How to Make Money on YouTube

Have you ever watched a viral video on YouTube and wondered how much the creator made? YouTube is one of the best platforms to earn money, offering multiple ways for creators to profit. From ad revenue and memberships to affiliate marketing and brand deals, there are endless opportunities.

This guide will show you how YouTube creators can turn their content into income. Whether you want to make money on YouTube through direct earnings, like ads, or indirect methods, like sponsorships, we’ll cover it all. Let’s dive in!

How to Earn Money on YouTube: 12 Proven Ways

Here are 12 effective ways to get more money on YouTube:

1. Meet YouTube Monetization Requirements

To make money on YouTube you need to meet some basic rules. You must continue to follow the platform’s rules to keep your channel in good standing.

• Join the YouTube Partner Program (YPP): You need 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 Watch Time Hours or 10 million Shorts views to join this program. You can buy real YouTube subscribers and 4000 Watch Time Hours to speed up the process. After meeting the goal, apply for YPP through creator support. 
• Enable Monetization in YouTube Studio: Head to YouTube Studio and find “Monetization” in settings. Click “Start” and follow the steps. Agree to the terms, connect an AdSense account, and turn on ads. Once approved, ad revenue will start rolling in. 
• Comply with YouTube’s Policies: Breaking rules can get your channel demonetized. Avoid copyright issues, harmful content, or spam. Also, follow community guidelines to keep your videos ad-friendly.

2. Earn from YouTube Ad Revenue

Make money by showing ads on your videos with Google AdSense. Ads play before, during, or after videos, and you get paid based on views and clicks.

• How Google AdSense Works: Creators earn when ads appear on their videos. Google AdSense places ads based on content and audience interest. Payments depend on ad impressions and viewer clicks. The more engaging the content is, the higher the potential earnings.
  
• Types of Ads: Different ads bring in revenue. Skippable ads let viewers skip after a few seconds, while non-skippable ones must be watched fully. Bumper ads are short and not skippable. Overlay ads appear as small banners on videos. 
• Increase CPM (Cost Per Mille): Higher CPM means more earnings per 1,000 views. Niche selection plays a big role like tech and finance topics pay more. Audience location also matters, as ads in certain countries offer higher rates.

3. YouTube Affiliate Marketing

Sharing affiliate links in videos can help make extra cash on the platform. You promote products and when viewers buy through your link you earn a commission. This works best if the items match your content, like gaming gear for gaming channels or beauty products for makeup tutorials.

To start, join affiliate programs like Amazon Associates or ShareASale. Choose products that fit your audience’s interests. Mention the items in your videos, and be sure to add links in the description. Remember to be honest about what you recommend because trust leads to more clicks.

For better results, place links in pinned comments and use short URLs. Track clicks with tools like Bitly or Google Analytics to see what works.

4. Sponsorships and Brand Deals

Companies love working with famous YouTubers who have engaged audiences. A sponsorship means a brand pays you to promote its product in your videos. This can be a simple shoutout or a full product review.

The more niche your channel, the better your chances of landing deals. Reach out to brands that match or coordinate well with your content. You can also join platforms like FameBit or GrapeVine to connect with sponsors.

When negotiating, set fair rates based on your views and engagement. Also, follow FTC guidelines by disclosing paid partnerships, and use clear labels like “Sponsored by” or “Ad” in your video and description.

5. Merchandise Sales

Selling custom merchandise lets fans support your channel while getting something cool in return. YouTube’s Merch Shelf helps creators sell directly under their videos, or you can use sites like Teespring and Spreadshop.

When designing merch, keep it simple and fun. Use inside jokes, catchphrases, or logos your audience loves. Promote your merch in videos by wearing it or giving shoutouts. Also link to your store in the description and mention sales in community posts.

6. Crowdfunding and Donations

Creators can earn money when fans support them directly. Platforms like Patreon, Ko-fi, or Buy Me a Coffee let followers donate in exchange for exclusive content. This support helps build a strong connection with the audience. Offering perks like behind-the-scenes videos, shoutouts, or early access keeps donors engaged.

