A quick Google search on YouTube Monetization would tell you that an average YouTuber earns around $4,616 per month. But if you think this monetization is the reason behind the massive net worths of YouTubers like MrBeast and Jake Paul, you couldn’t be far from the truth! Aside from posting videos, they leverage their platform and dedicated audience to generate a comfortable income (making them up to $54 million in a year).
But if you’re new to the game, figuring out how to make money on YouTube can be pretty daunting. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! By the end of this blog, you’ll have a clear idea about the best ways to make money as a YouTuber.
We’ve covered seven distinctive ways to make money on YouTube through which you’ll be able to pick the most suitable monetization methods for your channel.
- Become An Affiliate Marketer
- Work With Brands As An Influencer
- Join The YouTube Partner Program
- Sell Products Or Merchandise
• Best E-Commerce Platforms - Offer Channel Memberships
- License Your Content To The Media
- Crowdfund Your Next Creative Project
• Popular Crowdfunding Platforms
Let’s dive in!
1. Become An Affiliate Marketer
If you’ve just started out and aren’t eligible for the YouTube Partner Program yet, then affiliate marketing is the best monetization strategy for you. Affiliate marketing allows you to easily monetize your audience’s needs by promoting other businesses’ products and services. But how EXACTLY? By simply adding an affiliate link!
In your video’s description or pinned comment, you can add the link to the product, website, or service that you want to promote. When your viewer clicks on the link and makes a purchase, you would earn a small commission fee. You can typically expect around 5% to 50% of the total purchase fee as a commission.
Here’s how you can do it:
- Contact a company whose product or services align with your channel (or they might get in touch with you).
- Build a unique affiliate link featuring that product/service.
- Create a video either promoting it or highlighting its importance.
- Add the links to your video description or pinned comments and redirect your audience to purchase using that specific link.
- Don’t forget to add that it's promoted!
Here’s an example of an affiliate link.
If you’re looking for a lucrative affiliate marketing program to join, invideo AI may be your go-to choice. Here’s why:
- High-earning potential: Earn up to 50% commission on monthly plans and 25% on annual subscriptions, making invideo AI among the most profitable affiliate programs in the video creation space.
- Global reach: Tap into a vast audience of creators across 195+ countries, expanding your potential customer base and maximizing your earning opportunities.
- Rapid payouts: Enjoy swift payment processing with earnings credited within 15 days of successful signups, ensuring a smooth and efficient cash flow.
- Unlimited earning potential: No caps on commissions! The more referrals you bring, the more you earn, rewarding your dedication and hustle.
- Extended cookie window: A generous 120-day cookie period gives you ample time to nurture leads and convert them into paying customers, maximizing your ROI on referral efforts.
- Free trial conversions: Even users who start with invideo AI's free plan count towards your commission if they upgrade within 120 days, turning trial periods into potential rewards.
- Dedicated support: Invideo AI provides valuable resources and support to help you succeed, including custom-made marketing materials and regular updates on new features to boost your conversion rates.
If you see the above screenshot, the YouTube channel “Primal Video” is reviewing invideo AI and sharing its affiliate link (from which he’ll make 25-50% commission on every paid signup).
So, if you're looking for a high-potential affiliate program in the booming video editing market, invideo AI ticks all the boxes. However, you can read about 32 Best Affiliate Programs With High-Income Potential for more.
Best for: Beginners who aren't eligible for the YouTube Partner Program yet, or those who create videos on a specific niche.
2. Work With Brands As An Influencer
Over 52% of people are likely to buy a product if it is featured in a video, and Brands have quickly realized this! You can easily leverage your influence and work with different companies to create sponsored content and earn revenue. All you’ll have to do is dedicate some part of the video (usually 30 seconds or less) to talking about your sponsor and promoting their product in a positive light.
But how can one start with it? According to Brendan Gahan, a YouTube marketing expert, you’ll have to first create a flat fee by multiplying the number of views you typically receive by 15 cents per view. Once you’ve got the numbers down, you’ll have to start approaching brands that might be interested in collaborating with you.
