YouTube has transformed from a simple video-sharing platform into a powerful engine for creators. Today’s YouTube creators are self-made entrepreneurs, captivating audiences with videos that entertain, educate, and inspire. If you’re wondering, Can You Make Money On Youtube? The answer is a resounding yes. Success on YouTube opens up diverse monetization avenues, both within the platform and beyond.
This guide explores seven effective strategies for making money on YouTube, revealing the potential earnings of successful YouTubers and providing a roadmap for aspiring creators.
How to Make Money on YouTube: Your Path to Monetization
1. Joining the YouTube Partner Program: Your First Step to Earning
The YouTube Partner Program (YPP) is the gateway to various monetization features on the platform. By joining the YPP, creators unlock opportunities to earn revenue from different content formats, including Shorts, livestreams, and traditional long-form videos.
Program members gain access to:
- Ad Revenue Sharing: Earn a portion of the revenue generated from ads displayed during your videos and between Shorts.
- YouTube Premium Revenue: Receive a share of revenue when YouTube Premium subscribers watch your content.
- Fan Funding Features: Utilize Super Chat, Super Thanks, and channel memberships to receive direct support from your audience.
- YouTube Shopping: Showcase and sell products to your viewers directly from your channel.
Beyond monetization, the YPP also provides access to valuable resources like YouTube’s creator support and the Copyright Match tool to safeguard your original content.
While the YPP is a significant pathway to monetization, it’s not the only route, and it may not always be the most profitable, depending on your channel’s niche and audience. Alternative strategies, such as driving traffic to your own online store, collaborating with affiliate partners, or creating sponsored content, can also be highly effective. These methods will be explored further below.
However, for most creators, becoming a member of the Partner Program simplifies and often enables many other monetization methods. With YouTube having distributed over $50 billion to YPP members in the last three years, it’s a program worth considering if you meet the eligibility requirements.
Eligibility for the YouTube Partner Program
To be accepted into the YouTube Partner Program and unlock its monetization features, your channel must meet these criteria:
- Subscriber Count: Accumulate at least 1,000 subscribers.
- Watch Hours or Shorts Views: Achieve either 4,000 valid public watch hours in the past 12 months or 10 million valid public Shorts views in the last 90 days.
It’s important to note that some program features may be accessible with fewer subscribers and views.
Furthermore, your channel needs to be in good standing with YouTube’s community guidelines and adhere to all YouTube’s monetization policies. You must also reside in an eligible region.
Once your channel meets these requirements, navigate to YouTube Studio and access the “Earn” tab to begin the application process.
2. Running Ads on Your YouTube Videos: A Beginner-Friendly Approach
Example of a YouTube in-video advertisement for a bicycle brand
Once you’re accepted into the YouTube Partner Program, the most straightforward way to start generating revenue is by enabling ads on your videos. YouTube’s advertising platform is largely automated, simplifying the process for creators.
When you activate ads for a long-form video, YouTube will automatically insert a combination of pre-roll (before the video) and post-roll (after the video) ads. These ads may be skippable or non-skippable. While you don’t have direct control over the specific ads shown, for videos exceeding eight minutes in length, you gain the option to strategically place mid-roll ads within the video content. Mid-roll ads can be inserted automatically by YouTube or manually positioned by you for optimal placement.
To monitor your ad revenue, navigate to the “Revenue” tab within YouTube Studio. This section provides detailed reports on your ad earnings, including estimated monthly revenue generated from videos with monetization enabled.
Exploring Revenue Streams Beyond YouTube Ads
While YouTube ads offer an easy and relatively passive income stream, relying solely on ad revenue might not be enough to generate substantial earnings. For significant income, it’s often necessary to combine ad revenue with other monetization strategies.
YouTube’s demonetization policy can sometimes be perceived as overly strict, leading to potential demonetization of content that might not be deemed advertiser-friendly. Moreover, YouTube retains 45% of ad revenue from standard videos and 55% from Shorts, impacting your net earnings.
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YouTube Shorts Monetization: How Much You Can Make in 2025
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Dive deeper into the world of short-form video monetization and discover additional ways to earn from YouTube Shorts.
3. Fan Funding: Letting Your Audience Support Your Channel Directly
The Patreon page example of Wait But Why YouTube channel
For creators within the Partner Program, YouTube offers built-in fan funding tools that enable viewers to directly support their favorite channels through tips and recurring payments.
