YouTube is an excellent way to earn an extra income. I will share the top strategies YouTubers implement to make a living and show you how to do it on a smaller scale.
1. YouTube Partner Program
The partner program is one of the easiest ways to make money on YouTube. After you have set it up, Google will display ads on your videos.
Then, every time someone clicks on the ads, YouTube and you will split the advertising fee.
YouTube splits the fee at 45% and the creator at 55%. Although it does not sound like a lot, it can add up when you have thousands or even hundreds of thousands of views every day.
How do you get started?
Step 1: Create a YouTube Channel
You will need to have a YouTube channel to get views. Once you have a Gmail account, you can create a YouTube channel easily. Then, simply login to YouTube with your Gmail address.
Step 2: Create Content
Next, you need to create content your viewers will love. Again, my experience is that it is best to concentrate on one niche and then really get into the content that your audience will enjoy.
On my YouTube channel, for example, I love to talk about everything related to online businesses. So naturally, this attracts people who are open to working remotely and enjoy the idea of creating their own business.
This is, honestly, the most challenging part of any YouTube channel. It’s hard to believe that anyone will ever see your video when you start it.
However, I can promise you that this will not happen forever. YouTube will recommend your videos to other people. If you create content that is enjoyable for them, then they will subscribe to you.
Pro tip: Tutorials are a great way to get started on YouTube if you have the opportunity.
Step 3: Meet the Eligibility Requirements for the YouTube Partner Program
YouTube was open to any channel to join its program immediately after it started.
However, abusers began to abuse the system, so YouTube had to modify the rules to ensure that channels were legitimate.
As a result, the YouTube Partner Program Eligibility requirements were created.
At the moment, the minimum eligibility requirements for joining the YouTube partner program are simple:
- Before you can apply for monetization, your channel must have at least 4,000 hours of video viewing in the last 12 months.
- You need to have at least 1,000 subscribers on your channels.
- To apply for YouTube’s partner program, you must be at least 18.
These requirements are not time-bound. Once you meet them, you will be able to start earning through the various YouTube monetization features.
Step 4: Make Money with Ads by Creating an AdSense Account
After you have met all the eligibility requirements, you can apply for an AdSense Account. This is how you will ultimately make money with ads.
Step 5: Configure Your New Monetization Methods
You can make money with your channel in various ways after being accepted into the YouTube Partner Program.
2. YouTube Ads
To start making ad revenues, you must turn on ads. This will allow you to have ads play on your videos, and you will get paid for it.
Here, you need to pay attention to your CPM metrics. It will help you determine how much money you can make from more views.
3. YouTube Red (Premium Revenue)
You’ll receive a small percentage of the subscription fee every time a YouTube premium account views your videos. True, it’s not a lot of money, but it doesn’t require any extra effort from you to make it happen.
4. Channel Memberships
You can set up channel memberships once you have more than 1,000 subscribers. You may also charge subscribers a monthly fee to access your exclusive content.
Additionally, you can offer other perks to members at different levels.
5. Launch your Merchandise Shelf
This process allows you to sell merchandise directly through your channel, below your videos. This is great if your catchphrase or saying resonates with your audience.
Super Chat and Super Sticker are interactive elements that allow users to pay to appear in live streams. You can do this as long as you have 1,000 subscribers.
6. Keep Creating Content and Don’t Violate YouTube Guidelines
Your channel’s growth and income will allow you to expand your reach. However, it’s essential to follow the YouTube community guidelines regarding Spam/Deception, sensitive content, violence/dangerous content, or misinformation.
7. Bonus: Maximizing Earnings with YouTube Ad Revenue
When possible, you can insert ads manually. For example, this is what I do when there is a cliffhanger. It means that I begin a sentence and then insert the advertisement at the end of the sentence.
Because the user wants to hear it, this approach keeps users interested enough to continue the ad rather than clicking away from the video.
- Advertiser-friendly channels are important.
Don’t speak in a way that is offensive to advertisers. Advertisers make money. You can achieve this goal by creating content that is appealing to them.
- Upload many videos
YouTube is a numbers game, and views are an essential factor in your success. So although it may not be something people like to hear, it is 100% true.
