How to make money on YouTube: A guide to monetizing your channel

As the world’s second largest search engine and the biggest video site, it’s no surprise that YouTube stands as the ultimate hub for online content creators. The platform serves as a gateway for anyone looking to become the next big sensation with their own branded channel.

But in order to gain traction and build a strong audience, you must first understand how to monetize your channel on YouTube. This article covers everything from ad revenue to sponsorships and more.

What is YouTube monetization?

First and foremost, it’s important to note that YouTube does not pay you to create content. Instead, you can make money from advertisements (known as monetization) on your channel, if you are a part of their Partner Program.

The Partner Program allows YouTubers to earn a consistent source of income through things like pre-roll ads, display ads, sponsorships, and merchandise sales. The important thing to remember is that you have to be a part of the Partner Program in order to monetize your channel. You can’t just start uploading videos and expect to earn money right away.

Choose the correct YouTube channel type

Before diving into the nitty-gritty of how to make money from ads on YouTube, first you need to choose the type of channel that will host your videos. There are three different types of channels that can host your videos:

This is the basic version of a YouTube channel, which allows you to upload videos, comment on other channels, and connect with your audience. This is ideal for beginners who want to establish their brand.

You can create a personalized homepage for your brand, and even add links to your other social media channels. This channel type is best for those looking to create a long-term YouTube presence for their brand.

This channel type is best for brands that want to be more interactive with their content. You can add polls, quizzes, and even use Google Hangouts on Air to engage your audience.

This channel type is best for brands that have a large following and want to make money from their videos. Although you can still use the other channel types, you’ll need at least 10,000 subscribers to get access to the Partner Program.

How to make money from ads on YouTube

As we touched upon earlier, the core goal of monetization is to make money from advertisements on your channel. Now, this isn’t something that happens overnight. First, you need to request to be a part of the YouTube Partner Program (more on this in a minute). Next, you have to get your channel to a certain level of popularity before advertisers will even consider running ads on your channel.

The good news is that there are a few ways to help speed up the process. First and foremost, you should focus on building an engaged and consistent audience. The more you interact with your followers and create quality content, the more likely they are to click the subscribe button and aid in growing your channel.

There are a few ways to accelerate the process of gaining subscribers, including: - Posting videos to other social media channels, such as Instagram or Facebook - Promoting your channel on other YouTube channels - Creating a blog to accompany your channel - Networking with other YouTubers by collaborating and guest posting on each other’s channels - Having a strong and consistent online presence beyond your channel

Promote your YouTube channel with merchandise

Another way to monetize your channel is to create and sell merchandise related to your brand. This can include everything from T-shirts to mugs, hoodies, and more. The best part is that once you start designing your products, you can immediately list them for sale on platforms like Teespring, Redbubble, and Shopify.

You can also promote your products on your YouTube channel by linking to a landing page or website where people can purchase your items directly.

This is also a great strategy if you’re partnered with a brand that wants to collaborate. If you sell branded merchandise, you can partner with the company and receive a percentage of each sale that is made.

Earn money through sponsorships

Another way to make money from your YouTube channel is through sponsorships. This typically occurs when brands come to you and offer to pay you to include their product or service in your videos. Now, this isn’t something that happens overnight.

It takes time to develop relationships with brands and get them to trust you enough to sponsor your channel. Start by reaching out to brands that you use yourself and offering to promote them on your channel. This will prove to them that you’re a reliable and consistent YouTuber.

As you build more of a following, brands will approach you and ask if you’re interested in partnering up. Before accepting, make sure the brand is consistent with your target audience. If they’re on board, they’ll let you know what they’d like you to do and when.

As you can see, the process of how to make money from ads on YouTube isn’t something that happens overnight. It takes consistent and quality content to build a following. Once you’ve built up a large enough audience, you can earn a consistent income from your channel.

The only downside is that you won’t be getting paid up front for your hard work. Instead, you’ll receive a portion of what advertisers pay for running ads on your channel. Depending on the type of ad, you can make anywhere from a few dollars to hundreds of dollars per thousand ad impressions.

Now, the ultimate question remains: Is monetizing your YouTube channel worth it? The answer is yes, if you’re consistent with your content and build a strong presence. However, keep in mind that this isn’t an easy path to take. You have to be willing to put in a lot of hard work and time.