SOME CARD INFO MAY BE OUTDATED
This page includes information about these cards, currently unavailable on NerdWallet. The information has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been provided or reviewed by the card issuer.
So, you want to start a YouTube channel? We say go for it! But be ready to work at it.
The popular way to make money on YouTube is to earn a share of YouTube’s ad revenue, but it takes an engaged audience to qualify. Other ways to monetize your channel might be more suitable for new creators. Let’s check them out.
How to earn from YouTube
On this page
1. Earn money from ads on YouTube
To earn money from ads that run during your videos, you need to build enough of an audience to qualify for the YouTube Partner Program. The YouTube Partner Program gives video creators access to YouTube’s monetization methods, including ad revenue. Specifically, you need:
- 1,000 subscribers to your channel.
- 4,000 hours of watch time within the last 12 months or 10 million Shorts views within the last 90 days.
You can monitor your eligibility in YouTube Studio, and apply through the “earn” section. Once approved, you can create or link an existing Google AdSense account and earn a share of ad revenue and YouTube Premium revenue.
Access other YouTube monetization features sooner: You can unlock access to earn through YouTube’s channel memberships, on-platform shopping and chat features with just 500 subscribers. You’ll also need to have posted three uploads in the last 90 days and have 3,000 hours of watch time in the last 12 months (or 3 million Shorts views within the last 90 days).
2. Make money with affiliate marketing
Affiliate marketing is a less restrictive way to monetize your YouTube traffic, especially if you plan to make product review videos. It works like this:
- You find a company or seller with an affiliate program, such as Amazon Associates, and apply to join.
- Once accepted, you’ll use their process to create custom links to products you plan to feature in your videos.
- Demo, review or make reference to the products in your YouTube videos, and paste your custom affiliate marketing link(s) in the description field when you upload.
As an affiliate of a brand, you’ll earn a commission when a viewer clicks your custom link and purchases the product.
Amazon Associates is a popular affiliate platform, but it's not the only one. Search on sites such as Awin and ClickBank for possible corporate partners and products to feature. You can also search your favorite brands’ websites for information on how to become an affiliate.
3. Land a brand deal and make sponsored content
Companies interested in your channel’s audience might sponsor your videos or offer you product placement deals in exchange for a shoutout, called brand deals in the biz.
The operative word here is “audience,” which means these types of deals are more likely to come when you have a following. As your channel grows, you can contact the brands you’d like to work with directly, or use affiliate marketing sites to find corporate partners that complement your style of content.
With brand deals, you can receive lump sum payments, earn commission on a per-sale basis or get the product or service for free. Keep in mind: If you do have an endorsement or use product placement in a video, you must notify YouTube by ticking a box in your video details.
4. Sell your own merchandise
If you have merchandise or offer a service that’s relevant to your audience, let them know about it and provide links in your videos. For example, creator Marques Brownlee, of popular tech review channel MKBHD, leaves a link to his online merch store in every video he posts.
Selling a physical product might require you to buy materials or find a manufacturer, but you can also sell downloadables such as e-books, art prints or virtual classes. Have a secure payment system in place before you advertise your goods.
Another way to sell: The YouTube Shopping feature allows eligible Creators (i.e., those with 500 subscribers and the necessary watch hours) to connect a product store within the platform and tag products from other brands in videos.
5. Charge for monthly memberships
A membership model is another way to monetize viewership. With this method, fans of the channel pay a small subscription fee for perks and/or an exclusive tier of access.
Patreon is a popular platform for this. You can also use YouTube’s own channel memberships feature to charge a subscription fee (once you hit 500 subscribers and are eligible).
As always, more viewers can lead to more revenue. Incentives such as members-only livestreams, chats or other perks may entice viewers to become paying members.
How many views do I need to make a buck?
Several factors go into calculating what YouTube refers to as RPM (revenue per mille), or what a channel earns per 1,000 views. The metric includes what you earn from ads, channel memberships, YouTube Premium revenue, and other in-platform monetization features like Super Chat and Super Stickers.
Earnings can vary widely. A conservative estimate is between $1 and $5 per 1,000 views, but that’s not set in stone.
As a new YouTuber, focus on what you can control, like settling on a profitable niche for your channel and videos. According to TubeBuddy, a company that offers a YouTube analytics plug-in, channels that cover areas like finance, tech and education can stand to earn more in advertiser pay.
How long does it take to make it?
YouTube offers opportunity for all, but it’s not a get-rich-quick platform. It takes time, effort and an engaged audience to make actual money. Keep these tips in mind as you get started:
- The more videos you make and upload, the easier it is to reach the viewing-hours threshold.
- The better you target your content to a specific audience or niche, the more likely your viewers will be to subscribe for more.
- Thoughtful, entertaining videos are more likely to get views, so it pays to put effort into planning and production.
- Don’t discount the power of a targeted title and standout thumbnail to attract viewer attention.
Other ways to make money
If making money on YouTube isn’t for you, consider these alternative routes:
- Want to try another video platform? Learn how to make money on TikTok.
- Prefer to work on the go? Learn how to make money from your phone.
- Looking to clean house? Try to sell stuff online or make money on eBay.
- Want more ideas? Take our quiz to find the right side hustle for you.
Article sources
NerdWallet writers are subject matter authorities who use primary,
trustworthy sources to inform their work, including peer-reviewed
studies, government websites, academic research and interviews with
industry experts. All content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness
and relevance. You can learn more about NerdWallet's high
standards for journalism by reading our
editorial guidelines.
