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YOUTUBE

Do YouTubers Still Get Paid for Old Videos?

Do YouTubers Still Get Paid for Old Videos? 1

Yes, YouTubers can still get paid for old videos for months or even years after uploading them.

That is the short answer. The useful answer is understanding why old videos keep earning, when they stop, which revenue streams last the longest, and what separates a dead upload from an evergreen asset that keeps paying over time.

This guide breaks that down properly, including ad revenue, YouTube Premium, memberships, affiliate links, evergreen search traffic, and the biggest reasons old videos stop making money.

Why trust this guide?

I am not writing this as an outsider. I am a YouTube Certified Expert. I have coached 500+ clients, built and grown multiple channels, earned six YouTube Silver Play Buttons, built a personal audience of 100k+, and spent years working across YouTube strategy, SEO, retention, metadata, channel systems, and monetisation.

This matters because old-video monetisation is one of the most misunderstood parts of YouTube. Many creators act like a video only matters in the first 48 hours. In reality, some videos die fast, while others quietly become long-term assets.

If you want help applying any of this to your own channel, you can book a discovery call.

Quick answer: do YouTubers still get paid for old videos?

Yes. If an old video still gets views and remains monetised, it can keep earning money through ads, YouTube Premium, and other revenue streams long after it was first published.

A video does not stop earning just because it is old. It stops earning when the traffic, monetisation, or relevance dries up.

YouTube’s own revenue analytics documentation explains that creators can earn from ads, YouTube Premium revenue, channel memberships, Super Chat, and Super Stickers as part of their wider revenue picture. That is important because it shows older videos can continue earning as long as they still attract views and remain eligible for those monetisation systems.

Why old videos still earn

YouTube does not pay by upload date. It pays by ongoing audience activity and monetisation opportunity.

If an older video still gets watched, still qualifies for ads, or still contributes to other revenue sources, then it can still keep earning.

Reason old videos still earn Why it matters
The video still gets views No views means no monetisation opportunity
The video still has ads turned on and remains advertiser-friendly Ads can continue serving on old content
YouTube Premium members still watch it Premium watch time can still generate revenue share
The video still drives affiliate clicks, memberships, or leads Old videos can keep generating off-platform value
The topic remains relevant in search or suggested traffic Evergreen demand keeps the video alive

This is why some YouTube channels make money from uploads that are years old. The platform keeps surfacing useful content when viewers still want it.

How old videos make money

Ads are the obvious answer, but they are not the only answer.

Old videos can still earn through:

  • ad revenue
  • YouTube Premium revenue
  • channel memberships
  • Super Thanks on supported content
  • affiliate links in descriptions or comments
  • product sales, services, or coaching enquiries
  • sponsorship-driven long-tail views in some cases

YouTube’s ad revenue guidance explains that RPM includes multiple revenue sources beyond ads alone, including YouTube Premium revenue, channel memberships, Super Chat, and Super Stickers. That is one reason old videos can stay valuable even when ad performance alone is not spectacular.

If you want the Premium-specific angle, also read Do YouTubers Get Paid If You Have YouTube Premium?.

When old videos stop earning

Old videos do not automatically earn forever.

They tend to stop or slow down when one or more of these things happen:

  • the topic becomes outdated or irrelevant
  • search demand disappears
  • the video loses recommendation momentum
  • ads are turned off or the video becomes ineligible for monetisation
  • links, products, or offers in the video become outdated
  • the content gets buried by better, newer competitors

Important: old videos can keep paying for years, but that does not mean every old upload becomes passive income. Most videos decline. Some stay useful. A few become real evergreen assets.

Evergreen videos vs dead uploads

This is where the difference really shows.

Video type What usually happens over time
Evergreen tutorial Can earn steadily for months or years if the topic stays relevant
Search-led how-to Can keep attracting long-tail views and monetisation
Time-sensitive news Usually spikes fast, then dies off quickly
Trend reaction or drama Often short shelf life unless it becomes reference content
Product review with lasting buyer intent Can keep earning if the product remains relevant and linked offers still convert

This is one reason YouTube can feel wildly inconsistent. Some videos are fireworks. Others are rental properties.

Best types of old videos for long-term income

If your goal is to make money from old videos, you want more evergreen content in the mix.

The strongest long-tail performers often include:

  • tutorials
  • how-to guides
  • software walkthroughs
  • product reviews with sustained search demand
  • educational explainers
  • problem-solving videos
  • FAQ-style content

This is why search-friendly and problem-solving content can be so powerful. It keeps meeting viewer intent long after the upload date has been forgotten.

If you want a wider picture of long-term monetisation reality, also read What Percentage of YouTubers Make Money? and How Much Money Does 1 Million YouTube Views Make?.

How to make old videos earn longer

You cannot force every old video to stay relevant, but you can give your catalogue a much better chance.

Best ways to extend the earning life of old videos:

  1. Make more evergreen topics, not just fast-expiring trends.
  2. Keep titles and thumbnails strong enough to compete over time.
  3. Update descriptions, links, and pinned comments when offers change.
  4. Link old videos into newer related uploads to revive traffic.
  5. Build revenue streams beyond ads, such as affiliates, memberships, and products.
  6. Review analytics to spot old videos that still deserve support.

This is where channel systems matter. Older videos often earn best when the whole channel helps keep them alive through playlists, internal linking, topic clusters, and relevant follow-up content.

Fresh official facts worth knowing

This topic becomes much more useful when it is grounded in current YouTube documentation rather than assumptions.

Fact Why it matters What it means in practice
YouTube says RPM includes ads, YouTube Premium revenue, memberships, Super Chat and Super Stickers Shows old videos can stay valuable across more than one revenue source Old videos are not limited to ad earnings alone
YouTube says not all views have ads, and monetised playbacks are tracked separately from total views Explains why some old videos keep getting views without earning much ad revenue Traffic alone is not enough; monetisation quality still matters
YouTube says Premium gives creators another way to get paid for the content they create Reinforces that old videos can still earn when Premium members watch them Old ad-free views from Premium users can still matter
YouTube Partner Programme monetisation depends on continued eligibility and policy compliance Explains why old videos do not earn forever automatically Old videos still need to remain monetisable and policy-safe

Video pick: Why most YouTubers do not make money

This matters here because old videos can keep earning, but only if the channel is built around useful, monetisable content in the first place.

Tools that genuinely help you build a catalogue that keeps earning

The old tools section needed a full rebuild. Tools should support a strategy, not pretend to replace one. These are the ones I would actually recommend first because they are relevant, trustworthy, and already supported by useful content on this site.

Tool Best for Why it earns a place here Best next step
YouTube Studio Finding evergreen videos, revenue sources, and long-tail winners This is where you spot which old videos are still earning and deserve more support Learn how to read the right signals
vidIQ Topic research and search-led planning Useful because evergreen search demand is one of the best drivers of long-term old-video income Try vidIQ or read my vidIQ review
TubeBuddy Workflow, metadata support, and catalogue maintenance Helpful when you want a cleaner system for managing older content, links, and optimisation Try TubeBuddy or read my TubeBuddy review
StreamYard Live formats and community support income Useful if your monetisation mix includes memberships, live streams, and direct audience support beyond old ad revenue Try StreamYard or read my StreamYard review
Syllaby Planning evergreen content systems Useful when you want to build more videos that can keep earning long after publish day Try Syllaby or read my Syllaby review

Which tool should you pick first?

  • Start with YouTube Studio if you want to identify old videos that still earn and deserve optimisation.
  • Use vidIQ or TubeBuddy if your bigger goal is building more evergreen, search-led content.
  • Use StreamYard if your monetisation model includes audience support and live content.
  • Use Syllaby if you want a more repeatable evergreen content plan.

What I would do if I wanted more old videos to keep paying

  1. Make more evergreen, problem-solving videos.
  2. Build each video to rank, recommend, and stay useful.
  3. Check old videos regularly for outdated links and weak CTAs.
  4. Diversify beyond ad revenue alone.
  5. Treat your video library like an asset, not just a posting history.

Final thoughts

If you came here for the fast answer, here it is again: yes, YouTubers can still get paid for old videos if those videos keep getting views and remain monetised.

Old videos do not stop earning because they are old. They stop earning because traffic fades, monetisation disappears, or the content stops being relevant.

The smart creator move is not to hope every upload goes viral once. It is to build a library where some videos keep compounding over time.

If you want help building that kind of channel, start with Who Is Alan Spicer?, read how I help creators and brands grow, or book a discovery call.

Frequently asked questions

Do YouTubers still get paid for old videos?

Yes. If an old video still gets views and remains monetised, it can continue earning through ads, YouTube Premium, and other revenue streams.

How long can a YouTube video keep making money?

Potentially for years, as long as viewers keep watching and the video stays monetisable and relevant.

Do old videos still earn ad revenue?

Yes, if ads are still turned on, the video remains advertiser-friendly, and viewers keep watching it.

Can old videos still earn from YouTube Premium?

Yes. If Premium members watch the content, old videos can still contribute to Premium revenue sharing.

Why do some old videos keep earning while others die?

Evergreen usefulness, search demand, viewer retention, and continued relevance usually decide the difference.

Do viral videos keep making money forever?

Not necessarily. Some viral videos fade quickly, while some evergreen videos earn steadily for much longer.

Can affiliate links in old YouTube videos still make money?

Yes, if the video still gets relevant traffic and the links, products, or offers are still valid and useful.

What is the best type of YouTube video for long-term passive income?

Evergreen tutorials, explainers, reviews, and problem-solving videos usually have the best chance of earning over time.

Categories
HOW TO MAKE MONEY ONLINE MARKETING SOCIAL MEDIA YOUTUBE

Can YouTubers Control Which Ads Are Shown?

Can YouTubers Control Which Ads Are Shown? 6

Yes, YouTubers can control some parts of which ads appear on their content, but they cannot hand-pick every ad shown on their videos.

That is the short version. The useful version is knowing exactly what creators can control, what YouTube controls automatically, and where people get confused between ad formats, ad categories, sensitive-topic blocks, and advertiser selection.

This guide breaks that down properly, so you know what is possible in YouTube Studio, what is not, and what creators should focus on if they want better monetisation without chasing myths.

Why trust this guide?

I am not writing this as an outsider. I am a YouTube Certified Expert. I have coached 500+ clients, built and grown multiple channels, earned six YouTube Silver Play Buttons, built a personal audience of 100k+, and spent years working across YouTube strategy, SEO, retention, metadata, channel systems, and monetisation.

Questions like this matter because monetisation myths waste a lot of creator energy. If you think you can manually choose perfect ads for every video, you will focus on the wrong lever. If you think you have no control at all, you miss tools YouTube does actually give you.

If you want the wider monetisation picture as well, read What Percentage of YouTubers Make Money?. If you want help applying any of this to your own channel, you can book a discovery call.

Quick answer: can YouTubers control which ads are shown?

Partly. YouTubers can control some ad settings, such as ad formats, mid-roll placement, and blocking certain ad categories or advertiser URLs, but YouTube still chooses which ads are actually served through its ad systems.

So the honest answer is yes, but only up to a point.

YouTube’s own Help pages make this pretty clear. When you monetise a channel, ads on your video are automatically chosen based on context such as your video metadata and whether the content is advertiser-friendly. At the same time, creators can still manage certain controls inside YouTube Studio.

What creators can control

This is the part people often overlook. Creators do have some meaningful levers.

Control area Can creators influence it? How much control?
Ad formats Yes Creators can choose which ad formats to allow on monetised videos
Mid-roll placement Yes Creators can manage and edit mid-roll positions on longer videos
Sensitive ad categories Yes Creators can block or allow certain sensitive categories
General ad categories Yes, to a degree Creators can block some general categories
Specific advertiser URLs Yes, to a degree Creators can block certain advertiser URLs in available controls
Exact ad selection for each viewer No YouTube serves ads automatically

YouTube Help confirms creators can block certain ads from appearing on or next to their content using blocking controls in YouTube Studio. It also says creators can choose ad formats and manage mid-roll ad breaks on monetised videos.

What YouTube controls automatically

This is the line that matters most: YouTube still decides what specific ad gets served to a specific viewer.

Creators are not sitting there hand-picking Nike for one viewer, Adobe for another, and Grammarly for someone else. Ads are served through YouTube’s ad systems, auctions, Google Ad Manager, and other YouTube-sold sources. YouTube says ads on monetised videos are automatically chosen based on context like your video metadata and whether the content is advertiser-friendly.

Creators are not sitting there hand-picking Nike for one viewer, Adobe for another, and Grammarly for someone else. Ads are served through YouTube’s ad systems, auctions, Google Ad Manager, and other YouTube-sold sources. YouTube says ads on monetised videos are automatically chosen based on context like your video metadata and whether the content is advertiser-friendly. https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/7438625 

Plain English version: you can shape the playing field, but you cannot personally hand-pick every ad that appears.

That is why the cleanest answer is “partial control, not total control”.

Ad categories and sensitive-topic blocks

One of the clearest forms of ad control creators do have is category-level blocking.

If there are certain types of ads you do not want appearing next to your content for personal, business, or brand reasons, YouTube allows creators to block some categories, including sensitive ones, inside YouTube Studio.

Type of control What it does Why it matters
Sensitive categories Lets creators block ads from selected sensitive categories Useful for brand alignment and channel comfort
General categories Lets creators block some broader ad categories Helps reduce mismatched advertiser themes
Updates in Studio Changes may take time to reflect Useful to know if you do not see an instant change

This is especially useful if you have a family-friendly brand, strong personal values, or a niche where certain categories would feel wildly off-brand.

Can you block specific advertisers?

To a degree, yes.

Historically, creators and publishers have had access to advertiser URL blocking controls in the broader Google ads ecosystem, and YouTube support material has referenced these controls for YouTube-hosted monetisation as well. The practical takeaway is that creators can have some limited advertiser-level blocking options, but this is still not the same thing as curating every ad partner one by one.

So again, the right mental model is not “I can choose exactly who advertises on my videos”. It is “I can exclude some things I do not want”.

Can YouTubers choose ad formats?

Yes. This is one of the most direct forms of control creators have.

YouTube’s upload and monetisation guidance says that creators in the YouTube Partner Programme can choose advertising formats for their monetised videos. YouTube also supports multiple formats such as skippable in-stream, non-skippable, bumper, and other watch-page ad inventory.

Question Best answer
Can creators choose whether monetisation is on? Yes
Can creators choose some ad formats? Yes
Can creators choose the exact brand shown to each viewer? No
Can creators block some ad categories? Yes

Can YouTubers control where mid-roll ads appear?

Yes, and this is often more strategically important than people realise.

YouTube Help says creators can manage and edit mid-roll ad slots on longer videos in YouTube Studio. There are multiple ways to place mid-roll ad breaks, including automatic and manual approaches.

Why this matters: mid-roll control can affect viewer experience, retention, and revenue far more than obsessing over which exact advertiser appears.

If you place mid-rolls badly, you can damage watch time and annoy viewers. If you place them sensibly, you can improve monetisation without trashing the viewing experience.

Fresh official facts worth knowing

This topic gets much clearer when you anchor it to official documentation instead of creator myths.

Fact Why it matters Source
YouTube says ads on monetised videos are automatically chosen based on context like metadata and advertiser-friendliness Confirms creators do not hand-pick every ad YouTube Help
YouTube says creators can block certain ads using blocking controls in Studio Confirms creators do have some real control YouTube Help
YouTube says creators can choose advertising formats and manage mid-rolls Shows practical levers inside monetisation settings YouTube Help
YouTube supports sensitive ad category blocking and changes may take up to 24 hours to reflect Useful for expectation setting YouTube Help

What this means for real monetisation strategy

If you are a creator, the right takeaway is not “I need to obsess over every advertiser”. The smarter takeaway is this:

  • Use the controls YouTube gives you for formats, categories, and mid-rolls.
  • Do not assume you can hand-pick every ad.
  • Focus on advertiser-friendly, watchable content if you want better monetisation outcomes.
  • Protect viewer experience, because retention still matters more than trying to micromanage the ad auction.

This is one reason creator earnings are better understood through RPM and the wider revenue system than through one ad event or one advertiser. If you want to widen the picture, read Do YouTubers Get Paid If You Have YouTube Premium?, Do YouTubers Get Paid More If I Watch the Whole Ad?, and Do YouTubers Get Paid If I Use AdBlock?.

Video pick: RPM vs CPM on YouTube

This is useful here because ad control questions make more sense when you understand the bigger revenue picture rather than one isolated ad event.

Tools that genuinely help you manage monetisation more intelligently

The old tools section needed a full rebuild. Tools should support a strategy, not pretend to replace one. These are the ones I would actually recommend first because they are relevant, trustworthy, and already supported by useful content on this site.

Tool Best for Why it earns a place here Best next step
YouTube Studio Monetisation settings, ad formats, mid-rolls, and analytics This is where nearly all meaningful creator-side ad control actually happens Learn how to read the right signals
vidIQ Topic research and search-led growth Useful because strong topics and audience fit influence monetisation far more than chasing individual advertisers Try vidIQ or read my vidIQ review
TubeBuddy Publishing workflow and optimisation support Helpful when your bigger issue is execution consistency rather than ad settings themselves Try TubeBuddy or read my TubeBuddy review
StreamYard Live formats and diversified monetisation Useful because many creators are healthier when they do not rely on watch-page ads alone Try StreamYard or read my StreamYard review
Syllaby Content planning and consistency Useful when your real bottleneck is publishing enough good content to create monetisation opportunities Try Syllaby or read my Syllaby review

Which tool should you pick first?

  • Start with YouTube Studio if you want real control over ad formats, category blocking, and mid-roll placement.
  • Use vidIQ or TubeBuddy if your bigger issue is content performance rather than settings.
  • Use StreamYard if you want a broader income mix that does not rely only on ads.
  • Use Syllaby if consistency is the bottleneck.

What I would do if I wanted healthier ad revenue

  1. Use YouTube Studio to set sensible ad formats and category blocks.
  2. Review mid-roll placement on longer videos.
  3. Focus on advertiser-friendly, high-retention content.
  4. Build a wider monetisation mix beyond ads.
  5. Stop trying to micromanage the exact ad auction outcome.

Final thoughts

If you came here for the fast answer, here it is again: yes, YouTubers can control some parts of which ads are shown, but not every specific ad.

Creators can influence formats, category blocks, some exclusions, and mid-roll placement. But YouTube still serves ads automatically through its ad systems based on context, suitability, and demand.

The smart move is not to chase total control. The smart move is to use the controls you do have, protect viewer experience, and build a channel that monetises well across the bigger system.

If you want help building that kind of channel, start with Who Is Alan Spicer?, read how I help creators and brands grow, or book a discovery call.

Frequently asked questions

Can YouTubers control which ads are shown on their videos?

Partly. Creators can control some settings like ad formats, mid-rolls, and some blocked categories, but YouTube still chooses the actual ads served to viewers.

Can YouTubers block certain ads?

Yes. YouTube provides blocking controls for certain ad categories and sensitive categories in Studio.

Can YouTubers choose the exact brand shown in ads?

No, not on a viewer-by-viewer basis. YouTube serves ads automatically through its own systems.

Can YouTubers choose ad formats?

Yes. Creators in the YouTube Partner Programme can manage monetisation and choose certain ad formats for eligible videos.

Can YouTubers control mid-roll ads?

Yes. Creators can manage and edit mid-roll ad breaks on longer videos in YouTube Studio.

Can creators block political or sensitive ads?

In many cases, yes. YouTube provides sensitive category blocking controls for creators in Studio.

Do blocked category changes happen instantly?

Not always. YouTube says changes can take time to reflect, sometimes up to around 24 hours.

What matters more than trying to control every ad?

Content quality, retention, advertiser-friendly topics, sensible mid-roll placement, and a wider monetisation mix matter more in practice.

Categories
HOW TO MAKE MONEY ONLINE TIPS & TRICKS YOUTUBE

Do YouTubers Get Paid if You Have YouTube Premium?

Do YouTubers Get Paid if You Have YouTube Premium?

Yes, YouTubers do get paid when YouTube Premium members watch their videos.

The short version is simple: Premium viewers do not see ads, but creators can still earn because YouTube shares a portion of Premium subscription revenue with eligible creators.

The more useful question is how that money is worked out, whether it replaces ad revenue, whether Premium views are worth more, and what this means for creators trying to build reliable income on YouTube. That is what this guide covers properly.

Why trust this guide?

I am not writing this as an outsider. I am a YouTube Certified Expert. I have coached 500+ clients, built and grown multiple channels, earned six YouTube Silver Play Buttons, built a personal audience of 100k+, and spent years working across YouTube strategy, SEO, retention, metadata, channel systems, and monetisation.

This matters because YouTube monetisation questions are often answered with half-truths. Creators need the practical version, not just a one-line yes or no.

