How to Make Money on YouTube: 7 Effective Strategies

Are you ready to turn your passion into profit? If you’re wondering how to make money on YouTube, you’re in the right place. 

Whether you’re a budding vlogger, game streamer, or showing off some DIY projects, YouTube offers many opportunities to make money from your creativity. Making content is hard, and you should be rewarded for your hard work! Preferably with some nice extra income.

In this guide, we’ll explore the ins and outs of building a profitable YouTube channel, from growing your subscriber base to leveraging different revenue streams. Let’s dive in!

Understanding YouTube monetization

If you’re new to creating content, check out our detailed guide on how to make a YouTube video. Creating quality, engaging content and setting up your YouTube channel the right way is critical for your success on YouTube. 

Once that first step is completed, you can start thinking about building an income from your content.

To make money from your content, one of the first milestones is reaching 1,000 subscribers and gaining 4,000 valid public watching hours within a year. To do this, you will need to successfully create content your audience wants to watch and keep up with (our guide helps with this too!!)

This stepping stone lets users join the YouTube Partner Program (YPP) and activate an AdSense account to earn revenue from ads on videos. Ads on videos are one of the most important revenue streams in YouTube content creation. More on that in a second.

As your channel grows, opportunities like influencer marketing with media companies and creating sponsored content can provide significant income, while chats and highlighted messages during live streams offer additional revenue. YouTubers can also earn money by licensing content or exploring YouTube Premium revenue.

Along with earning revenue, the YPP gives YouTubers copyright protection, assistance from YouTube, and a full range of YouTube earning options. These YouTube perks will protect and support your content creation journey. 

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#1 – YouTube ads

YouTube ads are a fantastic way to make money from YouTube videos, and they can be the most straightforward option for some creators. 

For many YouTubers, ad revenue even generates the most income. Creators can earn money when viewers watch or click on ads. Creating longer videos or allowing display ads throughout can help you make more ad revenue. 

However, as a creator, you should keep this option in mind when creating videos of any length. Ads can play before, during, and after a video, making it a versatile option even for shorter content. 

This method also allows for creative experimentation. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different types of videos to see what resonates most with your audience. After all, the more views and engagement, the more opportunities you have to display ads on your videos.

How to activate an AdSense account 

Setting up your AdSense account is super simple. From the YouTube Studio go to the “Earn” tab. From there, you can apply for the YouTube Partner Program. Once your application is approved, you’ll be able to connect to an Adsense account. 

Provide the necessary information, and link your YouTube channel to your new AdSense account. AdSense will review your application, and once you’re approved, you can start earning money from ads on your YouTube videos.

Creating an AdSense account is a simple process with basic requirements, which makes it a must-do step for anyone trying to make money from YouTube.

#2 – Make recurring revenue with channel memberships and subscriptions

You can also earn money on YouTube by offering channel memberships within YouTube. With these memberships, you can build a dedicated fan base while generating reliable monthly income. 

Basically, YouTubers offer select perks and content to viewers who join the channel as paying members. Think of it as a built-in Patreon account for your subscribers. 

For example, YouTuber Andru Edwards offers members of his channel priority Q&A access, behind-the-scenes footage, shout-outs, and exclusive tech deals.

You can make your channel memberships into whatever you like. Just remember to strike a balance between price and value so your channel members see it as a worthwhile deal to invest in. You can provide anything, such as members-first content, product deals, live streams, and live chats – the options are plentiful!

#3 – Use affiliate marketing

Affiliate marketing is another approach for viewers and creators to interact in a way that benefits both, as the viewer learns about a product or service, and the creator earns a commission. Once a YouTuber joins an affiliate program, the creator is issued a unique affiliate link for each product. 

YouTubers can then include links onscreen, in the comments, or in the description. When viewers click on it and buy from it, creators can make a percentage of the sale.

With this income stream, creators become advocates for their favorite brands and can strike a sweet deal for their audience to benefit from. 

For affiliate marketing to work, you will need to know your audience extremely well. The last thing you want is to promote a product that most of your viewers have no interest in!

Make sure to learn their preferences and promote products they are likely to use and appreciate. Staying true to your niche helps ensure authenticity. If you’re watching a YouTube video about a woodworking project, it would be weird if the host suddenly encouraged you to buy a trampoline.

Be smart and remember that not every product or service is a step in the right direction. Be picky for your audiences’ sake!ld be weird if the host suddenly encouraged you to buy a trampoline.

#4 – Sell merchandise from your YouTube channel

Offering merchandise associated with a YouTube channel, is another way to monetize your channel by selling directly to your viewers.

First, YouTube requires users to choose an approved merchandise platform. In the YouTube Studio, you can connect a merchandise partner’s store with your YouTube channel under the “Earn” tab. 

