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Would you believe me if I told you it’s possible to make millions on YouTube?
I know that face you just made. “He’s probably exaggerating.”
It may sound too good to be true, but it’s no joke.
In fact, I have proof of YouTubers earning Millions of dollars. And I’m going to show you.
Below are 10 of the richest people on YouTube in 2020, and they make their money simply by posting short videos on YouTube.
I’ll ask again – do you believe it’s possible for someone to make millions on YouTube?
Now that we’ve gotten rid of any lingering doubts you may have, let’s talk about how you too can make your first $1M on YouTube.
Let’s go, shall we?
Mind-blowing discovery: Did you know that each time you go to a channel on YouTube and watch a video, YouTube pays the creator of that video? Oh, yes they do! That’s one of the ways those guys made their Millions.
How to Make Money on YouTube in 2021: A 4-Step Guide
1. Start a Channel
What is a channel?
Before you can think about making money on YouTube, you first have to create something known as a YouTube channel. In simple terms, a channel is your own digital space on the YouTube platform. It is where viewers regularly find your content.
How to start a channel
Step #1: Choose a niche
To start a channel, you’ll have to choose a niche. A niche is a topic/subject your channel is centered around. For example, a niche can be football, cosmetics, gaming, tech gadgets, and smartphone reviews, etc.
Normally, what people do is choose a niche based on what they love to do best – that is, based on their passion. For example, if you’re a lover of football, you choose a niche that’s in line with football. If you’re a lover of betting, you choose a niche in line with betting, and so on.This is a good approach, as it will make it easier for you to create great content regularly without running out of ideas.
Just think of something you’re really skilled at, or that you enjoy doing, and give it a shot.
If you have more than one, you can use various YouTube keyword research tools like TubeBuddy or Google Keyword Planner to find out which option has the least competition.
The smaller the competition in a niche, the easier it will be to start and grow a channel in it.
Bear in mind, though, that it’s possible that the niche you choose won’t have a high monetization potential (different niches have different monetization potentials). That is, the ad revenue in the niche may not be that high, or brands in that niche may not really fancy YouTube marketing.
Pro Tip: Examples of niches with high monetization potential include:
- Health
- Makeup
- Financial planning
- Relationship advise and dating
- Technology
2. Go to the channels of people who are already in that niche and see how frequently they promote brands/products/affiliate links in their videos.
If the niche offers good product promotion opportunities, you won’t have to check more than three videos before you see a creator promoting an affiliate product or advertising a brand.
The reason for this particular research is because brand/affiliate link promotion is one of the ways YouTubers make money.
3. Go to Google.com and search for “YouTube Niches with High CPM in 2020.” If your chosen niche is not amongst any of the results you see, then it means its monetization potential via CPM (a metric used to measure ad revenue) is most likely low.
The reason for this particular research is to find out how frequently YouTubers make money via ads in that niche.
Step #2: Create your channel
Note: Before you start creating your YouTube channel, you will first need to create a Google account if you don’t already have one. Your Gmail account is the same as your Google account.
1. Go to YouTube and sign in
Head over to YouTube.com and click ‘sign in’ in the top right corner of the page:
Then log in using the Google account you’d like your channel to be associated with:
2. Head over to your YouTube settings
In the top right corner of the screen, click on your profile icon and then click “Create a channel.”
3. Create your channel
Next, you’ll have the option to create a personal channel or create a channel using a business or other name. For this example, we’ll choose the “Use custom name” option, which is recommended for small businesses and brands:
Next, you’ll name your channel.
After this step, you’ll have the chance to further customize your channel. You’ll see options for:
- Uploading a profile picture
- Adding a description of your channel: Here, you should describe your brand and what viewers can expect to see on your channel.
Start Creating and Uploading Great Content
How to create YouTube videos that get views
Step #1: Get the right collection of tools
A YouTube video is only as good as the quality of equipment and software used in creating it. Before you start creating video content, you need to make sure you’ve purchased all the necessary tools to create the best videos.