If you want the wider monetisation picture as well, read What Percentage of YouTubers Make Money?. If you want help applying any of this to your own channel, you can book a discovery call.

Quick answer: do YouTubers get paid if you have YouTube Premium?

Yes. If a YouTube Premium member watches a monetising creator’s content, that creator can earn a share of YouTube Premium subscription revenue based on how much Premium members watch their content.

Premium viewers do not see ads, but creators are not left with nothing. YouTube pays eligible creators from subscription revenue instead.

That is the short answer Google can quote and the reader can use immediately.

The longer and more useful answer is that YouTube Premium creates a different revenue path from normal watch-page ads. Premium members pay a subscription fee. YouTube then distributes a portion of that revenue to creators based on member watch behaviour.

YouTube’s own help documentation states that revenue from YouTube Premium membership fees is distributed to creators based on how much members watch their content, and that subscription revenue is paid on the same monthly cycle as ad revenue. Source: YouTube Help.

How YouTube Premium pays creators

The simplest way to think about it is this:

  1. A viewer pays for YouTube Premium.
  2. They watch videos without ads.
  3. YouTube tracks how Premium members spend their watch time.
  4. A portion of Premium subscription revenue is distributed to eligible creators.
  5. The more Premium watch time your content gets, the more of that revenue pool you can receive.

YouTube Help puts it plainly: Premium membership fees are distributed to creators based on how much members watch your content. YouTube Help.

Viewer type What they see How the creator can earn
Free viewer Ads may show Ad revenue, plus other monetisation features if enabled
YouTube Premium viewer No ads on eligible videos Share of Premium subscription revenue, plus other monetisation features if enabled

That means Premium does not cancel creator earnings. It just changes the source.

Does YouTube Premium replace ad revenue?

Yes, for that specific Premium watch session.

If a Premium member watches your video, they are not seeing ads in the normal way, so that view is not generating standard ad revenue in the way a free viewer might. Instead, the creator can earn from the Premium revenue share model.

In plain English: ads are replaced by subscription revenue, not by nothing.

This is why the right answer to the main question is not just “yes”. It is “yes, but via a different revenue stream”.

Are Premium views worth more than ad-supported views?

Sometimes, but not in a simple one-size-fits-all way.

A Premium view is not automatically “worth more” every single time. The exact value depends on how Premium revenue is distributed, where the viewers are, how much Premium watch time your content gets, and how that compares with what the same audience might have generated through ads.

Question Better answer
Do Premium viewers help creators earn? Yes
Do Premium views count as ad views? No, they use Premium revenue sharing instead
Is every Premium view worth more than every ad-supported view? No, it varies
Can Premium still be valuable for creators? Absolutely, especially for watch-time-heavy channels

If you are trying to understand how view value changes across revenue types, also read Do YouTubers Get Paid More If I Watch the Whole Ad?, Do YouTubers Get Paid If I Use AdBlock?, and How Much Money Does 1 Million YouTube Views Make?.

What still counts when someone watches with Premium?

A lot more than many people realise.

Premium viewers can still contribute to:

  • watch time
  • audience retention signals
  • channel growth
  • recommendation momentum
  • Premium revenue sharing
  • other monetisation layers like memberships, Super Thanks, products, or external offers

Older YouTube Help guidance also confirms that background play and downloaded views from Premium users still count toward revenue sharing in relevant contexts because the watch activity still contributes to Premium watch behaviour. The core point for creators is simple: Premium viewers still matter.

Why this matters for strategy: you do not need to make “Premium-friendly” content. You need to make content people actually watch. Premium revenue follows watch behaviour.

Who can earn from YouTube Premium views?

Not every creator automatically qualifies.

To earn from YouTube Premium revenue sharing, you generally need to be in the YouTube Partner Programme and have the relevant monetisation modules enabled. YouTube’s expanded Partner Programme overview confirms that ad and Premium revenue sharing sit behind the full monetisation thresholds. YouTube Help.

Requirement area What matters
YPP eligibility You need to be accepted into the YouTube Partner Programme
Revenue sharing eligibility You need the relevant monetisation modules and compliant content
Content suitability Your content still needs to follow YouTube monetisation policies

If you are still working toward those thresholds, read How to Get 1,000 Subscribers and 4,000 Hours Watch Time and What Percentage of YouTubers Make Money?.

Fresh official facts worth knowing

This topic gets stronger when you anchor it in current YouTube documentation rather than old forum myths.

Fact Why it matters Source
YouTube says Premium membership fees are distributed to creators based on how much members watch their content This is the direct answer to the core question YouTube Help
YouTube says subscription revenue is paid on the same monthly cycle as ad revenue Useful for creators checking payment expectations YouTube Help
YouTube says Premium revenue sharing is part of YPP monetisation Confirms that Premium income is a real creator revenue stream, not a side perk YouTube blog, 2025
YouTube says RPM includes YouTube Premium revenue alongside ads and other revenue sources Shows Premium earnings are already folded into the broader revenue picture creators see YouTube Help

How Premium fits into a wider YouTube income strategy

YouTube Premium is valuable, but it is not usually the thing you build your channel strategy around directly.

The better approach is to build content that performs well in general: stronger topics, stronger thumbnails, stronger intros, more watch time, and more audience trust. Premium revenue then becomes one part of a broader monetisation mix.

A healthy YouTube income stack can include:

  • ad revenue
  • YouTube Premium revenue
  • memberships
  • Super Chat, Super Stickers, and Super Thanks
  • affiliate links
  • sponsorships
  • products, services, or coaching

This is why Premium is worth understanding, but not worth obsessing over in isolation. It supports good content. It does not replace good content.

If you want to widen this into a fuller income strategy, also read Do YouTubers Still Get Paid for Old Videos?, Can YouTubers Control Which Ads Are Shown?, and The Top Ways to Monetise Your YouTube Channel.

Video pick: Why most YouTubers do not make money

This helps place Premium revenue in context. It matters, but it is only one part of a bigger creator economy picture.

Tools that genuinely help you build a monetisable channel

The old tools section needed a full rebuild. Tools should support a strategy, not pretend to replace one. These are the ones I would actually recommend first because they are relevant, trustworthy, and already supported by useful content on this site.

Tool Best for Why it earns a place here Best next step
YouTube Studio Watching revenue mix and audience behaviour This is where you see the broader monetisation picture, including RPM and viewer behaviour Learn how to read the right signals
vidIQ Topic research and search-led growth Useful for building content people actually click and watch, which matters for both ads and Premium revenue Try vidIQ or read my vidIQ review
TubeBuddy Workflow and publishing support Helpful when you want practical channel management support without pretending it will do the strategy for you Try TubeBuddy or read my TubeBuddy review
StreamYard Live streams, interviews, webinars Useful because live viewers can also support channels through more than one monetisation route at once Try StreamYard or read my StreamYard review
Syllaby Content planning and ideation Useful when your bottleneck is consistent topic planning, not just editing or analytics Try Syllaby or read my Syllaby review

Which tool should you pick first?

  • Start with YouTube Studio if you want the most direct view of how your channel is actually earning.
  • Use vidIQ or TubeBuddy if your bigger bottleneck is discoverability and packaging.
  • Use StreamYard if live content or fan-funding formats matter to your business model.
  • Use Syllaby if your issue is consistency and planning, not raw editing.

What I would do if I were trying to earn more from YouTube

  1. Stop thinking only in terms of ads.
  2. Build better content that holds attention for longer.
  3. Use analytics to understand audience behaviour, not just vanity metrics.
  4. Build a revenue mix that includes more than one stream.
  5. Treat Premium as part of the system, not the whole strategy.

Final thoughts

If you came here for the fast answer, here it is again: yes, YouTubers do get paid if you have YouTube Premium.

The important detail is that they are not paid through normal ads on that Premium watch. They earn through YouTube’s Premium revenue-sharing model instead.

That makes Premium an important part of the creator economy, but it is still only one part. The bigger goal is to make content people want to watch, because watch behaviour drives almost everything else.

If you want help building that kind of channel, start with Who Is Alan Spicer?, read how I help creators and brands grow, or book a discovery call.

Frequently asked questions

Do YouTubers get paid if I have YouTube Premium?

Yes. Premium viewers do not watch normal ads, but creators can earn a share of YouTube Premium subscription revenue based on how much Premium members watch their content.

Do Premium views count as ad views?

No. Premium views use a different revenue model. Creators can still get paid, but through Premium revenue sharing rather than normal ad serving on that watch.

Are YouTube Premium views worth more?

Sometimes, but not always. The value varies depending on watch behaviour, geography, and how Premium revenue compares with what ads might have generated.

Do YouTubers lose money if I watch with Premium?

Not automatically. Premium replaces standard ad revenue on that watch with subscription-based revenue sharing.

Can small YouTubers earn from Premium?

Yes, but only if they are eligible for the relevant monetisation features through the YouTube Partner Programme and their content meets monetisation policies.

Does YouTube Premium affect memberships or Super Thanks?

No. Premium mainly changes the ad experience. Other monetisation features such as memberships, Super Chat, Super Stickers, and Super Thanks are separate revenue streams.

Does background play or downloaded Premium viewing still matter for creators?

Yes. Watch behaviour from Premium users still matters because Premium revenue is tied to how members consume content.

Is YouTube Premium important for creator strategy?

It matters, but it is not usually the main lever to optimise directly. Better content, stronger retention, and a wider monetisation mix still matter more.

Categories
DEEP DIVE ARTICLE HOW TO MAKE MONEY ONLINE TIPS & TRICKS YOUTUBE

What Percentage of YouTubers Make Money?

What Percentage of YouTubers Make Money?

Most YouTube channels never make meaningful money. That sounds blunt, but it is the truth. The upside is that this number is often misunderstood because YouTube contains millions of abandoned, inactive, experimental, and half-started channels that were never really built as businesses in the first place.

If you are asking what percentage of YouTubers make money, you are really asking a more useful question underneath it: how realistic is it to build a channel that earns anything at all, and what separates the channels that do from the ones that never get there?

This guide answers that properly. We will cover the short version Google can quote, the longer version humans actually need, what counts as “making money”, how YouTube monetisation works now, why so few channels earn meaningful income, which tools are genuinely worth using, and what to do if you want to beat the odds.

Why trust this guide?

I am not writing this as an outsider. I am a YouTube Certified Expert. I have coached 500+ clients, built and grown multiple channels, earned six YouTube Silver Play Buttons, built a personal audience of 100k+, and spent years working across YouTube strategy, SEO, retention, metadata, channel systems, and monetisation.

If you want the wider strategy picture as well, read The Definitive Guide to Growing on YouTube. If you want to think more globally about audience reach and monetisation potential across markets, also read the top languages on YouTube, because language choice can affect discoverability, audience size, advertiser demand, and long-term income ceiling.

If you want help applying any of this to your own channel, you can book a discovery call.

Quick answer: What percentage of YouTubers make money?

A practical rule-of-thumb answer is that around 0.25% of YouTube channels make money through YouTube’s built-in monetisation systems at any meaningful level.

Still, that figure should be treated as an estimate rather than a precise figure for the live platform-wide number.

That is the version most people are really looking for. It preserves the core point: only a very small percentage of channels ever reach meaningful earnings.

The more accurate version is this: most YouTube channels make nothing; a minority make some money; and only a small fraction generate high income. YouTube does not publish a live public percentage for “all channels that currently earn meaningful money”, so any exact number is always an estimate built from public thresholds, historic channel-distribution research, and practical market reality.

So yes, keeping around 0.25% near the top makes sense for query match and snippet protection. The upgrade is not to delete it. The upgrade is to frame it more clearly, defend it more effectively, and immediately explain the caveat.

Snippet answer for the exact query

What percentage of YouTubers make money? A sensible estimate is around 0.25% if you mean channels earning meaningful money directly through YouTube monetisation features. However, the true live figure changes over time and is not published by YouTube as a precise public metric.

Question Best short answer Important caveat
What percentage of YouTubers make money? Around 0.25% Useful as a rule-of-thumb, not a perfectly current live count
What percentage makes meaningful money? Very small Most channels never reach monetisation thresholds or useful scale
What percentage makes a full-time income? Smaller still Full-time creator income usually depends on multiple revenue streams

What counts as “making money” on YouTube?

This is where most articles fall over. They count any income at all as proof that a creator “makes money”. Technically, that is true. Practically, it is not very helpful.

If a channel earns enough to buy a sandwich once a month, that is not a business. So it helps to split YouTube earnings into clearer buckets.

Level What it usually means What it feels like in real life
Incidental income Low or irregular earnings A nice surprise, but not dependable
Meaningful side income Regular monthly earnings with clear upside Can fund tools, gear, software, travel, or part of your bills
Part-time creator income Enough to justify workflow and reinvestment Starts acting like a small business
Full-time creator income Diversified revenue with salary-level reliability Usually built on more than ads alone

Key point: when creators talk about “making money on YouTube”, they often mean all revenue connected to the audience that YouTube helps them build, not just AdSense. That can include affiliate links, sponsorships, digital products, memberships, coaching, consulting, email funnels, lead generation, and ecommerce.

This is also why topic, niche, and audience geography matter so much. A channel publishing in a widely used language may have a larger audience ceiling, while a channel in a tighter niche or region may have stronger buying intent. If you are weighing audience size against competition, my guide to the top languages on YouTube adds another useful layer to this conversation.

For direct platform income, also read How Do YouTubers Receive Their Money?, The Top Ways to Monetise Your YouTube Channel, and How to Get Super Chat on YouTube.

How YouTube monetisation works now

YouTube monetisation is no longer a single giant switch you only reach at one milestone. It is now better understood as a tiered system.

Monetisation stage Subscriber threshold Activity threshold What it can unlock
Earlier YPP access 500 subscribers 3 public uploads in 90 days, plus 3,000 watch hours in 12 months, or 3 million Shorts views in 90 days Fan funding and selected shopping features in eligible regions
Full ad revenue access 1,000 subscribers 4,000 watch hours in 12 months or 10 million Shorts views in 90 days Ads, YouTube Premium revenue share, wider direct monetisation options

You can see the current thresholds in YouTube’s official documentation here: expanded YouTube Partner Programme overview and YouTube Partner Programme overview and eligibility.

If you want to understand the earning mechanics behind specific viewer behaviours, I also have related breakdowns on whether YouTubers get paid if you have YouTube Premium, whether YouTubers get paid more if you watch the whole ad, whether creators can control which ads are shown, what happens if viewers use AdBlock, and whether old videos still make money.

If your immediate goal is hitting those thresholds, read How to Get 1,000 Subscribers and 4,000 Hours Watch Time.

How many YouTubers actually make money?

Here is the honest version: no public source gives a perfect live count of all monetised channels earning meaningful money. Older articles often quote total channel numbers and old subscriber brackets, then present the answer as if it is exact. It is not.

What we can say with confidence is this:

  • Most channels never reach even the first serious monetisation threshold.
  • Being eligible for monetisation is not the same thing as earning useful money.
  • The number of channels earning a full-time income is much smaller again.
  • Many channels counted in broad “total channel” figures are inactive, abandoned, or not serious creator businesses.

That is why the old answer worked as a hook but needed to be upgraded into an article. The figure itself is useful, but the page should now do more than shock the reader. It should help them understand why the percentage is low, what the modern thresholds are, and how to move into the fraction that actually earns.

Plain English version: use 0.25% as the fast answer, then explain that the practical shape of the market matters more than fake precision. Most channels earn nothing. A smaller group earn a bit. A much smaller group builds a dependable side income. A tiny slice builds serious creator businesses.

Fresh stats and facts worth injecting into this topic

If you want this page to feel current, useful, and stronger for readers and search engines, it helps to add platform context rather than just repeating one old estimate.

Stat or fact Why it matters Source
YouTube says it paid more than $100 billion to creators, artists, and media companies in the past four years Shows YouTube is a real creator economy, but the money is not evenly distributed YouTube CEO blog, 2026
YouTube says its US ecosystem contributed $55 billion to GDP and supported 490,000+ full-time jobs in 2024 Shows platform impact and business gravity around creators, editors, agencies, and services YouTube CEO blog, 2026
YouTube’s earlier YPP tier starts at 500 subscribers Important because some older articles still present 1,000 subscribers as the only monetisation entry point YouTube Help
Full ad revenue still usually starts at 1,000 subscribers plus watch time or Shorts thresholds Important because being “in YPP” and being fully ad monetised are not identical things YouTube Help
YouTube has 2.58 billion users globally, according to recent industry reporting Shows the platform is massive, but a huge audience does not mean easy money for individual channels Exploding Topics
Over half of creators in one 2025 earnings report earned under $15,000 annually Useful wider creator-economy context showing how hard sustainable creator income can be Influencer Marketing Hub

The reason I like this section is that it adds depth without damaging the main answer. It keeps the old query intent, but makes the page much more useful for adjacent searches like is YouTube still worth it, how many creators actually earn money, how hard is it to make money on YouTube, and how much do small YouTubers earn.

If you want even more earning-specific data points, I also cover how much money 1 million YouTube views make, ways to make money using your computer, and the wider how to make money online category.

Why is the percentage so low?

There are a few big reasons.

1. The barrier to starting is tiny

It is almost free to start a channel. That is great for accessibility, but it also means millions of channels exist with no real strategy, no publishing plan, and no monetisation path.

2. Most creators quit before compounding starts

The first 10 to 30 videos often teach you more than they reward you. A lot of creators stop during the awkward phase where the channel is still finding audience fit and learning what works.

3. People chase views before they build a business model

Views matter, but only if they connect to revenue. Ads, affiliates, leads, digital products, consulting, sponsors, and memberships all need intent and trust behind them.

4. Packaging is usually the first bottleneck

Weak titles and thumbnails kill channels faster than camera quality ever will. This is one of the most common problems I see when auditing channels. Even small presentation tweaks can change how your content is perceived, clicked, and shared. For a tiny but useful example of how formatting can improve engagement and readability in community interactions, see how to bold YouTube comments, use strikethrough, italics, and emojis.

5. Retention decides whether growth compounds

If people click and leave quickly, YouTube gets the signal that the promise was weak, misleading, or poorly delivered. That limits future distribution and long-term earnings.

Problem What it does to the channel Why it hurts money
Weak thumbnails and titles Fewer clicks Lower reach means lower watch time and lower revenue potential
Poor intros and structure Retention drops early Less distribution and weaker monetisation signals
No niche clarity Audience confusion Harder to build trust, repeat viewership, and relevant offers
No monetisation plan Traffic goes nowhere Even decent views produce weak business results
Inconsistency Compounding never starts The channel never reaches monetisation scale

Realistic YouTube income tiers

These are not promises. They are a saner way to think about YouTube earnings than the usual hype.

Channel stage Typical reality Main focus Best revenue bets
Pre-monetised No direct YouTube income yet Audience fit, consistency, watch time, search-friendly topics Email capture, affiliates, lead generation groundwork
Early monetised Some ad revenue, usually small Improve RPM, click-through rate, and retention Ads, affiliates, simple digital offers
Growing authority channel Meaningful but variable income Diversify revenue and build returning viewers Ads, sponsors, affiliates, products, memberships
Business-grade creator More predictable revenue Systemise production, funnels, and monetisation Ads plus strong off-platform monetisation

Subscriber count alone is not enough. A smaller channel with strong buyer intent, better affiliate fit, stronger business offers, or higher-value topics can out-earn a much larger channel in a weaker niche.

This is one reason technical quality is only part of the puzzle. Uploading in 4K, choosing the right bitrate, and understanding performance diagnostics can help the viewing experience, but they do not automatically create revenue. For that side of YouTube, see Should I Upload 4K to YouTube?, The Best Bitrate for YouTube, and YouTube Stats for Nerds Explained.

The real money is often beyond AdSense

If you only look at YouTube ads, you miss the more interesting part of the creator business model.

Many of the healthiest creator businesses use YouTube as the top of funnel, not the entire business. One video can earn through multiple layers:

  • Ad revenue
  • Affiliate links
  • Sponsorships
  • Consulting or coaching enquiries
  • Courses and digital products
  • Memberships
  • Live stream income
  • Owned services or ecommerce

Why smaller channels can still win: they do not rely on a single income stream.

That same logic also applies to edge-case formats. For example, music creators asking how to make money doing covers on YouTube face a different revenue puzzle from a software reviewer, livestreamer, or educational creator. The monetisation path always depends on the format, rights, audience intent, and business model behind the videos.

Video pick: How to make money on YouTube without AdSense

This matters here because the strongest YouTube businesses rarely depend on ads alone.

How to beat the odds and actually make money on YouTube

  1. Choose a niche with clear audience intent.
  2. Build around searchable, clickable problems.
  3. Design the title and thumbnail before you film.
  4. Deliver value quickly and hold attention.
  5. Study retention and click-through rate in YouTube Studio.
  6. Add a sensible monetisation path early.
  7. Treat the channel like a system, not a random pile of uploads.

