Starting a YouTube channel can turn into a lucrative side hustle or full time career. With over 2.5 billion global viewers on the platform even new creators can find ways to make money on YouTube by monetizing content in various ways. This guide covers 10 proven strategies to earn income from your videos and channel no 10 million subscriber count needed. We will explain each method step by step backed by recent data and examples so beginners can start earning.
The chart above shows how top creators monetize at scale. Note that even smaller channels can earn steadily: for example a fashion channel with 1M subscribers averaged $259K year from ad revenue $979 per video. With the right approach making money on YouTube is achievable by leveraging multiple income streams. Read on for the top 10 methods each tailored for beginners.
Join the YouTube Partner Program and Enable Ads
The first step to make money on YouTube is enabling ads. You must join the YouTube Partner Program YPP which allows your channel to share revenue from ads shown on your videos. YouTube recently lowered the entry bar: creators in most regions can now apply with just 500 subscribers and 3 public videos plus 3000 watch hours or 3 million Shorts views. Once approved go to YouTube Studio Monetization to turn on ads for your channel.
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Advertising revenue: By enabling ads you earn a share of revenue when viewers see or click on ads in your videos. Ad revenue in Q1 2025 topped $8.92 billion globally so there’s plenty to go around.
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YouTube features: Beyond ads YPP unlocks other features. You can enable channel memberships Super Chat Super Stickers and earn from YouTube Premium viewership. Each of these is another way to earn.
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Shorts monetization: Creators can also earn from YouTube Shorts vertical videos. While there was a Shorts Fund now eligible creators earn ad share on Shorts views with a 45% revenue split on Shorts ads.
By focusing on high quality consistent content you grow watch time and subscribers unlocking more ad revenue over time. Even if you are small now remember that small channels can still earn a living as shown by examples and calculators.
Use Affiliate Marketing in Your Videos
Affiliate marketing is a low barrier strategy to make money on YouTube without big upfront effort. In this model you promote products or services and earn a commission on sales generated through your links. YouTube lets creators post affiliate links in video descriptions community posts and even add shoppable tags via the YouTube Shopping program. For example beauty vloggers often link to cosmetics or gear on Amazon or eBay and earn 4 to 10% on each sale.
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How it works: Sign up for affiliate programs related to your niche e.g. Amazon Associates ClickBank or Shopify affiliate program. In your video mention a product and include your affiliate link in the description.
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YouTube Shopping: YouTube official affiliate program lets creators tag products directly in videos. When viewers click and buy you earn. According to Shopify creators need only to be in YPP to use this feature.
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Disclosure: Always disclose affiliate links clearly. Audiences trust honest creators more.
For beginners affiliate marketing can provide quick wins: you don’t need your own product just an engaged audience. As Adobe notes affiliate links are an effective way for creators to generate additional income from your videos. Even with modest views relevant product recommendations can add up.
Offer Channel Memberships and Fan Funding
Once you have loyal viewers use fan funding features. Channel Memberships a YPP perk let fans pay a monthly fee for perks custom badges exclusive content emojis. You set the price tiers e.g. $1 to $10 month and offer members only videos or livestreams. This creates a predictable recurring income from your biggest supporters.
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Channel Memberships: Enable under YouTube Studio Monetization Memberships. Promote it in videos and live chats. Perks can include behind the scenes clips live Q and A or early access to videos.
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Fan platforms: Besides YouTube use Patreon or Kofi. Many beginners link their Patreon page so fans can tip or subscribe for extras thanks bonus videos digital wallpapers etc. Adobe suggests giving value exclusive videos or merch in return.
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Super Chat and Super Stickers: In live streams viewers can pay to highlight messages or send fun animated stickers. This is another pay what you want way to earn during live content especially in gaming or Q and A streams.
Even small creators with just a few hundred fans can earn tens or hundreds per month via memberships and donations. Encourage community growth and consistently reward members to maximize this income stream.
Enable Super Chat and Super Stickers on Live Streams
Live streaming is a powerful way for beginners to monetize quickly. Super Chat and Super Stickers are YouTube features where live viewers pay to have their chat messages or stickers prominently displayed. Since fans compete for your attention amounts can add up fast in popular streams.
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How it works: During a live stream fans click the dollar icon in chat to buy a Super Chat or Sticker. Higher amounts keep their message pinned longer.
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Best practices: Actively engage with donors thank them and respond to their comments. As Adobe notes shoutouts encourage more viewers to tip.
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Revenue share: YouTube takes a cut you keep 70% of each donation.
For beginners even occasional streams with 10 to 20 engaged viewers can yield extra cash. Combined with ads on archived videos and memberships live donations diversify your earnings.
Monetize YouTube Shorts and Short Form Content
YouTube Shorts videos up to 60 seconds have exploded in popularity. You can make money from Shorts by leveraging YouTube Shorts monetization programs and general channel growth. In 2025 YouTube moved from a fixed Shorts Fund to sharing ad revenue with Shorts creators 45% revenue pool share.
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Shorts ads: Eligible creators in YPP earn a portion of ad revenue from Shorts if the video is 60 seconds or if ads are shown between Shorts. Focus on engaging viral friendly short clips to rack up views.
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Cross promotion: Use Shorts to funnel viewers to your main channel. More subscribers mean unlocking ads and memberships faster.
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Trends and challenges: Creating Shorts around trending topics or music can quickly boost reach. More views more ad share.
While ad RPM on Shorts is lower than on long videos Shorts can spark subscriber growth indirectly leading to more earnings from your regular videos and other monetization methods.