Super Chat, Super Stickers, and Super Thanks are interactive features viewers can purchase during livestreams and video premieres. These purchased messages and stickers highlight a fan’s comments within the live chat, increasing visibility and demonstrating support.
YouTube Channel Memberships provide another avenue for fan funding. This feature allows creators to offer paying fans exclusive perks and benefits in exchange for recurring monthly payments. You can create up to six membership tiers, each offering increasing levels of benefits, such as:
- Custom Channel Badges and Emojis: Allowing members to stand out in live chats and comments sections.
- Members-Only Content: Exclusive community posts, Shorts, and videos accessible only to members.
- Early Access to Videos: Granting members first-viewing rights for new video releases.
- Members-Only Live Chats and Livestreams: Creating exclusive interactive experiences for members.
- Member Recognition Shelf: Featuring member avatars prominently at the top of your channel page.
Exploring Alternative Fan Funding Platforms
Beyond YouTube’s native features, creators can also leverage external platforms to solicit donations and build a community of supporters.
Patreon is a widely recognized fan funding platform where creators offer exclusive content, personalized access, and other perks in exchange for recurring donations from their audience.
While utilizing platforms like Patreon often requires investing in creating additional exclusive content for donors, they provide a familiar and established system for viewers to support creators on an ongoing basis.
Alternative fan funding platforms to Patreon include:
- Buy Me a Coffee
- Ko-fi
4. Selling Merchandise: Branding and Revenue Generation
Online Merchandise Store Example: T-shirts showcased on a website category page, illustrating merchandise sales.
YouTube creators like Roman Atwood have successfully built brands and revenue streams through merchandise sales, exemplified by his Smile More brand. YouTube Shopping provides integrated tools to facilitate direct purchases from your YouTube content. With YouTube Shopping, you can:
- Establish a Storefront on Your Channel: Create a dedicated shop directly on your YouTube channel.
- Connect Your Existing Online Store: Link your Shopify or other e-commerce store to showcase your products around your videos.
- Tag Products in Videos: Highlight your own products or products from partner brands directly within your video content.
According to YouTube data, over 160,000 creators are currently utilizing YouTube Shopping to sell merchandise on their channels.
Many creators opt to promote merchandise such as branded tote bags, snapback hats, and t-shirts, or recommend products from brands they collaborate with or review.
Selling branded merchandise is more accessible than ever. Print-on-demand services streamline the process by handling production and shipping on a per-order basis, minimizing upfront investment and inventory management.
Setting Up YouTube Shopping: Integrating with Shopify
The most seamless way to leverage YouTube Shopping is by connecting your Shopify store to your YouTube channel. This integration automatically synchronizes your product listings, allowing customers to easily browse and purchase directly on YouTube or navigate to your store for a more comprehensive shopping experience.
If you don’t have an existing online store, you can easily create one with a free Shopify trial.
Start selling your products on YouTube from Shopify
Call to Action Button: Start Selling on YouTube with Shopify – Learn More.
Shopify provides robust tools to promote and sell products on YouTube. Sync your product catalog, tag products in livestreams, and manage all sales directly from your Shopify dashboard.
5. Brand Influencer Partnerships: Monetizing Your Influence
Brands are increasingly allocating marketing budgets to influencer marketing and sponsorships, recognizing the value of partnering with creators who have cultivated engaged audiences.
This trend presents a significant opportunity for YouTube creators to negotiate brand deals in exchange for featuring products and services to their viewers.
YouTube marketing expert and influencer, Brendan Gahan, suggests a method for determining your baseline flat fee for sponsored content. He recommends calculating your average video views and multiplying that number by $0.05 to $0.15 per view.
Your negotiation leverage can vary based on factors such as your target audience demographics, content quality, and the uniqueness and profitability of your niche. If you align with a brand that is a strong fit for your audience, you may be able to negotiate a more favorable deal.
Transparency is crucial in brand partnerships. It’s essential to clearly disclose sponsored content to your audience and only endorse products or services that you genuinely believe in and align with your channel’s values.
6. Licensing Your Content: Turning Viral Moments into Revenue
A woman wearing a Chewbacca mask in a YouTube video screenshot
When this video of a woman wearing a Chewbacca mask went viral, media outlets worldwide sought to license the content. If you happen to create a video that resonates widely and goes viral – perhaps a funny clip featuring your pet – you can license your content for financial compensation.
