YouTube is a fantastic resource for learning how to do things and discovering new hobbies, but as fun as it is, there are some aspects of the platform that aren't so great... like monetizing your content.
If you want to learn more about this process then we've got everything you need below. First up: How you actually earn revenue on YouTube.
The first thing you'll hear when people talk about "making" money with their channels is that they need 10 million subscribers before they're even in position to consider YouTube ads (which won't necessarily be an option if you have fewer than 1,000). The problem here is that this figure doesn't take into account other ways of earning income.
In fact, most YouTubers will tell you that no matter what number you hit, you should focus primarily on growing your channel rather than chasing subscriber numbers. This means building out your audience through various methods instead of relying solely on adverts. However, let's say you'd still love to know exactly how many viewers you need to reach in order to get paid. Well, according to data collected by Tubefilter, you only need around 2.5 million video plays to start seeing revenue. That said, keep in mind that these figures come directly from Google Adsense — not all advertisers pay equally well.
So now you know roughly how much you need, but how many views does it really take to make money on YouTube? According to Tubefilter again, the median payout per view is $0.002. So how do creators usually make extra cash on top of this small fee? By using affiliate marketing.
Affiliate marketing allows you to promote products and services outside of YouTube itself. It also gives you the ability to track those clicks within your own analytics dashboard. If someone purchases something after clicking one of your links, you receive a commission. Affiliates typically work under different business models, such as Amazon Associates, Commission Junction, LinkShare, ShareASale etc., which each vary slightly depending on where buyers click to go. And while it might seem daunting at first, working as an affiliate isn't particularly difficult once you understand the basics.
It's worth noting that just because someone watches your video doesn't automatically mean they purchase anything. Your job is to present them with information they find useful enough to buy whatever product you're promoting. After all, if you're giving users tips on how to wash jeans properly, why would anyone bother buying laundry detergent?
This kind of depends on who you ask. As mentioned above, having 10 million subscribers definitely increases your chances of being able to generate decent revenue. But if you're looking to make a little bit extra cash off your content, a good way to determine whether you can support yourself financially is by calculating how long it'll take until you pull in a thousand dollars. With that in mind, Tubefilter found that the average viewer spends around 8 minutes watching a clip, so in order to make $1k every day, you'd need 518 days' worth of watch time. Obviously, this varies based on your topic and production quality, but it's a nice ballpark estimate nonetheless. Of course, you could use this method to calculate earnings over any period of time, too. For example, if you wanted to see how quickly you could transition away from YouTube entirely, you could look at the amount of hours it takes to pull in enough to live off the site.
There's another important factor to bear in mind when determining how often you should post: engagement rates. In general, higher-quality clips tend to attract more attention among viewers and thus drive better reaction metrics. Let's put together an hypothetical scenario involving two similar vloggers, Joe Bloggs and John Smith. We'll assume both produce short films made exclusively with smartphones, and upload them daily. Both artists have 100K followers on Instagram and 20M total views across social media.
Joe Bloggs produces three 15-second sketches per week, each getting 200 views on his Facebook page. He has a 30% conversion rate when sharing his posts on Twitter and Instagram, meaning he earns 33 cents per share. His overall weekly revenue is therefore $600. Meanwhile, John Smith shares five 60-second clips per week, each receiving 400 views on Youtube. He has a 65% conversion rate on Reddit, leading to a whopping $2.20 per share. His overall weekly revenue is therefore $800.
Now obviously, the former artist makes significantly less than his counterpart, but notice how both artists managed to bring in $1000 per week despite posting far less frequently. This happens thanks to high engagement rates. Now imagine either of these artists had posted twice as many times per week. While neither would likely achieve the same level of success, it goes to show you don't always need a lot of views to become profitable. Instead, producing high-quality content is key to generating revenue regardless of quantity.
Shortform content tends to perform especially well online since it focuses heavily on entertainment value. People generally spend shorter amounts of time viewing short form compared to standard length videos, which means it's easier to build hype and awareness. This makes it perfect for influencers on platforms like TikTok and Instagram who rely heavily on word-of-mouth advertising. Shortform creators can create mini movies centered around specific topics, characters, or events, allowing them to experiment with tone and style without worrying about alienating fans. They can also choose to film themselves or hire actors/actresses/animators to help fill in gaps.
While there's plenty of room for growth and experimentation between full episodes, it's harder to break into the industry without a following already built around you. To illustrate this point, think back to the last viral TikTok trend you saw. What was unique about the creator? Most probably, they were known beforehand due to previous successes. Similarly, shortform content creators can leverage brand recognition and popularity to their advantage. Some examples include makeup gurus Imani Coppolillo and Tati Westbrook, fashion designer Naeem Khan, and comedy duo Jahlani Menahem. When it comes to finding financial stability, however, creating shortform content may require more effort than longer formats.
