Making money on YouTube is highly lucrative. It is a business model I will advise anybody to go into. However, it is important to note that making money on YouTube isn't as easy as so many people think. It is not a quick rich scheme. It takes all the perseverance and patience you can ever give before you can make something worthwhile on YouTube. The monetization process isn't child's play. There are some processes you must meet before you can monetize your page.
After meeting the monetization criteria, then you will now face another set of journey. You will now need to upload regularly, setting your topics and ensuring your thumbnail has all the keywords that will help your article to rank. In fact, don't let me share all the vital information here. If you are really serious about making money on YouTube, kindly ensure you read this article to the end because we will be sharing some powerful strategies with you that can never be gotten anywhere else.
Understanding YouTube monetization
If you’re new to making videos, start by checking out our easy guide on how to create a YouTube video. Making good, interesting videos and setting up your channel right is key to success. After that, you can think about making money from your videos. To start earning, it is important that you reach 1,000 subscribers and have people watch your videos for at least 4,000 hours in one year. To do this, make videos your audience likes and wants to keep watching (our guide can help!). Once you reach this, you can join the YouTube Partner Program (YPP) and link an AdSense account to earn money from ads shown on your videos. Ads are a main way to earn on YouTube.
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As your channel grows, you can also make money by working with brands, making sponsored videos, getting paid during live chats, selling content licenses, or earning from YouTube Premium viewers. Joining YPP also gives you copyright protection, help from YouTube, and access to many ways to earn. These benefits support and protect your video-making journey.
Having your own audience sets you up to make money from your content in many ways. But to really take advantage of that, you need to know your audience well. For lots of YouTubers, focusing on a specific topic (like a niche) helps you partner with brands that target the same people.
Pay attention to these things about your viewers:
Info cards (once called YouTube Cards) are an easy way to grab viewers' attention, whether you're promoting a brand deal or your own products. With free editing software, you can add these quick pop-ups right when they matter most without interrupting the flow to boost their effect.
You can add links in your video description to send viewers to your store, Patreon, Kickstarter, or other ways to make money
With a smart plan for making money on YouTube, creators can turn their passion into a full-time job and get paid for all the effort it takes to beat the algorithm. For many, the real challenge isn't growing an audience it's picking a way to earn that lasts over time. Depending only on YouTube's options can be risky because they sometimes stop paying creators too easily. Selling your own products, making digital items, or promoting brands you like isn't just extra cash it's a way to protect yourself and build a business based on your fans, not YouTube's rules.
My method is simple. I ask my viewers to join my newsletter so I can get their email for later. I also ask them to buy my product. Some of them start joining. You’ll see it works. Don’t forget to collect emails with a newsletter tool like ConvertKit. Once you have their emails, you can send them video updates or posts. Try this it might help you use your current audience better.
There are some other ways by which money can be made even without making videos at all. The following are some of the ways you can do that;
The number of views on your YouTube channel doesn't directly mean more money. If thousands watch your video but skip the ads before it, you won't earn anything. That's because YouTube only pays you when viewers click an ad or watch the whole thing (like 10, 15, or 30 seconds).
2. How much does YouTube pay per 1,000 views?
YouTube pays creators between $1 and $15 for every 1,000 views, with most earning around $5 to $10. How much you make depends on things like your video topic, where your viewers live, how long they watch, and how they interact with ads. Only views with watched or clicked ads count. So, 1 million views could earn you $1,000 to $10,000 after YouTube takes its share. You can see your own earnings in YouTube Analytics.
3. Do you get paid for uploading videos on YouTube?
YouTube doesn't pay creators just for uploading videos. To start earning money, you need to turn on monetization in your account settings. Then, you can join the YouTube Partner Program or let your videos be part of YouTube Premium.
4. How can a beginner make money on YouTube?
You can make money via the YouTube Partner Program. This program is a special program for creators that offers support and ways to make money. When you join, you can earn from ads on your long videos, ads shown between short videos, and from YouTube Premium members who watch your content.
5. How many views on YouTube do you need to make $2000 a month?
To make $2,000 a month on YouTube, you usually need about 400,000 to 800,000 views each month. There’s no exact number of subscribers you need, because money also comes from things like affiliate marketing and brand deals.
After meeting the monetization criteria, then you will now face another set of journey. You will now need to upload regularly, setting your topics and ensuring your thumbnail has all the keywords that will help your article to rank. In fact, don't let me share all the vital information here. If you are really serious about making money on YouTube, kindly ensure you read this article to the end because we will be sharing some powerful strategies with you that can never be gotten anywhere else.
