How To Find Your YouTube Niche In 2023: Complete step-by-step Guide

Picking a niche for your YouTube Channel is probably the most important decision you will ever make. It can single-handedly help you target a specific audience, build a loyal community, and establish your expertise - all of which can lead to higher engagement, subscriber retention and also help you make money from YouTube. You can go from not making any money off YouTube to easily making $100/month to $10,000 per month.

If you’re wondering how to find the best niche for YouTube, we’ve got you covered! We’ve analyzed over 100 niches, have spoken to several top creators and put together this step-by-step guide to find the best niche for your channel. In this article, we will cover 

1. What Is A YouTube Niche?

2. How To Find Your Niche

1. What Are You Passionate About?
2. Can You Build Authority?

3. Can I Make Money From This?

1. How To Make Money From Your YouTube Channel
2. CPM
3. Affiliate Potential

4. How Do I Research My Niche  

1. Conduct Keyword Research
2. Analyze Competition
3. Use Social Media
4. Survey Your Audience
5. Real World Research 
6. Longevity Test

5. Top YouTube Video Niches With Examples

6. Cost Analysis

So, follow this guide, stick around till the end and make sure you have your notepad ready! 

1. What Is A YouTube Niche?

Rather than a single topic, a YouTube niche refers to a specific category or subject matter that becomes the focus of your channel. It defines the type of content you produce consistently and helps you target a specific audience.

For instance, in this channel, Dad, How Do I, the creator shares ‘How To’ videos which are catered to teach people things that their Dad would. It falls under the broad niche of Educational Videos and is targeted to a specific audience. 

 

From the above example, we understand that having a niche on YouTube is crucial for several reasons. If you focus on a specific target audience with shared interests, it increases the likelihood of attracting loyal and engaged viewers. It also helps you establish a clear identity and positioning, making it easier for your viewers to understand what your channel is about.

Focusing on a specific niche gives you a clear direction for content creation and can even help you establish yourself as an expert on that particular niche. It can also attract advertisers and brands interested in your audience, which increases your opportunities for monetization.

Lastly, YouTube’s algorithms reward niche-focused channels. The more niched down your topic is, the easier it is for your videos to appear in relevant searches and recommendations, which ultimately leads to better content discovery.

2. How To Find Your Niche

While you might have different goals to start a YouTube channel, there are a few things you need to consider. Rather than putting in all your effort without a clear direction, you can ask yourself a few questions that will help you narrow down on a niche and build a successful YouTube channel. 

2.1. What Are You Passionate About?

Winning the YouTube game requires commitment and motivation over a long period of time. To ace the game, you would need approximately 100 or more videos. If you pick a niche you’re not passionate about, will you be able to deep dive into researching more about it or create content that resonates with your audience?

Passion is what fuels intrinsic motivation and keeps you committed in the face of challenges, setbacks or slow growth periods. It’s important to be passionate about the niche you choose because this deep interest can help you find creative solutions or generate ideas easily. For instance, if you are passionate about cooking, you can create videos about exploring different cuisines, recipes, cooking techniques and even do restaurant reviews.

Joshua Weissman does a fantastic job at this. On his eponymous channel that has over 8M subscribers, he not only shares cooking videos but also how to make cheaper alternatives of famous franchise foods at home as well as restaurant reviews.

 The best way to identify your passions is to list them down. You can do this by: 

• Reflecting on your hobbies: What do you like to do during your free time? Is it playing a musical instrument, gaming or painting? 
• Identifying childhood interests: Was there anything that excited you when you were a child? Is that activity still a part of your life like a sport you enjoy playing?
• Going through your search history: What do you research the most online? What does your YouTube search history look like? What kind of content have you been consuming the most? Make a list of those things.
• Asking your friends and family: During conversations with people close to you, there must be a topic you enjoy speaking about the most. Ask your friends and family what they think you’re passionate about. 

During this step of the process, do not think about whether or not your passion will make you money on YouTube. Simply list them down and think if you’d be interested in working on them for the next 2-3 years.

2.2. Can You Build Authority?

After you’ve listed down your passions, you need to narrow down on this list by seeing which of these passions you can build authority in. 

Building authority translates to showcasing your expertise, knowledge and establishing yourself as a credible source of information. When your viewers perceive you as an expert, they are more likely to trust and value your content. 

In a competitive YouTube landscape, having authority over your niche can help you get a dedicated following, higher engagement and more subscribers who seek trustworthy, well researched content.

Ahrefs, a SaaS company that creates online SEO tools for marketing professionals, share their knowledge and expertise by creating SEO tutorials, tips and share strategies on their YouTube channel.

While picking your niche based on passion and interest, make sure that you have the skill-set and knowledge to create the required content. Taking a cue from the example above, if you’re passionate about SEO or marketing but have limited knowledge, you will not be able to create well-informed, authoritative content like Ahrefs.

To figure out which passion can help you build authority, ask yourself: 

• What are you good at? 
• What are you experienced in? 
• What topic do you have a natural talent for? 
• What is something you’re most proficient in? 

If you have the answers to these questions, it will become easier to narrow down on an area of interest. Once you’re sure about the niche you are passionate about and can build authority in, it’s time to move towards the next step.

3. Can I Make Money From This?

This is one of the most crucial steps that people often miss when selecting a niche for YouTube. People often overlook monetization potential as they may be driven by their passion or interest. While passion and interest is essential, overlooking monetization can hinder long-term sustainability and growth.

Considering whether or not your niche can make money on YouTube ensures that your efforts can translate into some form of financial rewards and help you generate income. Understanding a niche’s earning possibilities helps you strike a balance between your passion and interest, and ensures that your channel is a profitable venture which can support your content creation journey in the long run.

3.1. How To Make Money From Your YouTube Channel

As a content creator, there are several ways you can make money with your YouTube Channel. These include advertising, affiliate marketing, brand sponsorships, fan funding and merchandise sales. Below are some ways in which you can monetize your channel. 

a. YouTube Partner Program 

The first step to earning money on YouTube begins with joining the YouTube Partner Program (YPP). This program gives content creators the ability to monetize their videos through Google AdSense.

