How do you earn money from YouTube? Scrolling through the internet looking for the answer to this question? Look no further than this guide on effective ways to make money with YouTube. While it’s often not sensible for most people to make thousands of bucks right off the bat, you can start earning money quickly, especially if you’ve earned many followers.
In the beginning, your efforts should be inclined towards finding a grip for your YouTube channel. You need to pay utmost attention to unique content apart from the essentials like background, lighting, microphone, camera, set-up, etc. Once it’s done, you will have to create content for that and establish your audience. It’s worth mentioning that YouTube can be seriously profitable for its creators. The best part about this platform is that it’s simpler than ever to earn money doing what you love – the camera is in front of you and you’re shooting!
Having said this, if you’re new to content creation, it can be overwhelming to understand how to make money with YouTube videos. From branded merchandise and the YT Partnership Program to branded content, affiliate marketing, and more, the possibilities are countless. This guide will show you how to earn income from YouTube, no matter where you start.
Benefits of YouTube 2025
YouTube is undoubtedly a famous social media site these days. Suitable for personal purposes, you can also use it to build a brand for your enterprise. The content you upload will be visible not only on the platform but also in various search engines including Google. Have you ever wondered what the good side of this platform is? Before you learn how to start a YouTube channel and make money, read its benefits below:
1. Completely free to use
Uploading and viewing content on YouTube is 100% free. An individual has the opportunity to try out and see if it works for you or not, without worrying about the cost. Recently, YouTube has launched its YT Premium, however, which is a paid subscription. It enables the user to watch videos without ads being shown, enables the user to play videos when offline, and enables videos to play in the background.
It also gives users direct access to YT Music Premium and lets them watch YT original movies and series. If you have a curated YT channel on your YouTube then you can edit it using youtube studio.com. Here, you can edit videos and track your video’s performance.
2. User-friendly
Using YouTube is quite simple for everyone. Best of all, there is no need for any specific computer skills. If you don’t know how to use this social media site, there are plenty of tutorials on the web on how to create and upload videos and much more.
3. Works as a money-making machine
Using YouTube, you can generate revenue for the views you receive on your videos. To earn YouTube views money from your videos, you need to have a Google AdSense account. If you don’t have one, you can create a new Google AdSense account that will be linked to your YouTube channel.
Apart from Google AdSense, there are many ways to make money through YT. This can be done through options such as sponsorships, affiliate links, selling digital products, offering services, merchandise and products, and more.
4. Easier to share information
By using YouTube, anyone can share a lot of information with a wide audience in a very short amount of time. Sharing information in a fun way is much more interesting. This can be done through music, video, video animation, and comedy sketches.
As with other social media sites like Instagram, YouTube lets you post stories, updates, or conduct polls, which helps a lot in attracting your subscribers. For instance, you can run a poll asking your audience what topic they’d like to see next. This not only supplements engagement but also gives you valuable insights into your subscribers’ preferences.
5. Backlinks are established
You can increase your SEO by creating backlinks with the help of YouTube. You can include your website link on your profile page and within the description of each video you upload to your YT channel. By showcasing your website link across numerous sections of your channel, you boost its visibility, eventually driving more traffic to your site.
Top 15 Ways How to Earn Money From YouTube 2025
If you’re searching the web to know how to start a YouTube channel and earn money, here are the 15 best ways you must check out:
1. Editing YouTube Videos
Video Editing is one of the most valuable skills for aspiring YT creators, particularly if you’ve already been editing your content. With more and more brands establishing a presence on YouTube, offering tailor-made video editing services could be a lucrative opportunity, simply you can make money. YouTube video editing necessitates a mix of creativity, technical expertise, and the ability to create engaging videos that draw and retain audiences’ attention.
Regularly creating content or sketches not only sharpens up your editing skills but also forms an attractive portfolio, ultimately attracting potential brands or individuals. By turning video editing skills into a service, one can monetize his/her skills and move towards the increasing demand for professional YT content creation.
