Make Money on YouTube: 8 Proven Ideas for 2025

With over 2.5 billion active users, YouTube stands out as one of the most lucrative platforms for earning income online. But what if you don’t have millions of subscribers or a steady stream of brand sponsorships filling your inbox?

Don’t worry! This guide will walk you through practical and achievable ways to make money on YouTube, no matter your subscriber count or niche audience. Whether you enjoy creating videos or prefer behind-the-scenes opportunities, there’s a monetization strategy for everyone. Let’s dive in and help you turn your YouTube presence into a steady income stream.

Key Takeaways for Making Money on YouTube

• Join the YouTube Partner Program - Earn income through ad revenue generated by YouTube views and YouTube Premium memberships.
• Design and Sell Custom Products - Launch your own print-on-demand merchandise. With platforms like Taptsitch, you can start selling without worrying about upfront costs, inventory, or risk.
• Become an Affiliate Marketer - Partner with companies to promote their products and earn commissions on sales made through your affiliate links.
• Offer Channel Memberships - If your channel has at least 30,000 subscribers (or 1,000 for gaming channels) and is part of the YouTube Partner Program, you can offer exclusive content to paying members for a monthly fee.
• Create Sponsored Content - Collaborate with brands to produce sponsored videos. Earn through direct payments, free products, or commissions based on sales or exposure.

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1.Join the YouTube Partner Program

The YouTube Partner Program (YPP) is one of the most accessible and rewarding ways to monetize your channel. By joining, you can earn through ads, memberships, and other built-in monetization features.

Steps to Join the YouTube Partner Program

1. Log in to your YouTube account.
2. Go to YouTube Studio under your profile picture.
3. Select Earn and click Apply to start.
4. Review and accept the terms and conditions.
5. Set up or link your Google AdSense account.

Enable Monetization

After approval, enable monetization in YouTube Studio and set your preferences. You’ll have access to options like:

• Watch Page Ads
• Shorts Feed Ads
• Supers (Super Chats and Stickers)
• Channel Memberships
• Shopping

How Much Can You Earn?

The average YouTube channel makes approximately $0.018 per ad view, translating to $18 per 1,000 ad views. Established channels with consistent traffic can quickly turn this into a steady income stream.

To track your performance, navigate to the Analytics tab in YouTube Studio and check your Monthly Estimated Revenue to plan and optimize your earnings.

Eligibility Requirements for YPP

To join YPP, your channel needs to meet specific milestones:

1.Subscribers: At least 1,000 subscribers.

2.Watch Time:

• 4,000 valid public watch hours in the past 12 months.
• OR 10 million valid public shorts views in the last 90 days.

Additionally, you must:

• Follow YouTube’s monetization policies.
• Have an active AdSense account.
• Be in a country where the YPP is available.

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2.Design and sell custom products

If you’re business-savvy or creative, selling custom products is a fantastic way to monetize your YouTube channel—even without a massive following. By designing and showcasing your merchandise in your videos, you can build a loyal fanbase, earn money, and strengthen your brand.

Selling quality merchandise lets your audience connect with you on a personal level. Fans love unique, custom products that show their support for their favorite creators. It’s a win-win—you earn money while offering something meaningful to your subscribers.

Standout Strategies for Selling Merchandise

To maximize your success, consider incorporating these strategies into your content:

• Unboxing Videos: Showcase the quality and unique features of your products with an unboxing video to leave a strong first impression.
• Behind-the-Scenes Content: Share the story behind your designs, giving your audience an inside look at the creative process.
• Collaborations: Partner with other YouTubers to reach a wider audience and promote your merch.
• Live Streams: Use live streams to engage with fans, announce product launches, and offer exclusive discounts.
• Video Descriptions: Include links to your store and promo codes in your video descriptions to make it easy for viewers to shop.

Sell Custom Products with Tapstitch

One of the easiest ways to sell merchandise is through print-on-demand platforms like Tapstitch. This approach lets you focus on content creation while outsourcing production and shipping.

how to cash in on this affordable business idea

1. Register: Sign up for a free account.
2. Create: Choose from a wide range of products and customize them with your designs.
3. Sell: Publish your products to your online store and promote them to your fans.
4. Profit: Tapstitch’s Print Providers will handle production, packaging, and shipping, so you can focus on growing your channel.

Tapstitch eliminates upfront costs—perfect for YouTubers looking for a low-risk, high-reward way to earn money.

Top Product Tips : By incorporating your merchandise into your videos and connecting with your viewers, you’ll create an authentic shopping experience that drives sales and strengthens your brand.

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3.Become an affiliate marketer

Affiliate marketing is an excellent way to monetize your YouTube channel by promoting products or services to your audience. It’s especially appealing for creators wondering how to earn money on YouTube through marketing alone.

By partnering with affiliate programs or eCommerce platforms, you can connect businesses looking to promote their products with your audience. As a creator, you earn commissions for driving sales—a win-win strategy.