Television news channels, morning shows, online news platforms, and other creators may reach out to acquire rights to use your viral videos.
You can also proactively list your videos on content licensing marketplaces like Jukin Licensing. These platforms increase the visibility of your content to potential buyers, simplifying the licensing process.
7. Crowdfunding Creative Projects: Funding Your Vision with Community Support
A Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign example for Kung Fury movie
Crowdfunding can be a powerful tool when funding is the primary obstacle between an idea and its realization. Crowdfunding provides a way to tap into your audience and community to secure funding for your next ambitious video project.
Whether you need to upgrade equipment, hire actors, or cover production expenses, you can appeal to your viewers for financial contributions if your project idea is compelling.
Many successful crowdfunded projects utilize a sneak peek or trailer to generate excitement and attract backers. Consider creating a video that effectively communicates your project vision and offers a glimpse of the final product.
Popular crowdfunding sites frequently used by YouTubers include:
- Kickstarter
- Indiegogo
8. Affiliate Marketing: Earning Commissions Through Product Recommendations
Affiliate marketing is a monetization strategy where you earn a commission by promoting products or services from other brands within your videos.
As a YouTube creator, you can become an affiliate marketer by creating content that features relevant products and includes affiliate links for your viewers to purchase.
Getting Started with Affiliate Marketing
To begin affiliate marketing, identify affiliate programs that align with your content and are likely to appeal to your audience. Relevance is key – the more closely the product matches your niche and audience interests, the higher your chances of success.
Once you’ve joined relevant affiliate programs, you can add affiliate links to your video descriptions or end screens.
Affiliate marketing is particularly effective for channels that focus on product reviews or tutorials. Since brands only pay commissions on actual sales, it often has a low barrier to entry. However, it’s crucial to maintain transparency and clearly disclose your affiliate relationships to your audience.
YouTube simplifies affiliate marketing through its Shopping affiliate program. This program allows you to quickly find relevant products to promote and view commission rates. Once you select a product, you can easily tag it directly within your videos.
While any creator can include affiliate links in their YouTube content, utilizing the official YouTube Shopping affiliate program requires YPP membership and meeting YouTube’s eligibility criteria.
Recruiting Affiliates for Your Own Products
Conversely, if you are a creator with your own product line, consider leveraging affiliate marketing to expand your reach.
Eligible Shopify merchants can easily add their products to the YouTube Shopping affiliate program, enabling other creators to discover and promote your products in their videos. Synchronize your product catalog via the Shopify YouTube app and set your desired commission rates.
Learn more about YouTube Affiliate Marketing for Shopify Merchants
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Easily include your products in YouTube’s affiliate program. Define your commission rates and empower YouTube creators to feature your products in their videos, allowing viewers to shop while they watch.
Understanding YouTube Earnings: The Numbers Behind Monetization
YouTube Views and Revenue: What’s the Correlation?
While views are a key metric on YouTube, the number of views alone doesn’t directly translate to revenue. According to data from Influencer Marketing Hub, the average YouTube channel earns approximately $0.018 per view, equating to $18 per 1,000 views.
However, revenue is contingent on ad engagement. If your video receives thousands of views but viewers don’t interact with the ads (either by clicking or watching them in full), you won’t generate ad revenue. YouTube’s advertiser billing criteria require a viewer to either click on an ad or watch the video ad in its entirety (10, 15, or 30 seconds) for you to earn payment.
Annual Earnings of YouTubers: From Side Hustle to Full-Time Career
Top-tier YouTubers like MrBeast can command earnings in the tens of millions of dollars annually. While these figures represent the extreme end of the spectrum, it’s important to recognize that creators with smaller channels can also build sustainable incomes on YouTube.
Consider Justine Leconte, whose fashion and style advice channel boasts one million subscribers. Based on estimated ad revenue alone, her annual earnings are projected to be around $259,304, averaging approximately $979 per video, according to Influencer Marketing Hub’s YouTube Money Calculator.
These estimates suggest that Justine could potentially earn a living wage from her YouTube channel by consistently publishing one or two videos per week. However, it’s crucial to remember that these are estimates. Justine’s actual earnings may be higher or lower depending on the specific monetization strategies she employs.
Maximizing YouTube Revenue: Engagement, Niche, and Diversification
YouTube channel monetization is achievable even without a massive subscriber base. Your earning potential is influenced by factors such as audience engagement, niche specialization, and the range of revenue streams you explore.