Speaking of equipment, here are the ones you need to get started.
YouTube video recording equipment:
- Camera
- Microphone
- Tripod or Gimbal Stabilizer
- Lighting
- Video Editing Software
Camera
Obviously, you know you’ll need a camera. But for now, you don’t have to break the bank for one. All you need is something that’s capable of recording 1080p videos.
Thankfully, you can get that with your regular camcorders and webcams. If you’re going for camcorders, I, personally, recommend the Sony HDRCX405 Camcorder. It shouldn’t cost you more than $200-$250.
Alternatively, you can also use regular webcams like the Logitech C920 HD Pro ($89.99). The beautiful thing about webcams is that you can easily connect them with your computer. For those who need to record their computer screens (e.g., gamers, teachers) while creating videos, webcams are a great option.
Microphone
Microphones are another important piece you cannot do without.
No matter how great the quality of your visuals, if viewers are struggling to hear you, it will be impossible to keep them on your channel.
For starters, there are a few options for microphones you can choose from, depending on the types of videos you intend to create.
Some of the most common options are:
- USB microphone headset: This is a USB-mic headset that can easily be connected to a computer. Once connected, it cancels noise and enables high-quality audio production. You can get one for as low as $40 (Logitech ClearChat H390).
- Condenser microphone: Sometimes, it may seem too informal to wear a headset in your videos (for example, if your audience is a group of corporate individuals). If you find yourself in this situation, a condenser mic might be a great option instead. A good one is the Audio-Technica AT2020USB Plus ($149).
- Lapel Microphone: If you like to appear classy and stylish in your videos, you should try lapel mics. Unlike regular mics, no one will even notice you have a mic on you. You can fit it into your shirt, collar, or even your belt. A good one is the highly versatile RODELink Digital Wireless System ($399).
Tripod
In order to avoid unsteady footage or shaky videos, you need a stand upon which you’ll set your cameras. If your video is constantly shaking, viewers might be put off from watching, so it’s important to steady your visual creation with a Tripod.
A good choice is the iKan E-Image EG01A2 ($169).
Lighting
Lighting is another important element in the YouTube video creation jigsaw. There is no doing without it if you want to create awesome videos, especially if you plan on recording indoors.
You can get lighting in the following forms:
- Softbox: Softboxes are designed to create light that emulates the natural lighting from, say, a window. You can get a softbox for as low as $30.
- Umbrella lights: This kind of lighting source is preferred to softboxes when you need to cover an expansive space. With $100, you should be able to get an umbrella light.
- Ring lights: These are particularly good if you need to focus on a specific subject or person in your video. They’re very common amongst makeup and cosmetics YouTubers. You can get one for $20 or less.
Video editing software
Remember how you always edit/filter your photos each time you want to upload them on social media? Well, that’s exactly what you have to do every time you create a new YouTube video.
Here are some of the most common apps/tools you can use to edit your videos.
- iMovie: You know how movie clips always look so exceptionally neat and stunning? Well, you can use the iMovie software to make your YouTube videos look exactly like that. The tool is used to create stunning 4K-resolution video clips.
- DaVinci Resolve: This is another YouTube video editor that allows you to work on things like editing, color correction, audio production, video effects, and motion graphics.
- Lightworks 14: If you want to improve the quality of your videos and make them look HD, use this tool. Just so you know, this was the tool used in editing popular films like The King’s Speech, The Wolf of Wall Street, Pulp Fiction, LA Confidential, Heat, Hug, etc.
- Filmora9: The beautiful thing about this YouTube video editor is its simplicity and ease of use. Anyone can use it to edit their videos, even if you have no graphics or editing skills whatsoever.
Other video editing software includes Final Cut Pro X, CyberLink PowerDirector 16, and Animoto.
Step #2: Start creating
I believe you’ve already chosen your niche, and you know the types of videos you want to create.
However, I’m going to help you by giving you some insight into the kinds of videos YouTube viewers love to watch.