Understanding YouTube monetization
If you’re new to making videos, start by checking out our easy guide on how to create a YouTube video. Making good, interesting videos and setting up your channel right is key to success. After that, you can think about making money from your videos. To start earning, it is important that you reach 1,000 subscribers and have people watch your videos for at least 4,000 hours in one year. To do this, make videos your audience likes and wants to keep watching (our guide can help!). Once you reach this, you can join the YouTube Partner Program (YPP) and link an AdSense account to earn money from ads shown on your videos. Ads are a main way to earn on YouTube.
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As your channel grows, you can also make money by working with brands, making sponsored videos, getting paid during live chats, selling content licenses, or earning from YouTube Premium viewers. Joining YPP also gives you copyright protection, help from YouTube, and access to many ways to earn. These benefits support and protect your video-making journey.
How To Get Income From YouTube
1. YouTube ads
YouTube ads are a great way to make money. You earn when people watch or click on ads in your videos. Longer videos or videos with ads at different times can bring in more money. Ads can play before, during, or after your video, so even short videos can earn from ads. Try different video ideas to see what your audience likes more views mean more ads and money. To start, go to YouTube Studio, click the “Earn” tab, and apply for the YouTube Partner Program. Once approved, connect your channel to an AdSense account. When AdSense approves you, ads will run on your videos and you can start earning. Setting up AdSense is easy and important to make money on YouTube.
This lets creators support brands they believe in and offer good deals to their audience. To make affiliate marketing work, you need to really understand your viewers. You don’t want to promote things they wouldn’t use or like. Stick to products that fit your content and audience interests. For example, if you make woodworking videos, it wouldn’t make sense to promote trampolines.
Be careful and only share products that truly match your audience’s needs. This keeps your recommendations honest and helps your viewers trust you.
If you want to work with a brand, reach out to them directly. Share your subscriber count, views, and who watches your videos to show why you are a good partner. Remember, they’d be lucky to work with you!
Your email to a brand should include:
To get people to donate, tell a good story about why you need the money and how it helps your viewers. Offer rewards they will like, such as special content, fun experiences, or shoutouts. This is a lot like channel memberships on YouTube.
The good news is you don’t have to make new videos. You can use clips from your longer videos. For example, if you have long car repair tutorials, take one quick tip from those and turn it into a Short. You can use simple software like Camtasia to cut and add captions. You can also make a short version of a bigger video and tell viewers to watch the full video on your channel. This way, you make more money using the same content, and Shorts help you reach more people easily.
The following are some of the tips you must follow if you want to start selling on YouTube;
2. Make recurring revenue with channel memberships and subscriptions
Another way to earn on YouTube is through channel memberships. Your viewers can pay a monthly fee to become members and get exclusive benefits. It’s a bit like having your own Patreon. For instance, YouTuber Andru Edwards gives his members special access to Q&A sessions, behind-the-scenes clips, shout-outs, and exclusive discounts. You can decide what perks to offer. Just make sure what you give matches the price so members feel it’s a good deal. Ideas include member-only videos, special offers, live streams, and chat access. There are plenty of choices!3. Use Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is a way for creators and viewers to help each other. Creators share products or services they like, and if viewers buy through their special link, the creator earns some money. When a YouTuber joins an affiliate program, they get a unique link for each product. They can put these links on the screen, in the video description, or comments. If someone clicks the link and buys the product, the creator earns a commission.This lets creators support brands they believe in and offer good deals to their audience. To make affiliate marketing work, you need to really understand your viewers. You don’t want to promote things they wouldn’t use or like. Stick to products that fit your content and audience interests. For example, if you make woodworking videos, it wouldn’t make sense to promote trampolines.
Be careful and only share products that truly match your audience’s needs. This keeps your recommendations honest and helps your viewers trust you.
How to become an affiliate as a YouTuber.
Select affiliate programs that align closely with your content and resonate with your audience. The better the product or brand fits your viewers’ interests, the higher your chances of success. Once enrolled, you can include affiliate links in your video descriptions or end screens. YouTube streamlines this process through its Shopping affiliate program, which helps you find relevant products and view commission rates. You can easily tag these products directly in your videos. While any creator can share affiliate links on YouTube, access to the official YouTube Shopping program requires membership in the Partner Program and compliance with YouTube’s eligibility criteria.4. Selling Merchandise To Your YouTube Channel
Selling merchandise is another way to make money on YouTube by offering products to your viewers. You need to pick a merchandise platform that YouTube allows. In YouTube Studio, go to the “Earn” tab to link your store to your channel. Then, you choose which products to show on your merchandise shelf. After that, you can start selling and show your products in your videos easily.5. Partner With Other Brands
YouTube is different from other media because it helps you build a community of people interested in the same things. You can use this to your advantage. You don’t have to work alone many companies want to work with YouTubers for sponsorships and brand deals to promote their products. Companies want to grow their own audiences too, so this can be good for both sides. At first, you might need to contact companies you like. But once your channel grows, companies might reach out to you. This is another way to make money on YouTube.If you want to work with a brand, reach out to them directly. Share your subscriber count, views, and who watches your videos to show why you are a good partner. Remember, they’d be lucky to work with you!