If this is where you need help, here is what a YouTube consultant actually does, and you can also book a discovery call.

One of the bigger levers creators often miss is that reach and revenue often expand when you think beyond a single audience segment. Language strategy, technical execution, monetisation structure, and evergreen content can all work together rather than sitting in separate silos.

Video pick: Why most YouTubers do not make money

This directly supports the core topic and helps reinforce the main argument for both readers and search intent.

Video pick: RPM vs CPM on YouTube

This is useful because two channels with similar views can earn wildly different amounts.

Tools that genuinely help you get started on YouTube

The old tools section needed a full rebuild. Tools should support a strategy, not pretend to replace one. These are the ones I would actually recommend first because they are relevant, trustworthy, and already supported by useful content on this site.

Tool Best for Why it earns a place here Best next step
YouTube Studio Analytics and decision-making Your first and most important growth tool. This is where click-through rate, retention, traffic sources, returning viewers, and monetisation signals live. Learn how to read the right signals
vidIQ Topic research and search-led growth Useful for topic discovery, keyword support, optimisation prompts, and planning decisions when used with judgement. Try vidIQ or read my vidIQ review
TubeBuddy Workflow, bulk updates, publishing support Helpful if you want practical process support and efficient channel management without pretending it will magically grow the channel for you. Try TubeBuddy or read my TubeBuddy review
StreamYard Live streaming, interviews, webinars, browser-based creation Great for creators who want reliable streaming and recording without a technical headache. Try StreamYard or read my StreamYard review
Gyre Pro Evergreen livestream loops and always-on distribution Especially interesting for creators with evergreen libraries, music, ambience, tutorials, podcasts, or archive-led content strategies. Read my Gyre Pro review and Gyre Pro vs OBS guide
Syllaby Content planning, ideation, and scripting support Useful when your bottleneck is staying consistent, structuring ideas, and turning expertise into repeatable content plans. Try Syllaby or read my Syllaby review

If you want to keep digging, start with the YouTube tools hub, the YouTube equipment for beginners guide, the wider YouTube growth pillar, or the top languages on YouTube if you want to think more strategically about audience scale and global discoverability.

Which tool should you pick first?

  • If you are new, start with YouTube Studio and either vidIQ or TubeBuddy.
  • If live content matters, add StreamYard.
  • If you have evergreen content that can work as looping streams, consider Gyre Pro.
  • If your problem is idea generation and consistency, look at Syllaby.
  • If your thumbnails and topics are weak, fix those before buying more gear.

Related reading on YouTube money, ads, quality, and audience growth

People also ask

Do most YouTubers make any money at all?

No. Most YouTube channels either never reach monetisation thresholds or never turn that access into meaningful income.

Can a small YouTube channel make money?

Yes. Small channels can still earn through affiliate links, consulting, lead generation, digital products, memberships, and fan support, especially in high-intent niches.

How many subscribers do you need to make money on YouTube?

Some monetisation features now start at 500 subscribers in eligible regions, but full ad revenue usually still requires 1,000 subscribers plus watch time or Shorts thresholds.

How much do small YouTubers make?

It varies massively. Some earn almost nothing. Others earn meaningful side income from smart affiliates, niche expertise, services, or direct audience demand even before ads become significant.

Is it harder to make money on YouTube now?

It is more competitive, yes, but also more mature. There are more monetisation options, more tools, and better analytics than there used to be. The channels that win tend to be better packaged, more useful, and more systematic.

Can you make money on YouTube without showing your face?

Yes, if the content format works without a face and still holds attention. Tutorials, explainers, ambience, automation-supported evergreen loops, case studies, and certain niche educational formats can all work.

Do YouTube Shorts pay well?

Shorts can contribute to growth and monetisation, but the revenue model differs from that of long-form content. They can help, but they are not an automatic shortcut to a reliable income.

What is better for making money: YouTube or blogging?

Neither is automatically better. The best choice depends on your audience, niche, production style, and business model. In many cases, the smartest move is to use both together.

What I would do if I were starting from zero today

  1. Pick a niche where audience intent is obvious.
  2. Map 20 to 30 videos around beginner questions, pain points, comparisons, myths, and mistakes.
  3. Build titles and thumbnails before filming.
  4. Publish consistently long enough to gather real data.
  5. Use YouTube Studio to study what viewers clicked and where they dropped off.
  6. Add one monetisation path early, such as affiliate links, leads, or a service offer.
  7. Keep refining the system rather than chasing random viral ideas.

Final thoughts

If you came here hoping for a single neat percentage, the best quick answer is still around 0.25%. That is useful, memorable, and still directionally right for meaningful direct YouTube monetisation.

But the better answer is bigger than that. Most YouTube channels make nothing; a minority make some money; only a small fraction generate high income. That is not because success is impossible. It is because most channels never get focused enough, consistent enough, or strategic enough for compounding to kick in.

You do not need millions of subscribers to make YouTube worth it. You need a channel built on demand, trust, strong packaging, decent retention, and a monetisation model that fits the audience.

That is the difference between uploading videos and building a creator business.

If you want help building the second one, start with Who Is Alan Spicer?, read how I help creators and brands grow, or book a discovery call.

How many YouTubers make money stats infographic

Frequently asked questions

What percentage of YouTubers are monetised?

A useful rule-of-thumb answer is around 0.25% if you mean channels earning meaningful money directly through YouTube monetisation, but YouTube does not publish a perfect live count for this.

What percentage of YouTubers make a full-time income?

Smaller still. Full-time creator income is much rarer than basic monetisation because it usually requires more views, a better monetisation fit, and multiple revenue streams.

Can you make money on YouTube before 1,000 subscribers?

Sometimes, yes. Earlier YPP access can start at 500 subscribers in eligible regions, and off-platform income, such as affiliates, leads, or services, can start earlier.

How much money does 1,000 subscribers make on YouTube?

There is no fixed amount. Subscriber count alone does not determine revenue. Niche, audience location, view volume, video length, retention, and monetisation strategy matter far more.

What type of YouTube channel makes the most money?

Higher-value niches such as finance, business, software, education, and buyer-intent content often monetise better on a per-view basis than broad entertainment, but execution still matters.

Is YouTube still worth starting?

Yes, if you are willing to treat it as a long-term asset rather than a quick win. The competition is higher, but the monetisation options and creator infrastructure are stronger than ever.

What is the best first tool for a new YouTuber?

YouTube Studio. After that, add a support tool like vidIQ or TubeBuddy based on whether your bigger bottleneck is research, workflow, or optimisation support.

Is YouTube monetisation only about AdSense?

No. Many of the strongest creator businesses combine ads with affiliates, sponsors, products, memberships, services, and audience-led offers.

Categories
HOW TO MAKE MONEY ONLINE YOUTUBE

Do YouTubers Get Paid More if I Watch the Whole Ad?

Why Am I Losing Subscribers? 4

Sometimes, yes — but not always.

If you watch the whole ad on YouTube, a creator may earn more in some situations, especially with certain skippable ad formats. But it is not a simple universal rule that “full ad watched = more money every time”.

The more useful answer depends on the ad type, whether the ad impression qualifies for payment, whether the viewer interacts, where the viewer is located, and how that view fits into the creator’s wider RPM and monetisation mix. This guide breaks that down properly.

Why trust this guide?

I am not writing this as an outsider. I am a YouTube Certified Expert. I have coached 500+ clients, built and grown multiple channels, earned six YouTube Silver Play Buttons, built a personal audience of 100k+, and spent years working across YouTube strategy, SEO, retention, metadata, channel systems, and monetisation.

Ad revenue questions get messy because people mix up impressions, CPM, RPM, ad formats, and viewer behaviour. The point of this guide is to untangle that in plain English.

If you want the wider monetisation picture as well, read What Percentage of YouTubers Make Money?. If you want help applying any of this to your own channel, you can book a discovery call.

Quick answer: do YouTubers get paid more if I watch the whole ad?

Sometimes. Watching the whole ad can increase what a creator earns in some cases, especially with skippable video ads, but it does not automatically mean more money every single time.

The answer depends on the ad format, whether the ad impression qualifies for payment, and how YouTube is monetising that specific view.

That is the short answer Google can quote and the reader can use straight away.

The more precise version is this: creators can earn from ad impressions in different ways, and the value of a single ad view is shaped by more than just “did the viewer watch the whole thing?”. Some ads are skippable, some are not, some may pay after a certain watch threshold or interaction, and some revenue is better understood through overall RPM than through one ad event in isolation.

Why it depends on ad type

The first thing to understand is that not all YouTube ads work the same way.

Ad type Does “watch the whole ad” matter? Why
Skippable in-stream ad Often yes These can depend on how long the viewer watches or whether they interact
Non-skippable in-stream ad Not in the same way The ad was already served fully, so completion is built into the format
Bumper ad Not really These are very short and non-skippable by design
Premium watch No ad to watch Premium uses subscription revenue instead of normal ad serving

YouTube’s ad format documentation confirms that creators can have skippable, non-skippable, bumper, pre-roll, post-roll, and mid-roll formats depending on the video and monetisation settings. Source: YouTube Help.

Skippable ads explained

This is where most of the confusion comes from.

For skippable ads, the advertiser may not pay in the same way if the viewer skips very early. A longer watch or an interaction can matter more than a near-instant skip. This is why people often say that watching the whole ad helps the creator more.

Plain English version:

  • If you skip quickly, the creator may earn less or nothing from that ad impression.
  • If you watch longer, the creator is more likely to benefit.
  • If you watch the whole ad, that can sometimes be even better, but it still depends on the ad and bidding model.

This is the part that makes the original question directionally right, but still too simplistic. Watching the whole ad can help, but it is not a guaranteed flat-rate bonus that applies the same way to every ad.

Non-skippable ads explained

Non-skippable ads work differently because the viewer cannot skip them in the first place. That means the creator is not relying on the viewer choosing to stay past a skip threshold in the same way.

In that case, the question is less about “did you watch the whole ad?” and more about the fact that the ad was served at all.

Simple rule: completion matters more for skippable ads than for non-skippable ads.

Does clicking the ad help creators earn more?

Sometimes, yes.

Some ad models can be influenced by interaction as well as watch behaviour. So if a viewer clicks, that can signal more value to the advertiser and can contribute to the economics of that ad impression.

That said, creators should not be telling viewers to click ads just to help them. It is not a sensible growth strategy, and it is not how serious channels build reliable income anyway.

Why watching the whole ad is not the whole story

This is where creator earnings become more realistic and less myth-based.

Even if a viewer watches the whole ad, that is still only one tiny event inside a much bigger system. A creator’s earnings are shaped by:

  • how many views they get
  • how many of those views are monetised
  • how many ad impressions are served
  • which countries the viewers are in
  • which niche the content is in
  • whether the audience is advertiser-friendly
  • whether the channel also earns from Premium, memberships, affiliates, or sponsors

YouTube’s revenue analytics documentation explains that a view does not always include an ad, and that monetised playbacks and ad impressions are different from total views. It also explains that RPM includes more than just ads, such as YouTube Premium and fan funding. Source: YouTube Help.

Question Best answer
Does watching the whole ad always mean more money? No
Can watching more of a skippable ad help? Yes
Do non-skippable ads work the same way? No
Is ad completion the main thing creators should optimise for? No, the bigger picture matters more

How this affects CPM and RPM

If you want to understand why two channels with similar views can earn very different amounts, you need to understand CPM and RPM.

Simple definitions:

  • CPM is what advertisers pay per 1,000 ad impressions before YouTube’s revenue share.
  • RPM is what the creator earns per 1,000 views after YouTube’s share and can include ads, Premium, memberships, and other revenue.

This matters because a single viewer watching a full ad might help at the margin, but the creator’s real business outcome is measured across the whole revenue system. YouTube’s own RPM help page confirms that RPM includes ad revenue, YouTube Premium, channel memberships, and more. YouTube Help.

If you want the deep dive, also read What Is YouTube CPM? and What Is YouTube RPM?.

Fresh official facts worth knowing

This topic becomes much stronger when you anchor it in current YouTube documentation rather than old creator folklore.

Fact Why it matters Source
YouTube distinguishes between views, estimated monetized playbacks, and ad impressions Shows that earnings are more complex than “one view equals one ad payment” YouTube Help
Not all views have ads Explains why total views and earnings do not map neatly YouTube Help
YouTube supports multiple ad formats including skippable and non-skippable ads Important because completion behaviour matters differently by format YouTube Help
RPM includes more than just ad revenue Shows why “watching the whole ad” is only one small part of creator income YouTube Help

What creators should actually focus on

If you are a creator, the right takeaway is not to obsess over whether one viewer watched one ad to the end. The better move is to build a channel that earns well across multiple layers.

What actually moves the needle more: stronger topics, better thumbnails, better retention, more monetised playbacks, better audience fit, cleaner ad-friendly content, and a broader revenue mix.

That means improving:

  • topic selection
  • title and thumbnail packaging
  • audience retention
  • mid-roll placement strategy on longer videos
  • overall RPM rather than one ad event

If you want to think more broadly about monetisation behaviour, also read Do YouTubers Get Paid If You Have YouTube Premium?, Do YouTubers Get Paid If I Use AdBlock?, and Do YouTubers Still Get Paid for Old Videos?.

Video pick: RPM vs CPM on YouTube

This is relevant because the whole-ad question makes more sense once you understand the difference between ad value and overall creator earnings.

Tools that genuinely help you build a better monetised channel

The old tools section needed a full rebuild. Tools should support a strategy, not pretend to replace one. These are the ones I would actually recommend first because they are relevant, trustworthy, and already supported by useful content on this site.

Tool Best for Why it earns a place here Best next step
YouTube Studio Watching RPM, monetized playbacks, and retention This is where you see the bigger picture rather than obsessing over one ad event Learn how to read the right signals
vidIQ Topic research and search-led growth Useful because better topics and stronger click-through usually matter more than one ad completion event Try vidIQ or read my vidIQ review
TubeBuddy Publishing workflow and metadata support Helpful when your bottleneck is process and optimisation consistency Try TubeBuddy or read my TubeBuddy review
StreamYard Live streams, interviews, webinars Useful if your monetisation mix includes live formats and fan-funding options as well as ads Try StreamYard or read my StreamYard review
Syllaby Content planning and consistency Useful when your real challenge is building enough good content to increase monetised view opportunities Try Syllaby or read my Syllaby review

Which tool should you pick first?

  • Start with YouTube Studio if you want the cleanest view of RPM, monetized playbacks, and audience behaviour.
  • Use vidIQ or TubeBuddy if your bigger issue is getting people to click and watch in the first place.
  • Use StreamYard if live content is part of your income mix.
  • Use Syllaby if consistency is your problem, not analytics.

What I would do if I wanted better ad earnings

  1. Stop obsessing over one viewer’s ad completion.
  2. Focus on stronger content that holds attention longer.
  3. Increase monetised playbacks and total watch time.
  4. Understand RPM instead of only thinking about ad clicks.
  5. Build more than one revenue stream.

Final thoughts

If you came here for the fast answer, here it is again: sometimes, yes — watching the whole ad can help a creator earn more, but not always.

That is especially true for skippable ads, where watch length and interaction can matter more than they do with non-skippable formats.

The bigger truth is that creators make money from a wider system, not from one simple rule. Ad type, monetized playbacks, CPM, RPM, audience fit, retention, and other revenue streams all matter.

If you want help building the kind of channel where those pieces work together, start with Who Is Alan Spicer?, read how I help creators and brands grow, or book a discovery call.

Frequently asked questions

Do YouTubers get paid more if I watch the whole ad?

Sometimes. Watching the whole ad can increase what a creator earns in some cases, especially with skippable ads, but it is not a universal rule that applies the same way every time.

Do skippable ads pay more if I do not skip?

They can. A longer watch or an interaction can make that ad impression more valuable than an instant skip.

Do non-skippable ads work the same way?

Not exactly. With non-skippable ads, the ad has already been served fully, so viewer completion works differently from skippable formats.

Does clicking the ad help the YouTuber?

Sometimes, yes, but creators should not build their strategy around encouraging ad clicks. The bigger revenue picture matters more.

Does every YouTube view include an ad?

No. YouTube’s own analytics documentation says not all views have ads, which is one reason total views and earnings do not match neatly.

Is watching the whole ad the best way to support a creator?

It can help, but better support usually comes from watching more of the video, engaging, subscribing, using affiliate links, joining memberships, or buying creator products and services.

Does YouTube Premium change this?

Yes. Premium members do not watch normal ads, but creators can still earn through Premium revenue sharing instead.

What should creators focus on instead of obsessing over ad completion?

Creators should focus on stronger topics, better thumbnails, better retention, more monetized playbacks, and a wider monetisation mix.

Categories
HOW TO MAKE MONEY ONLINE

How much money does 1 million YouTube views make?

1 million YouTube views can make anything from very little to a significant amount, depending on niche, audience location, monetized playbacks, video length, and the creator’s wider revenue system.

That is the short answer. The useful answer is understanding why there is no single fixed payout for 1 million views, what RPM actually tells you, and how ads, Premium, memberships, affiliates, and buyer intent can completely change the result.

This guide breaks that down properly, including realistic scenarios, why two channels with the same views can earn wildly different amounts, and what creators should optimise if they want those million views to be worth more.

Why trust this guide?

I am not writing this as an outsider. I am a YouTube Certified Expert. I have coached 500+ clients, built and grown multiple channels, earned six YouTube Silver Play Buttons, built a personal audience of 100k+, and spent years working across YouTube strategy, SEO, retention, metadata, channel systems, and monetisation.

This matters because the “1 million views” question is one of the most searched and one of the most badly answered. Most articles throw out a number with no context. Real creator earnings do not work like that.

If you want help applying any of this to your own channel, you can book a discovery call.

Quick answer: how much money does 1 million YouTube views make?

There is no fixed number. A practical answer is that 1 million YouTube views might make a few hundred pounds or dollars, a few thousand, or much more if the channel has strong RPM and additional monetisation beyond ads.

The better question is not “What is the one number?” It is “What RPM, audience, niche, and business model sit behind those views?”

YouTube’s own revenue analytics guidance explains why this varies so much. RPM is the creator-focused metric that includes total revenue reported in YouTube Analytics, including ads, YouTube Premium, channel memberships, Super Chat, and Super Stickers, divided by total views. It also says not all views monetise and not all views have ads. That alone tells you why 1 million views does not equal one universal payout.

Why there is no fixed payout for 1 million views

YouTube does not pay a flat rate per view.

What a creator earns depends on things like:

  • how many of those views were actually monetised
  • what advertisers were willing to pay in that niche
  • which countries the viewers came from
  • whether viewers were watching long-form content or Shorts
  • whether the creator also earned from YouTube Premium, memberships, or other revenue
  • whether the video had strong buyer intent or weak entertainment intent
Factor Why it changes the money
Niche Finance, business, software, and high-intent topics often monetise better than broad entertainment
Audience location Advertiser demand varies heavily by country
Video format Long-form, Shorts, livestreams, and Premium watch behaviour do not monetise the same way
Ad suitability Some topics attract more advertiser demand than others
Extra monetisation Affiliates, memberships, and products can make the same 1 million views worth far more

Why RPM is the better metric than guessing

If you want to answer the million-views question properly, RPM is the best starting point.

Simple definitions:

  • RPM = what the creator actually earns per 1,000 views after revenue share, including more than just ads.
  • CPM = what advertisers pay per 1,000 monetized playbacks before YouTube’s share.

YouTube’s analytics help makes this clear: RPM is creator-focused and includes multiple revenue sources, while playback-based ad metrics are narrower. That means RPM gives a more realistic “what did I actually make?” answer.

If you want the deep dive, also read What Is YouTube RPM? and What Is YouTube CPM?.

1 million views income scenarios

These are not guarantees. They are examples based on how RPM works.

Example RPM Approximate revenue for 1 million views What this usually suggests
£0.50 / $0.50 About £500 / $500 Weak monetisation, low advertiser demand, low monetised playback rate, or poor fit
£2 / $2 About £2,000 / $2,000 Decent baseline long-form monetisation for some general channels
£5 / $5 About £5,000 / $5,000 Stronger niche, better monetisation quality, or additional revenue sources
£10 / $10 About £10,000 / $10,000 High-intent niche, strong audience value, or excellent monetisation setup

This is the cleanest way to answer the headline question without lying. The value of 1 million views depends on the RPM behind them.

Why two channels with 1 million views can earn completely different amounts

Two channels can hit the same view count and still see wildly different outcomes.

Channel type Why the earnings may differ
Broad entertainment May attract large view counts but weaker advertiser value per view
Finance or software education Can attract higher advertiser demand and higher-value audiences
Music or covers May face revenue-sharing, rights issues, or weaker RPM depending on setup
Product review channel Can add affiliate income on top of YouTube revenue

This is also why a smaller channel in a stronger niche can sometimes out-earn a much bigger one.