- Vlog: Vlogging cuts across every niche, so you shouldn’t have a problem creating vlogs in yours. They can be in the form of how your day went, a travel experience you had, an industry analysis, or a quick summary of an industry concept. By and large, YouTube viewers love vlog videos.
- Behind-the-Scenes: Depending on your niche and industry, there may be an opportunity to target behind-the-scenes videos. If there is, do not hesitate to take this opportunity. People love to watch the actions and efforts that go into the creation of something they like. For example, let’s say you’re a makeup YouTuber. You can share a behind-the-scenes video of how a particular eyeliner product is made.
- Interview/Q&A: Sometimes, people want to hear from the experts. Regardless of the niche in which you find yourself, there are bound to be some experts/celebrities/popular figures. Once in a while, invite these folks over and have a quick Q&A with them. You’ll be surprised at the number of likes and views this will fetch you.
- Webinar: A webinar is an online seminar that is hosted by an organization/company and broadcast to a select group of individuals through their computers via the Internet. As a YouTuber, you don’t have to be the one who organizes a webinar (you may not have the resources to do that). You can simply network with the organizers to get the right to share the event with your audience. For example, if your channel teaches people simple DIY cooking, you can invite viewers to join an upcoming webinar hosted by one of the industry’s leading chefs or a food organization/brand.
- Event: Same as webinar above.
- Presentation: Video presentations work on YouTube, too. You just have to think of new items, ideas, subjects, or objects you can showcase to your audience. For example, if you run a DIY channel, you can showcase a task you completed at home to your audience, and then challenge them to do the same and send their results to your email.
- User-Generated Content: Once viewers/subscribers send their results to your email, you can showcase these results in your next video. This is an example of user-generated content, and it works because it gives viewers/subscribers a sense of belonging.
- Tutorial/How To: Of course, you can teach people things they don’t know. Just make sure you’re selecting topics that are worthwhile, not topics that have been discussed over and over again by other YouTubers.
- Product Review: Is there a new product released in your industry? Feel free to talk about it in one of your videos. Let’s say you run an education channel. You can review a new book released by a popular author in your field, including why you feel people should or shouldn’t buy it, what people should expect to find in it, etc.
- Testimonial: This works best if you’re using your YouTube channel to promote other brands. It simply means sharing the testimonials (reviews, feedback, etc.) of people who have patronized the brand/product in the past.
- Animation: Animations can be comical, intriguing, engaging, and attention-grabbing. Think of how you can fit them into your video creation strategy.
- Contests/Giveaways: Who doesn’t like giveaways? Once in a while, throw a few bucks or freebies at viewers.
Promote your YouTube Channel and get People to View Your Videos
Once you’ve started creating videos, the next thing is to find a way to get people to view them. Unfortunately, that is a lot harder than it sounds. In fact, it is the one area where most YouTubers struggle.
But in your case, we hope you won’t have to struggle like them, because we’ve compiled the best of the best tips you can use to promote your YouTube videos and channel.
Note: There are two ways to get views on a YouTube video. The first is via the YouTube algorithm, which shows your content to viewers based on specific keywords and conditions. The second is via external sources like a blog, social media, online forums, etc.
Tips for gaining YouTube views/subscribers via the YouTube algorithm
A quick case study:
If I may ask you, how many times have you followed a link to a YouTube video? Now, compare that with the number of times you’ve actually gone to YouTube.com and searched for a video.
If I’m to guess, I’d say you’ve most likely done the latter more.
The same can be said of every normal YouTube user.
What meaning can you give to this case study?
Well, the message is that the best way to gain YouTube viewers for your videos is via the YouTube algorithm because more people search for videos via the algorithm than they do via external links.
Now, let’s see how you can beat the YouTube algorithm so that your videos will be amongst the ones shown to users every time they search.
1. Create videos that target specific keywords
In order for the YouTube algorithm to display your videos to users, it needs to recognize what your videos are about. But since it’s not a person, there is no way it can tell what a video is about by simply looking at it.
However, the algorithm can deduce what a video is about by understanding the “focus keywords” in the video.