When you post more videos, you have a greater chance of success due to the number of views your channel receives.
Advertising revenue is the best passive way to make money for most YouTubers. However, it’s only the tip of the iceberg when you think about monetizing YouTube.
8. Create a Blog to Complement YouTube
If you want fans, convert lots of people, and increase your business’ revenue, YouTube is a great way to do this.
YouTube is not just the second largest search engine, but it also offers tremendous opportunities to promote your brand in front of your ideal audience.
It’s important to remember that a blog will almost always out-earn a YouTube channel because it allows you to communicate with your audience on more profound and more personal levels, such as via email.
Blogs can also display banner ads and often have higher click-through rates for affiliate links.
How do I get started?
Step 1: Create a blog
It’s essential to begin a blog using the same branding you have already used. This is the key. Your blog should have the same look and feel as your YouTube channel. If you are a DIY person, you have two options: Hire a graphic artist or use graphic design software.
Step 2: To increase traffic, share your blog to YouTube
After you have started a blog, you can share the content you have created on your YouTube channel. You have a few options.
Mention blog posts in videos. Tell people to look them up in the description. Then, in the description of your videos, create evergreen content.
Here’s where the key lies; get people off YouTube and onto your blog to make them more invested in your brand.
YouTube is known for not being able to gather information about viewers. However, if you link it with a blog, you can diversify touchpoints and build deeper relationships with your most loyal fans.
What would you do if your YouTube channel got deleted the following day?
Of course, you will panic if you have no connection with your audience elsewhere. It’s like all of your hard work is about to be lost overnight.
That’s why the next step is of utmost importance.
Step 3: Capture the Email Addresses of Blog Visitors
To make more money from your blog, you must get people to sign up for your email lists.
Why?
Email marketing is one of your best options to make money with your followers. Research has shown that email marketing can bring you $36 back for every $1 invested.
It isn’t easy to achieve an ROI using any other method. Nevertheless, you can use your blog to provide value to your readers in return for their email.
If someone signs up for one of my free courses, they will give their email address. Then, I send them the course and keep in touch when I have any other promotions.
It doesn’t necessarily have to be a course. You can create a downloadable PDF in the form of a checklist, an outline, an e-book, and a guide to help your audience.
Step 4: Make recommendations using emails.
You can use your email address to build your network and make revenue-generating recommendations.
Don’t be afraid of sending out emails for every YouTube video or blog post you create for growth.
You can abuse the trust your followers have given you by emailing them constantly, and they will unsubscribe. You can avoid this by sending an email once per week with all the latest developments to your audience.
That will ensure they have the correct information and won’t be overwhelmed.
9. Create a Faceless YouTube Channel
People picture themselves as full-fledged video creators in front of cameras, editing and recording videos until they bleed when they think about a YouTube channel.
You can create a channel with videos that are related to a particular topic without showing your face. Then, as algorithms recommend your videos and YouTube ranks them, you make passive income from ad views.
You may also like;
How to create Youtube videos without showing your face.
Conclusion
I admit; making money on YouTube isn’t a day job and can be challenging. However, it’s achievable and straightforward with the steps above. And with commitment and determination, you can start making money before you know it!
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About The Author
Muslimah is a writer and blogger. She helps beginner bloggers scale their blogging business to spend more time with their families while working from home. When she's not spending time with her family and friends, you'll likely find her reading books or writing articles like this one.
Hi Muslimah, Thanks for sharing this very detailed post. I have to admit I haven’t really looked into youtube so much. I have 3 different channels believe it or not but still, I am not really that active on here for the most part. Maybe I will try to be a bit more in the future. For then I’m sure this guide will be helpful.
I would maybe suggest though for anyone reading if you post on Youtube also look at posting on HIVE and some of the others that let people donate Crypto. I think this can be a good way to make a bit of money before your channel gets big enough for AdSense.
Also, in regards to the email marketing aspect, you can also post your links to landing pages in your Youtube description. You can also use this for affiliate marketing. I think many do as unless your channel is getting xxx views the commissions will not likely be very much.
Thank you so much for the valuable comment.
I have not heard about HIVE before now but will be checking it out.
Cheers.