Making money from YouTube involves meeting certain eligibility criteria and participating in the YouTube Partner Program. (YPP). Below are the different ways to make money on YouTube and the associated limitations and requirements:
1. Advertising Revenue
2. Channel Subscriptions
3. Shopping (Your Own Products)
4. Shopping (Products from Other Brands)
5. Super Chat and Super Stickers
6. Super Thank You
7. YouTube Premium Income
It is important to note that eligibility criteria and requirements may change, so it is advisable to check the official YouTube Partner Program guidelines for the latest information. Additionally, meeting these criteria Does not guarantee acceptance into PP, as YouTube reviews channels for compliance with policies.
1. Advertising Revenue
Earning revenue through advertising on YouTube is a process facilitated by the YouTube Partner Program (YPP). To become eligible for the program, creators must meet specific criteria, including at least 1,000 subscribers, 4,000 public watch hours on video in the last 365 days, or 10 million public Shorts views in the last 90 days. Additionally, creators must be at least 18 years of age and reside in a region where the YouTube Partner Program is available.
Creating high-quality and original content that aligns with YouTube’s policies is important for a successful application. Content must be free from copyright infringement and follow advertiser friendly guidelines.
Once eligible, creators can apply for the YouTube Partner Program through YouTube Studio by agreeing to the program terms. Linking your YouTube account to an AdSense account, Google’s platform for content monetization, is an essential step.
YouTube offers various ad formats, such as display ads, overlay ads, skippable and non-skippable video ads, sponsored cards, and more, each with its own revenue model. Creators receive a share of the advertising revenue, typically 55%, with YouTube retaining 45%. Actual revenue depends on factors such as ad engagement, audience location, ad format, and advertiser demand.
Creators can also monetize YouTube Shorts by providing a revenue-sharing model. Monitoring ad performance through YouTube Analytics helps track metrics like CPM (Cost Per View), CPC (Cost Per Click) and overall revenue.
Strict adherence to YouTube’s Community Guidelines and Advertising Policies is required to maintain eligibility for the YouTube Partner Program. Creators should avoid activities that could lead to monetization, such as click fraud or content infringement.
Payments are processed through the linked AdSense account once creators start earning revenue. It is important to keep AdSense account information accurate and up to date. Since YouTube’s policies can change, creators should regularly check the official YouTube Help Center or YouTube Partner Program website for the latest guidelines.
2. Channel Subscriptions
Earning revenue through advertising on YouTube includes participation in the YouTube Partner Program (YPP) where creators must meet specific eligibility criteria. To qualify, creators typically need a minimum of 1,000 subscribers and either 4,000 public watch hours or 10 million public Shorts views within a specified time frame. Additionally, creators must be at least 18 years of age, and YPP must be available in their respective country or region.
Producing high-quality and original content that aligns with YouTube’s policies is important for successful monetization. The content must avoid copyright violations and maintain an advertiser-friendly nature. Once eligibility is met, creators can apply for YPP through YouTube Studio by agreeing to the program terms.
Linking your YouTube account to Google’s monetization platform, AdSense account, is the next step. Ad formats, including display ads, overlay ads, skippable and non-skippable video ads, sponsored cards, and more, offer a variety of revenue models. YouTube typically shares 55% of ad revenue with creators, while retaining 45%. Actual revenue depends on factors such as ad engagement, audience location, ad format, and advertiser demand.
YouTube Premium revenue is an additional opportunity for creators, allowing them to earn from subscribers who view their content with a YouTube Premium subscription. Monitoring ad performance through YouTube Analytics, including metrics like CPM and CPC, helps creators understand their revenue dynamics.
It is important to follow YouTube’s Community Guidelines and Advertising Policies to maintain eligibility in the YPP. Creators should avoid activities that could lead to monetization, such as click fraud or content infringement. Payments are processed through the linked AdSense account, which emphasizes the importance of keeping account information accurate and up to date.
Given that YouTube’s policies are subject to change, creators are advised to regularly check the official YouTube Help Center or YouTube Partner Program website for the latest guidelines to stay informed.
3. Shopping (Your Own Products)
There is a strategic process involved in using your products to generate revenue on YouTube. First, meeting specific eligibility criteria, such as subscriber thresholds and adherence to content policies, is important. Once eligible, creators can create a merch shelf through a platform, such as Teespring or Spreadshop, which links their shop directly to their YouTube channel. Displayed products can be shown, leading to direct purchases from viewers and generating revenue. Strict adherence to YouTube’s policies is important to avoid any violations that could lead to restrictions. Regular monitoring of merch shelf performance, exploring collaboration opportunities, and staying informed about policy updates are key practices to generate a successful and compliant capability.
4. Shopping (Products from Other Brands)
Establishing revenue by endorsing other brands’ products through YouTube demands strategic adherence to eligibility criteria and policies. Creators, with a solid subscriber base and meeting viewer progression thresholds, must work within the boundaries of YouTube’s Community Guidelines. Doing affiliate marketing or brand sponsorship is key to generating revenue, which requires setting up an affiliate account and customarily integrating product promotions. Audience engagement, transparent disclosure, and effective dialogue with brands contribute to the success of this partnership. Regular performance tracking, diversification of brand collaborations, and staying informed about changing policies are key components of a fruitful strategy. In this dynamic landscape, creators who navigate these steps deftly can open up diverse revenue sources by promoting other brands’ products on their YouTube channel.
5. Super Chat and Super Stickers
Using Super Chat and Super stickers on YouTube provides an additional way for creators to generate revenue. To activate this feature, creators need to meet special criteria, including being at least 18 years of age and residing in a country where Super Chat and Super stickers are available. It is important to accept relevant commercial product modules. Once eligible, creators are allowed to enable these features during live streams, allowing viewers to purchase spoken messages or animated stickers that pop out during chat. The revenue generated is a direct result of audience interaction, which increases the general revenue potential for creators engaged in live content. Regularly including and encouraging Super Chat and Super stickers promotes a stronger connection with the audience as well as boosts revenue for creators on YouTube.
6. Super Thank You
Super Thanks is a revenue feature on YouTube that offers creators the possibility to earn additional revenue by receiving “thank you” payments from their viewers. To be eligible for Super Thanks, creators must be at least 18 years of age, reside in a region where the feature is available, and accept the commercial product module. Like Super Chat and Super Stickers, Super Thanks is designed for on-demand video. Viewers can express their appreciation by clicking the Super Thanks button and making a financial contribution, thereby highlighting their comment and supporting the content creator. This feature offers creators the possibility to engage with their audiences in an alternative way and monetize their video content beyond traditional advertising revenues. Communicating regularly with SuperThanks can improve the public experience while contributing to creators’ economic success on YouTube.
7. YouTube Premium Income
YouTube Premium revenue is a revenue source that creators receive from having their content viewed by viewers who subscribe to YouTube Premium. To earn from YouTube Premium, creators are required to accept the relevant agreement module offered by YouTube. YouTube Premium gives members an ad-free viewing experience, access to YouTube Originals, and support of their favorite creators, all as a fraction of the subscription fee. Creators receive a share of the revenue based on the time their content is viewed by premium members. While ad revenue is typically based on ad viewing, YouTube Premium revenue offers an alternative model that rewards creators who create engaging content that attracts Premium members. This additional revenue source encourages creators to create high-quality videos that relate to a diverse audience, contributing to a sustainable and diverse revenue strategy on YouTube.