Though it may not be widely known, making money through YouTube can be done in more ways than just one. One of the main requirements to start getting a check through YouTube is that the channel owner(s) has to have accumulated a total of 4,000 watch hours of videos over 12 monthS and at least 1,000 subscribers, to be eligible for the YouTube Partner program, which allows you to apply for sponsorships and ad space.
Striving to meet these standard requirements is a great goal, however, the YouTube Partner program isn’t your only option for making money through YouTube. YouTube offers a variety of ways to make money with your channel:
- Link your website on your YouTube videos so anyone can click on them, which increases sales on your products.
- If you are selling a product, try to garner ads or sponsorships for your videos. Even if you aren’t currently selling a product, you can make money through Affiliate Marketing for your videos.
- Create a crowdfunding account to gain donations to your channel that will help with both video equipment and funds for your business.
Please see the 6 tips and tricks below on how to make money on Youtube aside from the Partner program.
1. Drive Everyone To Your Website.
You can add links to your blog or website in the description of your Youtube videos, which sends traffic to your personal website. Embedding youtube videos to your website is also a great way to get more exposure.
For example, if you have an online course about stocks, you can post one lesson from it on YouTube, and then include a link to your course where people can sign up to get information on how to navigate the stock market.
The more traffic you gain on your website, the more money you can make through multiple monetization methods.
2. Market Your Own Products.
Over 2 billion logged-in users visit YouTube each month, so this site is an amazing marketing tool that you should use to promote your business. The best part is that creating a Youtube video is free! Instead of a blog, many entrepreneurs and small businesses use YouTube to share their expertise, tips, and insights to build trust and rapport with their market.
With the help of Youtube videos, you can sell your products and services using demonstrations, sharing your expertise and tips, answering questions, doing live Q&As and much more.
3. Affiliate Marketing.
If you don’t have a product or service that you’re ready to put on Youtube, don’t worry. You can still make money with affiliate marketing!
Essentially, affiliate marketing is referral marketing with a commission. When you refer a new customer to a business that has an affiliate program, you get paid.
To be successful, you need to start a YouTube channel around a specific niche and then find affiliate products and services that will solve your target market’s problems within that niche. For example, you can start a YouTube channel focused on preparing on how to run long distances, and find quality shoes and fitness gear options through Amazon’s Associate’s program or other companies that offer athletic supplies.
In order to get money from this program, simply include the links to the products you’re using in your YouTube video’s description. Don’t forget to add any required disclosures about affiliate links.
4. Get Ads.
Generally, you need consistent traffic to your YouTube videos in order to sell Ads, but it may be possible to get this type of income before you qualify for the YouTube Partnership Program if your views and subscribers are steady and growing. Furthermore, selling ad space actually has the potential to earn more than YouTube’s Partner Program.
To sell ads, you’ll need to reach out to brands with a proposal. In your proposal you’ll need to do the following:
- 1. Introduce yourself and your YouTube Channel. Make sure you indicate how your channel relates to their business.
- 2. Share your YouTube Channel, and provide information on the level of engagement you have, including views, comments and likes. If you have a good social media following, you can include those figures as well. The number of daily engagements you have on your social media helps greatly with garnering ad space.
- 3. Instead of focusing on you specifically, focus on how you can help the company. If you’ve used their product beforehand, let them know and share how much you liked it.
- 4. Pitch your idea. For example, some Youtubers start out simple and ask to do a review in exchange for a free sample of the product. Once you build a rapport with a company, then you can start incorporating doing a shout-out or review of the company for a monthly payment.
- 5. Have a media and sponsorship kit to share with potential advertisers and sponsors.
5. Get Sponsors.
The process of getting sponsors is very similar to getting Ads as mentioned in the previous section.
You can also join sponsor platforms, such as Famebit, to find and pitch brands for sponsorships.
6. Crowdfunding.
Crowdfunding allows Youtubers to receive donations from multiple different people on a subscription type of basis. Popular crowdfunding sites include Patreon, Kickstarter and Subbable. In exchange for a monthly donation, your donors get exclusive content from you. For example, you might use crowdfunded money to enhance your production value, and they in turn get to see behind the scenes content and special topics from you. Usually, there are different levels of contribution, the highest donors usually receive something even more special like a shout-out video or something more substantial for more money contributed.
Crowdfunded money can be earned on a recurring basis, similar to a subscription or membership model, or project-based, in which people help fund a specific video or series that needs greater investments to be created.