So, set up a Patreon account and create different membership levels with rewards. Promote these perks in your videos and descriptions. During live streams, encourage viewers to donate by offering special shoutouts. Running limited-time campaigns can also boost donations. Always give value in return to keep supporters happy.

7. Super Chats and Channel Memberships

Live streams provide extra ways to make money. Super Chats let viewers pay to highlight their messages during a stream. This makes their comments stand out, encouraging more interaction. To enable this, go to YouTube Studio, turn on monetization, and activate Super Chats.

Channel Memberships allow subscribers to pay monthly for perks like badges, emojis, or exclusive content. To increase sign-ups, offer members-only videos or early access to uploads. Engaging with paying members during live chats makes them feel valued. Promoting Super Chats with callouts and thanking supporters in real time also encourages more donations.

8. Selling Digital Products

Once you become a successful YouTuber you can sell digital items to earn without relying on ads. E-books, online courses, and printables can provide passive income. These products let creators share their knowledge while making money.

Promoting them through YouTube videos, descriptions, and pinned comments boosts sales. Platforms like Gumroad and Teachable make selling easy. Gumroad is great for e-books and templates, while Teachable works well for online courses.

To increase sales, create content related to the product and offer free samples. Adding limited-time discounts also leads to more purchases. Finally, add a strong call-to-action at the end of videos to drive traffic to your store.

9. YouTube Premium Revenue

Subscribers of YouTube Premium watch videos without ads, and creators earn a share of their subscription fees. This income depends on how long members watch the content. Unlike ad revenue, this pays even if viewers skip ads.

Focus on creating engaging, binge-worthy content. Long-form videos and playlists keep viewers watching longer. Encouraging fans to sign up for YouTube Premium can also help. Reminding them that it supports creators while removing ads may increase interest.

10. Maximize Revenue with YouTube SEO

Getting more YouTube views means more revenue, and YouTube SEO plays a big role in that. To improve discoverability, creators must optimize their content by using strong titles, detailed descriptions, and relevant tags. These elements help videos rank higher in search results, bringing in more traffic.

Adding eye-catching custom thumbnails makes videos stand out, increasing click-through rates. Well-structured metadata also signals to YouTube’s algorithm what the content is about. To maximize earnings, research trending keywords and naturally include them in your video’s description and titles.

11. Diversifying Income Streams beyond YouTube

Relying only on YouTube limits your earning potential. Expanding into other platforms creates more opportunities. A personal website allows creators to sell products, offer consulting, or write a blog. These options build authority while bringing in extra income.

Social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok help drive traffic back to YouTube. Sharing short clips, behind-the-scenes content, or exclusive offers on these platforms keeps the audience engaged. Cross-promoting on multiple sites increases visibility, leading to more brand deals, affiliate marketing, and sponsorships.

12. Track and Analyze Your Earnings

Understanding what works helps creators grow. Checking YouTube’s revenue reports shows which videos generate the most earnings. This data helps refine content strategies for better results. Monitoring analytics reveals audience behavior, popular topics, and peak engagement times.

Based on this, creators can improve future videos and boost income. Successful channels also reinvest in better equipment, editing, and marketing, which improves video quality and attracts more viewers. Keeping track of finances ensures steady growth, helping creators make smarter decisions to expand their channel and earnings over time.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How Many Views Do You Need on YouTube to Make Money?

To start making money on YouTube, you need to have at least 4,000 watch hours in the past 12 months[1] [2]  and 10 million Shorts views in the last 90 days.

2. How Much Money Do You Make on YouTube with 1,000 Subscribers?

With 1,000 subscribers on YouTube the earnings depend on views and engagement. On average, YouTubers make around $3 to $5 per 1,000 views, but this varies based on niche and ad rates.

3. How Can You Make Money on YouTube without Making Videos?

You can make money on YouTube without creating videos by reuploading royalty-free content, running a faceless channel, or using monetized compilations with proper licensing and permissions.