To get started:
Learn everything about editing and the equipment used.
Choose the type/niche of YT channels you wish to go with.
Take a look at YouTube channels that may need your services or watch the content of your favorite channels and ask them to work with you.
2. Reviewing products
Want to know how do you make money through YouTube? Then you should definitely try this approach. Reviewing products on YouTube includes giving real advice on products. You can create a video that includes product reviews and monetize it by giving honest feedback. While reviewing a product, you should mention the price, features, benefits, and drawbacks of the product you are reviewing.
Your review video should also include information that is useful to the audience and helps them decide on the product. With affiliate links added to each product description, interested buyers can tap the URL and purchase the product. In return, you earn a commission from the sale price for each item purchased using the affiliate link.
To get started:
Choose the niche for whose items you will be doing product reviews.
Enroll in any affiliate site from where you can select the specific products you want to sell.
Take ownership of the affiliate link of the item from the network and put it into the description box of the product review video you create.
Create and upload product review videos on YouTube along with affiliate links and earn money.
3. Sell custom merchandise
Introducing your own branded merchandise is an amazing way to diversify your YouTube revenue. Loyal followers who love your content sometimes enjoy showing their support via tangible items. From specially designed hoodies to t-shirts to distinctive posters or accessories, your merchandise can showcase your channel’s identity and connect with your subscribers on a personal level.
The platform also has features like a merchandise shelf, which enables creators to showcase and sell products directly below their videos. As a result, it seamlessly integrates shopping without interrupting the content experience. This way of making money on YouTube not only supplements your earnings but also builds a stronger connection with fans through creative and exclusive products.
To get started:
Market your products by talking about them in your videos.
Use your YT channel’s popularity to attract more clients.
Add a URL to buy your merchandise beneath your YT channel and the content you post.
Also Read: How Influencers Earn Big with Affiliate Marketing
4. YouTube Ads
Those seeking how to make income from YouTube can try out this common method. The YouTube Partnership Program, commonly known as YPP, allows creators to monetize their YT channels in several ways. Of which, the most common is announcement profit. To generate revenue, you will need to qualify as a YouTube partner and link your channel to an AdSense account. Once created, ads will appear on your videos, generating income based on audience engagement and views. This approach offers a stable stream of income for creators who constantly produce engaging, high-quality content.
This is an important step because AdSense is the platform through which anyone can make money through the platform. To be eligible for the YT Partner Program, you must meet the required conditions, which include the following:
Have at least 1,000 subscribers.
Have watched a minimum of 4,000 hours of TV in the last 12 months.
Need to reach 1k to 2k views/per video. For those scrolling the web to find out how many views to earn money on YouTube, keep in mind that the number of views you get is not related to the revenue earned.
To get started:
Set up your YT channel.
Create a Google Adwords account and follow the instructions given in it.
Fill out all the necessary details on Adwords.
Connect Adwords with your channel.
Ads will start appearing on your videos and you can earn money for each ad viewed by the viewers.
Also Read: How to Earn Up to 50k+ per month 2025 | Top Ideas to Start Today
5. Subscription Membership Program
A paid membership program lets your loyal fans support you in return for exclusive content or other benefits. Similar to personalized subscriptions, channel memberships provide viewers access to exclusive perks, such as unique badges, custom emojis, and even members-only videos. This is an excellent way to supplement your YT revenue while adding value to your most loyal subscribers.
You can create your own subscription fees and pricing terms, and then imagine what you could offer to your most loyal fans as a thank-you for supporting your channel. Channel memberships work similarly to platforms like Patreon, but are designed directly into YouTube. After joining the YPP, you can enable memberships from the monetization settings. This feature offers a great opportunity to make money by providing special content and benefits to your dedicated followers.
To get started:
Creators eligible for the Paid Membership program can make changes to activate this service.
To do so, open YouTube Studio.
Enable the Membership tab under the Earn option.
Finally, get started with the membership program.
