YouTube is the world’s leading video hosting service. With over a billion users and billions of videos, YouTube has created many opportunities for people to make money with their content. In this blog post, we’ll discuss how people can make money on YouTube by looking at the different ways that they can do so: from uploading videos, to becoming a partner in the YouTube Partner Program or even signing up for YouTube Premium!
How do People Make Money on YouTube?
1. Advertising Revenue
The most popular YouTube stars make money through advertising revenue. This is when YouTube pre-rolls ads in front of their videos and they get paid by the advertisers.
Since any video on YouTube can be monetized, many YouTubers are able to earn a living just from their channel alone! When you have millions of subscribers, this revenue can add up quickly. One famous example is PewDiePie, who made over $15 million back in 2017 from advertising revenue.
However, only a small percentage of YouTubers make most of their income through advertising. In fact, according to Tubular Labs, the top-earning 0.01% of YouTube creators earned 73% of all ad revenue recently! This means that most YouTubers make considerably less money from advertising.
So, how much money can you make from advertising?
It really depends on your viewership. The average RPM (revenue per thousand views) ranges anywhere from $0.50 to $15, but generally hovers towards the lower number (depending on what you are advertising).
Some sites (like tsz) have figures of $13 Average RPM for the United States for 2021, which seems a little high for me, but is most likely true for many.
While this may seem like a lot of money, it’s important to remember that most people only get a few hundred or even a few thousand views per video. So, unless you have a large viewership, don’t expect to make a lot of money from advertising.
This is the most common way for people to make money on YouTube and generally requires you to have a large number of subscribers.
Types of Video Ads

Pre-Roll Ads
Pre-roll ads are those that play before a video begins. They can be 30 seconds, 15 seconds or even shorter. Advertisers will pay a premium for pre-roll ads because they are guaranteed to get in front of your audience.
They also make the most money out of all types of YouTube ads. These can be paid per view or shared with other creators equally split up among everyone who are monetizing their YouTube videos that month (also known as Cost Per Mille (CPM)).
Mid-Roll Ads
Mid-roll ads are those that play in the middle of a video. They generally last about 20 seconds and advertisers will pay less for these because they are not guaranteed to be seen by everyone.
Post-Roll Ads
Post-roll ads are those that play after a video finishes. Advertisers don’t generally pay as much for these because they are not as effective as pre-roll and mid-roll ads.
Banner Ads
Banner ads are the rectangular advertisements that you see at the top or bottom of a video. Advertisers will generally pay less for banner ads than other types of ads.
Skippable vs Non-Skippable Ads
Skippable ads are those that viewers can choose to skip after five seconds. Non-skippable ads are those that viewers cannot skip and must watch for at least 20 seconds.
Non- skippable ads generate more revenue for creators because they are not skipped. However, many people find them annoying and will not engage with them.
Get Paid to Use YouTube
2. Sell your Own Products
Some people also make money on YouTube by selling their own products, like t-shirts and mugs. This can be a great way to make money if you have a large audience who is interested in what you have to sell.
You can use platforms like Shopify or Teespring to create and sell your products. You’ll need to design and market your products yourself, but it can be a very profitable venture if done correctly.
3. Sponsored Content
Other people create sponsored content for brands to promote their products or services. For example, if you have a large following on YouTube, your audience may love to see you review the latest phones or products.
This can be done by contacting brands directly or through agencies that connect YouTubers with companies who are looking for influencers to promote their products.
However, this type of content is very different from normal videos because it is not what your audience is used to seeing from you. This can be difficult because viewers may unsubscribe or leave nasty comments on the video, so only consider this option if you are confident that you will not disappoint your subscribers.
Sponsored content helps companies get their products in front of people who would never normally buy them, and influencers can make a lot of money in return for their endorsement.
4. Crowd Funding

Content creators can use crowdfunding sites like Patreon to earn an income from their videos. This is a great option for people who have a loyal audience but don’t want to sell their own products or do sponsored content.