Why 1 million views can be worth far more than ad revenue

The smartest creators do not think of 1 million views as just ad money.

They think of those views as audience attention that can be monetised in layers.

One million views can also generate: affiliate sales, memberships, sponsorship interest, lead generation, course sales, product sales, consultation bookings, and stronger brand authority.

This is why the same million views can be worth £2,000 to one creator and £20,000+ in total business value to another. The ad revenue is only one layer.

If you want the wider monetisation picture, also read Do YouTubers Get Paid If You Have YouTube Premium?, Do YouTubers Get Paid If I Use AdBlock?, and What Percentage of YouTubers Make Money?.

How to make 1 million YouTube views worth more

If your goal is to increase the value of your views, these are the levers that matter most:

  1. Choose topics with stronger advertiser and buyer intent.
  2. Attract audiences in countries and niches with stronger commercial value.
  3. Build videos that qualify for more monetised playbacks and stronger watch time.
  4. Add affiliate bridges, products, services, or memberships.
  5. Treat YouTube as a business system, not just a view counter.

This is the difference between chasing vanity metrics and building a creator business.

Fresh official facts worth knowing

This topic gets much stronger when you anchor it to YouTube’s own definitions instead of random internet payout guesses.

Fact Why it matters What it means in practice
YouTube says RPM includes ads, YouTube Premium, memberships, Super Chat and Super Stickers Shows million-view value is broader than ad revenue alone 1 million views can be worth more than a simple ad estimate
YouTube says not all views have ads and not all views monetise equally Explains why view count alone does not predict income 1 million views does not equal one fixed payout
YouTube says Premium gives creators another way to get paid when members watch their content Shows ad-free viewers can still contribute revenue Million-view earnings can include Premium watch value too
YouTube’s earnings reports are subject to adjustments including invalid traffic and content claims Shows estimated revenue is not always final Creators should be careful about treating early estimates as guaranteed payouts

Video pick: RPM vs CPM on YouTube

This is the most useful companion here because the million-views question makes far more sense once you understand RPM and CPM properly.

Tools that genuinely help you make your views worth more

The old tools section needed a full rebuild. Tools should support a strategy, not pretend to replace one. These are the ones I would actually recommend first because they are relevant, trustworthy, and already supported by useful content on this site.

Tool Best for Why it earns a place here Best next step
YouTube Studio Tracking RPM, top earners, and monetisation quality This is where you see what your views are actually worth rather than guessing from internet averages Learn how to read the right signals
vidIQ Topic research and search-led planning Useful because better topic selection can drive stronger monetisation than chasing random viral views Try vidIQ or read my vidIQ review
TubeBuddy Workflow and optimisation support Helpful when you want to execute consistently and keep more of your content library monetisable over time Try TubeBuddy or read my TubeBuddy review
StreamYard Live formats and audience monetisation Useful if your million-view business model also includes memberships, Super Chat, and direct audience support Try StreamYard or read my StreamYard review
Syllaby Content planning and repeatable monetisable topics Useful when you want a better system for publishing content with clearer business intent Try Syllaby or read my Syllaby review

Which tool should you pick first?

  • Start with YouTube Studio if you want the cleanest answer to what your views are actually worth.
  • Use vidIQ or TubeBuddy if you want to improve topic quality and discoverability.
  • Use StreamYard if your monetisation mix includes live audience support.
  • Use Syllaby if you want more repeatable, monetisable content planning.

What I would do if I wanted my next 1 million views to be worth more

  1. Stop asking for one universal payout number.
  2. Track RPM and top-earning topics instead.
  3. Build content with stronger commercial intent.
  4. Add monetisation layers beyond ads.
  5. Treat views as business attention, not just vanity metrics.

Final thoughts

If you came here for the fast answer, here it is again: 1 million YouTube views can make very different amounts depending on RPM, monetized playbacks, audience location, niche, and whether the creator monetises beyond ads.

That is why you will see people quote wildly different numbers online and all sound confident. The real answer is not one magic payout. The real answer is the monetisation system behind the views.

If you want help building the kind of channel where 1 million views is actually worth serious money, start with Who Is Alan Spicer?, read how I help creators and brands grow, or book a discovery call.

Frequently asked questions

How much money does 1 million YouTube views make?

There is no fixed number. A useful estimate depends on RPM, niche, monetized playbacks, audience location, and how much revenue comes from more than just ads.

Can 1 million YouTube views make £1,000?

Yes, depending on the RPM. At £1 RPM, 1 million views would equal about £1,000, but some channels earn much less or much more.

Can 1 million YouTube views make £10,000?

Yes, in higher-value niches or when the creator has a strong monetisation mix. At £10 RPM, 1 million views would equal about £10,000.

Why do some creators earn more per million views than others?

Audience location, niche, advertiser demand, monetized playbacks, and additional revenue streams can change the value of the same number of views dramatically.

Does RPM matter more than CPM for this question?

Usually yes. RPM is closer to what the creator actually earns across total views.

Do 1 million Shorts views pay the same as 1 million long-form views?

No. Shorts monetisation works differently, so you should not assume the same payout logic applies.

Can affiliates and products make 1 million views worth more?

Absolutely. In many cases, the biggest money from 1 million views comes from monetisation beyond watch-page ads.

What is the best way to increase the value of YouTube views?

Focus on stronger commercial topics, better audience fit, higher RPM, and multiple revenue streams beyond ads alone.

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BUSINESS TIPS DEEP DIVE ARTICLE YOUTUBE

YouTube Select vs. Normal Adverts: Harnessing the Power of Preferred Advertising

YouTube Select vs. Normal Adverts: Harnessing the Power of Preferred Advertising 3

In the constantly evolving landscape of digital advertising, marketers and brands are always on the lookout for effective ways to reach their target audience. YouTube, as one of the largest online video platforms, offers a variety of advertising options.

One of these is YouTube Select (formerly known as Google Preferred), a premium service that allows advertisers to target ads to top-performing channels and content.

In this article, we will explore YouTube Select, compare it with normal adverts, and provide insights on how to use and become part of this premium service.

What is YouTube Select?

YouTube Select is an advertising program that enables brands to place their ads on the top 5% of YouTube channels based on popularity, engagement, and content quality.

These channels are grouped into 12 categories, allowing advertisers to focus on specific target audiences. YouTube Select lineups are human-verified, ensuring brand safety and alignment with advertiser values.

Benefits of YouTube Select

  1. Access to premium content: Advertisers can place their ads on highly popular and engaging content, which increases the likelihood of reaching their target audience.
  2. Improved targeting: With 12 distinct categories, advertisers can select the lineup that best matches their target audience’s interests.
  3. Brand safety: YouTube Select’s human verification process ensures that ads are placed alongside content that aligns with brand values and guidelines.
  4. Exclusive opportunities: YouTube Select offers sponsorships and programs, such as YouTubeOriginals, which provide additional avenues for brand promotion and visibility.

YouTube Select vs. Normal Adverts: Harnessing the Power of Preferred Advertising 1

Comparing YouTube Select and Normal Adverts

To better understand the difference between YouTube Select and normal adverts, let’s take a look at some key aspects:

Aspect YouTube Select Normal Adverts
Content Quality Top 5% of channels based on popularity, engagement, and quality All YouTube channels (subject to YouTube’s ad guidelines)
Targeting 12 distinct categories for precise targeting Broad targeting based on demographics, interests, and behaviours
Brand Safety Human-verified content for brand alignment Algorithm-based content filtering
Ad Formats Various formats including sponsorships and programs Standard formats like TrueView, Bumper ads, etc.
Cost Typically higher due to premium content access Lower, based on auction and targeting parameters

How to Use YouTube Select

To start using YouTube Select, follow these steps:

  1. Sign up for a Google Ads account, if you don’t already have one.
  2. Create a new campaign and choose the “Video” campaign type.
  3. In the “Placements” section, select “YouTube videos” or “YouTube channels.”
  4. Search for the YouTube Select lineup you want to target, and add it to your placements.
  5. Set your targeting preferences, budget, and other campaign settings.
  6. Create or upload your video ad, and submit it for review.
  7. Once your ad is approved, your campaign will go live, and your ads will be served on the selected YouTube Select channels.

How to Be Included in YouTube Select

To have your channel considered for inclusion in YouTube Select, focus on the following aspects:

  1. Content quality: Produce engaging, high-quality content that resonates with your target audience. This will help increase your channel’s popularity and overall performance.
  2. Consistency: Maintain a consistent posting schedule, ensuring that your viewers have a reason to keep coming back to your channel.
  3. Audience engagement: Encourage comments, likes, and shares by engaging with your audience and creating content that invites interaction.
  4. Advertiser-friendly content: Ensure your content complies with YouTube’s ad guidelines and does not contain any controversial or inappropriate material.
  5. Channel optimization: Optimize your channel by using relevant keywords, tags, and descriptions to increase visibility and discoverability.

Although there is no direct application process for YouTube Select, focusing on the above aspects will increase your chances of being noticed by YouTube and included in their premium lineups.

Useful Tips – Get The Most From YouTube Select

  1. Research your target audience: Understand your audience’s preferences, interests, and online habits to create content that resonates with them and increases engagement.
  2. Collaborate with other creators: Partner with other YouTube creators to expand your reach and tap into new audiences. Collaborations can help both channels grow and increase the likelihood of being included in YouTube Select.
  1. Leverage analytics: Regularly review your YouTube analytics to identify trends, patterns, and areas for improvement. Use this data to optimize your content strategy and enhance your channel’s performance.
  2. Invest in video production: High-quality videos are more likely to engage viewers and keep them watching. Invest in good equipment, editing software, and production techniques to create visually appealing content.
  3. Promote your channel: Utilize social media, email marketing, and other promotional tactics to increase visibility and drive traffic to your YouTube channel. This will help grow your audience and improve your channel’s performance.
  4. Stay updated on platform changes: Keep up-to-date with YouTube’s policies, guidelines, and feature updates to ensure your channel remains compliant and takes advantage of new opportunities.

YouTube Select vs. Normal Adverts: Harnessing the Power of Preferred Advertising

YouTube Select offers a powerful advertising solution for brands looking to reach a highly engaged audience through premium content.

By comparing YouTube Select with normal adverts, advertisers can make an informed decision about the best advertising approach for their specific needs.

By following the steps outlined in this article, brands can harness the power of YouTube Select, while content creators can improve their chances of being included in this premium service. With the right strategy, both advertisers and creators

YouTube Select vs. Normal Adverts: Harnessing the Power of Preferred Advertising 2

Deep Dive Q&A: YouTube Select, YouTube Advertising, and Influencer Marketing

Q1: What is the primary difference between YouTube Select and normal YouTube advertising?

A: YouTube Select targets ads on the top 5% of YouTube channels based on popularity, engagement, and content quality. These channels are grouped into 12 categories, allowing advertisers to focus on specific target audiences. In contrast, normal YouTube advertising is available across all channels (subject to YouTube’s ad guidelines), offering a broader range of targeting options based on demographics, interests, and behaviors.

Q2: Can small businesses benefit from using YouTube Select?

A: Yes, small businesses can benefit from using YouTube Select if they have a well-defined target audience and wish to access premium content to maximize ad exposure. However, the cost of YouTube Select may be higher than normal YouTube advertising, so small businesses should weigh the benefits against their marketing budget.

Q3: How can a content creator optimize their channel for YouTube Select?

A: Content creators can optimize their channel by focusing on content quality, consistency, audience engagement, advertiser-friendly content, and channel optimization through relevant keywords, tags, and descriptions.

Q4: What are the most popular ad formats on YouTube?

A: Some popular YouTube ad formats include TrueView In-Stream ads, TrueView Discovery ads, Bumper ads, and Non-Skippable In-Stream ads. YouTube Select also offers exclusive sponsorship and program opportunities, such as YouTube Originals, for enhanced brand promotion and visibility.

Q5: How can advertisers measure the success of their YouTube campaigns?

A: Advertisers can measure the success of their YouTube campaigns by tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) such as views, watch time, impressions, click-through rate (CTR), view-through rate (VTR), cost per view (CPV), and conversions. YouTube provides a comprehensive analytics dashboard to monitor these metrics, allowing advertisers to optimize their campaigns accordingly.

Q6: How does influencer marketing tie into YouTube advertising?

A: Influencer marketing is an advertising strategy that involves partnering with influential individuals, often YouTube creators, to promote a product or service. Brands can leverage influencers’ existing audience and credibility to reach new customers, making it an effective complement to other YouTube advertising methods.

Q7: What factors should brands consider when choosing a YouTube influencer?

A: Brands should consider the influencer’s relevance to their target audience, the size and engagement level of their audience, content quality, and past performance of similar collaborations. It’s essential to select an influencer whose values align with the brand’s image and goals.

Q8: What are some tips for a successful influencer marketing campaign on YouTube?

A: Some tips for a successful influencer marketing campaign on YouTube include setting clear goals and expectations, providing creative freedom to the influencer, establishing a fair compensation structure, tracking and measuring the campaign’s performance, and maintaining open communication throughout the collaboration.

Q9: How can I ensure my YouTube ads comply with the platform’s guidelines?

A: To ensure your ads comply with YouTube’s guidelines, familiarize yourself with the platform’s ad policies, which cover content, targeting, and data usage. Avoid any content that violates these policies, and when in doubt, seek clarification from YouTube or consult their Help Center.

Q10: What are some best practices for creating engaging YouTube ads?

A: Some best practices for creating engaging YouTube ads include:

  • Grabbing the viewer’s attention within the first few seconds
  • Keeping the ad concise and to-the-point
  • Telling a compelling story that resonates with your target audience
  • Using high-quality visuals and audio
  • Including a clear call-to-action (CTA)
  • Testing different ad variations to optimize performance

Q11: How can I target my ads more effectively on YouTube?

A: To target your ads more effectively on YouTube, you can use a combination of demographic targeting (age, gender, parental status), interest targeting (affinities, custom affinity audiences, life events), and placement targeting (specific channels, videos, or YouTube Select lineups). Regularly reviewing your campaign’s performance and adjusting your targeting parameters can help you reach your desired audience more effectively.

A: Brands can manage their YouTube advertising budget effectively by:

  • Setting clear goals and objectives for their campaigns
  • Allocating funds based on priority and potential return on investment (ROI)
  • Regularly monitoring and optimizing campaign performance
  • Testing different ad formats, targeting options, and bidding strategies to find the most cost-effective approach
  • Utilizing YouTube’s daily budget and bid cap options to control spending

Q13: What role do keywords play in YouTube advertising?

A: Keywords play a crucial role in YouTube advertising by helping advertisers target their ads based on the user’s search queries and the content they consume. Proper keyword research and selection can improve the relevancy and effectiveness of your ads, ensuring they reach the right audience.

Q14: How can I effectively promote my YouTube channel organically?

A: To promote your YouTube channel organically, focus on:

  • Producing high-quality, engaging content that resonates with your audience
  • Optimizing your channel and video metadata with relevant keywords, tags, and descriptions
  • Encouraging viewer interaction through comments, likes, and shares
  • Collaborating with other creators to expand your reach
  • Sharing your content across social media platforms and other marketing channels

Q15: Can I use remarketing to improve my YouTube advertising campaigns?

A: Yes, you can use remarketing to target viewers who have previously interacted with your channel, videos, or ads. This allows you to re-engage users who have shown interest in your content, products, or services, increasing the likelihood of conversions. By creating remarketing lists in Google Ads, you can tailor your campaigns to specific segments of your audience, making your advertising efforts more relevant and effective.

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DEEP DIVE ARTICLE HOW TO MAKE MONEY ONLINE

YouTube CPM Examples: A Niche-by-Niche Breakdown

YouTube CPM Examples: A Niche-by-Niche Breakdown

The world of YouTube is an ever-evolving landscape, teeming with content creators and advertisers trying to catch the attention of viewers.

One crucial aspect that plays a significant role in determining the earnings of a YouTuber is the Cost Per Mille (CPM) and Revenue Per Mille (RPM). In this friendly article, we will explore the highs and lows of CPMs on YouTube, with a comprehensive comparison of various niches.

Additionally, we will provide a brief overview of CPM and RPM, as well as examples of how they are calculated.

Understanding CPM and RPM on YouTube

Before diving into the highs and lows, it is important to understand the basic concepts of CPM and RPM. CPM, which stands for Cost Per Mille, is the amount an advertiser pays for 1,000 ad impressions on a video. RPM, on the other hand, stands for Revenue Per Mille and represents the amount a content creator earns for every 1,000 views of their video.

The primary difference between the two lies in who they apply to: CPM concerns advertisers, while RPM concerns content creators. Moreover, CPM only accounts for ad impressions, whereas RPM considers all revenue sources, including ads, channel memberships, Super Chat, and YouTube Premium revenue.

Calculating CPM and RPM

To illustrate how CPM and RPM are calculated, let’s take the example of a YouTube video with the following statistics:

  • Total ad impressions: 10,000
  • Total ad revenue: $50
  • Total views: 15,000
  • Other revenue (e.g., memberships, Super Chat, etc.): $20

To calculate the CPM, you would divide the total ad revenue by the total ad impressions, then multiply by 1,000:

CPM = ($50 / 10,000) * 1,000 = $5

To calculate the RPM, you would add the ad revenue to other revenue sources and divide the total by the number of views, then multiply by 1,000:

RPM = (($50 + $20) / 15,000) * 1,000 = $4.67

Comparing CPMs and RPMs Across Niches

Now that we have a basic understanding of CPM and RPM, let’s explore the highs and lows of these metrics across various niches on YouTube. The table below provides a comparison of average CPMs and RPMs for different niches:

Niche CPM RPM
Animals/Pets $1.50 – $8.00 $1.50 – $5.00
Art $1.50 – $8.00 $1.50 – $5.00
Beauty $2.00 – $10.00 $2.50 – $7.00
Career $3.00 – $12.00 $2.50 – $7.00
Education (K-12) $2.50 – $12.00 $2.50 – $8.00
Family/Parenting $1.50 – $8.00 $1.50 – $5.00
Fitness/Dance $2.00 – $10.00 $2.50 – $7.00
Gardening $1.50 – $8.00 $1.50 – $5.00
Home Improvement $1.50 – $8.00 $1.50 – $5.00
How-To $1.50 – $8.00 $1.50 – $5.00
Language Learning $2.50 – $12.00 $2.50 – $8.00
Lifestyle $1.50 – $8.00 $1.50 – $5.00
Marketing $3.00 – $12.00 $2.50 – $7.00
Mental Health $2.00 – $10.00 $2.50 – $7.00
Motivation $2.50 – $12.00 $2.50 – $7.00
Outdoors $1.50 – $8.00 $1.50 – $5.00
Personal Finance $3.00 – $12.00 $2.50 – $7.00
Science Fiction/Fantasy $1.50 – $8.00 $1.50 – $5.00
Self-Improvement $2.50 – $12.00 $2.50 – $7.00
Social Media $2.50 – $12.00 $2.50 – $7.00
Spirituality $2.00 – $10.00 $2.50 – $7.00
Technology Reviews $2.00 – $12.00 $2.50 – $6.00
True Crime $2.50 – $12.00 $2.50 – $7.00
Vlogging $1.50 – $8.00 $1.50 – $5.00

As you can see, the CPMs and RPMs vary widely by niche. Finance and technology tend to have higher CPMs, while gaming and food tend to have lower ones. However, it’s important to note that these numbers can change over time and may not be representative of every creator in a particular niche.

It’s important to note that RPM can be impacted by a variety of factors beyond just the CPM, such as the type of ads shown and the location of the audience.

For example, if a creator has a lot of viewers in a country where advertisers are willing to pay more for ads, their RPM may be higher than someone with the same number of views but a different audience location.

Fun Facts About YouTube Income

  1. The highest earners on YouTube are not always in the highest CPM niches. Popular YouTubers with massive subscriber bases and consistent views can earn more in niches with lower CPMs due to their larger audiences.
  2. YouTube’s Partner Program allows content creators to earn money, but they must meet certain eligibility criteria, such as having at least 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours in the past 12 months.
  3. Advertisers are willing to pay more for certain niches, like personal finance and education, because their target audience is typically more engaged and has a higher conversion rate.
  4. YouTubers can increase their earnings by offering exclusive content to channel members or using platforms like Patreon to gain additional support from their audience.