To qualify for YPP, you will need to fulfill certain criteria: 

• Have 1,000 subscribers
• Either 4,000 valid public watch hours in the last 12 months or 10m valid public Shorts views in the last 90 days. 

This criteria remains the same for earning revenue through Ads as well as Premium Subscriptions. 

There are new lower thresholds for creators from US, UK, Canada, Taiwan and South Korea (coming to all countries where the YPP is available) to access fan funding features and Creator Support. This includes having:

• 500 subscribers
• 3 valid public uploads in the last 90 days
• Either 3,000 valid public watch hours in the past year or 3m valid public Shorts views in the last 90 days

The new thresholds have been introduced specifically for small creators to apply sooner and start earning.

In addition to the above, you also need to: 

• Adhere to YouTube’s monetisation policies 
• Live in a country or region where the program is available
• Have no active community guidelines strikes against your channel
• Have a linked Google AdSense account

If you meet these requirements and get accepted as a YouTube Partner, there are several ways in which you can monetise your content. 

1. Advertising: To run ads on your videos, you need to be at least 18 years old or have an adult guardian who can handle your payments via Google’s AdSense platform. You also need to create content that meets Google’s advertiser-friendly content guidelines
2. Channel Memberships: YouTube Channel Memberships allow fans to support their favorite YouTubers by committing to automated monthly donations. In exchange, channel members might get access to member-only content, loyalty badges, and other unique perks. To gain access to the YouTube channel membership feature, your channel needs more than 30,000 subscribers and zero community guidelines violations on record. Once you gain access, you will see a Join button next to the Subscribe button

3. Merchandise Shelf: You can make merchandise to market your content and sell it through YouTube’s integrated e-commerce feature known as Merch shelf. To qualify for Merch shelf access, you must be at least 18 years old, be a part of YPP, your audience isn’t set as Made For Kids and you have not violated any community guidelines. 
4. Super Chat and Super Stickers: Super Chat and Super Stickers are features that let your viewers and fans purchase chat messages that stand out during live-streamed chats. To take advantage of Super Chat and Super Stickers, you need to be at least 18 years old and live in a country or region where they’re available.

b. Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing through Youtube is an intelligent approach to give your viewers more value while also generating income. It gives you direct control over what you are promoting. 

YouTube affiliate marketing is simply the process of promoting products or services on YouTube by creating videos around them or organically integrating them in your content and earning a commission whenever someone makes a purchase or clicks on your affiliate link.

As an affiliate, you can promote anything from apps, softwares, books, shoes, shirts, jeans, electronics, medicines, beauty products, baby products, and groceries to financial products. You can approach different companies like Amazon or InVideo who offer affiliate programs. 

Once you receive your unique affiliate link or promo-code from a company, here are a few ways in which you can place them: 

1. Video Description

You can add your affiliate link in the description of your video. Be sure to tell your audience what this link is and where it leads to. 

2. Text Overlay in the Video

You can also add your affiliate link or promo-code as a text overlay in the video itself.  

3. End Screen 

Add your affiliate link in the end screen. Refer to the image below to get an idea of how you can do this. 

4. Pinned Comments

If you’re worried that no one will read the description of your video, you can add your affiliate link as a comment and pin it to the top. 

While using affiliate links, be honest with your viewers about the links. They need to be told that the channel will earn a small commission. If your viewers trust you and like your content, they are more likely to check out the links or promo-codes you share.

c. Brand Sponsorships 

Brand sponsorships on YouTube are a collaborative effort between a brand or a company and a content creator. Brands or companies look out for YouTubers who can promote their products or services in their videos. Depending on the agreement, creators can receive financial compensation based on the scope of work, audience size, engagement rates and views. 

Branded content can take various forms such as sponsored videos, product placements, mentions or dedicated reviews such as unboxing videos or app reviews.

For instance, here’s a sponsored video where YouTuber Unbox Therapy partners with Apple to unbox the Apple Watch Hermès.

Maintaining authenticity and aligning with brands that genuinely connect with your audience is crucial for the success and integrity of brand sponsorships. You can enhance your monetization strategy on YouTube by building and nurturing strong brand partnerships that resonate with your viewers.

d. E-Commerce or Merchandising 

Selling your own products and services on YouTube can be another lucrative way to make money. By leveraging your channel's audience and building trust with your viewers, you can create a loyal customer base. 

Whether it's physical products, digital downloads, online courses, or personalized services, offering valuable and relevant offerings that align with your niche can lead to direct sales and increased revenue. This approach not only diversifies your income streams but also allows you to have more control over your monetization strategy and build a sustainable business around your content on YouTube.

Here’s how Author Kristen Martin shared a preview and promoted her book through a trailer video.

While these are great ways to monetize your channel, if you’re just starting out, getting brand sponsorships or meeting the eligibility criteria for the YouTube Partner Program might be difficult. That’s why, before zeroing in on monetization opportunities, there are two factors you need to consider i.e. CPM (Cost Per Mille) and the Affiliate Potential of the niche you choose.

Considering these two factors is essential as they can help you make informed decisions about viability, earning potential and can help you select the best niche for YouTube

3.2. Youtube CPM

CPM stands for Cost Per Mille, where Mille refers to one thousand impressions. It represents the revenue generated by a video creator for every one thousand ad impressions that their videos receive.

While the earning potential of a YouTube channel is influenced by various factors, understanding how your niche can influence CPM earnings can help you monetize your content effectively.

Some niches attract advertisers who are willing to pay a premium for targeted audiences or certain audience demographics they might be looking for. For instance, content related to finance, lifestyle, or fashion may have higher CPMs compared to more general content such as dance or music covers.

If your niche is high in demand among advertisers, you may experience higher CPMs as they compete for ad placements on your videos. This essentially means you’ll be generating a higher revenue for the views you receive on your videos. 

Just remember that there is no such thing as a definitive dollar to view ratio. The amount you earn from YouTube varies depending on a variety of factors that include: 

• The topic of your video 
• The length of the video and how many ads you can display 
• Quality of your channel i.e. whether it is family-friendly or not 
• Who are the majority of your viewers (English speaking countries attract a higher CPM than non-English speaking countries) 
• Content - are your videos original or are you using copyrighted material like clips from movies

3.2. Affiliate Potential

Apart from CPM, you also need to consider if there are opportunities for affiliate marketing within your niche. Affiliate marketing is a great way for YouTubers to make money by promoting products or services from other companies through unique affiliate links or promo codes. When a viewer clicks on these links or uses the promo codes, you can earn a commission based on the affiliate program’s terms.