A keyword is a phrase that people type on YouTube or Google to find content recommendations.
The title of every video that you make and the words you say during the video are keywords you are directly or indirectly targeting.
For example:
A YouTube video with the title: “Best Condenser Mic? RODELink Digital Wireless System Review” is targeting the following keywords:
- Best condenser mic
- RODELink Digital Wireless System Review
Now, different keywords hold a different level of value and significance in the eye of the algorithm. To make sure your videos are targeting valuable keywords, you should conduct thorough keyword research before creating your videos.
You can use popular tools like Ahrefs, Google Keyword Planner, Neil Patel’s keyword research tool, SemRush, or any other reputable tool. Just go into these tools, and search for the best performing keywords in your niche.
Once you’ve collected a list of keywords to target in your videos, check the popularity of each one on YouTube to know whether those keywords (specific to your niche) are relevant to YouTube searches.
To check for keyword popularity on YouTube, go to Google Keyword Planner and select “YouTube Search” on the far right.
Once you have the best keywords, make sure you mention them in each of your video descriptions, video titles, title tags, transcripts, and at every point of your video.
2. Optimize your thumbnail image
When the YouTube algorithm displays your video to users, it will display it along with several others. From a viewer’s perspective, the difference between your video and these other videos is linked to your thumbnail.
If your thumbnail is better and more eye-catching, you can bet that it will captivate more users and compel more clicks.
To get the perfect thumbnail for your video, use high-quality images that feature readable and engaging fonts.
If possible, make the act of creating thumbnails a special assignment in itself. And if you’re having trouble crafting thumbnails, do not hesitate to hire a creative graphic designer.
By and large, have your thumbnail be visually correspondent to your title and description to boost your video views. Look at these thumbnails to see what I’m talking about.
3. Use tags
Always make sure to use tags for all your videos. YouTube video tags are another way to let the algorithm understand what a video is about.
Even YouTube recommends using tags in videos.
“Your video’s title, thumbnail, and description are more important pieces of metadata for your video’s discovery. These main pieces of information help viewers decide which videos to watch. Tags can be useful if the content of your video is commonly misspelled.”
For example, let’s say you create a video about “how to do keyword research,” your tags can be something like:
In general, when adding tags to your videos, use the following tips:
- Add relevant keywords. Relevant keywords are keywords with high search volume.
- Set your primary target keyword as the first tag.
- Add common, relevant keywords from top-ranking videos.
Tips for gaining YouTube views/subscribers via external sources
As we mentioned earlier, the second method YouTubers use to promote their videos/channels is via external promotions.
1. Increase your video’s SEO ranking
If you’ve been observant, you will have noticed that Google now displays YouTube videos as part of their result page answers.
For example, look at this search command and the results it generates:
What this means is that YouTubers now have an opportunity to bring in traffic from Google searches.
But how can you do that? That is, how can you get your videos to be displayed on Google SERPs (search result pages)?
Let’s find out.
- Get your video embedded on other websites. The more websites that reference your video, the higher your chances of getting on Google SERPs.
- Ensure that your videos get a lot of organic likes, views, and comments. The more overall engagement a video gets, the easier it will be for Google to reckon with it.
- Create engaging videos that users will like to watch to the end. The higher the total number of seconds users spend watching your video, the greater your chances of being seen by Google.
- Add some tags to your video that are related to the content.
- Under “Name & Extension”, name the file after your #1 and #2 keywords. For example: How to Rank YouTube Videos — Ranking Videos in Google.
- Throw in a brief description of your video in the comments field.
- Try and write at least 200 words of content. Use synonyms and one-off keywords. For example, if your main keyword is How to Rank YouTube Videos, some one-off keywords would be “How to rank YouTube videos in Google, how to get videos to show up in search engines, YouTube Marketing, etc.”
2. Cross-promote on social media
Social media is another useful tool you can use to bring organic views to YouTube videos.
Think of the number of times someone has dropped a video snippet on Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, Whatsapp, etc., and then asked you to go to their YouTube channel to see the full video.