While the list of top YouTube earners might suggest that YouTube earnings are solely derived from platform revenue sharing, in reality, many of these top channels have diversified their income through merchandise lines and other ventures. Building a dedicated audience is the foundational step before expanding into additional revenue streams. If making money on YouTube is part of your strategy, understanding your target audience is paramount.
Tips for Effective Selling on YouTube: Maintaining Authenticity
Many YouTube monetization strategies involve product promotion. However, it’s crucial to integrate promotional content without compromising the integrity of your channel and alienating your audience.
The perception of “selling out” is a genuine concern for many creators. Conversely, avoiding monetization entirely may mean forgoing potential income.
Here are tips for incorporating promotional content authentically:
Understanding Your YouTube Audience: Demographics and Engagement
Building a loyal audience positions you favorably for monetization. However, maximizing your opportunities requires a deep understanding of your audience.
For many YouTubers, specializing in a niche channel can attract brands targeting specific demographics. Pay close attention to:
- Audience Gender: Identify if your audience skews towards a particular gender.
- Age Range: Determine the primary age demographics of your viewers.
- Geographic Location: Pinpoint the countries or cities where your videos are watched.
- Watch Time and Engagement: Analyze audience engagement metrics and watch time.
This demographic data provides valuable insights for aligning with relevant brands and tailoring your content effectively. All demographic information can be accessed through your YouTube analytics.
Utilizing Info Cards: Non-Intrusive Promotion
Whether promoting a brand partnership or your own products, info cards (formerly YouTube Cards) offer a visually appealing way to capture viewer attention without disrupting the viewing experience.
Employ free video editing software to strategically add info cards at relevant moments, ensuring they are informative and not overly intrusive.
A YouTube video example with two info cards and an ad for shoes
Adding Links in Video Descriptions: Directing Viewers to Revenue Sources
Include direct links in your video descriptions to guide viewers to your online store, Patreon page, crowdfunding campaign, or other revenue-generating platforms.
Gymshark YouTube video example with social media links in description
Cross-Promotion Across Platforms: Expanding Your Reach
Don’t limit your promotional efforts solely to YouTube. Leverage other distribution channels to amplify your message.
Share updates about new campaigns or discounts on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and other social media profiles.
Wider distribution increases visibility and engagement. Expanding your reach beyond YouTube through social media marketing is always beneficial.
The Creator Economy: A Growing Opportunity
While financial gain may not be the primary driver for all creators, with a well-defined monetization strategy, creators can transform their passion into a sustainable career and reap the rewards for the dedication and innovation required to thrive on YouTube.
The journey of MrBeast, who started creating videos at age 13 and spent years refining his content, exemplifies this trajectory.
For businesses, audience building and attention retention are often the most challenging aspects. YouTubers have already mastered this crucial element.
Shopify empowers creators and businesses of all sizes, from emerging entrepreneurs to established global retailers. Explore Shopify plans and pricing.
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How to Make Money on YouTube: FAQs
How many views are needed to make money on YouTube?
View count alone doesn’t directly determine YouTube revenue. Earnings are tied to ad engagement. If viewers skip or don’t interact with ads, no revenue is generated, regardless of view count. Advertisers are billed when viewers click on ads or watch them completely.
How much revenue is earned per 1,000 views on YouTube?
The average YouTube channel earns approximately $18 per 1,000 views, based on data from Influencer Marketing Hub. However, this is an average, and actual earnings can vary.
Is payment received simply for uploading videos to YouTube?
No, content creators are not paid by YouTube solely for uploading videos. Monetization needs to be enabled in YouTube account settings to begin earning. This involves joining the YouTube Partner Program or listing videos on YouTube Premium.
What are the primary ways YouTubers make money on YouTube?
YouTubers monetize their channels through various methods, including:
- YouTube Partner Program (Ad Revenue Sharing)
- Selling Products and Merchandise
- Crowdfunding
- Fan Funding (Super Chat, Super Thanks, Memberships)
- Licensing Content to Media Outlets
- Brand Influencer Partnerships
- Affiliate Marketing
How can one make money on YouTube without creating videos?
One way to earn from YouTube without creating your own videos is by partnering with existing creators. For instance, Shopify merchants can utilize YouTube’s affiliate marketing program to allow creators to feature their products in videos, driving sales and earning commissions.