For instance, here is a video from Debt Busters where they are teaching their audience to create a Faceless YouTube channel using AI, while promoting InVideo and VidIQ. 

They have also placed multiple affiliate links in their description.

Companies which offer affiliate programs, look for content creators who match their target customers. Finding relevant affiliate partnerships can result in relevant product promotions that genuinely resonate with your audience which can result in sales. 

If you’re an artist and your niche is teaching charcoal portraits, you can enter a partnership with an arts supply company which offers an affiliate program. Every time one of your viewers buys art supplies using your affiliate link or promo code, you earn a commission.

Identifying niches with high affiliate potential is crucial for maximizing earnings. These niches offer attractive commission rates, allowing you to increase revenue per sale or action. By focusing on targeted audiences within these niches, you can achieve higher conversion rates and earn more from your affiliate efforts. 

Building trust and authenticity is easier when promoting products closely aligned with your niche, leading to increased customer trust and purchases. High-potential niches attract better affiliate partnerships, provide long-term sustainability, and offer opportunities for competitive advantage. Diverse product options and strategic content creation further enhance your monetization strategy.

To get a clearer idea about the affiliate potential of top niches and the type of affiliate products you can promote, check the table below

YouTube Niches	Affiliate Potential	Type of Affiliate Products
1. Make Money Online	High	Online courses, SaaS products, Financial products
2. Social Media Marketing	High	Online courses, SaaS products
3. Personal Finance & Investing	High	Financial products, Amazon products
4. Educational Videos	Medium	Online courses, Amazon products
5. Photography & Film Making	High	Amazon products, Courses, Travel products (trip itinerary)
6. Cars	High	Amazon products
7. Lifestyle	High	Amazon products, Merchandise
8. Fashion & Clothing	High	Amazon products, Merchandise
9. Entertainment	Low	Amazon products
10. Cooking	Medium	Amazon products, Courses
11. Tech & Gadgets	High	Tech products & Accessories
12. Reviews & Reactions	Medium	Amazon products
13. Bodybuilding & Fitness	High	Fitness products, fitness courses
14. Music	Low	Playlists, Audio products & Accessories
15. Video Games	Low	Gaming accessories, Game purchase referrals
16. ASMR(Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response)	High	Products & Accessories
17. Dance Cover	Low	Dance courses

By considering both CPM and Affiliate Potential beforehand, you can strategically choose a niche that not only aligns with your interests but also offers the best opportunities for future monetization. By combining both, you can create a well-rounded strategy that ensures long-term success and profitability on YouTube. 

4. How Do I Research My Niche?

Before you choose a niche for your YouTube channel, it is important to do a thorough demand,  competition & longevity analysis. Researching audience demand and preferences helps you tailor your content to meet their needs and interests.

A thorough research of the competition helps you identify gaps and opportunities while selecting the best niche for YouTube. By understanding your niche and the competition, you can develop a strategy to stand out and make your content unique. It will also help you understand the monetizing potential of your niche which can help you generate more income. 

There are several methods you can use to research demand and competition while choosing the best niche for YouTube. 

4.1. Conduct Keyword Research

Use keyword research tools such as Google Keyword Planner, the YouTube search bar, Google Trends, and VidIQ to identify popular search terms associated with your niche. See if they have high search volumes and consistent interest. It can help you understand your niche or interest’s potential value. 

You can use the following methods to conduct keyword research 

Youtube search method/Alphabet soup

To do keyword and topic research for a niche via the YouTube search bar, follow these steps:

• Type a broad keyword related to your niche in the YouTube search bar
• Look at the suggested search terms that appear below the search bar, as this can give you an idea of what people are searching for related to your niche

• Scroll through the search results and look at the titles and descriptions of the top videos to see what topics are popular in your niche
• Look at the number of views, likes, and comments on the top videos to gauge the level of interest in those topics
• Use the "Filter" option on the search results page to narrow down the results by upload date, view count, and other criteria to find more specific topics and trends in your niche

Google Trends Method 

Google Trends is a tool that can be used to analyze the popularity of search terms over time. To use Google Trends for keyword and topic research for YouTube, follow these steps:

• Visit Google Trends 
• Enter a broad keyword related to your niche in the search bar

• Use the filters below your keyword at the top of the page to narrow down the results by location, time period, and category (e.g., Arts & Entertainment, Sports, etc.)

• Look at the "Interest over time" graph to see how the popularity of the keyword has changed over time

• Scroll down to the "Related queries" section to see other search terms that are related to your keyword

• Click on a related query to see its "Interest over time" graph and related queries
• Repeat the process for each related query to find new topics and search terms to explore

VidIQ 

VidIQ can help you find relevant and high-ranking keywords associated with videos. To do a keyword research on VidIQ, follow these steps: 

• Start by installing the VidIQ browser extension for Chrome or Firefox. You can find the extension on the respective web stores and add it to your browser
• Go to YouTube and you will see the VidIQ extension icon in your browser at the top right. Click the drop down icon to open the menu
• In the VidIQ panel, click on the Keyword Inspector option. Here, you'll find various keyword suggestions related to the video's topic 

• In Keyword Inspector, type in your broad keyword and hit search to get your results. VidIQ assigns scores to each keyword, indicating its potential value. Pay attention to the Search volume, Competition, and Overall score to assess the keyword's viability.

You can do this much by accessing VidIQ’s free extension. VidIQ Pro offers more features but you might not need it for basic keyword research. 

Google keyword planner

Google Keyword Planner can help you gain valuable insights into the search volume and competition level for keywords related to your niche. Follow these steps to use it:   

• Go to the Google Keyword Planner website and log in with your Google account
• Click on "Discover new keywords" and enter a broad keyword related to your niche
• Specify your targeting options, such as location and language
• Click "Get results" to generate a list of keywords related to your niche
• Sort the list by relevance, search volume, or other criteria to find the most relevant keywords for your niche
• Click on a keyword to see additional data, such as search volume trends and competition level
• Use the keyword data to inform your content strategy, including video titles, tags, and descriptions.