People use this strategy more often than not, and there is no reason why you shouldn’t.
Just make sure you have a strong presence on other social channels so that anytime you drop a new video alert, followers on these other channels will be motivated to want to check it out.
3. Find online communities to share your videos
The beauty of the internet is that there are lots of forums to join and share your content.
How far you want your video to go will depend on the number of these forums you’re willing to research and join.
For example, you’re almost always going to find a subreddit forum for virtually any niche you can think of. Talk about plumbing, music, art, education, health, tech, or gaming. Just name it.
Away from Reddit, we have Facebook groups, Pinterest, Twitter threads, Whatsapp groups, and many other niche communities (health communities, tech communities, gaming communities, DIY communities, etc.)
A simple Google search of the phrase “top 10 communities in {niche name}” will return some of the best communities you can join in your niche.
Look at this:
Another place to look is Quora. There are most likely tons of Quora topics and questions that are relevant to your video’s interests and share the same target audiences with you.
You can also use other social bookmarking sites to peddle interest in your videos, like Stumbleupon, We Heart It, and Pinterest.
4. Use influencers to promote your video
There is no need to describe what an influencer is or what they can do for your brand. I bet we both know how strong their impact is on their audiences.
With the right kind of influencer working for you and promoting your videos, you can bet that a ton of traffic will always find its way to your channel.
The only challenge is finding the “right kind of influencer.”
It may take you months of research if you’re trying to do the scouring yourself, as there are thousands of influencers out there, with almost all of them claiming to be the best.
Luckily for you, tools like the ones listed below have made everything easier.
Pro Tip: Best tools to find relevant influencers include:
- Traackr
- Upfluence
- BuzzSumo
- Heepsy
- HypeAuditor
- NinjaOutreach
With these tools, you can easily identify the right kind of influencer to hire and reach out to them to promote your video content.
What makes influencer promo a good weapon in a YouTuber’s arsenal is that many of the viewers you’re looking to gain are already following some of these influencers. So, asking an influencer to promote you or give your video a mention is a guaranteed way of sending traffic to your channel.
Monetize your Channel and Start Making Money
How to monetize your YouTube channel and start making money
1. Join the YouTube Partner Program
Seeing as YouTube is a global brand, businesses, and individuals from all corners of the world look to advertise their merchandise and offerings on the platform.
In order to make this happen, YouTube created the Partner Program, which allows brand ads to be displayed on YouTubers’ videos.
However, before ads are displayed, YouTube charges the businesses (advertisers) a certain sum. And once these ads go live on a YouTuber’s video, YouTube pays the YouTuber a certain fraction of the sum paid by the advertiser.
It may interest you to know that YouTube doesn’t allow every Tom, Dick, and Harry into their program. Before you can be allowed to join the program, you must satisfy the following criteria:
- Have a minimum of 1,000 subscribers
- Reach 4,000 valid public watch hours in the past 12 months
- Sign and agree to the terms and conditions
- Have an AdSense account
- Get reviewed and approved
Once you’re in the program, you’ll earn money every time someone watches an ad on your video or clicks on an advertisement within your video.
That said, exactly how much can one earn from this program?
Honestly, there is no cap on how much YouTubers can earn. Depending on the number of ad views your videos get and the number of times viewers click on ads, YouTubers can earn as high as thousands of dollars.
But if you want a more specific number, I’ll say YouTubers can make anywhere between $0.01 and $0.03 per ad click with AdSense.
Note: Ad pricing depends on the country, type of ads, and the channel’s performance.
So let’s just assume your channel qualifies for a $0.02 ad pricing, and you created a video that generated 1000 ad clicks. That would fetch you $20.
If your video gets 2000 clicks, you get $40.
If your video gets 10,000 clicks, you get $200.
If your video gets 1,000,000 clicks, you get $20,000.
WOW!
That sounds exciting already.
But what happens when viewers refuse to click on ads?
Do you still earn the same amount?
NO, you don’t.
If your viewers fail to click on the ads within your videos, you will no longer qualify for the $0.01 and $0.03 ad revenue mark.