6. Work as a YouTube Influencer
Unlike other social media sites where users most often scroll passively, people visit YT with the intent to watch specific videos. YouTube influencers are content creators who produce content designed to inform, entertain, and engage their audience. Becoming an influencer not only helps connect with an audience but also works as a powerful way for those looking how to earn money using YouTube.
Being an influencer, you can have different streams of income from the platform, including selling personal branded merchandise, doing affiliate marketing, applying for the YouTube Paid Membership Program, and more. Before becoming a YouTube influencer, you must have all the important knowledge about this job and be consistent in posting new videos and interacting with your subscribers.
To get started:
Select your niche first.
Create either short-term goals or long-term goals for your YT channel, and then content outline accordingly.
Start creating the content and upload it on your channel.
Be consistent and keep monitor of your content’s performance.
Create a strong subscriber base on the YT.
The best content of yours will become eligible to make money.
7. Earn Money from your fans
To get paid through YouTube, all you need to create unique content that connects with your audience. Fans can support you in several ways, including gaining access to special content or subscribing to your channel. Channel memberships help keep everything within the platform. To unlock this feature, however, your YPP-approved channel must have approx 1,000 followers, along with fulfilling other requirements.
For new channels who want to know how can we make money through YouTube with this approach, it may be difficult to do so, but once they meet the requirements, fans can pay directly to access your premium content.
To get started:
Become eligible according to YouTube guidelines.
Start making money from Livestreams by your Superfans.
8. Earn from sponsored content
Collaborating with brands and marketing their products is one of the effective ways to make money on YouTube. If you have a high engagement level from a marketable target audience, you can work as a sponsored influencer. With YT’s Brand Connect program, you can partner with marketers who want to market a product or brand.
You may also receive inquiries from potential leads, or companies might reach out to align with you to connect with your engaged audience. Sponsored content is the most lucrative method of YouTube monetization for many social media influencers, such as creators, and YouTubers, no matter how it is done. Some brands will pay a significant amount of money to be mentioned in one of your videos.
To get started:
Fulfill all the eligibility criteria decided by YouTube (for instance, be a part of YPP, should be 18 years, and more).
Next, fill up all the essential details.
The platform will reach you once they find it suitable.
Also Read: How to make money from Facebook 2025 | Ultimate Guide
9. Crowdfunding
Many content creators utilize fan funding to support special ventures like films, books, apps, web series, or product development, as well as to market causes they are passionate about. Are you looking for how can earn money through YouTube, look no further than crowdfunding. To enroll for YouTube crowdfunding, creators must have a minimum of 1k subscribers and be part of the partner program.
As crowdfunding is usually a one-time effort, it can be easier to implement than ongoing membership revenue. Depending on your goals, however, this approach may still present difficulties. Sites like Indiegogo and Kickstarter are best for outlining project ideas, detailing the fundraising process, and setting a budget. This enables you to generate funds while engaging with your audience.
To get started:
In YouTube Studio, open “Earn” and select “Giving.”
Tap “Get Started” and choose “Create a Fundraiser.”
Set up fundraiser details (reason, title, description).
Add the video or live stream with the crowdfunding button.
Publish and earn money.
10. YouTube Super Thanks
Previously known as Viewer Appreciation, Super Thanks is another great way to make money on YouTube. Viewers use this to provide extra support to their favorite creators. YouTubers get paid for every Super Thanks animation purchased for their video, whether short or long. YT Super Thanks also gives viewers the bonus of sending personalized stickers and comments on different colored comment boxes.
To get started:
Open YouTube Studio.
Go to “Earn” > “Supers” (if eligible).
Click “Get Started” and follow instructions.
Toggle “Super Thanks” on or off.
11. YouTube Super Chats and Stickers
Many creators miss out on monetizing live streams with Super Chat, but it’s an easy method to earn. During live broadcasts, fans can buy Super Stickers, which work as tips. Remember YouTube takes a 30% commission. Stickers range in price from 99 cents to $50, giving fans a chance to encourage their favorite creators while also increasing their visibility in busy chat streams. This is an effective way for those looking for how can I make money through YouTube.