4.2. Analyze Competition

Apart from keyword research, you also need to analyze the competition for your niche on YouTube. Visit the channels of your top competitors and examine their statistics such as subscriber count, total video views as well as engagement metrics such as likes, comments and shares. 

Analyzing the comments section of your competition’s videos can help you get insights into audience preference and content gaps. For instance, check out these comments on Marques Brownlee’s iPhone 14 review on YouTube. You get a fair idea that the content he is sharing is informative and appreciated by his audience. 

Make sure you watch several videos as well to understand your competition’s content strategy. Take a look at the videos they produce, their format and the topics they cover. You can then gauge what works and what doesn’t.

Going through your competitions videos will also help you understand if they have collaborated with other creators, companies or brands and how well affiliate marketing or brand sponsorships work for them.

Based on your analysis, you can identify gaps and opportunities which can help you plan your strategy and create meaningful content. 

4.3. Use Social Media

You can use social media to analyze a niche for YouTube to gain valuable insights into audience interest, engagement and trends. Identify key platforms which are relevant for your niche. 

While Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok are popular platforms to start with, you might want to check out the other platforms where your audience spends its time. For instance, if your niche is talking about everything NFT, then you might want to check out platforms such as Telegram, Discord and Reddit. 

Social media platforms are also a great way to keep an eye on trending topics within your niche and help you get insights into current interests and popular discussions. 

4.4. Survey Your Audience

Once you have a small following, you can survey your audience to understand their preferences and interests. This can help you tailor your content to their needs and preferences and build a loyal following.

Apart from encouraging your audience to leave suggestions, opinions or feedback in the comments section and engaging with them there, here are a few other ways in which you can survey your audience:

• Community Tab: If your channel is eligible, you can use the Community Tab feature to post polls and questions directly to your subscribers
  
• Video Poll Cards: During your videos, use YouTube's interactive poll cards. These are on-screen annotations that allow viewers to vote on a specific question while watching your video
  
• Video End Screens: Use end screens to prompt viewers to take a survey or participate in a poll related to the video they just watched
  

4.5. Real World Research

While online research is important, don’t miss out on real world experience and identifying potential gaps in the market you can capitalize on. It could be a gap in a field you’re working in or it could be from a real life experience. 

For instance, Cassey Ho, the founder of Blogilates started her channel by creating online pilates videos for her students. As she was moving away from her hometown, she didn’t want her students to miss out and at the time, roughly around 2009, there was a gap in the market for an online pilates instructor. Since then, her POP Pilates videos have garnered over millions of views.

If you already have real-world proof that your content or services are needed, you can start from there itself. Filling in gaps with valuable and relevant content allows you to position your channel uniquely and attract a dedicated audience seeking the specific information or service you provide.

4.6. Longevity Test

If you have zeroed in on a niche, it’s important to check its longevity too. Is it just a passing trend or is it evergreen? Here are several things you can do to verify the longevity of a niche.

• Historical Consistency: Use tools like Google Trends, YouTube's own search tools, or specialized SEO tools to analyze the historical search volume and interest for topics in your niche. If there is consistent interest over a long period (years), it's likely that the niche is evergreen.
• Future Relevance: Ask yourself, does this topic have future relevance? Evergreen niches often have an inherent longevity to them. Topics like education, health, personal finance, fitness, cooking, and travel tend to be evergreen because they'll always be relevant to people's lives.
• Audience Demographics: Consider who your audience is. If your audience is a specific age group that will age out of your content, it might not be an evergreen niche. But if your content is appealing to a broad demographic range, it's more likely to be evergreen.
• Inherent Characteristics of the Niche: Some niches are by nature more evergreen than others. For example, niches that rely on timely news or current events may not be as evergreen as niches that focus on timeless topics such as beauty and fashion or travel and lifestyle. 
• Competitor Analysis: Look at other channels in your niche. If they have been successful for a long period, it's a good indication the niche is evergreen.
• Rate of Change: If the core knowledge or skills in your niche change rapidly, it could be a trend. Evergreen content tends to revolve around knowledge or skills that stay relevant for longer periods.

Choosing an evergreen niche doesn't mean your content has to be static. Even within evergreen niches, trends will come and go. Successful YouTubers find ways to integrate trends into their content strategy to keep things fresh and engaging while maintaining their focus on evergreen topics.

Following these research methods can give you a better understanding of the level of demand and competition in your niche and help you make more informed decisions about the content you create for your YouTube channel.

Remember that balance is key! Passion, authority, high CPM, high affiliate potential and researching demand can help you create a sustainable and successful content strategy. Missing out on either one of these factors can be detrimental to your growth.

For instance, if you create content without passion, keeping only monetization in mind, you may feel disinterested after a while or even experience burnout. Whereas if you focus solely on a topic you’re passionate about, your content might not appeal to a wider audience, limiting your channel’s growth and earning potential. Similarly, if you lack authority in your niche, you won’t be able to create content that adds value, builds trust or stands out. Lack of trust or viewership can affect your earnings. 

Not considering CPM potential and high affiliate potential might lower your earnings. While your channel could see some success, it would make little to no money. Moreover, not finding relevant products to promote on your channel can hinder your ability to generate income through affiliate marketing.

Lastly, insufficient research could lead you to enter niches with little audience interest or too much competition, which can impact your growth as well as earnings. If there is no demand for your topic, you won’t get any views no matter how interesting your content is or how much authority you hold.

5. Top YouTube Video Niches With Examples

Now that you’re well on your way to discovering your niche, here are the top YouTube video niches along with examples. We’ll be exploring channels which show the creator and channels that use stock images or edits to share content. We’ll also be sharing CPM stats for each niche (sourced from Stashvine) and their affiliate marketing potential. 

1. Make Money Online 

Make Money Online is a high CPM YouTube niche where content creators share strategies, tips, and opportunities for earning money through various online ventures, such as affiliate marketing, e-commerce, freelancing, and passive income streams. The content aims to educate and inspire viewers to explore online money-making opportunities and achieve financial freedom.

YouTuber Joshua Mayo does exactly this by sharing tips, tricks and side hustles to make money online. Check out this video where he talks about how you can use AI for side hustles and make money online. 