Your email to a brand should include:
- Your number of subscribers and views
- Who your audience is
- Any special achievements or past partnerships
- Ideas for how you can work together
- How does this help the brand
- What you want to do, like a product review or giveaway
- Ask to set up a call or meeting to talk more
6. Crowdfunding & Fan Funding
Another way to make money on YouTube is crowdfunding and fan funding. This means getting money from your viewers to support your work. Patreon is a popular site where fans pay a monthly fee to get special rewards from creators. Kickstarter is another platform where creators ask for money for a specific project, like making a new video series or buying equipment. If enough people give money to reach the goal, backers get rewards based on how much they donate.To get people to donate, tell a good story about why you need the money and how it helps your viewers. Offer rewards they will like, such as special content, fun experiences, or shoutouts. This is a lot like channel memberships on YouTube.
7. Using YouTube Shorts or Short-form Content
YouTube is not just for long videos anymore. Short videos, called YouTube Shorts, are very popular and uploaded every day. You can earn money from these Shorts with ads, just like with longer videos. This started from the Shorts Fund, but now it’s part of regular ads.The good news is you don’t have to make new videos. You can use clips from your longer videos. For example, if you have long car repair tutorials, take one quick tip from those and turn it into a Short. You can use simple software like Camtasia to cut and add captions. You can also make a short version of a bigger video and tell viewers to watch the full video on your channel. This way, you make more money using the same content, and Shorts help you reach more people easily.
8. License your content to the media
If you make a video that becomes very popular, you can sell the rights to use it and earn money. TV shows, news sites, and other creators might ask to use your video if it goes viral. You can also put your videos up for sale on websites like Jukin Media, where more people can find and buy them.What are the Current YouTube Revenue Statistics
As at now, we don't have the exact revenue Statistics for YouTube but at the first part of this year, research shows that YouTube ad revenue was exceeded about $8.92 billion. However, before YouTube can run business ads, they will need contents and that is why they need as many content creators as possible for this so as to place their ads on those video contents.How much money do YouTubers make per year
Big YouTubers like MrBeast can earn tens of millions of dollars annually from their channels. But even smaller creators can make a decent living on YouTube. For example, Justine Leconte has one million subscribers and shares fashion advice. According to the YouTube Money Calculator by Influencer Marketing Hub, her estimated yearly earnings from ads alone are about $259,304, or around $979 per video. Based on these numbers, Justine could support herself by posting just one or two videos a week. Keep in mind, though, these are only estimates; her actual income could be higher or lower depending on how she monetizes her channel.What are the Top-earning YouTube channels in 2025
The following YouTube channels are the channels with the highest revenue according to statistics- MrBeast: $85 million
- Matt Rife: $50 million
- Dhar Mann: $45 millionRhett & Link: $36 million
- xQc: $36 million
- Ryan Kaji: $35 million
- Markiplier: $32 million
- Mark Rober: $25 million
- Alex Cooper: $22 million
- Stokes Twins: $20 million
How do YouTubers maximize their revenue?
YouTube channels don't need millions of subscribers to make money. How much you earn depends on how engaged your viewers are, the topics you cover, and the ways you choose to bring in revenue. Looking at top earners might make you think they all get rich just from ads on YouTube. But many of these channels also sell their own merchandise. They first grew their audience, then added other ways to earn. If you want to make money on YouTube, start by really understanding your target audience. Once you know who they are and what they like, you can create content, and later, products, that feels true to you and excites your fans.Tips for selling on YouTube
Many people just felt that making money on YouTube only revolves around creating content. But do you know that you can actually sell your merchandise on YouTube and make yourself some cool cash?The following are some of the tips you must follow if you want to start selling on YouTube;
1. Understand your audience on YouTube
Pay attention to these things about your viewers:
- The gender of your audience
- The age group they mostly fall into
- The geographical location of your audience
- How much time they spend watching (engagement)
- The search words they use to find your videos
2. Add info cards to your videos
3. Add links in your video descriptions
.
Even if your videos are on YouTube, don’t miss out on sharing them on other platforms too. The more places you post, the more people will see your content. Tell people about new offers or campaigns on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and your other profiles. You can also use easy tools like Descript or VEED to turn your long YouTube videos into short clips for social media, helping bring followers back to your channel.
