YouTube is one of the most popular video platforms out there, and with over 1 billion users, it's no surprise that people want to try their hand at making money from the platform.
If you're thinking about starting a new channel or just trying to find more ways to earn some extra cash, we'll show you all the different methods of doing so. In this article, we explain how to monetise your YouTube channel 2022...
As mentioned previously, one way to generate income from your videos is by using advertising. YouTuber channels are known as "premium content" and advertisers pay top dollar to be featured alongside them. The average annual revenue generated from premium content ads was $2 million across 2017-2018.
In 2021, the median revenue earned from adverts placed within videos uploaded by creators who have not turned on automatic advert blocking (which means they've allowed Google Ads to display) is around $1,000. However, many creators say they don't see any profit after paying for production costs like camera equipment, editing software, etc., which makes those numbers seem even smaller than they actually are.
Some YouTubers also use Patreon to receive donations instead of selling advertisements directly. According to data released last year, the average monthly pledge made by patrons increased by 15 percent between 2018 and 2019, reaching almost $3,500 per month. And while only 0.6 percent of active channels used Patreon in 2020, according to research conducted by SocialBlade, these figures could improve dramatically if creators were able to take advantage of these services.
Another option for monetising your channel is affiliate marketing. If you already sell products online, you might consider adding links to relevant videos throughout your social media posts. While this method isn't exactly lucrative, it does help boost sales for other items without having to spend too much time promoting them yourself.
Finally, there's merchandising. Selling t-shirts, mugs, hoodies, phone cases, stickers, buttons, bags, jackets, blankets, socks, scarves, posters, mousepads, and similar merchandise directly from your channel has become increasingly common among popular vloggers. Merchandise sold via sites such as Cafe Press typically ranges anywhere from $5-$50 depending on its popularity, but it's something to keep an eye on because prices may increase substantially when COVID restrictions begin to ease.
A final note regarding merchandising: Don't expect to make thousands of dollars off clothing alone unless you plan to offer high ticket itemsthat won't wear down quickly. Instead, focus on creating simple designs that aren't overly complicated, especially since consumers tend to avoid digital downloads due to security concerns.
There are two main reasons why monetization options vary based upon region. First, U.S.-based channels can access various forms of monetisation earlier thanks to stricter regulations enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Second, countries outside the United States often impose additional taxes on imported goods. For example, Canada charges 10% tax on anything shipped into the country under the Goods and Services Tax Act, whereas Australia levies 25%. As a result, it takes longer for international viewers to obtain certain types of physical merchandise delivered via mail order.
That being said, the FTC announced plans to expand its existing rules governing influencer marketing practices during the pandemic. These changes include prohibiting product reviews from featuring paid promotions or endorsements and requiring disclosure labels on sponsored content. Since January 2016, however, the agency had been conducting outreach sessions with major brands and marketers to inform them of potential risks associated with influencer marketing campaigns. To learn more about what these guidelines mean for your business, visit https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/blogs/business-blog/2020/02/27/influencers-guide/.
The second reason varies based upon region relates to copyright law. Certain regions restrict where YouTubers can post original works, whether they upload footage themselves or simply share someone else's work. One notable case involved Canadian comedian Rick Mercer posting clips from his series Real Life With Kelly Clarkson onto his personal Facebook page in 2015. When he posted the same clip on YouTube later that year, he received takedown notices from both the network and Clarkson herself, claiming copyrights infringement. After several months of legal wrangling, the parties reached a settlement agreement that included a licensing fee for each episode streamed.
Fortunately, the majority of copyright issues stem from unintentional violations rather than malicious intent. That being said, you should never violate another creator' s intellectual property rights intentionally. Doing so violates YouTube policies and results in automated removal and a permanent ban from the site. Also, remember that sharing copyrighted material publicly constitutes permission for others to copy or adapt it, regardless of the reason behind your actions.