But that’s not to say YouTube won’t pay you at all. Of course, they will still pay. Only that the number reduces when your viewers view ads but fail to click on them.
According to various sources, including Forbes, if viewers watch videos (and view the ads in them) but fail to click the ads, ad revenue for that particular video may drop from our pre-estimated $20/1000 ad clicks to as low as $5/1000 ad views.
Note: Ad views can also mean video views because when somebody views a video, they’ll automatically view the ads in them.
How much money can a YouTuber make per video view?
Let’s assume a worst-case scenario where only a small fraction of the people that viewed your video clicked on the ads within it. How much can you look to make?
Using Forbes’s estimated pay rate of $5 per 1,000 ads (video) views, YouTubers can make:
At least $1000 if your video gets just 200,000 views.
At least $1,500 if your video gets just 300,000 views.
At least $2,500 if your video gets just 500,000 views.
At least $5000 if your video goes viral and gets 1,000,000 views
2. Join affiliate marketing programs
YouTubers can also make money by promoting brands/products in their videos.
How is this done? you may wonder.
Have you ever watched a YouTube video where the creator asked you to tap on your screen and click on a link shown somewhere within the video?
Well, that’s affiliate marketing at work.
YouTubers make money by linking up with brands and business owners that are looking to promote their products. Every time they direct customers to the websites of these brands, they get paid.
How they’re paid, however, depends on a variety of factors such as:
- The number of subscribers they have
- How long the cooperation lasts for
- The average number of views their videos get
Note: Depending on the terms of the agreement between an affiliate marketer (YouTuber) and a brand (Advertiser), an affiliate can be paid based on the number of people they direct to the advertiser’s websites or based on the number of their referrals that went ahead to make a purchase on the advertiser’s platform.
If you’re new to the world of affiliate marketing, here is how you can find a program to join today:
- Check affiliate networks: Some of the most popular affiliate networks to join include ShareASale, CJ Affiliate, Rakuten Advertising (also known as LinkShare), Pepperjam, AvantLink, Impact, and Link Connector.
- Check websites of companies: In your affiliate niche, search for popular company names and check whether they offer affiliate programs.
- Check affiliate websites: There are tons of sites like RetailMeNot, Brad’s Deals, Ebates, and SlickDeals, which promote companies that offer affiliate programs.
- Check affiliate program directories: There are some sites on the internet like HighPayingAffiliatePrograms.com, which are dedicated to listing all the affiliate programs that are out there. Check them out to see which programs are available.
- Check Google: Or you can simply Google search “highest-paying affiliate programs in [name of niche]”. E.g., highest-paying affiliate programs Makeup and Cosmetics niche.
3. Sell merchandise
This one is for those channels that have grown into big brands. If your channel hasn’t really grown into something huge, you may struggle to make enough money selling merchandise on YouTube.
If you follow a popular makeup artist or an expert dietician, you’ve probably seen them displaying some merchandise for sale and offering them to their loyal fans.
For example, a sneakerhead YouTuber may display the newest Nike sneaks in town to their subscribers, and then offer to sell these products at discounted prices.
In order to make a decent amount of money via this strategy, you must have a considerable number of subscribers and viewers. The higher the number of subscribers (loyal fans) you have, the higher the number of products you get to sell.
4. Brand sponsorships
Another way to monetize your YouTube channel is by linking up with brands to be their ambassador.
In 2021, if you’re selling any product or service on the internet, it’s important that you must have a video of it somewhere. Otherwise, online consumers will not patronize you.
A survey conducted by Wyzowl shows that nearly eight out of every ten users have purchased a piece of software or an app after having watched the brand’s video (Wyzowl, 2018).
As a result of this, many brands are constantly looking for ways to create video marketing campaigns for their offerings.
Unsurprisingly, YouTube is the place they all flock to.
Consequently, if you’re a big-time YouTuber with a strong following, many of these brands will be happy to partner with you.