Creators can then select which items they want to display on their merchandise shelf. Then – sell away! Creators can easily make showcasing products part of their videos.

Create designs that resonate with your channel’s theme. For example, YouTuber and plumber Roger Wakefield offers hats and T-shirts with phrases like “Tradesman Built America” that his viewers will resonate with.

You can use polls or Q&A sessions to gather feedback on what types of merchandise your viewers would like to see (this would be good content for your member-only subscriptions!) That way, your subscribers can tell you directly what products interest them, which means less guesswork for you.

#5 – Partner with other brands

One of YouTube biggest differences with other media outlets is that it builds a n interactive community of people who can bond over a specific topic of interest. And you can use that to your advantage.

YouTubers don’t have to go it alone – companies love working with creators on sponsorships and brand deals to promote their products. Companies have communities they are trying to expand too, so this can be a win-win situation for a lot of creators and businesses.

At first you’ll most likely have to reach out to companies that interest you, but once you have a following, companies might even come to you! This partnership is another way you can make profit from YouTube.

For example, in this video YouTuber Nick Nimmin partners with SkillShare, presenting a little bit about the brand before diving into the topic of his video. Usually, the company and topic of the video will align in some way to resonate more with the target audience.

As mentioned earlier, if you are interested in a particular brand, just reach out to them directly. Showcase your channel’s statistics of subscribers, views, and demographics to convince them why they would be a good fit. And remember: they’ll be lucky to have you on their team!

For reference, here’s a list of information to include in your pitch email:

• Your subscriber count, average views, and audience demographics
• Any relevant accomplishments or collaborations
• Specific ideas for collaboration that benefit both parties
• How this collaboration will benefit the brand
• A call to action. Clearly state what you’re hoping to achieve, likea product review, sponsored video, joint giveaway, etc.
• An invitation to schedule a call or meeting to discuss

Now not every company will want to work with you (unless you are super lucky), so don’t sweat a few rejections. The worst answer they can give you is no, so just try it out. We promise you’ll be surprised by the results once you take the initiative.

#6 – Use crowdfunding and fan funding 

For an even more direct route, crowdfunding and fan funding help YouTubers raise funds from viewers. For instance, the Patreon platform connects fans and creators. The fans become patrons and pay a monthly subscription fee in exchange for exclusive rewards.

Another platform, Kickstarter, raises funds for specific projects like a new video series or equipment. Creators set a funding goal and ask people to support the project. If the goal is reached, backers receive rewards based on their donation level.

To get people excited about donating, tell a compelling story and explain the impact it will have on your viewers. Offering rewards viewers truly want—like experiences, exclusive content, or personalized shoutouts—is commonly used to attract funding.

This method is similar to YouTube channel memberships. 

#7 – Make short-form content

YouTube isn’t only about long-form videos anymore. Short-form content, or YouTube Shorts, are now a huge part of the video content that is being posted to YouTube every single day. 

YouTube shorts are rewarded with monetization options known as Shorts ad revenue. This means that short-form content can now be a revenue stream for creators alongside their long-form videos. This money-making opportunity stems from the now-discontinued YouTube Shorts Fund, which awarded creators with monetary rewards for producing high-quality shorts. 

The good news is that short-form videos don’t have to be a bunch of extra work. These videos can simply be a clipped version of your already-existing long-form content.

For example, let’s say you create tutorial videos about car maintenance. Your long-form content would probably include extended tutorials about complex process, advice, and some tips and tricks on how to maintain your car well. 

One way to repurpose that content in short-form would be to share on tip per video. Clip your long videos using a video editor (we recommend Camtasia… you can even add captions to it) and upload them as YouTube Shorts. 

You can also show a fast-paced and shortened version of a tutorial and incentivise your viewers to check out the long version on your channel.

With this repurposing technique, you’ll be able to make more money from ads using essentially the same content. And, YouTube Shorts are a fantastic way to reach a wider audience with little to no extra work. 

Bonus tip: quality content leads to success

One of the most critical factors in making money on YouTube is creating high-quality content. Viewers are more likely to subscribe, share, and engage with videos that are polished and professional. The good news? Making your videos look top-notch is not as hard as you think!

Whether you’re making tutorials, product reviews, or reaction videos, Camtasia’s intuitive drag-and-drop interface means you don’t have to be a professional video editor to create stunning videos. Give Camtasia a try, and watch your content–and your channel–reach new heights.

With these helpful tips, you’re ready to start making money from your YouTube content. Remember that you don’t have to use every option. 

Try out which money-making options work best for you and your audience. Then, cater to what works. There is no shame in trying out an avenue and saying: “Not for me!” 

Over time, you’ll build a dependable system you can rely on to give you some extra money every time you post. Content creation isn’t easy, so making money from your content is a great way to keep you incentivized to keep creating!