As previously mentioned, YouTube pays its partners via Google Ads. Unfortunately, the company announced earlier this year that it wouldn't renew this contract, citing concerns related to COVID-19. Creators worldwide lost access to millions of dollars worth of funds held in escrow, forcing them to seek alternative sources of income. Luckily, several companies offer similar tools to traditional advertiser campaigns, including Brightcove Video Management Platform, Adobe Media Encoder Server, and Revver. These allow content producers to easily distribute their videos to multiple streaming sites, thereby increasing viewership potential.
Revver claims to be the largest distributor of premium digital video assets, enabling creators to showcase their content everywhere audiences gather. Their service offers flexible pricing plans tailored specifically toward individual needs, ranging anywhere from $39-$399 monthly subscription fees. In addition to hosting shortform content, Revver provides creators with an easy interface designed to manage their entire workflow. Once uploaded, the tool converts files into MP4 format and distributes them onto popular platforms including YouTube, Vimeo, Vine, DailyMotion, Twitch, and Facebook Live. Content distributors can also set their own price points for royalties earned from sales.
Brightcove Video Management Platform (VMP) works similarly to Revver, except it hosts royalty-free footage from major providers like iStockPhoto, Shutterstock, Getty Images, and Corbis. Like Revver, the platform uses AI algorithms to optimize file conversions, ensuring users experience minimal latency while browsing. Finally, Adobe Media Encoder Server lets creatives utilize cloud storage space owned by the company to store their projects without paying large sums of money. All four services work seamlessly alongside existing systems, providing flexibility for both independent filmmakers and established brands alike.
These alternatives provide numerous benefits to modern creators. Not only do they increase accessibility, but they also eliminate risk associated with third party distribution. On top of that, most of these options grant greater control over creative decisions. For instance, you can decide to give visitors direct access to your preferred source of free stock imagery whenever they visit, or you can opt to leave the images behind altogether. Whatever suits your particular situation best!
It seems like everyone is getting in on the monetization game these days, but if you're a YouTuber who doesn't want your viewers to see your face (or even know they are watching), there are still ways to earn some extra cash.
From selling merch and sponsorships, to putting ads inside of videos, here’s how you can now get paid while hiding behind that computer screen with minimal effort.
One way you can keep the viewer guessing as to whether or not you have seen their video yet is by using an audio recorder app instead of camcorder footage. There are lots of apps out there that let you record just sounds — and then add music over top later. A popular option is Audioboom which lets users create short soundbites along with background tracks from Spotify, Apple Music, Google Play Music, and Soundcloud.
You don't actually need to upload anything at all, so long as you use the right filters when editing the final version. The best part? No one will be able to tell where those recordings came from!
Best of all, this method works perfectly well with automated systems such as Patreon, where artists are compensated each time someone subscribes to them through the platform.
So what about the people who aren't good enough at technology to record themselves talking into a microphone? Don't worry, Audible Magic has got you covered too. This software allows anyone to narrate over existing recorded clips, as well as photos, audios, PDFs, GIFS, MP3 files, etc. It also supports multiple languages including English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Ukrainian, Polish, Dutch, Czech, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Turkish, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Hindi, Urdu, Hebrew, Malayalam, Arabic, Esperanto, Greek, Latin, Vietnamese, Thai, Tagalog, Hungarian, Indonesian, Afrikaans, Filipino, Farsi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi, Punjabi, Romanian, Slovakian, Slovenian, Serbian, Croatian, Finnish, Latvian, Lithuanian, Macedonian, Albanian, Armenian, Georgian, Kazakh, Uzbek, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbeki, Pashto, Ossetian, Azeri, Belarusian, Mordvinic, Moldovan, Ukrainian, Romani, Roma, Serbska, Shtokavica, Montenegrin, Bosanski, Vlachic, Bulgarian, Estonian, Faroese, Icelandic, Latvian, Lithuanian, Moseleyite, North Caucasian, Northern Sami, Novosibirskian, Osetian, South Ossetic, Crimean Tatar, Cretan, Corsican, Dalmatian, Ewe, Frisian, Galician, Georgian, Greenlandic, Haitian Creole, Hausa, Hebraic, Hellenic, Igbo, Inuit, Irish, Italo-Yugoslavian, Jèrriaise, Kashubian, Khmer, Ladino, Lakota, Maltese, Manx, Marshallese, Micronesian, Mingrelian, Mohawk, Monpa, Navajo, Occitan, Old Prussian, Olonetski, Piratical, Polabian, Polynesian, Puerto Rican, Quechua, Romanichal, Sardinian, Scottish Gaelic, Sicilian, Slovetic, Sorbian, Spanish, Swahili, Swiss German, Tahitian, Tuvan, Western Saharan, Yiddish, Yoruba, Zazaki.