Patreon allows viewers to donate money to their favorite creators in return for exclusive rewards, like early access to videos, behind-the-scenes footage and even personal Skype calls.
Many YouTubers make more money on Patreon than they do through YouTube ads.
5. Google AdSense
You can also become a YouTube partner with Google AdSense which allows you to run ads on your channel.
If your channel is eligible, you’ll be able to join the YouTube Partner Program which allows Google AdSense ads on all videos.
You can opt out of monetizing some videos if they are not advertiser-friendly or contain sensitive content that may limit ad revenue. This will help prevent any mistakes from happening with your monetization status.
Google AdSense is the most common way for content creators to make money on YouTube. Partners receive a portion of the revenue generated from ads shown on their videos.
Related Article: How to Create a YouTube Channel for Business
6. Use it as a Hobby
For some, making money on YouTube is just a hobby that they do in their spare time as a way of expressing themselves creatively. It can be a great hobby because it’s fun and people are willing to watch your videos if you’re good at what you do.
Becoming an influencer on YouTube requires hard work, dedication and the right content that will engage with viewers. However, there is no guarantee of success which means that even popular YouTubers still have to work hard to earn a living.
Tips for Making Money on YouTube
- Create a YouTube Channel
- Upload videos that are high-quality, well-edited, and informative
- Choose your video titles wisely – include keywords in the title to help with SEO optimization
- Include links to other content within your video descriptions for viewers who want more information on the topic you’re discussing
- Have fun with it! Make sure there’s personality behind each of your videos so people can connect with you as an individual
- Use annotations to link back to social media pages or websites where viewers can find out more about what you do outside of YouTube
Things to Avoid
1. Don’t spend a ton of money on equipment – you can use your iPhone or any device with a camera
2. Don’t spend hours editing videos to make them perfect – they don’t have to be perfect, just good enough
3. Remember that not everyone will like what you do and that’s ok
4. Keep the quality of your content high by avoiding things like swearing or inappropriate jokes
5. Avoid posting too many videos in one day – this is called “spamming” and it will hurt your views instead of helping them
6. Be consistent with how often you post new content, so people know when to expect something from you

Frequently Asked Questions
There is no right or wrong answer to this question. Some content creators make money with as few as 100 subscribers, while others require more than a million subscribers to generate significant revenue.
No, you do not need to copyright your videos to make money on YouTube. However, it’s always a good idea to protect your work just in case someone tries to use it without permission.
Yes, many content creators make a full-time income from their YouTube channels. However, it’s important to note that this is not always the case, and you should never rely on YouTube as your only source of income.
You can join YouTube if you are 13 years of age or older. However, if you are under 18 it’s important that your parents review and approve any videos before they go live on the site, so their child doesn’t become a target for predators online.
Yes, it is possible to get paid by multiple brands for sponsored content and there are many influencers who have done this successfully. You can do it by applying to different brands for opportunities or doing multiple collaborations with the same creator.
The amount you earn on YouTube varies because there are many factors involved in your earnings – these include how many people watch your videos, what advertisers want to advertise against each video and whether you monetize your videos. You may also be eligible for bonuses like incentives and awards.
Yes, if your earnings are over $600/year then you will need to file a tax return in April each year (you can also do this online).
There is no set cost to make a YouTube video – it depends on the equipment you use, how long it takes to shoot and edit, and whether you have someone help you with those things. However, most people will spend less than $100 on all the necessary supplies (assuming phones and built-in or cheap cameras).
Yes, you can make money from videos that you don’t own by doing a sponsorship or collaboration with the owner of those videos. This is a common way for YouTubers to partner with other brands and create sponsored content.
This varies from person to person, but in general funny, inspirational, informational, and authentic content tends to do the best.
There are many things that you shouldn’t include in your YouTube videos like: swear words or inappropriate jokes, too much branding/advertising, copyright material and spamming – meaning uploading multiple videos within a short time.