You can also open your profile for business inquiries by adding a business email to all your social media platforms, including YouTube. Make sure to add it to the description of every video you post. Once these sponsors start pouring in, you can expect:
- $100 to $500 for a video with 10,000 views.
- $500 to $2,500 for a video with 50,000 views.
- $1,000 to $5,000 for a video with 100,000 views.
- $5,000 to $25,000 for a video with 500,000 views.
- $10,000 to $50,000 for a video with 1 million views.
Here’s an example of a YouTuber, “Drew Gooden” promoting Factor’s protein shake.
Best for: Established channels with dedicated audiences (usually 10,000+ views).
3. Join the YouTube Partner Program
Remember all the ads that you have to watch before starting a YouTube video? Those are the ads that help YouTubers gain money for each view that their video gets. Just like them, you can sign up for the YouTuber Partner Program, which would allow you to earn revenue when video ads play during your videos.
But when can you join this program? YouTube keeps a very clear threshold of people who can join this program – you would need at least 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours in the last 12 months.
To join the program, you’ll have to follow certain steps laid down by Google:
- Firstly, make sure your Google account has two-factor authentication.
- Next, open YouTube.com on your phone/browser and click on your profile picture to choose “YouTube Studio”.
- Then, navigate to “Earn”.
- Apply to the program by accepting the terms and conditions.
- Finally, connect an AdSense account and define your monetization preferences.
- Google will review your request and send your decision in a few days.
But before you apply for the program, you need to adhere to the content guidelines:
- It shouldn’t be spam content posted again and again.
- No hate speech and cyberbullying.
- It should not include dangerous and sexual activities.
- The content should not be repurposed from another creator/YouTuber without any changes.
Here’s an example of how “ads” appear on your videos and help you make money.
Best for: Channels with at least 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours in the past year.
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4. Sell Products or Merchandise
If there’s one thing big YouTubers can tell you, it is that they’re no longer just content creators; they’re a brand in itself. And when you have such branding attached to you, you can sell official merchandise under your name. Popular YouTubers and creators groups like Sidemen, Danny Gonzalez, and MKBHD all sell extensive collections under their names. You can easily set up a Shopify or Etsy store and sell products with your branding.
Got a logo? An inside joke? Or even a catchy phrase? Get them printed on t-shirts, cups, hoodies, mugs, and caps. Since audiences always try to create close parasocial relationships with their favorite creators, these are bound to sell!
But that’s not all. If you dabble in some specific niches like make-up, food, or tech, you can even create your own products. Creators like James Charles and Jeffree Star have established their own make-up lines that do quite well amongst their fans.
Nearly 100% of people go out of their way to get their hands on promotional products. Why not jump on this bandwagon? Get on these popular online retail shops on the market and establish your shop:
Shopify: This is one of the most popular e-commerce sites amongst the creators which handles all technical details like hosting, domain name, maintenance, software updates, etc. With a basic plan starting from $29/month, you can easily host your site on Shopify.
WooCommerce: If you’re looking for a more sophisticated eCommerce platform, then WooCommerce is the one for you. It is beginner-friendly and incredibly easy to use. The platform also comes equipped with features like inventory management, dropshipping, multiple-currency support, custom shipping rates, etc.
MemberPress: This platform is excellent for hosting online courses as well as products. At $15/month, you can offer digital content, set up different payment levels, and integrate with tools like email marketing services, live chat software, etc.
Here’s a snippet from the merchandise store of the YouTube channel ‘Sidemen’.
Best for: Channels with strong branding and dedicated fanbases.
5. Offer Channel Memberships
When YouTube noticed that its creators were turning to third-party platforms for exclusive subscription-only services, they knew they had to do something. Hence, YouTube channel memberships were born. Usually, these memberships start at $4.99 and allow you to post exclusive content and other perks. You can even create different payment tiers and offer benefits like:
- Channel badges
- Channel-exclusive emojis
- Members-only live streams
- Members-only live chat during live streams
- Exclusive community posts
- Bonus content
- Early access to content.