Sell Merchandise and Digital Products
Turn your audience into customers by selling merchandise and digital products. This directly converts viewers to buyers without intermediaries. Successful YouTubers often offer branded t shirts mugs or digital goods that appeal to their niche.
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Merch Shelf: If eligible for YPP or as an Official Artist use YouTube Merchandise Shelf to showcase products right on your channel page. Connect your channel to merch platforms like Teespring Spreadshop or Merchbar.
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Physical merch: Branded apparel or gear. For example a tech reviewer might sell geek t shirts or custom phone cases.
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Digital products: Courses e books templates or presets. A photography channel for instance could sell Lightroom presets or an online workshop. The profit margin is high since there is no inventory cost.
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Promotion: Dedicate a short spot in videos to mention your store. Link the products in descriptions or use end screen cards.
Merch selling is a popular method: Thinkific reports top YouTubers made $26.5M combined from merch in one year. Even if you start small it validates your channel as a brand and boosts revenue.
Work with Sponsors and Do Product Placements
Brand deals and sponsored content can be extremely lucrative even for smaller creators in the right niche. In sponsored content a company pays you to mention or review their product in a video. These deals often pay much more than ad revenue.
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Direct sponsorships: As your channel grows reach out to relevant brands or join influencer networks. Pitch your channel stats and audience demographics.
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Product placement: Simply using a product in your video e.g. wearing a sponsored shirt using a sponsor tool can qualify. For example a DIY YouTuber might feature a brand’s toolkit in a tutorial with a discount code for viewers.
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Payment models: Sponsors may offer flat fees affiliate commissions or product giveaways. Ensure any deal pays fairly typical rates can range from a few hundred to thousands per mention depending on your influence.
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Authenticity: Only partner with brands that fit your content. Viewers trust creators who promote products they genuinely use.
Adobe highlights that brand collaborations provide direct earnings and credibility. Even as a beginner small niche brands often look for micro influencers 1k to 10k subs to sponsor so it is worth pitching once you have an engaged audience.
Crowdsource Funding and Donations
Beyond YouTube built in features platforms like Patreon or Kickstarter let fans support your content. This is similar to memberships but via third party sites. You can ask viewers to donate one time or subscribe monthly.
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Patreon Kickstarter: Set up a Patreon page where fans pledge recurring support. Offer tiers e.g. $5 for monthly exclusive blog post $15 for biweekly livestream. For one off projects like a travel series consider a Kickstarter campaign.
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Merch bundles: For campaign donors provide thank you rewards like stickers posters or early access.
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Transparency: Explain clearly what the funds support better gear research travel. Fans are more willing to contribute if they see a direct benefit.
According to Adobe crowdfunding provides both short term and long term income and builds fan relationships. It is especially helpful for expense heavy channels e.g. travel vlogs or new creators without ad revenue yet.
License Your Content and Viral Clips
If one of your videos goes viral media outlets may pay to license it. Content licensing means giving news or entertainment companies the right to use your footage often for commercials or TV.
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Viral video sales: For example a news network might pay for a dramatic user shot video a Celsius effect clip or a stunt. Creators can upload to viral video agencies or directly pitch news sites.
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Stock video: Uploading videos to stock libraries some accept free licensed YouTube content can earn royalties whenever someone uses your clip.
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YouTube licensing: YouTube itself offers a licensing program for Shorts called Shorts clips marketplace where media companies can buy Shorts footage.
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Copyright: Ensure your videos are original. Apply for a copyright license if needed so others pay to use your content.
Adobe guide notes that licensing your videos like through viral video sales is an effective way to monetize content. While this stream is less predictable it can yield big one time payouts often hundreds or thousands for a popular clip.
Conclusion
Make money on YouTube is a multi faceted process. Beginners should focus on creating valuable consistent content and then diversify revenue streams: ad revenue affiliate sales memberships and more. As you build an audience use these 10 strategies join YPP and run ads leverage affiliate links sell merch or digital products and tap features like Super Chat and Premium revenue. Recent trends like Shorts monetization and official stats show that YouTube has paid creators $70+ billion in recent years so the potential is real. Start small iterate and engage with your community. With persistence and smart monetization even new creators can make money on YouTube and grow a channel into a profitable business.
Enjoyed these tips? Share this article with fellow aspiring YouTubers on social media and leave a comment below if you have questions or success stories. Every view, like and comment helps support the channel!
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do YouTubers make per view?
There is no fixed rate per view. On average YouTube channels earn about $2 to $25 per 1000 views based on ad revenue. Earnings depend on factors like niche viewer location and ad engagement more clicks or full ad views mean higher payout.
How many subscribers do I need to make money on YouTube?
YouTube current rules let channels with just 500 subscribers plus 3 public videos and 3000 watch hours or 3 million Shorts views apply to join the Partner Program. Once accepted you can enable ads and earn revenue ad monetization typically requires reaching 1000 subscribers. Even if you are below these thresholds you can still earn via affiliate links sponsorships or Patreon.
What is the YouTube Partner Program?
The YouTube Partner Program YPP is how creators monetize on YouTube. Once eligible and accepted your channel can run ads and use monetization features. YPP members share revenue from ads and gain access to other earning options like channel memberships Super Chat Super Stickers and YouTube Premium earnings. Joining YPP is the foundation for most YouTube income streams.
Can I make money on YouTube without many views?
Yes. While more views mean more ad revenue you can start earning with small audiences. For example a niche channel can use affiliate marketing or Patreon to make money even before reaching 1000 subs. Early on focus on growing a dedicated audience high engagement likes, comments, shares and targeted content can lead to sponsorships or merch sales faster than raw view count.