 

Matt Par also shares tips on how to make money with work from home and online jobs on his channel Make Money Matt. Here’s a video where he shares the 5 Laziest Ways to Make Money Online.

It’s not always necessary to show your face or be the face of your channel. 10X INCOME makes faceless videos using stock images or edits to share equally valuable information. 

Digital Income Project is another example of a faceless channel that shares the best way to make money using AI. Here’s a video where they talk about making money using faceless Instagram accounts.

Average CPM for Make Money Online niche: $13.52 

Affiliate Potential: High 

Products For Make Money Online 

Here are some affiliate programs you can check out. 

SaaS Affiliate Programs 

• InVideo affiliate program (video creation software)
• Podia affiliate program
• Synthesia affiliate program
• Grammarly affiliate program
• Bit.ai affiliate program
• Notion affiliate program

This is a very small list. You can find more softwares in your niche and check if they have an affiliate program. 

Online Courses 

You can find a course for your niche on the platforms below and promote it on your channel. 

• Tube Mastery & Monetisation affiliate program
• Udemy affiliate program
• Coursera affiliate program
• Plural sight affiliate program
• LinkedIn Learning affiliate program
• Teachable affiliate program

Financial product affiliate programs

Some examples of financial products that a make money online niche YouTuber or blogger can promote as an affiliate are:

• Online brokerages such as E-Trade, Robinhood investing, or TD Ameritrade
• Credit cards that offer high cash-back rewards for online purchases or sign-up bonuses
• High-yield savings accounts or money market accounts with online banks
• Budgeting or personal finance apps such as PocketSmith, Personal Capital (Empower Finance), or YNAB
• Cryptocurrency exchanges such as Coinbase or Binance (Crypto)
• Online lenders for personal loans or small business loans such as LendingClub or OnDeck

Of course, it is important for the YouTuber or blogger to do their own research and ensure that the products they are promoting are reputable and relevant to their audience.

2. Social Media Marketing 

Social Media Marketing is a YouTube niche that focuses on educating viewers about leveraging social media platforms for business promotion and growth. Content creators share various tips, tactics, and insights into creating engaging content, building a brand presence, running ad campaigns, and maximizing results through various social media channels.

For instance, check out this video by YouTuber Vanessa Lau sharing insights about how to start a YouTube channel in 2023. 

You can also take a look at Dara Denney’s video on Facebook Ads for Beginners. Her channel focuses on creating and managing Facebook Ads. 

Here’s another example of how you can create videos without showing your face by using stock images and edits like YouTuber Faceless Marketing. 

 

Paddy Galloway also takes an interesting approach where he discusses the strategies used by other YouTubers. Here’s a video of him talking about How MrBeast Made YouTube’s Greatest Video.

Average CPM for Social Media Marketing: $12.41  

Affiliate Potential: High 

Products For Social Media Marketing

Here are some affiliate programs you can check out. 

SaaS Software 

• Tube Buddy affiliate program
• VidIQ affiliate program
• SEMrush affiliate program
• Answerthepublic.com affiliate program
• Kafkai affiliate program
• Headlime affiliate program
• Textcortex affiliate program

Online Courses

You can find a course for your niche on any of the platforms below and promote it on your channel 

• Udemy affiliate program
• Coursera affiliate program
• Plural sight affiliate program
• LinkedIn Learning affiliate program
• Teachable affiliate program

Physical Products

You can also join the Amazon Associate program and promote products on your channel. Follow this link to learn more. 

Learn how to become an Amazon Affiliate step-by-step, and start making money online from the Amazon Associates program by watching this tutorial by Primal Video - Amazon Affiliate Marketing

3. Personal Finance and Investing 

Personal Finance and Investing as a niche on YouTube revolves around educating viewers on managing money, budgeting, saving, and making informed investment decisions. Creators provide tips on building wealth, understanding financial markets, and planning for long-term financial security through various investment strategies.

Check out Graham Stephan’s channel where he shares everything from investing in real estate, cars to current trends in finance. 

You can also take a look at Grant Cardone’s channel where he talks about sales, how to increase your income, and investing in real estate. Here’s a video where he tells his viewers How to Get Started in Real Estate.

Here’s another example of how The Swedish Investor uses illustrations and a voice over to educate his audience on personal finance. 

YouTuber Next Level Life also follows the same method by coupling illustrations, animation and a voice over to educate his audience about personal finance. 

Average CPM for Personal Finance & Investing: $12.25

Affiliate Potential: High 

Products For Personal Finance & Investing

Here are some affiliate programs you can check out. 

Financial Products

You can go through the financial products listed below to see which one resonates with your niche and promote it accordingly. 

• Credit Karma
• Credit Sesame
• Coinbase
• Robinhood investing
• Binance (Crypto)
• Personal Capital (Empower Finance)
• YNAB
• PocketSmith
• Moneyspire

Online Courses

Check out these popular courses you can affiliate with to earn a commission as well 

• Udemy affiliate program
• Coursera affiliate program
• Plural sight affiliate program
• LinkedIn Learning affiliate program
• Teachable affiliate program

While this is just a small list, there are lots of different affiliate programs in the finance niche that you can explore. Search for products that are doing well in your sub-niche and sign up for their affiliate program. For instance, you can look for budgeting tools, credits cards, credit reports, etc. 

4. Educational and Tutorial Videos 

Educational and Tutorial Videos offer informative content that teaches viewers various skills, subjects, or practical knowledge. Creators provide step-by-step tutorials, explanations, and demonstrations on diverse topics, empowering viewers to learn new things, from academic subjects to DIY projects and specialized skills.

For instance, YouTuber Quizzes4U creates videos with interesting quizzes for his audience, where they can test their knowledge and learn as well. 

Apart from quizzes, you can also share general trivia or knowledge on your channel. Passionate about animals? Take a look at Animal Facts who share everything you need to know from your pet dog to animals such as the penguin.

You can even explore history as a subject. Weird History covers all the topics that probably weren’t covered in school using nothing but a voice over and stock images.

Average CPM for Educational and Tutorial Videos: $9.89

Affiliate Potential: Medium

Products for Educational and Tutorial Videos

We have listed some affiliate programs you can look at below. 