Strategies to Boost Overall RPM Rates on YouTube

  1. Optimize video metadata: Make sure your video titles, descriptions, and tags include relevant keywords to help your content rank better in search results and attract more views.
  2. Create engaging thumbnails: A visually appealing and engaging thumbnail can entice viewers to click on your video, ultimately increasing your views and RPM.
  3. Diversify revenue streams: In addition to ad revenue, consider incorporating channel memberships, Super Chat, merchandise sales, and affiliate marketing to increase your overall RPM.
  4. Improve audience retention: Create high-quality content that keeps viewers engaged for longer periods. The longer a viewer watches your video, the more likely they are to be served ads, thereby increasing your ad revenue and RPM. Pay attention to audience retention analytics in your YouTube Studio to identify areas where viewers drop off and work on improving those aspects of your videos.
  5. Collaborate with other YouTubers: By collaborating with other content creators, you can tap into new audiences, increasing your views and overall RPM. Ensure that the collaboration is mutually beneficial and the content is relevant to both creators’ audiences.
  6. Be consistent with your content: Uploading videos on a regular schedule can help build and maintain an engaged audience, which in turn can improve your RPM over time.
  7. Focus on content quality: High-quality videos with better production values and engaging storylines can attract more viewers and keep them coming back for more. This can result in a higher RPM in the long run.
  8. Interact with your audience: Engage with your viewers by responding to comments, creating content based on their suggestions, and encouraging them to subscribe, like, and share your videos. This helps create a loyal audience, which can lead to more views and higher RPM.

In conclusion, understanding YouTube CPM and RPM can be incredibly valuable for content creators looking to maximize their earnings on the platform. By exploring various niches and their respective CPMs and RPMs, you can make informed decisions about the type of content to create and the strategies to employ.

Remember, consistency, audience engagement, and diversification of revenue streams are key to boosting your overall RPM rates. So, go ahead and unleash your creativity, and happy YouTubing!

If you need a more in-depth deep dive into how to increase your YouTube channel’s CPMs, check out my deep dive blog on how to make more from your channel.

Q: What are YouTube earnings?

A: YouTube earnings refer to the money content creators make from their videos on the platform. This income can come from various sources, including ad revenue, channel memberships, Super Chat, merchandise sales, and YouTube Premium revenue.

Q: How do YouTube CPM and RPM relate to earnings?

A: CPM (Cost Per Mille) is the amount an advertiser pays for 1,000 ad impressions on a video, while RPM (Revenue Per Mille) represents the amount a content creator earns for every 1,000 views of their video. Both metrics are essential in understanding and optimizing YouTube earnings.

Q: How can I calculate my CPM?

A: To calculate CPM, divide the total ad revenue by the total ad impressions and then multiply by 1,000:

CPM = (Total Ad Revenue / Total Ad Impressions) * 1,000

Q: How can I calculate my RPM?

A: To calculate RPM, add the ad revenue to other revenue sources, divide the total by the number of views, and then multiply by 1,000:

RPM = ((Ad Revenue + Other Revenue) / Total Views) * 1,000

Q: How do different niches affect CPM and RPM?

A: CPM and RPM can vary significantly across different niches. Some niches, like personal finance or education, often have higher CPMs and RPMs because advertisers are willing to pay more to reach their target audience, who tend to be more engaged and have higher conversion rates.

Q: Can I increase my RPM without increasing my CPM?

A: Yes, you can increase your RPM without increasing your CPM by diversifying your revenue streams, such as incorporating channel memberships, Super Chat, merchandise sales, and affiliate marketing, as well as by improving your audience retention and engagement.

Q: How do YouTube Premium earnings factor into RPM?

A: YouTube Premium earnings are factored into RPM calculations, as they contribute to the overall revenue a content creator earns. These earnings come from YouTube Premium subscribers who watch your content, and the amount is proportional to their watch time on your videos.

Q: Can I control the ads shown on my videos to increase my CPM?

A: While you can’t directly control which ads are shown on your videos, you can enable or disable certain ad formats and categories within your Google AdSense account. However, it’s essential to strike a balance, as being too restrictive may lead to fewer ads and potentially lower earnings.

Q: Is there a minimum threshold for YouTube earnings?

A: Yes, YouTube has a minimum payment threshold of $100. You must accumulate at least $100 in your AdSense account before receiving a payment.

Q: Are there any requirements for earning money on YouTube?

A: To be eligible for the YouTube Partner Program and earn money, you need to meet specific requirements, including having at least 1,000 subscribers, 4,000 watch hours in the past 12 months, and adhering to YouTube’s policies and guidelines.

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HOW TO MAKE MONEY ONLINE MARKETING TIPS & TRICKS YOUTUBE

How To Increase Your CPM & RPM On YouTube

How To Increase Your CPM & RPM On YouTube 1

If you’re a content creator on YouTube, you might be wondering how to increase your CPM (cost per mille) and RPM (revenue per mille).

These metrics are important for determining how much money you can make from your YouTube videos.

What are CPM and RPM on YouTube? – CPM (cost per mille) refers to the amount of money you earn per 1,000 ad impressions on your videos. RPM (revenue per mille) refers to the estimated amount of money you earn per 1,000 views on your videos, taking into account all sources of revenue, including ads, YouTube Premium, and channel memberships.

In this blog post, we’ll discuss some tips and strategies for increasing your CPM and RPM on YouTube.

Optimize Your Video Titles and Descriptions

The title and description of your video play a big role in determining whether people click on your video or not. Make sure your video titles and descriptions are informative, interesting, and accurately reflect the content of your video. This can help increase your click-through rate (CTR), which can lead to higher CPM and RPM.

Optimizing your YouTube titles and descriptions can help improve the visibility and discoverability of your videos on the platform. Here are some tips for optimizing your titles and descriptions:

  1. Use descriptive and concise titles: Your title should accurately reflect the content of your video and be easy to understand. Try to keep your titles under 60 characters to ensure they aren’t cut off in search results.
  2. Incorporate relevant keywords: Use keywords that are relevant to your video content in your title and description. This can help your video rank higher in search results.
  3. Write compelling descriptions: Use the description to give viewers more information about the video, including a summary of the content and any relevant details. Use relevant keywords throughout the description, but avoid keyword stuffing.
  4. Add links and calls to action: Use your description to include links to related content, your website, and social media pages. You can also use the description to ask viewers to like, comment, and subscribe to your channel.
  5. Use tags: Add relevant tags to your video to help it appear in search results and suggested videos.
  6. Consider the audience: Make sure your titles and descriptions are targeted to your intended audience. Use language and tone that will resonate with them and encourage engagement.

By following these tips, you can optimize your YouTube titles and descriptions and increase the visibility and engagement of your videos.

Focus on High-Value Niches

Certain niches on YouTube tend to have higher CPM and RPM than others. For example, tech, finance, and beauty are all niches that typically have high CPM and RPM.

If you’re looking to increase your earnings on YouTube, consider focusing on a high-value niche that you’re interested in.

I have a deep dive article on the top paying youtube niches on my blog – got get the inside scoop.

Create Longer Videos

YouTube rewards content creators who can keep viewers engaged for longer periods of time. This is because YouTube makes more money from longer videos, so they’re more likely to promote videos that keep viewers on the platform for longer.

Try to create videos that are at least 8 minutes long, as this can help increase your CPM and RPM.

Once you have a longer video you can add more adverts. These adverts are called Mid Rolls.

Use High-Value Keywords in Your Video Tags

Using the right keywords in your video tags can help your video show up in search results and recommended videos. However, not all keywords are created equal.

Try to use high-value keywords that are relevant to your video and have high search volume. This can help increase your video’s visibility and ultimately lead to higher CPM and RPM.

High-value keywords are search terms or phrases that have significant search volume and high commercial intent. These keywords are typically used by people who are actively searching for a product or service, and are more likely to convert into paying customers.

For example, if you have a website that sells running shoes, a high-value keyword could be “best running shoes” or “buy running shoes online.” These keywords are likely to have a high search volume and indicate that the searcher is looking to make a purchase.

High-value keywords can vary depending on the industry and type of business. Some keywords may be more competitive and have higher cost-per-click (CPC) in advertising, but they can also lead to higher returns if you can effectively target and convert those searchers into customers.

To find high-value keywords, you can use keyword research tools like Google AdWords Keyword Planner, SEMrush, or Ahrefs. These tools can help you identify search volume, competition, and other metrics to determine which keywords are worth targeting.

Focus on Audience Retention

Audience retention is a metric that measures how long viewers stay on your video. This metric is important because it’s a signal to YouTube that your video is engaging and valuable to viewers.

Try to create videos that keep viewers engaged and watching until the end. This can help increase your CPM and RPM over time.

Build a Loyal Audience

Having a loyal audience can help increase your CPM and RPM because loyal viewers are more likely to watch your videos and engage with your content.

Try to build a community around your channel by responding to comments, hosting live streams, and creating content that your audience is interested in. This can help increase engagement and build a loyal following.

Collaborate with Other YouTubers

Collaborating with other YouTubers can help increase your exposure and bring in new viewers to your channel.

This can help increase your CPM and RPM by expanding your audience and increasing engagement on your videos. Try to collaborate with YouTubers in your niche who have a similar audience to your own.

In conclusion, increasing your CPM and RPM on YouTube requires a combination of strategies, including optimizing your video titles and descriptions, focusing on high-value niches, creating longer videos, using high-value keywords, focusing on audience retention, building a loyal audience, and collaborating with other YouTubers.

By implementing these strategies and consistently creating high-quality content, you can increase your earnings on YouTube over time.

Q: What is the difference between CPM and RPM on YouTube?

A: CPM (cost per mille) refers to the amount of money you earn per 1,000 ad impressions on your videos. RPM (revenue per mille) refers to the estimated amount of money you earn per 1,000 views on your videos, taking into account all sources of revenue, including ads, YouTube Premium, and channel memberships.

Q: How can I find high-value keywords for my video tags?

A: There are several tools you can use to find high-value keywords for your video tags, such as the YouTube Keyword Tool, Google Trends, and SEMrush. Look for keywords that are relevant to your video and have high search volume, and try to include them in your tags, title, and description.

Q: How long should my videos be to increase my CPM and RPM on YouTube?

A: YouTube rewards longer videos that keep viewers engaged for longer periods of time. Try to create videos that are at least 10 minutes long, as this can help increase your CPM and RPM. However, it’s important to focus on creating quality content that keeps viewers engaged, rather than simply trying to make your videos longer.

Q: What can I do to increase audience retention on my videos?

A: There are several strategies you can use to increase audience retention on your videos, such as creating a compelling hook at the beginning of your video, using engaging visuals and sound effects, providing value to your viewers, and breaking up your content into shorter segments. You can also use YouTube analytics to identify the parts of your video where viewers tend to drop off, and make adjustments to keep them engaged.

Q: How can I collaborate with other YouTubers to increase my CPM and RPM?

A: Collaborating with other YouTubers can help increase your exposure and bring in new viewers to your channel, which can help increase your CPM and RPM. Try to collaborate with YouTubers in your niche who have a similar audience to your own, and create content that appeals to both of your audiences. You can also cross-promote each other’s channels and videos, and collaborate on sponsored content or product launches.

Q: How long does it take to see an increase in my CPM and RPM on YouTube?

A: Increasing your CPM and RPM on YouTube is a gradual process that takes time and consistent effort. It may take several months or even years to see a significant increase in your earnings, depending on the quality of your content, the size of your audience, and the strategies you use to monetize your channel. It’s important to focus on creating high-quality content that provides value to your viewers, and to continually experiment with new strategies to increase your earnings over time.

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3 EASY Ways To Make Money with YouTube Shorts

3 EASY Ways To Make Money with YouTube Shorts

YouTube Shorts is a new short-form video feature on YouTube that allows users to create and share short-form videos, up to 60 seconds long. Shorts can be created using the YouTube app and can include elements such as music, text, and effects.

YouTube Shorts is designed to be a competitor to TikTok and other short-form video platforms. The feature was launched in September 2020 and is currently only available in select countries.

YouTube Shorts is aimed at creators and viewers who enjoy and engage with short-form video content, and it provides a new way for creators to reach and engage with their audiences on YouTube.

How To Make Money with YouTube Shorts

Making money on YouTube Shorts is possible through monetization, where you earn money from advertisements shown on your videos. Here are a few ways you can do this:

  1. Monetization through AdSense: This is where you link your YouTube channel with Google AdSense and earn money from advertisements shown on your videos. The earnings depend on various factors such as views, clicks, and engagement on your videos, and the amount of money you can earn varies.
  2. Affiliate marketing: You can promote products and services on your videos and earn a commission for each sale made through your unique affiliate link. The commission percentage varies depending on the affiliate program you join.
  3. Sponsored content: Brands may pay you to create content promoting their products or services. The amount you earn depends on the brand and the nature of the agreement.

It is challenging to estimate the income from YouTube Shorts as it depends on various factors such as views, engagement, and monetization methods.

However, some YouTubers earn anywhere from a few hundred to thousands of dollars per month from monetization alone.

Note that it takes time and effort to build a large and engaged audience, so don’t expect to make a lot of money overnight.

Here are some frequently asked questions about YouTube Shorts:

What are YouTube Shorts?

  • YouTube Shorts is a new short-form video feature on YouTube that allows users to create and share videos up to 60 seconds in length.

How do I create a YouTube Short?

  • To create a YouTube Short, you’ll need to use the YouTube app on your smartphone. From the app, you can access the Shorts camera, where you can record and edit your video.

Can I monetize my YouTube Shorts?

  • Yes, you can monetize your YouTube Shorts through ads and other monetization methods. However, the rules and requirements for monetization may change over time.

What are the requirements for uploading a YouTube Short?

  • To upload a YouTube Short, you’ll need to have a YouTube account, and your channel must meet YouTube’s Partner Program policies. Additionally, there may be restrictions on the content you can include in your Shorts.

Can I use music in my YouTube Shorts?

  • Yes, you can use music in your YouTube Shorts. However, you must have the rights to use the music, and YouTube may remove videos that violate copyright laws.

Can I edit my YouTube Shorts after I’ve uploaded them?

  • Yes, you can edit your YouTube Shorts after uploading them. From the YouTube app, you can access your video and make changes such as trimming, adding music, or changing the caption.

Can I see the performance of my YouTube Shorts?

  • Yes, you can see the performance of your YouTube Shorts, including views, engagement, and audience retention. From the YouTube Studio, you can access analytics for your Shorts and other videos on your channel.
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Top 20 Richest YouTubers Of 2022

Top 20 Richest YouTubers Of 2022

It wasn’t that long ago that making YouTube videos were created just for fun. But now, it’s one of the highest-paying jobs on the planet. Content creators are making a living out of ad revenue, sponsorships, and using their influence to branch out to other business ventures. The competition is high, but here are the 20 of the richest YouTubers dominating the video-sharing platform right now.

Top 20 Wealthiest YouTubers of 2022:

1. Jeffree Star – $200 Million

The makeup artist and former musician is on the top of the list as he is a master of promoting his own brand, Jeffree Star Cosmetics, using his YouTube channel. He makes beauty content and shares his opinion on confidence, self-image, and fame.

Jeffree made money before YouTube by doing various makeup and modeling gigs. He also joined Myspace and gained a large following. He later started a YouTube channel to endorse his music. But when it didn’t work, he launched his own business.

With 16.1 million subscribers, he is far from being the most-subscribed YouTuber, but it’s enough to make him the wealthiest. His company alone makes him over $100 million yearly. Combine that with his other income sources, and Jeffree gets a $200 million estimated net worth.

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2. PewDiePie – $40 Million

Felix Kjellberg, also known as PewDiePie, is dubbed by many as the king of YouTube. He has been on YouTube for a long time, popularizing commentary and reaction videos relating to video games and other pop culture topics.

PewDiePie was always passionate about gaming in his youth, so he recorded himself playing his favorite games. It wasn’t easy at first as YouTube didn’t have the monetization feature yet. He supported his lifestyle by selling artwork, working in the harbor, and running a hot dog stand.

He had the biggest YouTube channel for a long time until T-Series dethroned him after their rivalry. Still, he remains the most popular individual user on the site with 111 million subscribers and a net worth of approximately $40 million.

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3. Markiplier – $35 Million

Markiplier is a YouTuber who makes comedic sketches and gameplay videos. Like PewDiePie, Mark has a long history on YouTube. He is a pioneer of the sketch style of playing every character involved.

He has created multiple YouTube channels throughout the years because of different reasons. The first time was when his Adsense account was banned. So, he made MarkiplierGAME. He is also a part of the now-deleted Unus Annus channel.

Now, his self-titled main channel has a subscriber count of 32.3 million. Mark has also found success in other ventures, such as podcasting and voice acting. He has a net worth of around $35 million as a result of his endeavors.

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4. DanTDM – $35 Million

Originally referred to as TheDiamondMInecraft, DanTDM is another content creator who got most of his fame and fortune by playing video games. He primarily plays Minecraft, but he also tries other games, like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Pokemon.

In the category of dedicated Minecraft YouTube channel, he set a Guinness World Record for the most views. Dan also broke the record for the most goals scored by a Rocket League squad of two or three players in a single game.

Dan has acquired a total of 26 million subscribers. With this following, he wrote the book titled Trayaurus and the Enchanted Crystal in 2016. He did a book tour and starred in a YouTube Red series the following year. He has a net worth of nearly $35 million.

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5. Ryan’s World – $32 Million

Ryan’s World is one of the most recognized YouTube accounts for children. In this channel, a child named Ryan Kaji reviews toy products, performs DIY science experiments, and completes numerous tasks.

It was previously known as Ryan ToysReview, but it was later renamed to its current moniker as Ryan tried new things. The 10-year-old’s mother had given up her full-time career to work with her son for this channel.

They currently have nine total channels, but they garnered 32 million subscribers on their main account. There’s a Spanish and Japanese version of Ryan’s World. They also sell merch, which is mainly toys and clothing. This gives Ryan a $32 million net worth at a young age.

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6. Dude Perfect – $30 Million

Cody Jones, Tyler Toney, Garrett Hilbert, and twins Cory and Coby Cotton make up Dude Perfect. They gained popularity by making trick shot videos. Now, they are also doing other wild challenges and fun video series.

The five members were all roommates in college at Texas A&M University. They started by recording trick shots at Tyler’s ranch. When their videos became viral, ESPN called them and asked to feature them.

Dude Perfect has amassed 57.3 million subscribers. Players from several professional sports leagues have collaborated with them. They also created a mobile game with the same name as their channel. Now, the group has a total of $30 million in net worth.

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7. MrBeast – $25 Million

This may come as a surprise to some, but MrBeast is not the wealthiest YouTuber alive. He just likes to make philanthropy and challenge videos in which he gives away thousands, and sometimes millions, of dollars to random people and organizations.

Jimmy began posting on YouTube as MrBeast6000 when he was 13 years old. He started getting mainstream attention in 2017 when he made unique vlogs and rigorous challenges.

MrBeast is now close to getting the Red Diamond Play Button as he racked up 91.8 million subscribers. This fame also helped him launch other ventures such as Finger on the App, MrBeast Burger, Feastables. That’s why it’s not surprising that he has over $25 million in net worth.

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8. VanossGaming – $25 Million

Evan Fong, popularly known as VanossGaming, is a Canadian online figure, creative director, gaming commentator, and disc jockey. He showcases most of his talents on his YouTube channel.

He created his YouTube channel around the same time he went to college to study economics. When he began to devote more time to content creation, his parents became concerned. But everything worked out in the end for Fong.

He is regarded as a key character in the expanding video game commentary subculture. This is how he got 25.6 million people to subscribe to his channel. He also makes money as a DJ called Rynx. It eventually gave him an estimated net worth of $25 million.

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9. Ninja – $25 Million

Ninja, whose real name is Richard Tyler Blevins, is a professional gamer known for streaming Halo 3, Fortnite, PUBG, and more. Team Liquid, Cloud9, Renegades, and Luminosity Gaming were among the teams he played for.

He never went to a university and started streaming in 2011. He was slowly getting viewers at first. His mainstream media debut came in March 2018, when he streamed Fortnite with Travis Scott, Drake, and JuJu Smith-Schuster.

At the time of writing, Ninja’s subscriber count is hidden, but it’s known that he reached 23.9 million in the past. Apart from YouTube, he has many fans on Twitch, even becoming the most-followed channel on the platform in late 2021. He now has a net worth close to $25 million.

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10. Rhett and Link – $24 Million

Rhett James McLaughlin and Charles Lincoln “Link” Neal III are a comedic pair that dubs themselves as the “Internetainers”. They have made several comedy projects together, but perhaps their most successful one is the web series Good Mythical Morning.

The duo met in first grade at a North Carolina elementary school. They went on to share a dorm room at North Carolina State University. They both worked in their respective fields for a period while also creating skits.

Their Rhett and Link channel has 4.99 million subscribers, while Good Mythical Morning has 17.5 million. They run five channels in total. They are also the current owners of another comedy group called Smosh. With this, the two have a combined net worth of $24 million.

11. James Charles – $22 Million

As a creator who thrives in the beauty genre, James Charles Dickinson is known for his makeup tutorials. He has stated that cosmetics is a creative expression and an art form for him.

He got into beauty by assisting a colleague with her makeup for a school dance. He eventually taught himself how to do it alone and began doing it professionally for others. James started his channel while working as a small makeup artist in New York.