4. Promote your offer on other platforms
5. Turn views into revenue with YouTube monetization
How I made my first Income from YouTube at 300 Subscribers
Do you know that most times, people feel that you can only make money on YouTube when you have at least 1000 followers. But, that is not always true. Even with my 300 Subscribers, I was able to make my first Income on YouTube. Right now, I have just 318 subscribers, but they really support my work. I know many people start YouTube channels hoping to monetize and make money someday, but with the strategy I’m using, you don’t have to follow all the usual rules from the start.Here is the strategy I am using;
- Think of something you can sell. For me I make notes from the tutorials I share for free, and I sell those notes at a fair price. At first, I didn’t expect anyone to buy, but it worked some people who found my content helpful are buying.
- Give your viewers something useful. Help them, make them laugh, or teach them something new. Then, offer the product you created to them. If it’s truly helpful, people will be interested.
- Don’t wait for YouTube money or sponsors. Use your creativity and think about what you can sell that really helps your audience.
My method is simple. I ask my viewers to join my newsletter so I can get their email for later. I also ask them to buy my product. Some of them start joining. You’ll see it works. Don’t forget to collect emails with a newsletter tool like ConvertKit. Once you have their emails, you can send them video updates or posts. Try this it might help you use your current audience better.
How to Make Money on YouTube Without Making Videos
There are some other ways by which money can be made even without making videos at all. The following are some of the ways you can do that;
- Utilize Creative Commons Content
- Create Compilation Videos
- Start a Faceless Channel
- Monetize Through YouTube Partner Program
- Promote Affiliate Products
- Sell Digital Products
- Engage Viewers with Live Streams
- Become a YouTube Consultant
YouTube Monetization Requirements For 2026
- Country Eligibility: Before you can be monetized on YouTube, you must first check if your country is among the 120 countries that are Eligible for YouTube Monetization. It is not every country that are in partnership with YouTube Monetization.
- Content Quality & Originality: You must also be sure that your content is original and not plagiarized in any form. Apart of your content being original, it must also be advertiser friendly. If your content is not original, YouTube might shut your chanel down.
- Community Guideline: YouTube is serious about its rules. If you get three strikes, your channel is removed. Even one strike can stop you from making money. Usually, for minor mistakes, you get a warning, and sometimes you can fix the problem and remove the warning. Warnings usually don’t block monetization, but it’s best not to risk it. These rules apply to all channels, big or small. Follow the rules to stay safe; if you don’t, YouTube can take action anytime.
- Link Adsense Account: To get your earnings from YouTube, you need an AdSense account connected to your channel. Setting one up and linking it is pretty straightforward takes just around 10 minutes. I'd suggest getting this done before you even apply for monetization, so you're all set when approval comes through.
- Two-Factor Authentication: Two-factor authentication, or 2FA, is like an extra lock on your account it makes it way harder for someone to hack in and steal it. To qualify for monetizing your YouTube channel, you have to turn it on. Technically, it's for the Google account tied to your channel, but it's a quick step that keeps things secure. Subscribers and Watch Time: To be Eligible for YouTube Monetization, You have to have 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 hours of watch time in the last 12 months OR 1,000 subscribers with 10 million valid public Shorts views in the last 90 days
How much money do you make on YouTube with 1,000 subscribers
When you reach 1,000 subscribers, you can begin earning money from your channel. Your monthly income can range from about $50 to $700, depending on what your videos are about, how much your audience interacts, and how long they watch. While these earnings might start small, reaching this subscriber milestone opens the door to ad revenue on your videos.How to Make Money on YouTube FAQ
1. How many views do you need to get money on YouTubeThe number of views on your YouTube channel doesn't directly mean more money. If thousands watch your video but skip the ads before it, you won't earn anything. That's because YouTube only pays you when viewers click an ad or watch the whole thing (like 10, 15, or 30 seconds).
2. How much does YouTube pay per 1,000 views?
YouTube pays creators between $1 and $15 for every 1,000 views, with most earning around $5 to $10. How much you make depends on things like your video topic, where your viewers live, how long they watch, and how they interact with ads. Only views with watched or clicked ads count. So, 1 million views could earn you $1,000 to $10,000 after YouTube takes its share. You can see your own earnings in YouTube Analytics.
3. Do you get paid for uploading videos on YouTube?
YouTube doesn't pay creators just for uploading videos. To start earning money, you need to turn on monetization in your account settings. Then, you can join the YouTube Partner Program or let your videos be part of YouTube Premium.
4. How can a beginner make money on YouTube?
You can make money via the YouTube Partner Program. This program is a special program for creators that offers support and ways to make money. When you join, you can earn from ads on your long videos, ads shown between short videos, and from YouTube Premium members who watch your content.
5. How many views on YouTube do you need to make $2000 a month?
To make $2,000 a month on YouTube, you usually need about 400,000 to 800,000 views each month. There’s no exact number of subscribers you need, because money also comes from things like affiliate marketing and brand deals.