If you already have a few friends who post content regularly on social media, consider asking them to read scripts aloud. For example, if you were looking for something to say during a Zoom call, why not ask a friend to read off a script they've prepared beforehand? If they agree, simply send them the link to the clip via text message or email. They'll only receive payment once they reach 1,000 subscribers though.
In order to hide your identity while filming tutorials, vlogs, comedy sketches, and more, you might opt to wear headphones throughout production. However, if you plan to sell merchandise related to your channel, things could become tricky. While most online shops accept PayPal payments, Amazon isn't always willing to process transactions made under assumed names.
Thankfully, we live in a day and age where anonymity is easier than ever before. One company specializing in anonymous credit card processing solutions is called Paystack, whose customers include influencers like TikTok stars, streamers, bloggers, musicians, brands, and other entertainment figures. Another similar service is Stitch Fix, which specializes in clothing sold directly from its website.
Additionally, platforms like Facebook and Instagram allow creators to set up shop pages under different usernames. These accounts exist independently of the main page itself, meaning you won't necessarily lose followers if you decide to take your business elsewhere. And since these profiles are managed separately from the original account, fans are less likely to realize which channels belong to whom.
Another strategy involves creating several dummy accounts and assigning tasks to each person. Once everything is said and done, you can delete the dummy accounts and merge the real ones together.
For example, imagine you run two separate channels that focus on baking and makeup respectively. Instead of posting instructional videos exclusively on one of the sites, try splitting up certain recipes between both accounts. Then assign specific items to each user based on skill level and availability. When it comes to makeup, for instance, maybe you'd rather leave blending techniques to professionals until after step three. Or perhaps you prefer to show off finished products ahead of schedule. As long as you communicate clearly, nobody should suspect a thing.
Of course, you may also find success creating new content entirely within the comfort zone of another site like Twitter or Tumblr. Just remember to stay consistent across all of your accounts. Otherwise, fans may grow accustomed to seeing you around the web and stop recognizing you in public spaces altogether.
Sure, if you're feeling creative. Voiceovers are typically associated with commercials, promos, trailers, infomercials, product reviews, interviews, podcasts, audiobook narration, and much more. But you don't need to rely solely on voiceovers in order to turn a profit. If you're really ambitious, you may choose to write entire books, comic strips, movies, TV shows, stories, etc., and publish them on platforms like Wattpad. Afterward, you can repurpose individual chapters and episodes as standalone pieces of work.
There are plenty of successful examples to draw inspiration from. Take John Mayer, for example, whose latest album contains no vocals whatsoever. His songs consist of instrumentals written by himself and his collaborators while he was locked away in isolation prior to releasing 2018's Confident Hair. Similarly, musician Phoebe Bridgers released her debut studio album Stranger Things 2 soundtrack earlier this year, but she didn't sing any words herself. Rather, Bridgers used samples composed by herself alongside instrumental backing tracks produced by collaborator Joe Pisapia.
As you can probably guess, the key ingredient separating Bridger's music from Mayer's lies in bridging the gap between pure instrumentality and performance art. Both musicians are technically proficient, but neither of them put their voices on display. Which brings us back to the question: What would happen if you chose to forego singing altogether? Would your audience notice? Not according to Bridgers, who recently opened up about experimenting with vocal removal in a New York Times op-ed. "I spent months trying [the] experiment," she wrote. "[But] it turns out removing my voice makes me feel invisible."
However, Bridgers' experience shouldn't deter budding performers from pursuing nonverbal careers further down the line. According to Forbes, the average annual income for writers, editors, proofreaders, copywriters, and technical authors is $42k. Writers working full-time can expect to pull in roughly half of that figure annually ($21k). So while writing doesn't guarantee financial security, it certainly offers greater flexibility in terms of career path selection. Plus, it gives listeners/viewers a chance to connect with you outside of traditional forms of communication.
The same holds true for animators, illustrators, photographers, graphic designers, videographers, fashion models, dancers, event planners, and countless others. Even actors and actresses can pursue acting roles on television and film sans dialogue if they're comfortable wearing microphones.
Just because you lack the vocal ability required to perform doesn't mean you can't act. That being said, aspiring filmmakers often struggle to secure financing for projects unless they appear onscreen. Fortunately, investing heavily in equipment like cameras, lighting rigs, tripods, stands, mics, etc. can help alleviate this problem. Likewise, producers and directors tend to invest more resources in projects starring recognizable faces. So if you're ready to give acting a shot, consider contacting casting agents first to determine if your portfolio aligns with opportunities available.