Online Courses and Certification

You can find popular online courses and certification from the list below and send them traffic to earn a commission. 

• Udemy affiliate program
• Coursera affiliate program
• Plural sight affiliate program
• LinkedIn Learning affiliate program
• Teachable affiliate program

SaaS Softwares

Take a look at the SaaS software affiliate programs you can promote on your channel to earn a commission 

• Grammarly affiliate program
• Notion affiliate program
• Podia affiliate program

Books and Other Physical Products 

You can also become an Amazon Influencer and set up a store for the products you use and would like to recommend to your audience. Check out JustinLMFT and Teach Create Motivate for inspiration.

You too can set up a store and guide your users here to make a purchase and help you earn a commission. You can join the Amazon Affiliate Program here. 

Learn how to become an Amazon Affiliate step-by-step, and start making money online from the Amazon Associates program by watching this tutorial by Primal Video - Amazon Affiliate Marketing

5. Photography and Filmmaking

Photography & Filmmaking as a niche revolves around sharing tips, techniques, and tutorials related to photography, videography, and cinematic storytelling. Content creators provide insights on camera gear, editing software, composition, lighting, and post-production, catering to both beginners and experienced enthusiasts in the visual arts.

To get a fair idea, you can look at the content shared by Matti Haapoja where he shares everything from filmmaking, behind the scenes, camera and gadget reviews. 

You can also take a look at Jared Polin’s channel where he shares everything about photography through fun and informative videos.

You can also use this niche to share knowledge of post-production softwares like these Photoshop Tutorials by Webflippy. 

Take a look at these video editing tutorials by The TecNIL as well - where they share step-by-step instructions and tips to video editing. 

Average CPM for Photography and Filmmaking: $7.31

Affiliate Potential: High 

Products for Photography and Filmmaking 

Here are some programs you can take a look into for affiliate marketing. 

Courses and Certification 

You can find popular online courses and certification from the list below and send them traffic to earn a commission. 

• Udemy affiliate program
• Coursera affiliate program
• Plural sight affiliate program
• LinkedIn Learning affiliate program
• Teachable affiliate program

Products

You can promote a lot of products like cameras, gear, laptops and monitors for editing. You can also promote your own merchandise like the stores listed below. 

• Peter Mckinnon's store
• James Popsys’s store
• Anthony Turnham’s recommendations

Softwares

You can create your own Lightroom presets, Motion GFX and soundpacks, share tutorials or promote and sell them.  

6. Cars & Bikes

Cars & Bikes as a niche focuses on all things automotive, catering to car enthusiasts and consumers alike. Creators share reviews, test drives, maintenance tips, modifications, and coverage of car events, showcasing various vehicles, from classics to modern models, and exploring the world of automobiles and automotive culture.

Here’s how carwow not only reviews new car models but also makes interesting content that involves test driving the vehicle, head-to-head comparisons and drag races.

Top Gear does the same by sharing the best clips of their episodes as well as car performance reviews. 

If you don’t have access to vehicles you can test or race in, you can still create content that drives your audience to your channel and fuels your passion for cars. Here’s how PD Evolution reviews vehicles using stock footage and edits.

The SUV Geek does the same but sticks to a specific niche that shares informative videos on SUV, EVs and Pickups. 

Average CPM for Cars: $4.23

Affiliate Potential: High

Affiliate Potential for Cars 

The affiliate potential this niche provides is very high - you can go from promoting anything like tyres, car covers, perfumes, car insurance, spare parts to everything else like car detailing services, car maintenance services, etc. There are a wide range of car products that you can promote and you could even be involved in the selling of old cars.
You can find automobile product retailers with an affiliate program in your country and share them with your audience to monetise your Cars & Bikes niche content.
Here are a few affiliate programs for automobile, cars and bikes YouTube channels:

• Amazon Associates: Promote auto parts, accessories, and other products from Amazon and earn commissions on sales. Here’s how to join - link
• Learn how to become an Amazon Affiliate step-by-step, and start making money online from the Amazon Associates program by watching this tutorial by Primal Video - Amazon Associate Affiliate Marketing
• AutoAnything: An online retailer of auto parts and accessories. Their affiliate program offers a competitive commission rate and a 45-day cookie duration.
• TireBuyer: An online retailer of tires and wheels. Their affiliate program offers a commission rate of up to 8% on sales, as well as a 45-day cookie duration.
• AutoZone: A leading retailer of auto parts and accessories. Their affiliate program offers a commission rate of up to 6% on sales, as well as a 14-day cookie duration.
• CarID: An online retailer of auto parts and accessories. Their affiliate program offers a commission rate of up to 10% on sales, as well as a 45-day cookie duration.
• RevZilla: An online retailer of motorcycle gear and accessories. Their affiliate program offers a commission rate of up to 6% on sales, as well as a 30-day cookie duration.
• J&P Cycles: An online retailer of motorcycle parts and accessories. Their affiliate program offers a commission rate of up to 6% on sales, as well as a 30-day cookie duration.
• Cycle Gear: An online retailer of motorcycle gear and accessories. Their affiliate program offers a commission rate of up to 4% on sales, as well as a 30-day cookie duration.
• The Bike Bandit: An online retailer of motorcycle parts and accessories. Their affiliate program offers a commission rate of up to 8% on sales, as well as a 30-day cookie duration.
• Allstate: An insurance company that offers a range of insurance products, including auto insurance. Their affiliate program offers a commission rate of up to $20 per lead.

Source: Blogginguide.com

7. Lifestyle

Lifestyle as a niche covers a broad range of content related to everyday living, personal interests, and experiences. Creators share their daily routines, travel adventures, fashion and beauty tips, wellness advice, home organization, cooking recipes, and more. They offer viewers a glimpse into their unique and diverse lifestyles.

For instance, itsJudysLife creates wholesome content that revolves around her family and day-to-day activities.

Similarly, Fitness and Lifestyle YouTuber Sarahs Day shares content that revolves around her family, fitness routine and lifestyle. 

But you don’t necessarily need to talk about your own lifestyle. You can also explore other avenues where you can share aspirational content, how-to’s for a certain lifestyle or mindset. To get a better idea, look up the Alux.com channel that shares content on everything from luxury to millionaire mindset using stock footage and edits. 

