Ad revenue seems to be the obvious way whenever you think about making money from YouTube. But guess what! there are several other ways to make money from YouTube.
Strategic thinking is required with a massive 1.9 billion people on YouTube monthly and tons of videos every minute.
I am not promising that you will become a billionaire from ad revenue, but we have practical steps to grow your income game.
This article goes beyond the usual focus on ad revenue and provides seven proven methods for making money with your YouTube channel.
How To Make Money From YouTube
1) Start Affiliate Marketing
Want to make more money on YouTube? Try affiliate marketing. It’s simple: You earn a commission promoting other brands’ stuff.
Showcasing products or giving approvals can be part of it. Just be honest with your viewers about these partnerships.
If you review products on your channel, this is perfect. Why? Because brands only pay when there are sales – no risk for them. Check out ClickBank; they offer commissions from 1% to a considerable 90%.
Or connect with brands in your niche that have their own affiliate programs. It’s common in ecommerce.
2) Register for the YouTube Partner Program
Unbox special features on YouTube by becoming a part of the YouTube Partner Program. While you can make money without being a partner, being one simplifies it.
Partners enjoy various income streams, including video ads, YouTube Premium subscription fees, and direct fan contributions through features like Super Chat, channel memberships, and the merchandise shelf.
Here’s how to join:
Step 1: Start your YouTube channel.
Step 2: Make your channel successful. You need 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours in the past 12 months to join.
Step 3: Set up an AdSense account. Just follow YouTube’s official guide for AdSense accounts.
Step 4: Explore monetization features based on eligibility:
- Ad Revenue: Create advertiser-friendly content. The less controversial, the more ads, and the more money you make.
- YouTube Premium Revenue: Automatic share when premium members watch your videos.
- Channel Memberships: You must be 18+ with over 30,000 subscribers to sell memberships to your fans.
- Merchandise Shelf: Must be 18+ with at least 10,000 subscribers to sell merch.
- Super Chat Payments: Allow fans to pay to highlight messages in your live chats; you must be 18.
Step 5: Partners must adhere to YouTube Partner Program policies, community guidelines, and copyright laws to maintain a higher channel standard.
3) Use Crowdfunding Opportunities
Running low on funds for your creative idea? Crowdfunding is the way to bridge that gap and bring your vision to life.
Whether you need better equipment, want to hire actors, or cover production costs, your audience and the crowdfunding community can step in if your idea is captivating.
Successful crowdfunded projects often tease with a video or “trailer” to build excitement. Consider creating a video explaining your project or offering a sneak peek, like the popular Kickstarter for Kung Fury, a short film celebrating 1980s action movies.
Check out these reliable crowdfunding sites for YouTubers:
Kickstarter: Well-known for funding cool products and creative projects. Set a reachable funding goal, as you only secure it if you meet the set goal.
Indiegogo: An alternative to Kickstarter with more flexible funding options. It’s another platform with a proven track record for YouTuber campaigns.
4) Direct Fan Support Via “Fan Funding”
Boost your YouTube earnings by making it easy for your fans to support you directly with their credit cards. Using these steps:
Step 1: Host live chats with Super Chat
YouTube Partners can use Super Chat during live streams. Viewers pay to highlight and pin their comments for a set time, making them more visible.
Step 2: Encourage channel memberships
Invite your fans to become channel members by paying. They get custom emojis, badges, and access to exclusive content, like Live Chats with you.
Wintergatan, a Swedish band, thanks their channel members in videos, making it clear how the money supports their creations.
Step 3: Encourage YouTube Premium subscriptions
While indirect, you benefit when fans become YouTube Premium subscribers. You get a share of their subscription fee when they watch your channel and other channels they view.
This strategy, available to YouTube Partners, opens up additional income streams for your channel.
5) Earn with Sponsored Content
Increase your YouTube earnings by creating sponsored content. Here’s how:
Step 1: Find a brand to partner with
Look for quality brands that align with your content. If you have specific brands in mind or are just beginning, work on perfecting your brand pitch. Consider using influencer marketing platforms like FameBit to connect with suitable brands.
Step 2: Make a deal
YouTube videos are valuable to brands. You can charge more for them than other platforms. Understand your audience’s size, engagement, and relevance to determine your worth before signing a contract.
Step 3: Be transparent about your #sponsored #ad
Remember, sponsored content is advertising. Adhere to Google’s Ad policies and be aware of FTC (U.S.) and ASA (U.K.) guidelines. Transparency is legally important and strengthens your relationship with your audience.
Use YouTube’s visible disclosure feature to ensure your audience knows when you’re advertising to them.
6) Sell Your Merchandise
Even if you see yourself as a content creator more than an entrepreneur, selling merchandise can still be profitable on YouTube. As follows:
Step 1: Imagine And Design Your Product
Create unique merchandise that represents and strengthens your connection with your audience. Look at Hawaiian YouTuber Ryan Higa, he made Ninja Melk, an energy drink, and also has other cool stuff for sale.
Step 2: Source And Build Your Product
Find a manufacturer, supplier, or wholesaler to produce and deliver your merchandise. Some suppliers handle inventory, shipping, and returns, making your life easier. Shopify offers guidance on finding the right company.
Step 3: Create Your Shop And Landing Page
Set up a separate website for purchases. Ensure it’s among YouTube’s approved merchandise sites if you plan to link it directly from your videos.
Step 4: Enable Your YouTube Partner Merchandise Shelf
YouTube Partners can use the shelf feature to sell channel merchandise. If eligible, follow YouTube’s instructions to activate it.
Step 5: Promote Your Product In Your Videos
Showcase your charm by wearing or using your merchandise in videos. Feature viewers who bought and are using it. Include your store’s link in video descriptions, and use end screens and cards with compelling calls to action.
7) Licensing Your YouTube Content
Make more money on YouTube by licensing your viral videos to news outlets. With the following steps:
Step 1: Keep your contact details updated on your About page
Ensure you’re easy to reach. Keep your contact details updated on your About page. If you don’t have a business manager, create a generic email account for business inquiries.
Step 2: Sign up for a video rights marketplace
Explore platforms like Jukin Media. Even if you don’t have a viral video, media outlets often need timely footage for their reporting.
Jukin, for example, has a catalog of ‘newsworthy’ videos where you can contribute exclusive footage of major events like natural disasters or significant incidents.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to earn money on YouTube fast?
To quickly earn money on YouTube, focus on creating engaging content, building a loyal audience, and monetizing through ads, sponsorships, and merchandise.
How do you make money on YouTube ASAP?
Quickly monetize your YouTube channel by exploring diverse income streams like ad revenue, sponsored content, and merch sales.
How quickly can I make money on YouTube?
You can start making money on YouTube when you meet the Partner Program requirements (1,000 subscribers, 4,000 watch hours in the last 12 months), with ad revenue being a primary source. Other avenues like sponsored content and merch sales may offer quicker returns based on your audience and engagement.