YouTube is a treasure trove of wealth if you know how to navigate its waters and take advantage of what makes it so great—especially when compared with other platforms like Facebook. But building an audience and growing your channel takes time and effort. If you're just starting out, that means creating original video content to share with others.
If you have no desire to record footage, upload it to the platform, then edit it down into bite-sized pieces, there are still ways you can profit off the service. We'll show you where to look next year. In this article we explain how to make money on YouTube without actually doing any work at all.
Yes! There are plenty of people who earn passive income through their channels, but they usually fall into one of two categories. The first group consists of YouTubers whose main source of revenue comes directly from subscriptions. These kinds of creators include popular personalities like PewDiePie and Tana Mongeau.
The second category includes those who generate ad revenues using automated systems such as AdSense. For example, some streamers post prerecorded clips while others create playlists of music to which viewers listen passively. Some even use scripts to automatically produce new content based upon user actions. Popular examples in this category include Tyler Oakley (who uses his podcast to promote products) and Jacksepticeye (a gamer).
In both cases above, however, you must be actively engaging with fans on social media. So before you start exploring these options, ask yourself whether you want to keep interacting with followers beyond simply sharing your own creations. Many successful YouTuber monetize by promoting other artists' work, helping them grow their subscriber base, etc., similar to influencers.
You don't necessarily need original creative content to build an online presence. Instead, you could leverage someone else's existing brand recognition to establish a following. This strategy has been used successfully by companies looking to market products to specific niches. Brands will often hire individuals associated with celebrities, politicians, or sports figures to act as "brand ambassadors." They typically wear branded apparel and appear in promotional materials to help sell the product.
A good way to find brands willing to pay for celebrity endorsements would be to search Google Trends for relevant keywords related to your niche. Then scroll down until you see something along the lines of "Celebrity Endorsement" or "Brand Ambassador." Click on each link to learn more about the opportunity. Next, click on Get Started under the Opportunities section to begin submitting applications.
Another option involves partnering up with established influencers within your industry and offering to create custom content around their name or logo instead of yours. By leveraging another person’s popularity, you can essentially piggyback off their success without having to worry about putting forth much effort in return.
For example, let's say you run a small jewelry store selling diamond rings. You may decide to partner up with a well-known jeweler to offer discount prices on certain items and have her feature prominently in commercials advertising your sales pitch. She doesn't need to physically attend events or meet customers in real life, she can simply sit back, relax, and collect commissions every time someone clicks on her links and purchases overpriced merchandise from you.
As long as the deal aligns with your goals, the company getting paid should be happy too because they receive free marketing exposure in exchange for giving you access to their customer database. To ensure transparency regarding commission payments, agree to provide quarterly reports showing exactly how much each ring sold for.
Once again, this depends largely on your personal circumstances. It also varies depending on whether you plan to engage with users on either end of the conversation.
Let's consider a scenario involving a creator who wants to become known as an authority figure within their field. As mentioned previously, they can choose between becoming an affiliate marketer by promoting other people's work, or partnering with a bigger player, such as a musician, actor, athlete, politician, author, or entrepreneur. Either way, the goal here is to attract listeners/viewers interested enough to sign up for a newsletter, follow on Twitter, subscribe to their Instagram account, purchase tickets to watch live shows, buy merch, etc.
While it might seem simple enough to gain hundreds of thousands of followers overnight, it does require patience, persistence, consistency, and luck. Achieving success on YouTube requires spending hours uploading new material, managing comments, responding to messages, and keeping track of everything in general. Unless you have tons of cash and unlimited time on your hands, you probably won't achieve instant results. However, once you've built momentum, you shouldn't have to spend anymore time than necessary maintaining a steady pace.
To determine whether you're capable of attracting several thousand subscribers quickly, refer back to the steps outlined earlier. Also, remember that if you intend to rely solely on YouTube to bring in income, then you need large numbers of engaged followers. Otherwise, why bother trying to reach millions of potential buyers when you only care about acquiring smaller groups?
When determining how big of a follower count you'd like to aim for, try plugging your number into various websites designed to predict growth rates. According to SocialBlade, you need approximately 3,000 daily active users to break even. Once you hit 10,000 DAUs, you'll start earning roughly $10 per month from ads. And after hitting 50,000 daily active users, you can expect to pull in $1,600 per month.
However, these estimates aren't always accurate since different types of audiences respond differently to promotions. Furthermore, they vary widely across fields due to differences in competition levels. Therefore, it's best to consult third party statistics specifically tailored to your target demographic.
Lastly, bear in mind that generating traffic via organic methods alone isn't going to cut it forever. Eventually, you'll need to invest additional resources into driving increased engagement among your current audience. After all, most people tend to lose interest if they repeatedly come across content they already enjoy.
Just follow our battle-tested guidelines and rake in the profits.