podcasters could all use extra traffic to their main accounts, so why not make YouTube videos to drive that traffic?
Use your YouTube channel as a funnel to get more eyeballs on the pages that matter most to you. To do this, include a link to your website in your YouTube profile and video descriptions.
Users who watch your videos can click the links and go directly to your website, which you can monetize in various ways.
Become a Brand Ambassador
Brand Ambassadors work with specific brands to promote their products to an audience. When searching for ambassadors, brands look for creators with viewers who align with their target audience. Some brands even work with micro-influencers if the audience is a good fit.
Brand ambassadors make money through a contract with the brand. They will wear/showcase the brand’s products in most of the content they create. The promotion details and payments depend heavily on the contractual obligations and will differ with each brand.
Monetize Your Audience with Affiliate Marketing
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Though YouTube’s shopping platform makes affiliate marketing easy, any creator can use the platform to promote their affiliates.
Make videos talking about products you love, and share your affiliate link in the video description. If a user watches the video and clicks on your link to make a purchase, you’ll earn a small commission.
When promoting affiliate products, be sure to disclose the relationship. Not disclosing violates Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations and can make your audience lose trust in you.
Create Sponsored Videos
A sponsored video is a video that a brand pays you to make. It’s different than a brand ambassadorship because it’s generally a one or two-video deal, whereas a brand ambassador is a continuing relationship with a brand.
Consider brands in your niche that might want to leverage your audience to get sponsorship deals.
Small brands will work with small content creators if the audience and niche are a good fit.
Set Up a Patreon
Many content creators turn to Patreon to earn extra income. The platform matches creators with donors and helps artists continue to produce quality content.
Patreon allows creators to set up various levels of donations, but you usually need to offer your fans something in return for the assistance. Many YouTubers provide additional video content, including unedited videos or blooper reels, and some even make extra videos just for their Patreons.
Create and Sell Merch
Drive traffic to your sales channels with YouTube videos. Make videos showcasing your art and process, and use the channel to sell completed projects to fans. Create designs with print-on-demand platforms and use your YouTube channel to drive traffic.
You can use YouTube as a sales funnel for a variety of products, including courses, eBooks, paid instructional videos, and printables. The only limit is your imagination.
Advertise Your Services
A lot of people use YouTube to market their services. Whether you’re a financial advisor, life coach, tutor, or freelancer, you can use the platform to increase your brand visibility and find new clients.
To advertise your services, you must make helpful content related to it. For example, if you’re a life coach, make a video on ten tips for self-improvement, then advertise that you’re a life coach in the video. Don’t only create videos that seem like ads, nobody will watch them.
The Truth About Making Money on YouTube
Learning how to make money on YouTube is just the start. The reality is that it’s a lot harder than it sounds.
To make money online, whether on YouTube, through blogging, podcasting, or any other online venture, you must build an engaged audience. The more visitors you have to your platform, the more likely you are to make money.
Rather than focusing on making money, focus on uploading quality, engaging content, and building your brand.
If you can accomplish this, the money will follow.