To get started:
Open “YouTube Studio”.
Go to “Earn” > “Super” (if eligible).
Click “Get Started,” follow the instructions, and accept.
Toggle “Super Chats” and “Super Stickers” on or off.
12. YouTube Shorts
YouTube Shorts not only attract viewers but also increase the YouTube monetization chances of creators’ channels. Being a content creator, you can earn money from Shorts by opting into the Shorts monetization program. Similar to long-form videos, you’ll need to produce engaging and informative content, but the key difference is that you have to do it in under 60 seconds.
Agree to the Shorts monetization module.
Post original content.
YouTube will contact you if eligible.
Claim your bonus by the 25th of each month.
13. YouTube Premium
Scrolling the web to learn How to earn money via YouTube? Check out this method which will have many features and you will be able to make money from YouTube. Now, you might be wondering if this won’t reduce the creator’s ad revenue; no, it doesn’t. Instead, your subscribers will pay you to unlock your exclusive content before others who don’t pay for premium. This way your YouTube revenue will be supplemented.
To get started:
On your YT channel, earn a strong fan base.
Apply for YouTube Premium for creators.
Create content on premium.
Create content and market it.
Ask your fans to subscribe to Paid Membership to unlock your content exclusively and ad-free.
14. Selling Online Course
Have you ever worked as a lifestyle coach, a professor, an economist, or other? And want to know how to make money on YouTube? If you have expertise in any field, you can set up your teaching content online like a course or class, and monetize it on YouTube. And since you already have a strong fan following on your channel, you can inspire them to buy your course.
To get started:
Create and promote your online course.
Add your course URL in the description box of your video content.
You can get paid as your course sells.
15. License your videos
Your tech review content is not likely to be licensed, but video content related to health, food, travel, fitness, beauty, and fashion may be licensed. If you’re a fashion influencer who attends a fashion event, for instance, you can license that content to a news outlet that needs to shoot the event. Licensing your content can be a profitable path to generate income from YouTube.
To get started:
Open “YouTube’s Advanced Setting Option”.
Open “License and right Ownerships”, and then tap “Standard YouTube License Box”.
Pick the “Creative Common License”, make your changes, and save it.
Note that your video should be worth licensing else you won’t get any financial advantages.
Conclusion
We end this blog with these final words many people watch content on YouTube but very few people create content for it. And these are the people who benefit financially from the platform, and you could be one of them. Become a content creator or a YouTuber and the platform itself will pay you for doing so. We have also mentioned some of the best ways to make money from YouTube that you can do today. Don’t waste your time, go from viewer to creator and make money on YouTube today.
FAQs
- How many subscribers on YouTube to get money?
To get money from YouTube, you will need to enroll in the YouTube partner program. To access its monetization features, creators must achieve several milestones, including 1,000 subscribers, 4,000 watch hours in the past 12 months, or 10 million Shorts views in the past 90 days.
- How many views to get money on YouTube?
The number of views your channel gets is not related to the money you make. If your YT videos get thousands of views but there is no engagement from the ads shown before your videos, you won’t be able to make any money.
- How do YouTubers make money?
YouTubers make money using several ways, such as crowdfunding, the YouTube Partner program, selling products on merchandise, fan funding, licensing content to media, working as an affiliate marketer, and working with brands as influencers.
- Do I get paid for uploading content on YouTube?
As a content creator, you don’t get paid for the content you upload to YouTube. To generate income on YouTube, you need to turn on monetization in their YouTube account settings. From there, you have the option to join the partner program or list your videos on a premium membership,
- Does YouTube pay every month?
Creators are paid monthly, but you must reach a $100 minimum payout threshold to receive payment. Once you hit this milestone, the platform processes your payment the following month. For example, if you earn $100 in February, you’ll receive your payment by the end of March.