James has about 24.2 million subscribers currently. After a tweet displaying his makeup made headlines, he was named CoverGirl’s first male brand ambassador. He’s over $22 million after releasing his own makeup line.

12. Jake Paul – $22 Million

Jake Paul is a vlogger who has turned his focus to celebrity boxing. His YouTube channel is known for its pranks, controversy, and music. He is a part of Team 10, who dropped the song, It’s Everyday Bro, which received mixed reactions from listeners.

He first became known on Vine and then for his role as Dirk Mann on the Disney Channel show Bizaardvark, which he played for two seasons. Paul has been the target of numerous controversies during his career as a result of his actions.

Even with the disputes, Paul has gained 20.4 million subscribers. As of his professional boxing career, he has a 5-0 record. Content creation and boxing made him one of the most prosperous YouTubers today, worth $22 million.

13. KSI – $21 Million

JJ Olatunji, alias KSI, is known for posting hilarious reactions and gaming commentary videos on his YouTube channel. He is also involved in celebrity boxing, and he releases his own music. He is also a member of the British influence group Sidemen.

In 2008, he began publishing gaming videos on YouTube, and most of them were about FIFA. He drew a large number of viewers and quickly increased his material coverage.

The JJ Olatunji channel, where he uploads his vlogs, has 14.8 million subscribers while his music account, KSI, has 23.7. JJ was the first rival of Jake Paul in their amateur boxing career. It ended with a draw, and both turned pro later on. This contributed to KSI’s current net worth of $21 million.

14. Preston Arsement – $20 Million

With multiple gaming channels, Preston Arsement is one of the leading content creators in his category. He mainly plays Minecraft, and he’s a part of The Pack, a Minecraft community he started with his friends. He also makes videos from the Minecraft server he runs.

Like many gaming creators, Preston has been a video game lover since childhood. He eventually decided to skip college and create the TBNRfrags channel with two of his friends, TBNRKenWorth and ChocoTheChocobo.

TBNRfrags has reached 7.53 million subscribers. But later on in Preston’s career, he decided to make a channel of his own. It now has 19.3 million subscribers. Arsement’s online pursuits have earned him a net worth of over $20 million.

15. Like Nastya – $20 Million

Like Nastya is the second children’s channel to make it on this list. The channel stars a little Russian girl named Anastasia Radzinskaya, who often does toy unboxing, reviews, and travel vlogs.

At birth, Anastasia was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Her parents both worked and owned businesses that they eventually sold. They devoted all of their time to caring for their daughter, eventually making a YouTube channel dedicated to her.

Fortunately, the girl is doing well now, and their efforts have earned them 89.2 million subscribers. They translated their videos into different languages. It helped Anastasia gain a net worth of approximately $20 million at eight years old.

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16. David Dobrik – $20 Million

As a long-running social media personality, it’s not a shock to many that David Dobrik is one of the most affluent content creators on the planet. His YouTube channel featured individuals with whom he had previously collaborated on other platforms.

David started out on Vine. Before Vine was shut down, he had over a million followers. Because of this, he was able to shift to YouTube faster than most other influencers.

The Slovakian personality continues to grow with his 18.3 million subscribers. He made a second channel, David Dobrik Too. He uploads challenge videos and blooper clips there. David also has a podcast with Jason Nash. All of this amounts to a net worth of around $20 million.

17. Lilly Singh – $20 Million

Formerly called Superwoman, Lilly Singh is an accomplished comedian and actress. Her YouTube channel is full of skits and crossovers with well-known celebrities.

Singh had planned to obtain a degree as her parents had wanted but instead chose to make YouTube videos. She decided that if her YouTube career did not take off, she would return to grad school. But her YouTube channel exceeded her expectations.

She now has 14.7 million subscribers and has been involved in projects outside of YouTube to improve her wealth. She got the chance to make music, host a talk show, and tour the world. Though she still studied for a degree, she also has a net worth close to $20 million.

18. Logan Paul – $19 Million

Logan is the big brother of Jake Paul. The siblings have a similar career and content, consisting of pranks, challenges, and vlogs. Both of them have been involved in several controversies and have dived into the world of professional boxing.

At ten years old, Logan was already making videos. In 2015, he was the most famous Vine creator. He moved on to act in some television programs and even write a screenplay.

He now has 23.4 million subscribers. Aside from his typical content, he’s a frequent guest at boxing, mixed martial arts, wrestling events. He also hosts a podcast titled Impaulsive that adds a lot to Paul’s $19 million net worth.

19. Blippi – $16 Million

Blippi, also referred to as Stevin John, is a popular children’s entertainer who can be seen on a handful of streaming platforms. He depicts a lively and curious character in his informative videos so that kids can relate to him.

Stevin didn’t start out as Blippi. In fact, he was far from child-friendly in his early days of playing characters. He portrayed Steezy Grossman, a child born as feces.

Switching to a different look is perhaps the best decision he’s made now that he has 15.1 million subscribers on YouTube. He also makes foreign language videos and releases them to various platforms. That’s why Blippi is worth $16 million.

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20. Roman Atwood – $14.5 Million

Roman Bernard Atwood was known initially for his prank videos. However, he ultimately transitioned to another content style. He made vlogs, in which he chronicles his daily activities.

While still in high school, Roman Atwood began filming and making videos. He even made The Nerd Herd DVD series. In Columbus, Ohio, he’s also worked on a number of films and commercial gigs.

His original prank channel earned 10.3 million subscribers until he stopped posting there in 2016. Now, he is active on his second channel. Overtook the first one with 15.5 million subscribers, giving Roman Atwood a 14.5 million net worth.

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Top 10 Side Hustles for YouTubers

Top 10 Side Hustles for YouTubers 1

People today understand more than ever the importance of diversifying when it comes to your source of income. After decades of financial crisis’ and global pandemics, younger generations are acutely aware of how risky it is to put all your eggs in one employment basket.

This has always been the case for YouTubers, of course. Since the beginning of YouTubers making money from their content, it has always been the advice for smart YouTubers not to rely solely on YouTube to pay their bills. Adpocalypses, changes to personal situations, and much more can make YouTube earnings evaporate in no time.

Of course, telling you that it’s important to spread your wings a bit financially is all well and good, but we want to go that extra step and give you a few ideas on where you can spread your wings!

With that in mind, we’ve put together our top 10 side hustles for YouTubers to dip their toes into (click here for side hustles for students). Never heard of a “side hustle” before? Don’t worry…

What is a “Side Hustle”?

A side hustle is defined as any job or occupation that is not your main job or occupation. In a traditional sense, an example of this might be someone working in a factory through the week and then doing a few shifts tending bar on the weekend. In this case, the bar work would be a side hustle.

Of course, things are a little more fluid these days, with the lines between side hustles and a “main job” being a little blurrier, but there is an emotional component that is strong these days than it once was. It is not uncommon for people who make their money online to have something that they consider a side hustle actually be their primary source of income!

Still, whether you classify something as a side hustle based on the money it makes you or how important that activity is to you, the basic premise remains the same; it’s a way of earning money that you consider secondary to another way of earning money.

How Much Money Can You Make With a Side Hustle?

The amount of money you can make with a side hustle will, of course, vary tremendously depending on several factors, such as what the side hustle is, how good you are at it, how much time you put into it, and more.

As mentioned above, how much money it makes does not necessarily affect its status as a side hustle. If you consider YouTube your “primary” hustle, you may well find one of your side hustles overtaking as your largest source of income. Our advice would be to not think too much about things like the exact amounts. As long as you’re making enough (whatever “enough” means to you), it doesn’t matter which hustle is making the most money.

How Do YouTubers Receive Their Money? 3

Don’t Think of it as a Side Hustle!

While you should get too hung up on the specific amount being made by any form of hustle, it’s important not to think of things as secondary, or unimportant. If your job involves making money on the Internet, you should consider all of it your job, whether it’s making the most or not.

If you start thinking of legitimate income sources as unimportant, you run the risk of letting them slip until they stop being legitimate income sources. You may think of yourself as a YouTuber, but if you have half a dozen side hustles, they will quickly amount to a significant portion of your income, so you probably literally can’t afford to neglect them.

Top 10 Side Hustles for YouTubers

That’s enough about what side hustles are, it’s time to get to our top ten side hustles for YouTubers. Of course, if you simply searched for side hustles and found this post, you aren’t a YouTuber, don’t stop reading. We’ve picked these ten side hustles because they work well with YouTubing, but they are perfectly viable side hustles for other walks of life, too.

In fact, if you see your main hustle on here (blog writer, or podcaster, for example), just swap that one out for “YouTuber” and keep on reading!

Oh, and a little side note about the YouTube Partner Programme, we haven’t included that in this list because we assume that if you’re looking to add side hustles to your resume, you’re already making money from YouTube.

#1 Affiliate Marketer

Affiliate marketing is perhaps one of the most well-established means of making money on the side for YouTubers. This is the process of promoting something in the course of your usual content and making a little money on the actions taken by your viewers.

The most well-known example of this is, of course, Amazon’s affiliate program. When enrolled as an Amazon affiliate, you will be able to get a personal affiliate link from any Amazon product. Viewers who happen to buy that product will not pay any extra—indeed, they wouldn’t even know it was an affiliate link if you didn’t tell them (more on that in a second)—but you will make a small commission on anything they buy through your links.

There are many forms of affiliate marketing available, as well as services designed specifically to facilitate linking companies with people like you. It should be noted, however, that you should always give some sort of indication to your viewers that a link you have put in the description or a product you are promoting in your video is something you are promoting as an affiliate. It’s not hard to find out, and viewers will be turned off by this kind of dishonesty. It could also get you in trouble with YouTube.

#2 Merchandise Seller

Whether you have some kind of merchandise that exists independent of your YouTube channel, or you start releasing merchandise that ties directly in with your YouTube channel, having that channel can be a great way to promote it.

Naturally, if your merchandise is tied to the channel (for example, t-shirts with the channel logo on them), you’re going to want to promote it from that channel. Alternatively, if you want to start (or already have) a small clothing line, you sell artwork, or you sell pretty much anything on a site like Etsy, you can leverage the popularity of your YouTube channel to give that side hustle a bit of a kickstart.

#3 Course Instructor

Many YouTubers have some area of expertise, even if their channel is not about imparting that expertise. These days, the administrative side of creating and hosting an online course to teach other people things is relatively painless. There’s still a lot of work in putting the course together, of course, but there’s a lot of work in running a YouTube channel, as well, and you’re not letting that stop you… are you?

Of course, if your channel is centred around educating, such as a DIY channel, or tutorials on coding, it will be much easier to translate that audience into an online course. But even channels that are not about teaching viewers something can take advantage of this side hustle, as long as the course is teaching a skill that is on display when you make your videos.

#4 Channel Manager

If you have a particular flair for handling YouTube channels, you might consider turning your attention to becoming a channel manager. Essentially, you would take on the management of other people’s channels, and handle almost everything except for the content itself.

Many people don’t have the time or desire to effectively manage their channel themselves, but proper channel management can make an enormous difference. As you will no doubt be aware of this is a side hustle you are considering.

The main thing to beware of here is letting this side hustle take over. A good channel manager will typically have several clients. And, while managing a channel doesn’t take nearly as much time as making content for it, it all adds up if you keep adding clients to your roster.

#5 Blogger

Bloggers may resent seeing their profession listed as a side hustle on a YouTube blog—especially since blogging was a viable source of income before YouTube—but don’t be mad; YouTube can just as rightly be called a side hustle for bloggers. And the good news is this makes sense whichever way round you look at it.

Essentially, you have something to share with an audience, and you are currently doing it in video form. By translating that content to written form, you can reach a whole new audience. Or you can make it supplemental, giving your YouTube audience something else to consume.

#6 Podcaster

In a very similar vein to being a blogger, you can get more of your message out in audio-only form through podcasts. And, again, if you are a podcast, you can easily look at this suggestion in reverse, with YouTube being the side hustle.

This suggestion works best for channels that already have a podcast-like feel, such as panel show channels, or interview channels. If you regularly put out hour-long videos that are mostly talking, you’re going to miss out on a lot of viewers purely because of the time requirements. Not everyone has that much free time to sit and watch YouTube.

Those same people might have an hour’s worth of commuting to do every day, or regularly go for a job and like to listen to something while they do. They might just want something to put on while they do a bit of cleaning around the home. If your content is already podcast-like, putting it out as a podcast will involve negligible work. And, if it succeeds, it could drive more traffic to your YouTube channel.

Of course, you can still make a podcast if your channel isn’t the kind of channel described above. As long as you have something interesting to talk about, you can find an audience.

#7 Produce Video Content

This one is a little trickier. As we mentioned above in the channel manager section, creating content for a channel is the most time-consuming part, so the idea of producing video content for others might not seem like the best plan.

While you could certainly produce video content for other YouTube channels, we’re suggesting something more specialist, such as making animations idents, or infographic clips. If you have a skill for this kind of thing, there will undoubtedly be plenty of people and companies that are happy to pay for your services.

#8 Stock Trader

This one doesn’t really tie in to you being a YouTuber unless your YouTube channel revolves around you being a stock trader, or talking about stock trading in some form. If this isn’t you, you can still get into stock trading (or currency trading), to earn a little (or a lot) extra on the side, just be sure you know what you’re doing. We categorically do not recommend anyone dabbling in the stock market without knowing what they’re doing beforehand.

#9 Become a Consultant

You don’t have to make content to take advantage of your expertise. Consultancy work is a great way for you to exploit your own knowledge while helping others. One example of this could be helping other YouTubers grow their channel (assuming you have proven yourself able to do this in the first place of course!), but it could just as easily be any other area of expertise you have.

#10 Champion a Cause

This one is kind of cheating. You won’t necessarily make any money from championing a good cause, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it. Whether it’s planting trees or donating to charities, you have the power to make an impact.

Final Thoughts

YouTube is undoubtedly a great platform for launching other projects, whether they are passion projects, side hustles, or even new careers. The list above is a relatively small selection of the possibilities for adding new hustles to your game, so don’t worry if none of the above work for you.

Of course, if all else fails, your side hustle could always be other YouTube channels.

Top 5 Tools To Get You Started on YouTube

Very quickly before you go here are 5 amazing tools I have used every day to grow my YouTube channel from 0 to 30K subscribers in the last 12 months that I could not live without.

1. VidIQ helps boost my views and get found in search

I almost exclusively switched to VidIQ from a rival in 2020.

Within 12 months I tripled the size of my channel and very quickly learnt the power of thumbnails, click through rate and proper search optimization. Best of all, they are FREE!

2. Adobe Creative Suite helps me craft amazing looking thumbnails and eye-catching videos

I have been making youtube videos on and off since 2013.

When I first started I threw things together in Window Movie Maker, cringed at how it looked but thought “that’s the best I can do so it’ll have to do”.

Big mistake!

I soon realized the move time you put into your editing and the more engaging your thumbnails are the more views you will get and the more people will trust you enough to subscribe.

That is why I took the plunge and invested in my editing and design process with Adobe Creative Suite. They offer a WIDE range of tools to help make amazing videos, simple to use tools for overlays, graphics, one click tools to fix your audio and the very powerful Photoshop graphics program to make eye-catching thumbnails.

Best of all you can get a free trial for 30 days on their website, a discount if you are a student and if you are a regular human being it starts from as little as £9 per month if you want to commit to a plan.

3. Rev.com helps people read my videos

You can’t always listen to a video.

Maybe you’re on a bus, a train or sat in a living room with a 5 year old singing baby shark on loop… for HOURS. Or, you are trying to make as little noise as possible while your new born is FINALLY sleeping.

This is where Rev can help you or your audience consume your content on the go, in silence or in a language not native to the video.

Rev.com can help you translate your videos, transcribe your videos, add subtitles and even convert those subtitles into other languages – all from just $1.50 per minute.

A GREAT way to find an audience and keep them hooked no matter where they are watching your content.

4. PlaceIT can help you STAND OUT on YouTube

I SUCK at making anything flashy or arty.

I have every intention in the world to make something that looks cool but im about as artistic as a dropped ice-cream cone on the web windy day.

That is why I could not live on YouTube without someone like PlaceIT. They offer custom YouTube Banners, Avatars, YouTube Video Intros and YouTube End Screen Templates that are easy to edit with simple click, upload wizard to help you make amazing professional graphics in minutes.

Best of all, some of their templates are FREE! or you can pay a small fee if you want to go for their slightly more premium designs (pst – I always used the free ones).

5. StoryBlocks helps me add amazing video b-roll cutaways

I mainly make tutorials and talking head videos.

And in this modern world this can be a little boring if you don’t see something funky every once in a while.

I try with overlays, jump cuts and being funny but my secret weapon is b-roll overlay content.

I can talk about skydiving, food, money, kids, cats – ANYTHING I WANT – with a quick search on the StoryBlocks website I can find a great looking clip to overlay on my videos, keeping them entertained and watching for longer.

They have a wide library of videos, graphics, images and even a video maker tool and it wont break the bank with plans starting from as little as £8.25 ($9) per month.

Categories
DEEP DIVE ARTICLE LISTS YOUTUBE

Top 7 Highest Paid Niches on YouTube

Top 7 Highest Paid Niches on YouTube

Anyone whose familiar with the topic of YouTube as a money-making opportunity will be familiar with the concept of niches.

If you’re not, all you really need to know for this post is that some niches are worth more to advertisers than others, and the more valuable a niche, the more revenue it has the potential to generate for YouTubers.

Choosing the right niche (or niches) is key to not only ensuring that your channel is financially successful, but also to ensuring that you can maintain the kind of momentum necessary to stick at it long enough to be successful. With that in mind, we’ve picked out seven of the highest paid niches on YouTube.

It’s best to pick a niche you are interested in, but that doesn’t mean you can’t lean towards a more valuable niche that you’re interested.

And now, in no particular order…

Affiliate Marketing

It probably shouldn’t come as a surprise that one of the best paying niches on YouTube is about another way of earning money.

Affiliate marketing—earning income through referrals—typically commands a CPM (cost per thousand views) of around $12 to $22, and is probably the highest paying niche available.

Because affiliate marketing is such a viable way to succeed, there is a lot of interest in affiliate marketing products and, as a result, a lot of interest in advertising said products And, because YouTube ads work on a bidding system, the more interest there is in advertising something, the more money those advertisements will generate.

Top 7 Highest Paid Niches on YouTube 1

Personal Finance

Our next pick, and something that you might see as establishing a bit of a trend on this list, is personal finance.

Being financially successful is about more than finding ways to make lots of money, you also need to manage your money well, and more of us are coming to learn that.

That’s where personal finance products come in. These might be anything from debt management consultations to services and software for tracking your finances. Videos making content in this niche can expect to see a CPM of between $4 and $12.

Business Advice

In much the same vain as the personal finance pick, business advice is also a very lucrative niche, often commanding CPMs in excess of $10. This one makes a lot of sense, as more and more opportunities for small businesses become accessible to regular people, more of us are looking to start a business of our own.

It could be a craft brewery, a 3D print on demand business, an Etsy store, or any number of other ways to start a business without hundreds of thousands in capital. But those people still need advice on running a business, which is why this niche is so competitive.

Drop Shipping

Very much continuing the theme of our last pick, drop shipping is a business model whereby a business owner markets and sells products that another company stocks and ships, that company being a drop shipping company.

This works to both companies advantage, as the smaller company does not need to worry about purchasing and storing lots of expensive stock, and the larger company does not need to worry about things like customer service.

This model of business has found a lot of success in the Internet age, and videos in this niche can expect to see CPMs in the region of $7 to $14.

Print on Demand

There isn’t a great deal to be said about print on demand that wasn’t said in our drop shipping pick because the basic business model is very similar, and so are the CPM figures.

Many drop shipping services will offer a print on demand component on some of their products, allowing companies to offer those products with their own branding.

Top 7 Highest Paid Niches on YouTube 2

Trading and Investing

It’s probably obvious to you now that all of the highest paid niches on YouTube are ones that revolve around finances in some form or another, so you shouldn’t be surprised to see investing and trading on here.

Videos on the hows and whys of investing, as well as tips for those brave YouTubers who are willing to put that information out there, do very well in their own right, but content in this niche that trading platforms, signal services, and the multitude of investing and trading related services and products can advertise on routinely see CPMs as high as $18.

Content Creation

Our last pick might not be the most lucrative in terms of CPM—typically around $5 to $10, if you were wondering—but it is probably the most relevant to anyone reading this post.

Content creation is big business these days, whether it is creating content on video platforms like YouTube, or making podcasts, writing blog posts, or any number of other ways to make things and put them out into the world.

Crucially, there is a seemingly endless supply of products, tools, and services to help people in their content creation endeavours, which means there is plenty to advertise about.

Final Thoughts

While the niches shown here are hot right now, this is very much a volatile marketplace, and there are so many factors that can affect it.

If you can find a niche you are comfortable working in and interesting in making content for, you are in the ideal position as a YouTuber, because you will enjoy what you do.