Build Empire, a faceless YouTube channel, also explores the luxury lifestyle of billionaires through stock footage and edits. 

Average CPM for Lifestyle: $3.47

Affiliate Potential: High 

Affiliate Products & Potential for Lifestyle

Lifestyle as a niche has a high affiliate potential where you can promote and sell anything from amazon products to your own merchandise. For instance, if you’re creating content about your day to day life or travel, you can promote the products or gadgets you use as part of the Amazon Affiliate Program to earn a commission. Here’s how to join - link
Learn how to become an Amazon Affiliate step-by-step, and start making money online from the Amazon Associates program by watching this tutorial by Primal Video - Amazon Affiliate Marketing
Here are some interesting stores from lifestyle influencers you can check out for inspiration

• Itsjudyslife's Amazon Store
• The JMK's store
• K.Modemood's Amazon Store
• Taveldivas Amazon Store
• Travel in Style | ShreyabondTravel content creator, trekker and an influencer.
• Laksh Puri’s camping and hiking Store

Flights, Hotels, Insurance, Rentals, Money Transfer/Forex etc.

• Booking.com affiliate program (Hotels)
• Skyscanner affiliate program (Flights)
• Tripadvisor affiliate program
• Axa insurance affiliate program
• Travelinsurance.com affiliate program
• Viator affiliate program (Tour & activities)
• Get Your Guide affiliate program (Tour & activities)
• Tiqets affiliate program (tickets for popular attractions, museums, events, etc.)
• Rentalcars.com affiliate program

8. Fashion and Beauty

Fashion & Beauty as a niche revolves around style, makeup, skincare, and personal grooming. Content creators offer tutorials, hauls, product reviews, and fashion lookbooks, helping viewers stay updated with the latest trends and providing tips to enhance their appearance and express their individuality through fashion and beauty choices.

Amber Scholl’s channel is a good example where she shares her shopping haul, talks about the latest trends and makeovers. 

Teachingmensfashion is a channel that shares grooming, aspirational and lifestyle tips for men.

Your fashion and beauty channel can also have a very targeted audience like cutepolish’s nail art videos where they share nail art designs, hacks and trends.

Similarly, you can also do very specified tutorials like Make-Up & Hair Tutorials

Average CPM for Fashion and Beauty: $3.13 

Affiliate Potential: High

Programs for Fashion and Beauty

Someone in the fashion and makeup niche on YouTube can promote products via the Amazon Associate Program is by including Amazon affiliate links in the video description or mentioning the products in the video itself. They can promote a variety of fashion and beauty products, such as clothing, makeup, skincare, and hair care items. These products should be relevant to their niche and audience.
Join as an Amazon Associate and promote products. Here’s how to join - link
Learn how to become an Amazon Affiliate step-by-step, and start making money online from the Amazon Associates program by watching this tutorial by Primal Video - Amazon Affiliate Marketing

Courses

There are a lot of Makeup tutorial courses on the internet that you can promote if you are not into creating one initially. You can search for courses that are closest to your video topic for this niche and promote them. Following websites have courses on them that you can search for and promote -

• Udemy affiliate program
• LinkedIn Learning affiliate program
• Coursera affiliate program

9. Food and Cooking 

Food and Cooking as a niche revolves around culinary exploration, recipes, and cooking techniques. Content creators share step-by-step cooking tutorials, food reviews, and kitchen hacks, catering to various cuisines and dietary preferences. 

Chef Nick DiGiovanni takes this a step ahead and makes his content interesting by holding cook offs with his family, friends and celebrities as well.

Not interested in cook-offs and don’t want to say a thing? Try jumping on the trend of ASMR cooking and let the natural sounds and your skills steal the show like Kanan Badalov. 

If you’re not keen on cooking yourself but love food, you can also showcase street food and explore different cuisine like FoodieBoy does on their channel.

You can also creatively use stock images and voice overs to review fast food and snacks like BabbleTop.

Average CPM for Food and Cooking: $2.50

Affiliate Potential: Medium  

Affiliate Potential for Food and Cooking

A cooking and food-based YouTuber can promote affiliate products such as:

• Cooking equipment and tools from Amazon or other retailers
• Meal kit delivery services such as Blue Apron or HelloFresh
• Grocery delivery services such as Instacart or Shipt
• Food and recipe subscription services such as Food52 or America’s Test Kitchen
• Speciality food products such as gourmet spices, sauces, or snacks from brands like The Spice House or Mouth
• Kitchen decor and furnishings from retailers like Wayfair or Crate & Barrel

These are just a few examples, and it’s important to choose products that align with your brand and audience’s interests.
Join as an Amazon Associate and promote products. Here’s how to join - link
Learn how to become an Amazon Affiliate step-by-step, and start making money online from the Amazon Associates program by watching this tutorial by Primal Video - Amazon Affiliate Marketing

Courses

A cooking, recipe, or food-based channel can promote online courses related to their niche by creating content that highlights the benefits of taking the course. Partnering with online course providers like Udemy or Coursera and promoting their courses as an affiliate will help in earning a commission on each sale made through their referral link.

• Udemy affiliate program
• Coursera affiliate program

10. Tech, Gadgets and Softwares 

Tech, Gadgets, and Software as a niche covers all things technology-related. Content creators review and showcase the latest gadgets, share tech tips, and explore software and app reviews. From smartphones to laptops, cameras to productivity tools, the niche caters to tech enthusiasts seeking insights and recommendations on cutting-edge technology.

For instance, Marques Brownlee shares phone and laptop reviews, as well as speaks about the latest trends in tech. 

You can also do comparisons of different gadgets and softwares like Versus does on their channel. 

If you’re not big on trends or reviews, you can also take a note from Dr Debox’s channel and do unboxing videos only.  

If you’re enthusiastic about the latest tech, take a note from YouFact Tech who review and showcase different gadgets you can purchase from eBay or Amazon.. 

Average CPM for Tech, Gadgets and Softwares: $2.39 

Affiliate Potential: High 

Products for Tech, Gadgets and Softwares

Tech, Gadgets and Softwares have a high affiliate potential. In this niche, you can promote products from Amazon by including the affiliate links to the products in your video description or mentioning them in your video.