Additionally, YouTube allows its partners to set up shop on its website and provide third party sellers with space to advertise items related to their topics of interest. So long as you don't participate in price discrimination, this is arguably the easiest way to create passive income from your videos. However, it's important to exercise caution before signing up for these programs. Make sure their offerings align with your interests and expertise, and always read terms and conditions carefully before committing to a partnership.
According to YouTube's Advertiser Community Manager, Alex Gartner, partnerships benefit everyone involved. "We believe that our Partner Program offers creators a great opportunity to connect with passionate audiences," she says. "And we know that fans love seeing familiar faces pop up in their feeds."
To sign up for YouTube partner program, go to Partnerships tab in Creator Academy, search for your desired field, and select Start Partnership. Once selected, you will need to complete the application form and submit supporting documents.
You must apply for each type of service separately. There are separate applications available for Content Creators, Affiliates, Publishers, and Sellers.
Once approved, you will then need to verify your account. Verification usually requires uploading a few samples of your previous work.
After verification, you'll be given access to YouTube Studio Premium, which includes features like advanced analytics that allow you to measure viewership performance and engagement rates.
It’s worth noting that YouTube doesn’t charge creators fees to join its Partner Programs. Fees are solely determined by companies wishing to utilize the services offered.
However, once accepted into the Partner Program, you agree to comply with applicable requirements including providing accurate information about yourself and your brand, maintaining appropriate content, and complying with YouTube’s acceptable usage policy. Failure to follow these Terms of Service could lead to suspension or termination of your accounts.
YouTube has been around since 2005, and it's now a massive platform that reaches billions of people every month. However, most creators don't get paid for their content, which means many are struggling financially. In 2021, YouTube announced new changes to its policy regarding short-form videos (like those under 15 minutes), which could impact what you make from streaming or advertising revenue. With these updates, there are still plenty of opportunities left for YouTubers to earn money online. Let us show you how.
We'll explore everything about how to monetize your YouTube channel in 2022 — including tips on launching a vlogging career, creating an audience, building brand awareness, growing subscribers, managing channels, and more. Read below to learn how to take advantage of this year’s biggest changes to create income on YouTube.
In 2020, YouTube introduced some major restrictions on short-form video uploads. The company removed the option to stream all but three minute clips, while also removing the ability to add music tracks and captions to shorter videos. These rules apply to all creators who want to post "short" videos, regardless of whether they're one-off sketches or longer series like TikTok.
The result was many popular vloggers lost out on streams, ad impressions, and subscriptions because of their short form. If you've got something to say, why not share it on YouTube? Short-form comedy sketch creator Dwayne Perkins started his own channel earlier this year and shared his thoughts on the update. He explained he had over 100K views per episode at the time of publishing, but only made $621 from them. That number may seem low if we compare him to other comedians, such as Michelle Wolf ($1 million) or Reggie Watts ($2 million). But Perkins said he doesn't have any plans to return to uploading shorts just yet. Instead, he wants to focus on his full-length standup specials.
However, if you'd rather work within the confines of YouTube's policies, here are some ways to maximize earnings when using short-form content. First, consider producing multiple types of content so viewers aren't bored by seeing the same thing repeatedly. Second, use text overlays to draw attention to important information, especially during transitions between scenes. Third, try making different versions of each clip so fans can pick and choose which version they prefer. Finally, think creatively about how you can build value for your audience. For example, if you run a food blog, maybe include recipes from your favorite chefs in your collection. Or perhaps you sell makeup products for beauty bloggers.
If you decide to stick with longer episodes, you might need to tweak your shooting style to capture better footage. Since short-form comedy relies heavily on improvisation, keep practicing until you nail your timing down before moving onto bigger and bolder ideas. And remember, even though YouTube won't let you distribute short-form content outside of YouTube Studio, you can always find alternative platforms where you can reach your target audience without the limitations imposed by YouTube itself.
This year, YouTube took another step toward a subscription service by introducing Premium Channels. Creators whose channels qualify for premium status will receive higher rates for ads served against their content. While existing partners like Maker Studios and Fullscreen already offer similar services, this marks the first time anyone else will see their channels promoted alongside other creators' live broadcasts.