We understand that many YouTubers don’t necessarily have that luxury, however, and it is sometimes necessary to hunt for the niche that makes the most financial sense. As with most areas of online revenue generation, the best advice you can take here is to not put all of your eggs in one basket.

If you focus everything on one niche, and that niche takes a dive for some unforeseeable reason, you will find yourself in a sticky spot.

If you can diversify your content and tackle multiple niches in different areas, you stand a much better chance of withstanding any dramatic changes to any single niche’s popularity.

Top 5 Tools To Get You Started on YouTube

Very quickly before you go here are 5 amazing tools I have used every day to grow my YouTube channel from 0 to 30K subscribers in the last 12 months that I could not live without.

1. VidIQ helps boost my views and get found in search

I almost exclusively switched to VidIQ from a rival in 2020.

Within 12 months I tripled the size of my channel and very quickly learnt the power of thumbnails, click through rate and proper search optimization. Best of all, they are FREE!

2. Adobe Creative Suite helps me craft amazing looking thumbnails and eye-catching videos

I have been making youtube videos on and off since 2013.

When I first started I threw things together in Window Movie Maker, cringed at how it looked but thought “that’s the best I can do so it’ll have to do”.

Big mistake!

I soon realized the move time you put into your editing and the more engaging your thumbnails are the more views you will get and the more people will trust you enough to subscribe.

That is why I took the plunge and invested in my editing and design process with Adobe Creative Suite. They offer a WIDE range of tools to help make amazing videos, simple to use tools for overlays, graphics, one click tools to fix your audio and the very powerful Photoshop graphics program to make eye-catching thumbnails.

Best of all you can get a free trial for 30 days on their website, a discount if you are a student and if you are a regular human being it starts from as little as £9 per month if you want to commit to a plan.

3. Rev.com helps people read my videos

You can’t always listen to a video.

Maybe you’re on a bus, a train or sat in a living room with a 5 year old singing baby shark on loop… for HOURS. Or, you are trying to make as little noise as possible while your new born is FINALLY sleeping.

This is where Rev can help you or your audience consume your content on the go, in silence or in a language not native to the video.

Rev.com can help you translate your videos, transcribe your videos, add subtitles and even convert those subtitles into other languages – all from just $1.50 per minute.

A GREAT way to find an audience and keep them hooked no matter where they are watching your content.

4. PlaceIT can help you STAND OUT on YouTube

I SUCK at making anything flashy or arty.

I have every intention in the world to make something that looks cool but im about as artistic as a dropped ice-cream cone on the web windy day.

That is why I could not live on YouTube without someone like PlaceIT. They offer custom YouTube Banners, Avatars, YouTube Video Intros and YouTube End Screen Templates that are easy to edit with simple click, upload wizard to help you make amazing professional graphics in minutes.

Best of all, some of their templates are FREE! or you can pay a small fee if you want to go for their slightly more premium designs (pst – I always used the free ones).

5. StoryBlocks helps me add amazing video b-roll cutaways

I mainly make tutorials and talking head videos.

And in this modern world this can be a little boring if you don’t see something funky every once in a while.

I try with overlays, jump cuts and being funny but my secret weapon is b-roll overlay content.

I can talk about skydiving, food, money, kids, cats – ANYTHING I WANT – with a quick search on the StoryBlocks website I can find a great looking clip to overlay on my videos, keeping them entertained and watching for longer.

They have a wide library of videos, graphics, images and even a video maker tool and it wont break the bank with plans starting from as little as £8.25 ($9) per month.

Categories
HOW TO MAKE MONEY ONLINE TIPS & TRICKS YOUTUBE

How to Make Money on YouTube Reviewing Products

How to Make Money on YouTube Reviewing Products

One of the great things about YouTube, both as a source of revenue and as a creative outlet, is that there are so many ways to be successful.

There are wildly successful YouTubers in just about every niche and making just about every kind of content there is. From gaming videos that are pure gameplay—no commentary—to in-depth guides on how to make an amazing home cooked meal. If you want to get a feel for what it is like to camp out in the wilderness with nothing but a knife, there’s content for that.

Want to see someone attempt to build a real-life Iron Man suit? There’s a video out there for you.

This wealth of variety is a two-way street, of course. Not only does it mean that you can find just about any kind of content you want, it also means you can make just about any kind of content you want, and reviewing products is one such type of content that can be both creatively fulfilling and financially successful.

What Are YouTube Product Reviews?

Product reviews on YouTube can cover everything from a “Top 10 Moustache Trimmers” list video to an in-depth review of a cryptocurrency marketplace.

The format can vary significantly, also.

When you think of YouTube reviews, you tend to think of videos where the YouTuber lays out the details of the product, perhaps talks about the kind of use cases you would want it for, and maybe even compares it to similar products. In reality, review videos can be ridiculously over the top or unconventional.

They can even be subtle in the sense that it is not immediately obvious that the video is a review, but nevertheless gives the viewer all the information that a review would give.

Many YouTubers have found themselves becoming unintentional product reviewers as an organic result of their channel’s subject matter. For example, there is a strong niche around camping on YouTube, and many camping YouTubers have found themselves spending whole videos talking about the gear they use after being asked repeatedly by their viewers to do so. The same can be said for musician YouTubers and their gear, and any number of other niches where product reviews were never the main purpose of the channel.

There is a limit to this, of course. For example, the “Will it Blend?” format of days gone by, where various products were thrown into a blender to see if they would blend, doesn’t really tell the viewer much about the product’s capabilities beyond being blended (though it was an effective marketing campaign for the blender itself).

As a general rule, a product review video should tell the viewer any important information they might want to know about the product—such as specifications—give the viewers some basis of comparison so that those less informed about the type of product are not left behind, and, usually, give some kind of subjective opinion. If we were to apply these basics to a video of a new mobile phone, you might include the following key sections;

  • The technical specifications of the phone
  • How those specifications stack up next to a similarly-priced phone
  • Your recommendations—who is the phone good for? Is it worth the money?

As we mentioned above, the actual presentation in which you get this information across is entirely up to you, and there is a lot of scope for creativity there.

How to Make Money on YouTube Reviewing Products

So, to the crux of the post; how to make money on YouTube reviewing products. Like the content of the videos themselves, there are many ways to monetise your product reviews.

We’re going to cover the main ones, but before we do, let’s go over some ground rules that apply to all the below.

Firstly, content is king. It sounds cliché, but it’s cliché for a reason. All the tricks in the world will only get you temporary success (if any) if the underlying content isn’t up to scratch.

However you decide to approach your product review videos, you should do your best to make sure the content is the highest quality you can achieve, both in terms of the contents and the literal quality of the video.

The next universal thing you do is be honest with your viewers when making sponsored content.

This applies to YouTubers of all stripes, but even more so when we’re talking about YouTubers who review products. If you have been paid to do a particular review, regardless of whether the review is 100% honest and not flattering at all for the product, even if all the company did was send you a free product to do the review with and aren’t actually paying you, you need to tell your viewers.

It might put some people off, but not nearly as many people as it will put off if they find out you have been getting paid to review products and not been up front about it. In some situations, this can also get you in legal trouble.

Finally, as we touched on above, make sure you give the viewers the information they came for.

There is nothing wrong with making content where you throw an iPhone in a blender or drop a laptop from water tower to see if it still works after, but if you want people to come to your channel for product reviews, you need to give them the important information somehow.

How to Make Money on YouTube Reviewing Products 1

A Basic Product Review Channel

With a basic review channel, you would be monetising your videos through the YouTube Partner Programme, earning revenue from the ads displayed on your videos. In terms of a pure views-to-revenue conversion, this isn’t the most effective way to monetise your content, but it is the easiest.

Your channel will need to meet certain criteria to be allowed into the YouTube Partner Programme, such as having at least 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 hours combined watch time across the whole channel over the last year, as well as some other criteria.

Relying solely on the YouTube Partner Programme will limit what you can review. For example, if you are reviewing fire arms, you probably aren’t going to be able to monetise that content using YouTube’s monetisation programme.

The same goes for things like tobacco products, adult toys, and host of other things that advertisers aren’t necessarily keen on their ads being displayed next to.

Affiliate Linking

The natural next step to monetising product reviews is affiliate linking. There is a multitude of affiliate networks out there; some may cover purely electronic goods, others may focus on healthcare products, for the purposes of this example, we are going to focus on by far the most commonly used affiliate programme; Amazon Affiliates.

Amazon Affiliates enables users to get a special link to Amazon products and pages that they can give to their viewers, and any time someone buys a product through one of those links, the affiliate gets a little cut of the profit. The price is exactly the same to the consumer, but some of the money is redirected back to the affiliate who shared the link.

This system works very well for product reviewers who are reviewing things you can buy on Amazon, since almost anything on the site can earn you affiliate revenue, and the mechanism by which you earn is quite organic. You review the product as if you would, and you casually mention that there will be links to the products in the description (while being honest about the fact that they are affiliate links, of course).

First Looks and Exclusives

This is a little more indirect, but if you can build up a good enough reputation, you can get your foot in the door for first looks and exclusive content.

You may not get paid directly for these, but having a first or exclusive look at a highly anticipated product can do wonders for your channel’s prestige, boosting your viewing figures and increasing your earning potential from the other methods of monetising your content.

If you do manage to get these kinds of exclusives, it is important that you abide by any non-disclosure agreements and other restrictions placed on your content as part of the deal.

Not only are you opening yourself up to legal problems if you don’t, you are pretty much guaranteeing you won’t get those offers again.

Final Thoughts

Product review videos are an excellent way to earn money through YouTube, in no small part because a love of the subject matter is not necessary for success (though some expertise is necessary). Honesty is perhaps more important than usual in for reviewers, however, since the risk of being caught lying is substantial. If it gets out that you are being dishonest in your reviews, you can essentially kiss goodbye to any hope of making money with product reviews on YouTube.

And, like all types of content on YouTube, the better the quality, the better your chances of success. Great quality videos aren’t guaranteed to succeed, but poor quality content is almost always guaranteed to fail eventually.

Top 5 Tools To Get You Started on YouTube

Very quickly before you go here are 5 amazing tools I have used every day to grow my YouTube channel from 0 to 30K subscribers in the last 12 months that I could not live without.

1. VidIQ helps boost my views and get found in search

I almost exclusively switched to VidIQ from a rival in 2020.

Within 12 months I tripled the size of my channel and very quickly learnt the power of thumbnails, click through rate and proper search optimization. Best of all, they are FREE!

2. Adobe Creative Suite helps me craft amazing looking thumbnails and eye-catching videos

I have been making youtube videos on and off since 2013.

When I first started I threw things together in Window Movie Maker, cringed at how it looked but thought “that’s the best I can do so it’ll have to do”.

Big mistake!

I soon realized the move time you put into your editing and the more engaging your thumbnails are the more views you will get and the more people will trust you enough to subscribe.

That is why I took the plunge and invested in my editing and design process with Adobe Creative Suite. They offer a WIDE range of tools to help make amazing videos, simple to use tools for overlays, graphics, one click tools to fix your audio and the very powerful Photoshop graphics program to make eye-catching thumbnails.

Best of all you can get a free trial for 30 days on their website, a discount if you are a student and if you are a regular human being it starts from as little as £9 per month if you want to commit to a plan.

3. Rev.com helps people read my videos

You can’t always listen to a video.

Maybe you’re on a bus, a train or sat in a living room with a 5 year old singing baby shark on loop… for HOURS. Or, you are trying to make as little noise as possible while your new born is FINALLY sleeping.

This is where Rev can help you or your audience consume your content on the go, in silence or in a language not native to the video.

Rev.com can help you translate your videos, transcribe your videos, add subtitles and even convert those subtitles into other languages – all from just $1.50 per minute.

A GREAT way to find an audience and keep them hooked no matter where they are watching your content.

4. PlaceIT can help you STAND OUT on YouTube

I SUCK at making anything flashy or arty.

I have every intention in the world to make something that looks cool but im about as artistic as a dropped ice-cream cone on the web windy day.

That is why I could not live on YouTube without someone like PlaceIT. They offer custom YouTube Banners, Avatars, YouTube Video Intros and YouTube End Screen Templates that are easy to edit with simple click, upload wizard to help you make amazing professional graphics in minutes.

Best of all, some of their templates are FREE! or you can pay a small fee if you want to go for their slightly more premium designs (pst – I always used the free ones).

5. StoryBlocks helps me add amazing video b-roll cutaways

I mainly make tutorials and talking head videos.

And in this modern world this can be a little boring if you don’t see something funky every once in a while.

I try with overlays, jump cuts and being funny but my secret weapon is b-roll overlay content.

I can talk about skydiving, food, money, kids, cats – ANYTHING I WANT – with a quick search on the StoryBlocks website I can find a great looking clip to overlay on my videos, keeping them entertained and watching for longer.

They have a wide library of videos, graphics, images and even a video maker tool and it wont break the bank with plans starting from as little as £8.25 ($9) per month.

Categories
DEEP DIVE ARTICLE HOW TO MAKE MONEY ONLINE YOUTUBE

Do All YouTubers Make Money?

Do All YouTubers Make Money?

Though it’s becoming less of a thing as YouTube and other video platforms become evermore pervasive in our lives, there is a weird psychological aspect to seeing someone on screen.

Almost certainly left over from the not-too-distant days when broadcast television was the only way to get video content and being on TV in any significant capacity almost inherently meant you were famous, we have a tendency to “celebritise” (yes, I made that word up) our favourite YouTubers.

And, if someone is a celebrity, they’re probably making plenty of money, right?

Of course, while the likes of James Charles and DanTDM are making a small fortune and can be considered to be celebrities by most reasonable standards, the truth is that the overwhelming majority of YouTubers—even the ones that make their living from YouTubing—are living considerably more modest lives than your average A list celebrity.

So, when asking the question, “do all YouTubers make money?” – we can confidently and absolutely say no, no they do not. Many YouTubers make nothing at all from their YouTubing exploits. Making money on YouTube depends on niche, consistency and the ability to monetize properly. If you can convert views into clicks and sales you can do very well.

But it is the grey area between no money and filthy rich that is the most interesting, and that’s what we’re going to take a look at today.

YouTubers Who Make No Money

Before we get to that more interesting area, let’s take a look at the people who don’t earn money from their YouTube channels.

As implied above, we are generally more savvy to the fact that literally anyone can become a content creator, and no matter how exciting and lavish something looks on YouTube, there is a good chance they are filming in a studio flat in between shifts tending bar. There’s nothing wrong with bar tending, of course, but it’s not something people who don’t need the money typically choose to do for fun.

The first thing to consider is that changes to YouTube’s monetisation policies not so long ago made it so that many YouTubers can’t monetise their channel.

For YouTubers who have less than a thousand subscribers or fewer than four thousand hours combined watch time, or any of the other criteria, monetising their content through the YouTube Partner Programme is not an option.

They could monetise their content in other ways, of course, but a channel that doesn’t meet the criteria for the YouTube Partner Programme will often be too small to make any significant income from other means.

There are exceptions to this rule, of course; some YouTubers may make content in niches that YouTube will not allow to be monetised, but still have a big enough following to make money in other ways, such as selling merch, but for the most part, people who can’t monetise their YouTube content are probably not making any money from their channel.

Of course, there is a whole separate discussion to have over whether making money should be considered important. While life is rarely ideal, the ideal scenario would be that the YouTuber makes videos they want to make regardless of whether they are getting paid, and any revenue can then be treated as a nice bonus, and if things progress to the point where you can earn your living from the channel, event better! That being said, we know life is not ideal, and YouTube is a regular job for many people, rather than the dream career it can sometimes look like to outsiders.

How the Other Half Lives

Much like society, the very successful make up a tiny fraction of the total number of YouTubers out there.

The exact amount that any given view is worth varies quite significantly depending on the type of content and things like how long the video is, but as a rough guide, YouTubers can expect to earn between $3 and $5 per thousand views of monetised content. Using the aforementioned DanTDM as an example, Dan consistently gets 2-3 million views a day. Using these numbers and sticking to the conservative end of the scale, we can estimate that Dan makes around $6,000 per day from the YouTube Partner Programme alone. And that doesn’t factor in things like merchandise sales, sponsored videos, super chat money, and anything else he might be doing that earns revenue.

And if that makes you feel a little jealous, Dan ranked approximately 50th (at the time of writing) in terms of video views across the whole platform, meaning there at least 49 YouTubers out there probably making a lot more money!

The reason we’ve included this envy-inducing section is to illustrate just how big the numbers we are dealing with can get. Even with YouTube’s notoriously low rates of pay and unreliable nature when it comes to changing their terms of service, there are YouTubers out there who can easily break a quarter of a million dollars in one month on ad revenue alone. They are by far the minority, but when it comes to YouTubers who get millions of views a day, it’s probably harder for them to not make money.

The Grey Area

So now we come to that interesting middle ground between the people who make nothing and the people who make more money than they know what to do with.

The YouTubers we are talking about here can be a mixed bunch. We might be talking about YouTubers who have a substantial following but make the kinds of videos that YouTube refuses to monetise.

We might be talking about people whose channel has grown enough to be approved for the YouTube Partner Programme but is still relatively small and not making a great deal of revenue.

This swath of YouTube covers everything from people who spend large portions of their week making YouTube content and make very little money, to people who spend a few hours a week streaming off-the-cuff content and make thousands.

And, of course, the many YouTubers whose time-to-earnings ratio is comparable to a regular job.

Understanding Revenue and Motive

When trying to wrap your head around this topic, it is important to remember that YouTubers do what they do for a variety of reasons.

Some people have no interest in money, and only do the bare minimum of monetisation on their channel. Some people do absolutely everything they can to monetise their content and end up making a respectable income from a relatively small number of views.

It is also important to remember that revenue is far from a simple, clean system that looks the same for every YouTuber. For one thing, even the ad revenue earned through the YouTube Partner Programme can vary dramatically between YouTubers. Not only are some ads worth more than others, but the watch time can play a huge role. Consider a two-minute video; YouTube might put an ad at the start of that video, earning the YouTuber a cool $2 per thousand views. Now let’s say a different YouTuber in the same niche puts up a video that is ten minutes long, has two ad placements and gets the same amount of views; that YouTuber will be making $4 for their thousand views. Same amount of views, twice as much revenue.

Of course, this example assumes that both videos are watched all the way through and all the ads are seen, but the fact that we need to clarify that fact illustrates another way in which revenue calculation on YouTube is a messy business.

Then, of course, there are the many and varied ways that YouTube content could be monetised. Someone who seems to be getting relatively low viewing figures on their YouTube channel could be making a comfortable living from their content over on Patreon.

We tend to think of viewing figures through the YouTube revenue lens, which is to say, we assume you need at least 50,000-100,000 subscribers before you can have any hope of making decent money. The truth is you can do it with a lot less if that audience is dedicated and invested in your channel. If a YouTuber had 5,000 subscribers and 5% of those subscribers are happy to send the

YouTuber $10 a month in YouTube memberships, Patreon subscriptions, or something similar, that YouTuber could easily live off the money they make, even if they are getting viewing figures in the hundreds, rather than tens of thousands. Conversely, a YouTuber making all of their earnings through the YouTube Partner Programme would have be getting at least 800,000 views a month to make the same amount of money.

Final Thoughts

Do all YouTubers make money? Certainly not. At least, not from YouTube. But there are so many factors that go into how much money YouTubers make that it is almost impossible to make an accurate guess based only what you can see from the outside.

They could be a relatively unknown YouTuber with a dedicated following who makes plenty of money in memberships, or they could be a well-known YouTuber who gets millions of views, but their content is in a poorly-paying niche, constantly has videos demonetised, and pays agent fees.

The truth is, unless a channel has no subscribers or millions of subscribers, the only way to be sure is to ask, but you probably won’t get an answer.

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HOW TO MAKE MONEY ONLINE TIPS & TRICKS YOUTUBE

What Are Virtual Influencers?

What Are Virtual Influencers?

“Influencer” should be a word familiar to anyone who is venturing into the world of social media and, by extension, YouTube (don’t worry if it’s not, we’re going to explain it in a little more detail below).

But something that could less familiar to many is the term “virtual influencer”.

What are virtual influencers? – Virtual influencers are people that use digital avatars to represent themselves online. This means they don’t have to physically show their face or in some cases even exist. They can then make money with brand deals, merchandise or even traditional marketing using this persona.

A recent influx of “virtual” characters on platforms like YouTube and Instagram have created a whole new arena for creators, and that arena is producing plenty of influencers of its own. Virtual YouTubers are a new breed of YouTuber that are essentially digital beings controlled by regular flesh-and-bone people, often in much the same way that Jim Henson’s muppets are made to act as though they are real by their puppeteers.

Virtual influencers, of course, are virtual characters that have reached influencer status.

14 Virtual YouTubers That Will Blow Your Mind 14

What is an Influencer?