You can also create separate review videos which speak of the pros and cons of the product. Additionally, you can create "best of" videos or lists featuring multiple products and include affiliate links for each product in the description.

You can join as an Amazon Associate here. You can also set up an Amazon influencer store to recommend products you trust and use regularly.

SaaS Softwares 

By understanding your demographic, you can choose a software that aligns with the interest of your audience. This can help you create successful promotions with higher conversion rates. Here are some softwares you can affiliate with: 

• NordVPN affiliate program
• Express VPN affiliate program
• AutoDesk affiliate program
• QuickHeal Anti Virus affiliate program

11. Fitness

Fitness as a niche focuses on promoting a healthy and active lifestyle. Content creators offer workout routines, exercise tutorials, nutrition tips, and wellness advice. From strength training to yoga, cardio to meal planning, the niche caters to individuals seeking guidance and motivation to achieve their fitness goals.

Jordan Yeoh Fitness not only offers gym workouts, but he also shares bodyweight workouts, no equipment workouts and follow along videos with different difficulty levels.

Similarly, BullyJuice shares free workout programs, fitness routines and videos on fitness motivation on their channel. 

If you’re not keen on sharing your workout videos, you can also take the educational route and use stock footage and edits to discuss topics related to fitness like Body Hub’s channel.  

You can also couple stock footage with illustrations like House of Hypertrophy’s channel that shares research-backed videos relating to muscle and strength gain. 

Average CPM for Fitness: $1.60

Affiliate Potential: High  

Products for Fitness

Fitness-based influencers can promote a variety of products through Amazon, including:

• Fitness equipment such as weights, resistance bands, and yoga mats
• Supplements such as protein powder, vitamins, and pre-workout drinks
• Workout clothes and shoes from popular brands
• Fitness technology such as smartwatches and heart rate monitors
• Books and guides on fitness and nutrition
• Healthy snacks and food items like protein bars and shakes

These are just a few examples, and there are many more products available on Amazon that fitness influencers can promote to their audience.
Join as an Amazon Associate and promote products. Here’s how to join - link
Learn how to become an Amazon Affiliate step-by-step, and start making money online from the Amazon Associates program by watching this tutorial by Primal Video - Amazon Affiliate Marketing

Courses

As a fitness influencer can sell your own diet plans and workout courses to your audience. You can create and sell these plans and courses through your own website or platform, or use existing platforms such as Udemy, Skillshare, or Teachable. Influencers can also use social media platforms to promote your courses and engage with your audience.

 

To sell your own diet plans, influencers can create meal plans, recipes, and nutritional guides that align with your personal brand and fitness philosophy. You can also offer personalised coaching and support to your audience to help them achieve their health and fitness goals.

To sell your own workout courses, influencers can create video tutorials and instructional guides that showcase your fitness expertise and provide step-by-step guidance on how to perform exercises and routines. You can offer different levels of difficulty and cater to different fitness goals and needs, such as muscle building, weight loss, or overall health and wellness.

Overall, selling your own diet plans and workout courses can be a lucrative revenue stream for fitness influencers and a way to offer added value to your audience.

6. Cost Analysis

Once you’ve chosen your niche, the next step is to set up your channel and begin creating content. There are three ways in which you can get started and we’ll be breaking the expenses for each of them. 

1. Buying The Entire Set-Up 

Here’s a rough breakdown of the entire set-up you will need including the camera, microphone, editing software, etc. This set-up can be used when you’re personally shooting videos that show you at your studio, home, a different location or if you’re shooting a specific scene.

• Camera: $500 - $2000. This can vary based on the quality and features of the camera
• Microphone for Voice-over: $50 - $300. This too varies with quality
• Video Editing Software: $100 - $300. A video editing software can either be a one-time purchase or subscription based, depending on which software you prefer 
• Stock Footage: $20 - $100 per clip. The price varies with the resolution and licensing
• Miscellaneous: $100 - $500. Varies with other equipment you may need such as a tripod, gimbal, lighting and memory cards.

Total Estimated Cost: $770 - $3200 

2. Creating A Faceless Channel Using InVideo

You can create a faceless channel from start to finish using nothing but the features available on InVideo. 

• Subscription: $20 - $60 per month. This will vary with the plan you choose
• Text-to-Speech for Voice-Over: Included in the subscription.
• Ready-Made Templates: Included in the subscription.
• AI Script Writing: Included in the subscription.
• Licensed Background Music: Included in the subscription.

Total Estimated Cost: $20 - $60 (Monthly)

3. Outsourcing On Fiverr

If you’re not keen on creating the content yourself, you can always outsource it on Fiverr. Here’s the complete expense breakdown - 

• Script Writers: $20 - $100 per script. The cost will vary with the length and complexity of the content
• Voice-Over Artists: $50 - $300 per video. The cost will vary with the length of the VO and the experience of the artist
• Video Editors: $50 - $300 per video. This will depend on the complexity and editing time

Total Estimated Cost (Per Video): $120 - $700 

Which One Should You Go For? 

If you’re new to YouTube, are just starting out, are unsure about your YouTube niche ideas or just want to test the waters before making a significant investment, then you should definitely start with a faceless channel using invideo.io. 

It’s not only an affordable option, but you’ll have access to stock footage, text-to-speech, readymade video templates and AI script writing at a reasonable monthly cost.

If you want to be the star and the face of your channel, you can always go for your own set up. It can give you more freedom to shoot and create content you want to. The cost for this can greatly vary based on your preferences, quality, requirements and the number of videos being produced.

Please note that this cost analysis is just an estimate and serves as a general guide to help new YouTubers make an informed decision based on their specific needs and financial situation.

Wrapping Up 

Choosing your niche for YouTube is a crucial step that requires a balance between your passion, audience demand and monetization potential. With thorough research, staying true to your interests and providing value to your audience, you can create and grow a successful channel. 

Now that you’re all geared to pick the best niche for YouTube, you can take the next step and follow this guide to mastering the YouTube Algorithm to Grow Your Channel. If you’re new to creating videos for YouTube, check out this guide on How To Make A YouTube Video. 

You can also learn through videos on our YouTube channel, where we share daily video creation tips and tricks, and the latest video trends and ideas to help you make more money as a video creator.