Premium Channel memberships come with perks beyond earning more cash. They'll gain access to exclusive event ticket reservations, early preview screenings, and priority invites to special events. Of course, creators can opt into Premium Channel membership themselves anytime after subscribing. To become eligible, you must meet certain criteria, depending on your country. If you're interested in learning more, check out YouTube's official page detailing eligibility requirements.
Another big change coming up in 2022 is YouTube Red's end date. After June 30th, 2021, users will no longer be able to download videos for offline viewing. In addition, the free tier of YouTube Red will disappear completely on August 1st. As part of the transition, YouTube will remove background playlists and replace them with individual Playlists tabs. Users will then be given the choice to pay for either standard YouTube Premium or YouTube Music Premium instead.
These changes indicate YouTube is trying to simplify user experience across various payment tiers. So if you haven't upgraded to Premium yet, you should probably give it a shot soon!
Before the announcement of Premium Channels, Google restricted both advertiser-supported and Creator Academy participants to 10 minutes. Now, advertisers can serve whatever length of commercial spots they wish, provided the total running time does not exceed 20 minutes.
As for YouTube Originals, Season 2 of Cobra Kai premiered last week with two 45-minute episodes. Even though its total runtime is slightly less than 90 minutes, you can watch them back-to-back without missing anything.
On top of these new limits, YouTube's Content ID system will automatically block copyrighted material from appearing next to search results. When searching for specific titles, you might notice fewer matches appear under related searches.
Accordingly, creators looking to grow their subscriber base will need to adapt their strategy. One way is to diversify your offerings by releasing several different kinds of content. Also, avoid posting too often — once you hit 250 subs, your average viewer watches your stuff for roughly four days straight. Keep track of your stats to understand exactly what works best for your following. Lastly, experiment with formats and delivery methods to discover what keeps your audience engaged.
With so much uncertainty looming overhead, starting a vlogging business seems risky right now. Some experts believe the COVID-19 pandemic will cause a decline in global economic output. Meanwhile, others predict social media companies will suffer due to government regulations surrounding misinformation. There's no telling what's going to happen next, but hopefully things improve sooner rather than later.
While it's impossible to know what lies ahead, one thing is clear: It's never been easier to launch your career as a successful vlogger. Whether you plan to continue working online or switch careers entirely, follow our guidelines above and put yourself out there. Just remember to stay safe and healthy. Good luck!
YouTube is a great place to build an audience, but when that audience starts asking questions about what happens next, there’s only so much content creators can produce. Fortunately, with all those viewers demanding more and more video, plenty of other people are stepping up to fill the void.
If you're looking for ways to make money off of your YouTube channels, we've got answers. Here's everything you need to know about how to monetize your YouTube channel in 2022...
Shorts are short-form videos under 60 seconds that have become increasingly popular over recent years. YouTubers like Grace Helbig, Tana Mongeau, Lilly Singh, James Charles, and many others have made their names by creating shorts around specific themes or genres -- whether they be comedy sketches, makeup tutorials, product reviews, etc.
In 2020, YouTube announced plans to roll out a new feature called "monetizable originals" which would give verified creators who produced original scripted series exclusive rights to distribute and license their shows without needing any outside funding for marketing purposes. In June 2021, this feature was rolled out globally after months of testing. Now, anyone whose channel contains at least 100 hours (or 10% of its library) of monetizable content can apply here.
So far, no one has been able to confirm if the same applies to Shorts. But since the feature itself hasn't yet gone live, it seems unlikely. However, as these things often go, there's always a chance something might happen between now and then! So keep your eyes peeled.
There are several steps involved in becoming eligible for ad revenue sharing on YouTube. The first step involves setting up your account correctly. Once you log into your profile, scroll down until you see the following section titled "Ad Settings." Click edit settings, choose Advertiser ID, enter your information, and click save changes.