Depending on the type of partnership deals you’re able to strike, YouTube sponsorships can fetch you thousands of dollars in earnings.
Don’t know how to find sponsors to partner with? Check this post from Sellfy. It is solely written for YouTubers looking for sponsors.
5. Earn from YouTube Premium views
YouTubers can also earn from YouTube Premium views.
A YouTube Premium view is a view initiated by a YouTube Premium account owner.
Note: YouTube Premium costs $11.99/month to sign up.
When a YouTube Premium account owner watches your video, you get paid directly by YouTube.
This serves as a secondary revenue stream for creators in addition to whatever you’re earning from ads.
How are YouTubers paid when they get Premium views?
Currently, YouTube pays every creator a certain fraction of the total sum of Premium membership fees generated. The percentage gotten by each creator depends on how many Premium members watch their content. The higher the watch time of Premium members on your videos, the greater your Premium earnings.
For example, if one channel receives a higher watch time than another, it gets a larger chunk of money.
You should know that YouTube takes a 45% cut of a YouTuber’s Premium earnings, just as it does for ad-generated revenue.
6. Get creative and design your own merchandise
The beauty of having a YouTube channel is that you can easily create a community of your own.
Once you’re regularly posting useful and influential videos, people (your subscribers) will love and trust you.
And once they do, you can start selling your own custom-made products to them.
In most cases, the products you’ll sell to them will be something that enhances the lessons they’ve been taking from your videos.
For example, let’s say you run a chef channel where you teach people how to cook different kinds of cuisines. You can get creative and design your own custom-made cuisine idea. When you show this new idea to your viewers, you can offer to sell the recipe to them in the form of eBooks, or ask them to pay to get a video of how it’s done.
I’m sure you get the idea.
Another good example is that of popular Hawaiian YouTube star Ryan Higa who launched a milk-based energy drink, Ninja Melk, to leverage the popularity of his viral comedy, Ninja Melk.
By and large, all you have to do is think of something unique you can create/design, and then sell it to your audience.
7. Get paid by your fans
On a final note, you can monetize a YouTube channel by asking viewers directly for money.
This is a strategy that lots of YouTubers have used, and are still using.
However, some people frown at this idea. To these people, the idea of asking fans for money seems more like a desperate move aimed at sucking funds from people.
But I beg to differ.
Since you’re offering them something valuable, it’s only logical to ask for a token in return—if not for anything extra, then at least to keep the channel going.
Even YouTube supports the idea of fans giving their favorite creators a token.
Ways you can get Money from Fans
Through the YouTube Super Chat, which was launched in early 2017 to replace the platform’s previous Fan Funding feature, YouTubers have the opportunity to get their fans to support their work through donations.
How the Super Chat feature works is that fans pay for their comments to be shown for a long period of time during a live stream. How long their comment stays pinned on the live chat will depend on how much they pay.
Below is a figure showing a typical YouTube viewer’s Super Chat page. In this figure, you can see what happens when the viewers pay a certain amount of money.
For example, when a viewer pays between $5.00 and $9.99, their comment will be highlighted in Green. This will show other live streamers that that person has just paid (donated) to support the cause.
In addition, this payment will also qualify the viewer’s comment to stay pinned on the live stream ticker for a period of two minutes.
Ask them to become channel members
Another way to have viewers financially contribute to the cause is by asking them to become channel members.
There is a clear distinction between channel members and channel subscribers. While subscribers enjoy only the benefit of being notified when a new video drops, channel members enjoy additional benefits such as custom emojis, badges, and access to members-only exclusives like Live Chats with you.
By pointing out the benefits of becoming a channel member to your fans, you can convince a good chunk of them to sign up.
Conclusion
And just like that, we’ve come to the end of our discussion.
I hope you now understand every step you need to take to start earning money on YouTube.
They are all pretty straightforward steps, which means you shouldn’t have any difficulty implementing them.
That said, it may interest you to know that making money on YouTube takes time. In fact, it can take months, and sometimes years. But once you’ve started, you can bet that your days of smiling to the bank are just around the corner.