Since fans love to get closer to their favorite creator and gain their attention, this is an excellent way for you to make money. However, to sign up for it, you’ve to fulfill some requirements. You should be:
- Part of the YouTube Partner Program
- Must be at least 18 years old
- Have at least 30,000 subscribers (or 1000 if you have a gaming channel).
- Reside in one of the locations where channel memberships, Super Chat & Super Stickers, and Super Thanks are available.
- Should not have a majority of “made for kids” videos (or channel settings as “made for kids”)
- Have not used claimed music.
Once you’ve got these requirements down, it is time to create your channel membership. Here's how:
- Go to your profile and click Monetization > Memberships.
Image credits: @AinsHowToTutorials
- Under the tab, you'll find the “Turn On” button that'll activate once you complete the steps.
Image credits: @AinsHowToTutorials
- First “Set Up Membership Offer” by selecting payment levels, offers, tier names, etc.
Image credits: @AinsHowToTutorials
- After completing it, submit it for review.
Image credits: @AinsHowToTutorials
- Next, you need to “Customise the Default Perks” by selecting your personal emojis and badges.
Image credits: @AinsHowToTutorials
- After that, you need to click Done under “Announce your membership.” It'll prompt you to create a video to announce, but you can do this later.
Image credits: @AinsHowToTutorials
- Finally, you'll have to “Post to welcome new members.” An exclusive community post would do the job!
Image credits: @AinsHowToTutorials
In the screenshot below, you can see a “Join” option on the profile of YouTuber Marques Brownlee, which shows that he offers an exclusive, paid membership that you can join.
Best for: Established channels with at least 30,000 subscribers (1,000 for gaming channels).
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6. License Your Content to the Media
Has any of your informative videos gone viral recently? Or a YouTube short featuring some funny antics of your dog? Then there’s your easy answer on how to make money on YouTube – license this content for a fee! Most TV news outlets, morning shows, and online news sites are looking for something fresh or trending to make a part of their platform. Through this listing, they would be able to use and display your content, but in exchange for a small fee.
Platforms like Jukin Media and Newsflare allow you to host your videos. And if any of these outlets request your video, you’ll receive the commission requested by you. This is a fantastic way to earn from another source with the same content! It would even help you amplify and direct new audiences towards you.
Best for: Channels with viral content or unique footage valuable to news outlets.
7. Crowdfund Your Next Creative Project
When you lack the funds to create your next big idea, it is a wise decision to turn to your audience. And crowdfunding is the foolproof way of making it happen! Whether your project needs new equipment or you need to hire a new set of hands, this method will ensure that it continues without any obstacles. All you would need is a loyal audience who believes and trusts you.
However, you cannot randomly announce the crowdfunding and expect people to contribute. No! That won’t work. You’ll need to tell your fans what you’re planning to do, establish the terms, and promise an attainable result.
Create a short sneak peek of what the fans can expect the end result to look like.
Explain explicitly what you intend to do.
Make it clear where you lack funds and where their money will be utilized.
Keep them up to date with any developments.
Kung Fury is a very successful example of what your crowdfunding project can look like! They managed to raise well over $600,000 and release their project for the world to see. The creators made sure that their “trailer” was released to the audience, and they were aware of the money spent.
Some of the most popular crowdfunding sites are:
Kickstarter: This platform has gained a reputation for hosting funding for some cool products and creative projects. Over the years, it has successfully backed over 50,000 projects and raised over $7,771,000,000.
Indiegogo: It is an alternative to Kickstarter and offers more flexibility in terms of payment options. Established in 2008, it has hosted over 19,000 projects from 235 Countries and Territories.
Best for: Channels with dedicated audiences willing to support future projects.
Wrapping up
There you go! These seven methods are the perfect way to leverage this HUGE platform – YouTube, to make money while making your silly, informative, or creative ideas come to life. Just make sure to ALWAYS follow the guidelines while posting content to ensure that your income remains steady. And before everything – have fun while creating!
Also, if you prefer learning via videos, you should check out our YouTube channel, where we share daily video creation tips and tricks, the latest video trends and ideas, and help you make more money as a video creator.
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