How to Get Started with Affiliate Marketing

1. Sign Up: Join an affiliate program by submitting an application.
2. Receive Your Link: Once approved, get a unique affiliate link to track sales.
3. Create Content: Produce engaging YouTube videos featuring the products or services.
4. Disclose Links: Clearly mention your affiliate links in the video, description, and info cards. Transparency builds trust with your audience.
5. Earn Commissions: When viewers click your link and make a purchase, you earn a percentage of the sale.

Make sure to promote high-quality, reliable products that align with your channel's theme and resonate with your audience. When done right, affiliate marketing can be a lucrative and sustainable way to grow your income on YouTube.

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4.Offer channel memberships

If you’re at least 18 years old and have a YouTube channel with 30,000 subscribers (or 1,000 subscribers for gaming channels), you can unlock an exciting monetization feature: channel memberships—also known as fan funding.

Channel memberships allow you to monetize your content by offering exclusive perks to loyal fans who subscribe to your channel for a monthly fee. This strategy not only boosts your income but also deepens your connection with your most dedicated viewers.

Membership Perks to Offer

Members gain access to unique benefits such as:

• Members-only live streams
• Exclusive content on the Community Tab
• Members-only Super Chats
• Custom emojis
• Early-access videos
• Exclusive video content
• Highlighted comments to stand out in discussions

Note:Make sure your region is eligible for channel memberships. Additionally, your channel must be enrolled in the YouTube Partner Program to enable this monetization feature.

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5.Create sponsored content

Sponsored content or brand deals offer a mutually beneficial partnership: companies get access to your audience, and you earn sponsorship revenue.

Sponsorships can take various forms, including:

• Direct payments for promoting products or services.
• Free products or services from the brand.
• Affiliate sales commissions based on referred purchases.

The best part about sponsorships? You keep 100% of your earnings. Unlike ad revenue, these deals don’t involve sharing profits with YouTube. Negotiate directly with brands, and payments go straight to you.

Transparency Is Key

When working on sponsored content, it's crucial to maintain trust and comply with legal requirements. Disclose sponsorships or paid product placements to both YouTube and your viewers:

• For YouTube: Simply check the sponsorship disclosure box when uploading your video.
• For your audience: YouTube automatically adds a disclosure message within the first 10 seconds of your video. Additionally, provide verbal or on-screen mentions to ensure clarity and compliance with Federal Trade Commission (FTC) laws.

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6.Collect donations via Super Chat and Super Stickers

One of the most engaging ways to make money on YouTube is through live streams and premieres. With Super Chat and Super Stickers, viewers can donate amounts ranging from $1 to $500. These donations appear as pinned comments or animated stickers, standing out during the live stream.

This feature doesn’t just bring in extra income—it also strengthens your connection with your audience. Viewers can use donations to:

• Ask questions.
• Share their opinions.
• Show support for their favorite creators.

Super Chat is especially effective if you’re repurposing content across multiple platforms like YouTube and Twitch. For instance, you can upload Twitch videos, such as VODs (Video on Demand), to YouTube, broadening your audience and maximizing your reach on both platforms.

Tips for Maximizing Donations

• Acknowledge Your Supporters: Read and respond to Super Chat messages during your stream. A simple thank-you can encourage others to contribute as well.
• Engage With Donors: Answer questions or respond to comments to make donors feel valued and appreciated.

How to Set Up Super Chat and Stickers

1. Go to YouTube Studio.
2. Navigate to the Earn tab.
3. Select Supers and toggle the switch to enable the feature.

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7.Try crowdfunding

Crowdfunding is a powerful way to monetize your YouTube content by gathering support from your audience for a specific project or goal. Unlike one-time donations, crowdfunding focuses on collective contributions toward something tangible or exciting.

Whether you're looking to:

• Upgrade your gaming equipment for better streams,
• Invite a special guest to your next video, or
• Fund a creative YouTube project,

How to Start Crowdfunding

1. Choose a Platform: While YouTube’s Sponsor button lets viewers contribute directly, you can also use external platforms like Patreon or Kickstarter to set up your campaign.
2. Create Your Project Page: Make sure your pitch is engaging, clear, and realistic. Highlight the benefits your supporters will enjoy, whether it’s exclusive content, early access, or shoutouts.
3. Promote on YouTube: Use your videos to share the purpose behind your crowdfunding efforts. Create engaging content explaining the perks of sponsorship and provide direct links to your crowdfunding page.

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8.License your content to others

Another creative way to monetize your YouTube content is by licensing your videos to other platforms, media outlets, or organizations. This approach allows you to earn revenue from existing content by making it available for others to use.

Viral videos are particularly lucrative for licensing. While they can generate ad revenue on YouTube, licensing them to third parties like news outlets, websites, or social media channels can provide an additional income stream.

Steps to License Your Videos

1. Identify License-Worthy Content: Look for videos with high engagement, uniqueness, or relevance to trending topics. Newsworthy content such as natural disasters, viral moments, or community events often attracts attention.
2. Choose a Licensing Platform: Use sites like Jukin Media or similar platforms specializing in video licensing. These platforms connect creators with buyers who may need your video for their content.
3. Submit Your Videos: Upload your content to the licensing platform under the appropriate category, making it easy for potential buyers to find your video.
4. Earn Commissions: When someone licenses your video, you receive a percentage of the earnings.