YouTube Red is a paid subscription service that makes it possible for you to watch all videos on the site ad-free and download them so you can enjoy them offline too. You also get exclusive access to original content created by other top creators like PewDiePie, Lilly Singh and Rooster Teeth – so it’s worth considering if you’re a big fan of the platform.
The YouTube Partner Program is a way for content creators to make money on the site by monetizing their videos. This means that you can earn revenue from ads that play before, during or after your videos. You must be part of the program to use this feature.
YouTube Premium Revenue is the estimated total amount of money that YouTube pays to its content creators each year. This number changes often because it depends on how many people watch videos, what type of videos they are and a variety of other factors.
The best way to grow your audience on YouTube is to create quality videos that people want to watch and share. This may take some time because it’s a very competitive space, but it’s well worth the effort – especially if you’re trying to grow your career as an influencer or business owner.
If you are in the YouTube Partner Program, then you will get paid for your videos through the AdSense platform. You can choose to be paid in one lump sum or have money deposited into your bank account each month.
The amount of money that is earned from a single video view varies depending on several factors – this includes how long the video is watched for, where it’s being viewed from and what type of ads are placed before or during the videos.
The best types of cameras that you can use to film your YouTube videos include: DSLR, smartphones with good lenses (like the latest iPhone or Samsung) and action cameras (like a GoPro). However, any camera will work if the quality is good.
The best type of microphone to use for your YouTube videos is a shotgun mic because it picks up sound from directly in front of it and minimizes background noise. Alternatively, you can use lapel mics or lavalier microphones to record audio.
YouTube Annotations are clickable links that you can use in your videos, so viewers have more options about what they want to watch next – like related content, trivia, and other types of media (like songs or images). You can also use these types of links to prompt viewers to take specific actions, like subscribing to your channel or liking the video.
The best length for your YouTube videos really depends on what you’re trying to achieve – whether it’s simply sharing information or trying to grow an audience. However, in general shorter videos are more likely to be watched and shared than longer ones.
A YouTube Vertical Video (or simply, Vertical) is the same as a normal landscape video except that it plays in portrait mode on mobile devices – meaning you can fit more into your frame without compromising quality! They also work for any platform including Facebook, Instagram, or Snapchat.
A thumbnail is the small image that appears next to your video on YouTube and other social media platforms. It’s important to use an interesting and eye-catching image so people are more likely to click on it – especially if you’re trying to grow your audience or promote a new video.
To create a custom thumbnail for your YouTube video, you’ll need to use a photo editor like Photoshop or GIMP. Alternatively, there are some free online tools that can help you do this too. Just make sure the image is high quality and meets the required dimensions (16:09).
No, you don’t need to be an expert video editor or creator to start making money on YouTube. In fact, many successful channels are run by people who have no formal training in video production. However, it is important to be consistent with your content and put out quality videos that people will want to watch.
A Viral Video is a video that has been watched and shared by many people on the Internet. Sometimes it’s because the content is funny or shocking, but often it’s due to the hard work of the creator in marketing their video effectively. There isn’t really any sure-fire way to make your video go viral but doing things like optimizing for search and using social media to promote your content can help.
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the success of a video going viral depends on a lot of different factors. However, things you can do to increase your chances include using catchy titles and descriptions, making sure the content is interesting and relevant, and marketing your video effectively on social media.
Yes, a beginner can make money on YouTube if they are consistent with their content and produce high-quality videos that people want to watch. There is no one secret to becoming successful on the platform – it takes hard work, dedication, and a lot of planning.
Don’t Expect to Get Rich Quick
Finally, It’s important to remember that making money on YouTube is not a quick and easy process. It takes time and effort to build up a following and generate consistent revenue.
Don’t expect to get rich overnight by starting a channel on YouTube. It will take hard work and dedication, but if you have the right content, you have a chance of building a profitable audience.