Let’s start with the basics. We’re assuming that most people reading this post know what an influencer is, but in the interests of providing a comprehensive answer to the question posed here, we’re going to give a brief explanation for those that don’t.

An influencer is exactly what you might think from the name; a person who influences other people. In the context of the Internet and social media, it is an almost crass term, as it relates primarily to a person’s ability to influence the purchasing decisions of a significant number of people. This, in turn, corresponds to the financial opportunities that that person can leverage. In other words, people who are influencers will have more opportunity to get paid to use their influencing power to promote things.

Influencers typically have spheres of influence. For example, immensely popular YouTuber, Zoella, has a lot of influence in the realm of beauty products. The fact that she has so much influence in that sphere means she is likely to be able to command a very high asking price for her services, but the focus of her sphere means she is unlikely to be approached to promote, say, a video game, or mechanic’s tools. The people she influences simply aren’t interested in those things.

The nature of successful advertising is one of accurate targeting. Advertisers like to be able to direct their advertisements at the most receptive audiences possible. This is why there are often diminishing returns on audience size when it comes to how much your influence is worth.

Take PewDiePie, for example. If we take a simplistic approach to audience size and just count YouTube subscribers, PewDiePie has somewhere in the region of ten times the audience size of Zoella. Of course, he makes a handsome amount of money from this audience, but you don’t tend to get an audience that size without it becoming unfocused and more diverse. While advertisers can be relatively confident that the people watching Zoella are interested in fashion and beauty products, they can’t have the same confidence with PewDiePie because his content is more varied. This is why an influencer can be someone with as little as a few tens of thousands of subscribers or followers; it is more about the market impact they can command than the raw number of subscribers or followers.

There are also side roads into influencer status, such as people who themselves may not have a big following, but appear on podcasts or YouTube channels that have a big audience.

What are VTubers? 2

What Are Virtual YouTubers?

So, we know what the “influencer” part means, but what about the “virtual” part? We touched on this above, but for those who are still unclear, we thought we’d best dig a little deeper. Incidentally, if you would like a more in-depth look at what virtual YouTubers are, check out this post.

Virtual YouTubers are YouTubers that run their channel from behind the guise of a digital avatar. For the vast majority of virtual YouTube channels, this digital avatar will be in the form of a Japanese anime character, though more and more alternative styles are creeping in as the channel type becomes increasingly popular.

A variety of techniques are used to bring the virtual avatar to life, but the basic premise is usually one of live motion capture where, using one of a few techniques, the YouTuber’s motions are captured and translated to the digital avatar. This allows the YouTuber to record a video as though they were recording a regular video, but the result would be of their digital avatar rather than themselves.

What are Virtual Influencers?

Being a primarily YouTube-orientated blog and channel, we have mainly focused on virtual YouTubers around here, but the premise is essentially the same whether it be on YouTube, Twitch, Instagram, or any other video platform. And there is often a lot of crossovers, with virtual YouTubers quite often streaming on Twitch, and almost anyone with a remotely high profile having an Instagram account.

Virtual influencers are influencers in the sense we discussed above who also happen to be virtual characters like the virtual YouTubers we described, though not limited to the YouTube platform. These influencers will usually present themselves as real beings in much the same way that any other fictional character would. To continue with the example of the Muppets mentioned above, you don’t see Kermit acknowledging that he is a felt puppet with a human controlling him; he acts as though he is a real frog. Virtual influencers do the same. They may present themselves as a self-aware computer program, a real girl who just happens to be animated, or they may not even reference the fact that they are digital at all, and present their content as though it were just like any other video. In any case, it is rare for virtual influencers to break the fourth wall, as it were.

How to Make Videos Without Showing Face

Why Virtual?

There are many advantages to being a virtual influencer. For one thing, it can be very freeing to play a character, rather than yourself.

Many actors are notoriously shy and reserved in their everyday life but have no problem getting on a stage in front of hundreds of people; it is one of the quirks of human nature.

Another reason to go virtual is that it removes a lot of restrictions on what is possible. Your avatar is not limited to things like the laws of physics, or your location in the world. If you want them to fly around, you can do that. If you want them to present a video from the surface of the Moon, you can do that. The only limitations on what you can do with a virtual avatar are those of your own ability or resources. Which is to say, if you don’t know how to do something yourself; there will always be someone you can pay to do it for you.

What’s in it for Brands?

A natural follow-up question in this topic—especially if you are thinking about the financial future of your potential virtual influencer career—is what might be in it for brands. Specifically, does being virtual give you any kind of edge over the conventional way of doing things? Could it harm your chances of getting a lucrative brand deal?

Unfortunately, there are no real advantages from a marketing perspective. That is, none that are universal. For example, a virtual YouTuber might be an especially good fit for a particular niche, such as gaming, but that is more down to the specifics of that niche than the fact the YouTuber is virtual. Being virtual would not help them with other niches.

The good news is that there are no real disadvantages to being a virtual influencer when it comes to getting brand deals. Brands care about your audience and whether they consider your content appropriate for them. Whether or not you are virtual is unlikely to factor into this.

What Programs do Virtual YouTubers Use? 2

Brand Mascots

Though not necessarily much use to an aspiring YouTuber or general Internet influencer, some brands are starting to see the advantages of using virtual avatars rather than real people in their promotional material.

This isn’t new, of course; mascots have been around for centuries. Probably longer. But the advent of virtual avatars gives brands a much easier way to create a public face that can be easily managed and stay in rotation for as long as they need.

As a brand, you don’t need to worry about a virtual avatar having an off-day, getting older, dramatically changing their look, being convicted of a crime, or any number of other things that would be a nuisance at best or a PR nightmare at worst for a brand. They can also be managed by different people, meaning the brand is not beholden to a single actor or voice actor. If your current digital avatar’s voice actor quits, you can simply hire a new one with a similar sounding voice, and things carry on as normal.

As we said, this isn’t much use to your average Internet influencer—unless they are planning land a career as the person behind a brand’s virtual mascot—but it helps to understand the full landscape of virtual influencers when first venturing into this new facet of online influencing.

How to Become a Virtual Influencer

We’d love to say there are some unique tips for succeeding on your path to becoming a virtual influencer, but the truth is that things work almost identically to how they are for regular influencers, and if there was some secret sauce to that, everybody would be an influencer. There are certain tips you can follow that will at least keep you on the right path.

Pick Your Niche

As we mentioned above, it is much easier to become an influencer in a focused niche than it is with a broad audience, so you will increase your chances of reaching influencer status if you grow to prominence in a particular area. That way, brands whose primary audience is in that same niche will see you as a more compelling option when looking for influencers to work with.

Be Mindful of Your Own “Brand”

An influencer who is not working with brands to promote things and get paid is just someone who is popular, so we’re going to assume that if you are reading a post on influencers, you are interested in the money-making side of things. With that in mind, you will need to be careful with your own brand because it will affect what other brands will be prepared to work for you.

Of course, you can choose what kind of brand you want to be; there are plenty of different types of company out there, so you can certainly pick your lane, so to speak. The important part is to be consistent with that lane. As many celebrities, YouTubers, and influencers have found, even one “off-brand” slip up can be costly in terms of deals with other brands.

To give a fictional example, say you build yourself up as an influencer in the vegan niche. Even a single tweet about enjoying a beef burger from years ago could be enough to stop you getting brand deals with vegan companies.

Don’t Rush It

It can be tempting to take shortcuts—things like buying subscribers—but resist this temptation.

The nature of your audience will have a big impact on the future of your audience, and things like bought subscribers will dramatically reduce the quality of your audience. People (and certainly brands) will spot this kind of dishonesty, which will reduce the rate at which your influence can grow, if not stop it altogether.

YouTube Tips for Teachers 1

Final Thoughts

Being a virtual influencer may not be much different from being a regular influencer from the influencing side of things, though the process of being virtual is a little different.

Overall, the advantages of being virtual tend to benefit the brands that adopt them more than they benefit the influencers who are them. This is not to say you shouldn’t do it if the virtual influencer life appeals to you, but make this decision on its own merits—decide if being a virtual character is right for you without the external branding side of things—since you are not likely to be much better off as a virtual influencer than you are as a regular one.

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Do YouTubers Get Paid for Views?

Do YouTubers Get Paid for Views?

How YouTubers get paid is often a point of interest for people who are considering getting into the platform.

And, for that matter, many people who have no interest in becoming a YouTuber but nevertheless are curious.

There are, of course, several ways in which a YouTuber can get paid from their channel, and there is plenty of information about the different aspects of YouTuber earnings, many of which you can find on this very blog.

Do YouTubers Get Paid for Views?

So, straight to the meat of the topic. Do YouTubers get paid for views? The answer is a little mixed – YouTube channels need to be part of the YouTube Partner Program to earn money directly from the adverts displayed on their videos. Once a channel has 1000 subscribers, 4000 watch time hours and are accepted into the program they ca earn anywhere between $1-10 per thousand advert views.

There are other YouTubers that do get paid but that choose to operate in ways that don’t earn them money on a per-view basis.

Let’s back up a little.

It’s worth noting that, effectively, all YouTube earnings are based on views one way or another. Even YouTubers who earn their revenue primarily through things like brand deals and crowdfunding need to have enough interest in their content to make money, and that interest is expressed through views. Granted some methods of generating revenue require considerably fewer views to make a given amount of money than others, but it all comes to back to views one way or another.

Still, a channel getting a lucrative brand deal because they have millions of views a month is not what we typically mean when talk about getting paid for views on YouTube. So what do we mean?

The YouTube Partner Programme

We are, of course, talking about monetisation through YouTube’s Partner Programme, which is the most common way that YouTubers monetise their channels—at least in the beginning.

This programme works by displaying ads on your content and, for channels that qualify, splitting the revenue. There are certain criteria that need to be met, such as how long an ad is watched for, or whether the ad was interacted with, but for the most part, the basic rule of more view equals more revenue applies.

Watch Time

Of course, like most things in life, the reality is a little more complex. We’ve already hinted that the amount of time an ad is watched affects whether it earns any money, but when we are talking about revenue per view, the length of the video is also important.

YouTube doesn’t just show one ad on a video, it will cram as many in there as you let it, and the longer the video, the more ads that can be shown. Again, whether the ads get watched is a different matter, but a video that is long enough to show four advertisements has the potential to earn four times as much revenue as one that only shows one ad.

Engagement

Those of you who can read between the lines may already have made this connection, but the natural result of more ads increasing the revenue doesn’t just mean that longer videos have the potential to earn more money, it also means that engagement is important, too.

The crucial point about having that video we mentioned that is long enough to show four times as many advertisements is that those advertisements only earn revenue if they are watched. That means that if a viewer checks out before the second ad, the rest of those ads may as well have not been there for all the good they do.

How is Revenue Calculated?

For view-based revenue on YouTube, there are two central metrics for calculating how money a channel is making; CPM and RPM.

CPM—cost per mille—refers to the amount of money that a channel is making per thousand views. CPM factors all the videos that are eligible for monetisation (and only those videos), which means that you get an average spread in terms of revenue, which is to say that videos that make very little will bring your CPM down, whereas videos that make a lot will bring it up.

CPM does not account for YouTube’s share of the revenue, nor does it factor any of the many other ways which you can make money through the platform, or external to the platform for that matter.

RPM—revenue per mille—is a metric designed to give YouTubers a better sense of how much revenue their channel is making. Like CPM, it refers to the amount of money you are making per thousand views, but unlike CPM, it factors in all views. It also factors in several other sources of revenue (from within the YouTube platform) such as memberships, and super chat.

Revenue Sources YouTube Doesn’t Account For

YouTube can only factor in revenue that you make through their platform, but there are other ways to earn money from the success of your channel.

Let’s take a brief look at some of the more popular ones.

Third Party Subscription and Donations

The most direct way for your viewers to support you is by sending you money, of course.

This can be done through direct donations, such as through PayPal, but it can also be done using platforms like Patreon, which allow your viewers to set up a recurring payment to support your content.

This is essentially the same model that the YouTube Membership system is based on.

Brand Deals and Endorsements

For YouTubers who have a significant influence in a particular area—or just a heck of a lot of subscribers—brand deals and endorsements can become an option.

This is where a company comes to you directly, paying you to endorse a product or service, sponsoring a video.

These deals are typically far more lucrative than anything you would get through the YouTube Partner Programme, but are much harder to get since your channel has to be very successful to get noticed by brands. It is possible to get brand deals as a smaller channel, but you generally have to be a big player in a specific niche for that to happen.

Affiliate Marketing

For YouTubers whose content lends itself well to affiliate marketing, tying in your content to a relevant affiliate program can be a great way to increase the revenue your channel earns.

The most common example of this is YouTube channels that review or highlight products sharing Amazon Affiliate links to those products in their descriptions.

How to Increase Revenue Per Views

Though there is no one-size-fits-all solution, we can boil down the keys to success to a few significant points. Firstly, focus on watch time and engagement. The longer your videos are, and the more watch time they accumulate, the more revenue they will have the chance to generate.

There are also ways to direct your content so that it is more likely to earn more money. Generally speaking, targeting niches that have a high click through rate, or that get bid on highly by advertisers, will mean that your videos generate more money per view.

Beyond that, though it no doubt feels like a bit of a cop out, the best advice for increasing the revenue of your channel is to focus on the content and make the best videos you can. High quality content is the foundation upon which successful channels are built, and starting with a good foundation will always give you a better chance of success in the long run.

How Much is a View Worth on Average?

As we have hopefully made clear, there is no fixed amount we can give, but for a rough idea of how much a view is worth, the average ad view on YouTube will make somewhere between $0.01 and $0.03.

This is, of course, subject to any criteria regarding how long the ad is watched for. Ads that are watched for less than a given amount of time will not earn the channel any money.

If this number seems a little low, it generally is considered to be, which is why YouTube Partner Programme earnings are rarely deemed a good method to base your entire income on.

Final Thoughts

Trying to put a solid number on something like YouTube earnings is a losing battle; there are simply too many variables that can change that number.

And, while YouTubers can often calculate their earnings as a per view metric, the reality of those earnings is often considerably more complicated, with revenue coming from several different places, and at a far from consistent rate.

If you are becoming a YouTuber with revenue generation being the primary goal, it will help to shape your channel from the very beginning with that in mind; focusing on appropriate niches, making content that lends itself well to earning money.

If you are joining YouTube for the love of making content, however, just focus on that to begin with, and figure the rest out as you go along.

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Do YouTubers Have Managers?

Do YouTubers Have Managers?

While many YouTubers are happy to make videos on things like how much they earn (because it is almost guaranteed to be a highly viewed video) there is much about the life of your average YouTuber that remains off-camera.

Not necessarily because there is some desire to keep it secret, but because it’s not all that interesting and people rarely think to ask.

“Do YouTubers have managers” is one of these unglamorous questions that you don’t see often answered, but it can be useful information for aspiring YouTubers who are looking to map out their road to success on the platform – Most small YouTubers under 100K subscribers do not have managers. When starting YouTubers try to manage all of the day to day tasks themselves. However, as a channel grows to around 100K subscribers is might be wise to seek additional help with organization and marketing decisions.

In this post we’re going to look at the different types of “manager” that this question could refer to (yes, there are a few) as well as what type of YouTuber might need them, and whether this might apply to you.

Let’s dig in.

Do YouTubers Have Other Jobs?

What is a Manager?

There are a few different roles that the title “manager” could refer to in this context, and understanding what they are will go a long way to helping you understand if you need one.

In this section we’re going to give each type of manager a different label to distinguish them, but in reality they would probably all just be referred to as a “manager”.

Show Manager

In a more traditional television setting, this role would likely be referred to as a “Show Runner”.

A manager in this context would be responsible for taking care of the logistics of making YouTube channel content. For example, if the boys over at How Ridiculous want to drop a sail boat from the top of a tower onto an industrial-strength trampoline, someone needs to make those arrangements.

It can also cover things like handling travel arrangements if the channel is going abroad, or securing guests for the show.

This type of manager is typically only necessary for larger channels with more extravagant content.

Money Managers

This type of manager is actually often referred to as a “money manager”, largely because it is a pretty self-explanatory name.

Money managers exist in all walks of life, not just YouTube, and are responsible for managing their clients money. This can cover a lot of things from, from advising their clients on whether a particular purchase or investment is a good idea, to actively investing their client’s money for them.

Obviously, for a channel that has a few thousand subscribers and makes less than a hundred dollars a month, a money manager is wholly unnecessary.

For larger channels that are making lots of money, however, and especially when that money comes from several different sources, a money manager can be an invaluable way of freeing up time and giving you peace of mind that your money is being taken care of.

Content Network Managers

For YouTubers that become part of a larger content network, they may have a manager responsible for taking care of them within the network.

The manager would be responsible for advising them, making sure they don’t break any of the content network’s rules, and generally acting as a point of contact between the YouTuber and their network. Obviously, this type of manager only applies to YouTubers who are part of a content network.

General Managers

When people think about the idea of a YouTube manager, this is usually the type manager they are thinking of.

A general manager (not like in a business sense) takes care of a range of things, some of which may include things we have mentioned above.

They will often be responsible for handling enquiries, such as bookings and collaboration suggestions. They will probably also be handling a good deal of the more administrative tasks involved in running a YouTube channel, such as updating websites, handling descriptions, and some of the more in-depth promotion.

In this regard, most YouTubers act as their own manager, but many of the more successful YouTubers generally reach a point where they find outsourcing some of the less creative aspects of their job can free up a lot of time, which one of the most constraining parts of being a YouTuber.

This tends to be the first step towards deciding that getting a manager would be a good call.

YouTube Tips for Teachers 4

Talent Managers

Talent managers are a bit “odd man out” in this context, as they are not really related to YouTube specifically.

Talent managers will often have several people and acts on their books, and concern themselves with looking after their clients best interests, ensuring they get good deals and only take on work that is good for them.

Talent managers (or agents) are usually more found with YouTubers who have a marketable skill outside of YouTube, such as being a musician, comedian, or actor.

Business Managers

We saved the best for last. Business managers are by far the most important of the manager types we have listed. You can think of a business manager as similar to a money manager, but the scope of their work is much broader.

If your YouTube venture begins to grow beyond the confines of yourself and your home studio, you should definitely consider getting a business manager. There comes a point in many successful YouTube channel’s life where, no matter how much it still feels like a cool creative project, it is technically a business. It is technically a business from the moment it makes its first dollar, but it is unavoidably a business when it is making thousands.

There are a lot of things to wrap your mind around when running a business, and the consequences for failing to fill out certain forms or apply for certain licenses can be quite strict. For someone starting a business, you would expect them to know everything they need to know, but for a YouTuber who just wants to make content, it is reasonable to expect that they would not know everything they need to know to run a business.

Business managers will look after the business side of a channel, leaving the YouTuber to concentrate on what they do best; making content.

Do I Need a Manager?

Much of the decision as to whether you need a manager (or any help, for that matter) will come down to your ultimate goals for the channel.

If you are looking to grow to be a large operation, perhaps extending into a brand beyond your channel, and you can comfortably afford to hire a manager, then you could probably justify it.

If, however, you have no intention of making your channel more than just you and a camera, it would be very difficult to justify a bringing a manager onboard, even if you can afford to.

YouTube Partner Managers

Currently, YouTube has a program in place called YouTube Partner Managers, and is an initiative by YouTube Creators to help YouTubers get the most from their channel.

The program involves one to one tuition, personalised plans for your channel, and invitations to workshops and other exclusive events.

Unfortunately, it is only open to channels that meet certain criteria, and it is invitation only.

Can I Do It All Myself?

In theory, there is nothing stopping you from taking care of everything yourself. There are no laws that say you have to hire a money manager once you start making a certain amount of money. There are also no laws that say you have to partner with a business manager before turning your channel into a business.

Like many things in life, however, the question is less about whether you can and more about whether you should.

The different types of manager we have mentioned above cover a very broad selection of skills and expertise. To effectively do the job that they can do, you would need to learn these skills and gain that expertise; something that is very time-consuming.

The smaller your channel, the less you need to know and the less work would be involved, but if you have ambitions of growing into a YouTube behemoth, you will probably need to consider hiring a manager at some point, if only to save your own sanity. After all, there are only so many hours in the day!

Final Thoughts

Of all the types of manager we have mentioned, only the money, business, and network managers are particularly common in the world of YouTube, and the rest sometimes go under different labels (talent agent, for example).

The first two of these—money and business—are especially important for YouTubers that need them because the consequences of getting that side of things wrong can be severe. If you manage your money poorly you can end up broke, or worse; in debt. If you don’t handle the business side of things well, you can get hit with fines, even sued.

This is especially true if you begin hiring people, who will have many rights as an employee that you must respect as their boss.

Of course, if you stick to just making videos from your home studio by yourself and declare all the money you make, you’ll be fine. Not every YouTuber dreams of being a content network.