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Tips to make the most of your YouTube channel

Maximizing your YouTube channel's potential requires strategic planning, creativity, and consistent effort. Here are some actionable tips to help you grow your channel, engage your audience, and increase revenue:

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Longer Videos Equal Higher Rrevenue

If ad revenue is your primary source of income, consider creating longer videos. Videos over 10 minutes often generate more ad revenue because they provide more watch time and allow for the placement of additional ads without overwhelming viewers.

Shorter videos with multiple ads may frustrate your audience and drive them away. Longer videos naturally space out advertisements, offering a smoother viewing experience while increasing your earnings.

Videos with higher watch times rank better in YouTube’s search results, improving discoverability. Whether it’s a 10-minute tutorial or an hour-long documentary, investing time in lengthier content can yield significant financial rewards.

High-Quality Content for the Win

Success on YouTube hinges on posting high-quality videos that build trust and loyalty with your audience. Invest in reliable equipment, advanced editing software, and proper lighting to produce polished, engaging content.

Authenticity matters too. Honest, relatable videos resonate with viewers and encourage them to return. Alongside high production standards, use compelling thumbnails that meet YouTube guidelines to attract clicks.

Descriptions matter

Your video and channel descriptions are powerful tools for optimizing visibility and engaging followers. Use these spaces to:

• Craft compelling summaries of your video content.
• Incorporate keywords for SEO to rank higher in search results.
• Share affiliate links, promotional offers, or links to social media.
• Include detailed instructions, disclosures, and calls to action to enhance viewer experience.

Descriptions are not just about storytelling; they’re about maximizing discoverability and creating opportunities for monetization.

Interact With Your Audience

Always interact with your followers during streams or in the comments. Fans love to communicate with their favorite creators, and your engagement will only encourage others to join.

Showing appreciation for your YouTube audience means more views, longer watch times, higher engagement, and more money.

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Is it possible to make money on YouTube without making videos?

Sure! You can absolutely make money on YouTube without filming videos. Here are some creative ways to monetize the platform without stepping in front of the camera:

• Focus on audio: You can create content like guided meditations, sound effects, ASMR videos, or music. These types of videos require only audio, allowing you to monetize your content without the need for visual elements.
• Live streaming: You can engage your audience with live streams, whether it's a podcast, gaming stream, or real-time Q&A. This method doesn't require pre-filming and allows you to interact with your audience while making money through ad revenue and potential merchandise sales once you build a following.
• Educate with voiceovers: You can create educational content such as tutorials, online courses, or explainers, all while only recording voiceovers. This approach is easier to produce and still has the potential to reach a large audience.
• Freelance for other creators: You can offer services like scriptwriting, video planning, creating thumbnails, and writing descriptions or SEO content. By helping other YouTubers, you can earn money without filming your own content.
• Utilize the Creative Commons License: If you create original content and use the Creative Commons License (CC-BY), other creators can reuse and remix your videos, giving you credit and potentially generating ad revenue for both parties.

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FAQ

1.How can I make money on YouTube without many subscribers?

You can still earn money on YouTube even if you don't have many subscribers! One way is by selling your own custom products, like t-shirts, or by becoming an affiliate marketer to promote other people's products and earn a commission on sales.

2.What are channel memberships on YouTube?

Channel memberships let your fans support you by paying a monthly fee. In return, they get special perks like exclusive videos, emojis, and live chats just for members. To offer memberships, you need at least 30,000 subscribers.

3.Can I make money on YouTube without creating videos?

Yes! You can create audio content like music or guided meditations, engage in live streaming, or even use voiceovers for educational videos. There are many creative ways to earn money on YouTube without filming traditional videos.

4.How much money can beginners expect to make?

• Beginners might make anywhere from $100 to $1,000 per month once monetized.
• If views are low or CPM is low, earnings can be minimal.

As your channel grows, your earnings can significantly increase. A popular, highly engaged channel with millions of views could earn thousands to tens of thousands of dollars monthly.

5.How is YouTube ad revenue calculated?

YouTube pays based on cost per mille (CPM), which is the cost per 1,000 views. CPM rates vary by industry, region, and audience demographics.

• Average CPM: Between $0.25 to $4.00 per 1,000 views.
• Niche content (like finance or tech) often has a higher CPM compared to general content.

6.Can you make money with a small channel?

Yes! Even with a small channel, you can earn money through affiliate links, sponsorships, and donations. Small channels may not generate significant ad revenue initially, but they can earn through other monetization methods.

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Conclusion

The potential to earn money on YouTube is vast and can vary based on your content, revenue streams, and the time you invest. From ad revenue and sponsorships to fan donations and merchandise sales, there are countless ways to monetize your channel.

If you're just starting and haven’t yet met the requirements for YouTube ad monetization, consider other options like affiliate marketing or selling your own branded products. Using a Print on Demand (POD) service, such as Tapstitch, to create custom t-shirts and other merchandise can be a great way to generate income.

Get inspired, embrace your creativity, and start building your revenue streams on YouTube — one idea at a time. With the right approach, the earning potential is limitless.

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