Different Ways to Monetize Your Youtube Channel and Start Earning

The growing creator economy has opened up diverse opportunities for individuals to make money online. YouTube, in particular, offers various monetization methods for content creators. While some methods have a lower barrier to entry than earning through advertisements, the key to success on YouTube lies in creating quality content and building an engaged audience. In this article, we will explore different ways to monetize your YouTube channel and start earning money.

How to Get Paid on YouTube

1. Earn with Ads as a YouTube Partner Program Member

Becoming a member of the YouTube Partner Program is the first step to earning money through advertisements on your YouTube channel. To join the program, your channel must have surpassed the threshold of 1,000 subscribers. Additionally, you need to have accumulated 4,000 hours of watch time on long-form videos in the past 12 months or 10 million Shorts views in the past 90 days. Meeting these requirements allows you to monetize your channel through ad revenue.

Before becoming a partner, you must also meet the following criteria:

• Your videos must comply with YouTube’s monetization policies.
• You must live in an eligible area.
• You need to link a Google AdSense account.

To apply for the YouTube Partner Program, go to the “earn” section in YouTube Studio. YouTube typically takes around one month to review your application and notify you of their decision.

As a YouTube partner, you can earn money through ads, chat features, and from YouTube Premium subscribers who watch your content. Additionally, YouTube partners can monetize their Shorts, which are short-form videos similar to TikTok.

1. Take a Cut with Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is a beginner-friendly way to monetize your YouTube channel, especially if you create product review videos. Here’s how it works:

1. Find a company or seller with an affiliate program, such as Amazon Associates, and apply to join.
2. Once accepted, use the provided process to create custom affiliate links for products you plan to feature in your videos.
3. Demo, review, or refer to the products in your YouTube videos, and include your custom affiliate links in the video description.
4. As an affiliate, you’ll earn a commission when a viewer clicks on your affiliate link and makes a purchase.

While Amazon Associates is a popular choice for earning money on Amazon, there are numerous other affiliate marketing opportunities available. Explore affiliate marketing sites like ShareASale and ClickBank for potential corporate partners and products to feature. You can also visit your favorite brands’ websites and look for information on how to become an affiliate.

Once your channel reaches more than 15,000 subscribers and you meet other eligibility requirements, you can consider joining the YouTube Shopping Affiliate program to boost your earnings.

Remember to clearly disclose your affiliation with the brand or brands you feature in your videos and direct viewers to the “link in description” when promoting your affiliate products.

1. Brand Deals and Sponsorships

Companies interested in reaching your channel’s audience might sponsor your videos or offer product placement deals in exchange for a shoutout. These types of brand deals are more likely to come your way as your channel grows and develops a following. You can directly contact brands you’d like to work with or utilize resources like affiliate marketing sites to find corporate partners that align with your content style.

With brand deals, you can receive lump sum payments, earn commission on a per-sale basis, or receive free products or services.

When endorsing or featuring a product in your videos, ensure you tick the appropriate box in your video details to notify YouTube about your endorsement or product placement.

1. Sell Merchandise

If you have merchandise or offer a relevant service, you can promote and sell them to your audience on YouTube. For example, popular tech review channel MKBHD, run by creator Marques Brownlee, includes links to his own line of T-shirts and accessories in every video.

Selling physical products may require you to source materials or find a manufacturer. However, you can also sell digital goods such as e-books, art prints, or virtual classes. Make sure you have a secure payment system in place before advertising your goods.

Selling your own products can be more challenging than promoting other companies’ products, but it can also be more lucrative since you keep the majority of the proceeds as the product owner.

1. Offer Memberships

A membership model is another effective way to monetize your YouTube channel. By offering exclusive perks and access to a specific tier of content, fans of your channel can become paying members.

Patreon is a popular third-party membership platform. YouTube also has its own channel memberships feature, but you need to be part of the YouTube Partner Program to be eligible.

To qualify for channel memberships, you need at least 500 subscribers, 3 public uploads in the last 90 days, and either 3,000 public watch hours on long-form videos in the last 365 days or 3 million Shorts views in the last 90 days. These requirements are different from the higher eligibility criteria for earning revenue through ads on your channel.

Offer incentives such as members-only livestreams, chats, or other exclusive perks to entice viewers to become paying members.

How Much Money Can You Make on YouTube?

While breakout YouTube stars with millions of followers can earn significant sums of money, it’s important to note that they are the exception rather than the rule. However, even content creators with a modest following can generate solid income on the side or even make a full-time living from their YouTube channels.

For example, Forbes reported that Jimmy Donaldson, creator of the popular channel MrBeast, earned $54 million in 2023 thanks to his 237 million subscribers. On a more modest scale, YouTuber Cinquanta Cox-Smith, who focuses on print-on-demand content and has 11,900 subscribers, brings in approximately $120,000 in annual revenue, according to Career Ahead.

Matt Par, a successful YouTuber who runs multiple channels and provides advice on making money on YouTube, claims to earn $30,000 per month in ad revenue through the YouTube Partner Program.

Earning potential on YouTube varies greatly depending on factors such as the size of your audience, the engagement of your viewers, and the monetization methods you employ. It’s essential to focus on creating valuable content and growing your subscriber base to maximize your earning potential.

In conclusion, YouTube offers a range of opportunities for individuals to earn money online. While it may take time and effort to build a successful channel, with dedication and strategic planning, you can start monetizing your YouTube content and potentially generate a steady income. Whether through ads, affiliate marketing, brand deals, merchandise sales, or memberships, finding the right monetization methods for your channel can pave the way to financial success in the creator economy.