After completing this initial setup, you'll receive a notice informing you that YouTube needs to verify your identity before moving onto the next stage. To complete this verification, you must create some sort of proof document using your government issued identification. For most users, this means uploading official documents such as bank statements showing income received from employment, utility bills, social security card, passport, driver's license, student ID, credit/debit cards, etc. If none of these options work for you, feel free to upload another form of documentation.
Once your identity has been confirmed, you'll be given access to an online portal where you can download a copy of your Google Play Music subscription details. Your publisher id will also be added to this page. After downloading this file, open it up and find Publisher Identifier 0xA9B4F93C8E1D9846. Enter this code into the field provided, write down the value next to it, and add it to your personal data sheet. Keep this number safe as you may need to refer back to it later during the application process.
Next, head over to this link and select Start Application. A pop-up window will appear telling you that your request is being processed. It should say either "Your application has been approved," "Your application requires additional time to process," or "Your application requires further checks." As soon as you finish reading this message, you'll automatically be redirected to a screen confirming that your payment method has been set up. From here, just wait patiently until your eligibility status updates.
The last thing you need to do is submit your final piece of evidence. Upload whatever remaining documents you plan on referencing again once you start producing content. Make sure each item includes a description stating that it pertains specifically to your current situation. Also include relevant dates and times alongside important contact numbers. Ideally, try to use high resolution scans whenever possible. Lastly, remember to check the box saying "I am not currently receiving support payments from another source."
When submitting your final piece of evidence, make sure you read the instructions carefully. Some pieces of evidence require special formatting while others don't. When sending us your files, make sure to follow our guidelines exactly. Otherwise, you could end up wasting precious time waiting for responses instead of actually getting paid.
It's worth noting that YouTube recently changed the way certain types of influencers were allowed to monetise their accounts. Specifically, any creator earning $100k+ annually via ads had to prove themselves financially stable enough to cover their monthly expenses. This meant that even someone with millions of subscribers wasn't necessarily guaranteed ad revenue anymore unless they proved otherwise.
This rule was put into effect because advertisers stopped trusting large publishers' claims regarding subscriber counts and engagement rates. Unfortunately, it resulted in many smaller creators filing appeals against these restrictions. Thankfully, however, YouTube decided to allow everyone to appeal regardless of earnings level starting July 22nd, 2021. We expect to hear the outcome of these appeals sometime early 2022.
As mentioned earlier, though, there's still a possibility that future policy decisions could result in major shifts. This isn't unheard of. Back in 2018, YouTube decided to remove recommended tags from comments sections across the platform. Then, in 2019, the company pulled similar actions in response to widespread criticism. On top of that, the company removed autoplay recommendations from every single playlist in mid-2020. All three moves led to massive backlash from creators.
Keep yourself updated by subscribing to YouTube's Creator Blog newsletter.
Monetising your channel won't happen overnight. Depending on your circumstances, the whole process can vary anywhere between 3 weeks to 12 months or longer. There are numerous factors that determine this timeline, including the amount of ad impressions you generate, your popularity among potential sponsors, and the number of sponsored views you post.
For example, let's assume you earn $2 per view for 1 million unique visitors. Let's also assume you average 300 daily views. With this figure alone, you'd have to reach 150,000 total unique viewers within 30 days to break even. And this doesn't factor in production costs, editing fees, shipping charges, taxes, or overhead. These kinds of calculations aren't easy to perform. Instead, we recommend contacting local agencies that handle sponsorship deals directly. They should be able to provide estimates based on various metrics.
To help speed up the process along, we highly suggest learning about the best practices required to succeed with Sponsored Views Ads. According to them, the goal is to achieve 200 sponsored views per day, ideally spread throughout the entire week.
Overall, the biggest determining factors are your overall viewership and reputation. The higher your viewer count, the easier it becomes to land big brands. But even if your channel is small, good quality content consistently posted regularly can eventually bring attention from bigger companies too.
Happy streaming, folks!
Just follow our battle-tested guidelines and rake in the profits.