11 Perfect Strategies To Make Money As A Small YouTuber

Last Updated on March 10, 2024 by Eric Cantu

Knowing how to make money as a small YouTuber is a puzzle every small channel dreams of solving. It’s all starts with focusing on building a sustainable channel that delivers value. Let me show you how!

Can you make money as a small YouTuber?

To make money as a small YouTube channel, have a laser focus on finding a tight, unique niche, diversify your income streams past just ads, and put a major focus on engagement with your community.

Key Takeaways

• New, Easier Monetization Requirements: New YouTube channels need at least 500 subscribers and 3,000 watch hours in 12 months to monetize, which is significantly lower than the previous 1000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours.
• Importance of Niche: Choosing a niche you have genuine interest in where your passion meets viewer demand is everything you need to attract a loyal audience and build long-term growth.
• Diversifying Income: There’s more beyond ad revenue! Explore affiliate marketing, merchandise sales, and exclusive content for members to create a consistent revenue stream.
• Community Engagement: Actively engaging with your audience through live streams, social media, and collaborations not only builds loyalty but also opens up new monetization opportunities.
• Maintaining Integrity: Balance YouTube monetization with content that delivers real value. Make sure partnerships and sponsorships always align with your audience’s needs.

YouTube’s Monetization Requirements

To start earning money from your YouTube content, you need to clear a couple of hurdles. For new channels you need:

• At least 500 subscribers (used to be 1000)
• 3 uploads over the last 90 days,
• an Adsense account, and one of the following:
• 3,000 watch hours over the past 12 months (used to be 4,000) or
• 3,000,000 public Shorts views in the last 90 days

Sound like an uphill climb? Take the pressure off. When I started my YouTube journey I just pushed out videos and before I knew it I had reached monetization.

See, for small YouTubers it’s about laying the groundwork for a channel that can grow and thrive long-term. That means understanding the nuances of your audience, producing content that they connect with, and being smart about how you grow.

Small channel owners often have steep competition and visibility challenges, but with perseverance and the right strategies, those barriers can be absolutely overcome.

Leveraging a Unique, Tight Niche

So you’ve got a small YouTube channel and you’re ready to make it blossom. Enter the power of a unique, tight niche. To nail this down, you’re going to look at what you love to talk about and then, just as importantly, see if there’s an audience for it.

Who’s watching?: Once you’ve pinpointed your niche, it’s time to understand who’s watching. YouTube analytics is your best friend here. Dive into your demographics, find out what videos pull the most views, and get a sense of what your viewers want more of. Through my experience I’ve found YouTube analytics to be an absolute goldmine!

Consistency is key: You can’t just post once and disappear for a month. (Trust me, I’ve been guilty of this over and over and over again! Happens to the best of us!) A regular posting schedule lets your viewers know when to expect new content. That doesn’t mean you should sacrifice quality for quantity, though. It’s all about that balance and consistent uploads with content that’s true to you and your niche.

Be authentic: So, what does authenticity mean for you as a creator? It means being yourself, sharing your expertise and experiences, and being transparent with your audience. The second your stop being authentic, it’s a surefire way to lose your audience’s trust.

With a loyal audience tuning in for your unique take on your chosen niche, you’re setting the stage for more than just views, you’re building community which is essential for any monetization strategy. Now, let’s talk about how you can turn that trust into a diversified income stream.

Time to Diversify! Going Beyond YouTube Ad Revenue

If you want to turn your small YouTube channel into a money-maker, putting all your eggs in the ad revenue basket isn’t your best choice. Ad revenue can fluctuate wildly, and for small channels, it might not amount to much. That’s why you need a strategy to diversify.

My personal fave – affiliate marketing: Affiliate marketing is my top recommendation for earning money online. It’s just a smart move, bottom line. Partner with brands that align with your niche and offer value to your audience. Place your affiliate links in your video descriptions and earn commissions for each sale made through your link. Just keep transparency in mind and make sure to disclose those affiliate links to keep that trust with your viewers.

Merch anyone?: Creating and selling your own YouTube channel merchandise might feel like a big step, but it’s a fantastic way to bring in additional revenue. Choose something that connects with you and your viewers, such as T-shirts, mugs, or digital products, depending on what fits your channel’s brand. Remember, this also helps strengthen your community as fans love to show support for their favorite creators.

Go exclusive: Another avenue is through offering paid memberships or exclusive content. Platforms like Patreon allow creators to receive support directly from their fans in exchange for perks like early access to videos or exclusive behind-the-scenes content. It personalizes the viewer experience and reinforces the bond between you and your audience.

Now, let’s transition into engaging with your audience. This not only builds viewer loyalty but it’s also a huge part of your monetization efforts.

Engaging with Your Community: Building Relationships That Pay Off

Now, building an engaged community might not sound like a direct monetization strategy, but let me tell you from personal experience, it’s a game-changer. Your viewers are the backbone of your channel. The stronger your relationship with them, the more likely they are to support you financially when the opportunity arises.

More than just replies: Interacting with viewers isn’t just about answering comments. It’s about creating a two-way conversation. Live streams are fantastic for this. They’re raw, real, and they give you a chance to connect authentically. You’ll not only gather immediate feedback but also create a platform where viewers can contribute through Super Chats and Super Stickers.

I’ve made it a personal goal with my channel to do a live stream once a month.

Don’t limit your presence to YouTube: Spread your wings across social media platforms. This cross-platform engagement can be huge. Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and even TikTok offer additional avenues of monetization to help solidify your community.

Collab: Collaborations are your secret weapon. Engage with creators in your niche and you can tap into a while new, extended audience. This should only be done if it’s a win for both parties involved.

Remember, your community is your support system – give love to these relationships strategically and they’ll likely become a significant source of revenue.

Maximizing Revenue While Maintaining Integrity

There’s a fine line between making money and keeping the trust of your audience. In my opinion, the integrity of your content should always be your top priority.

Honesty is the best policy: Only partner with brands and products that you would genuinely use yourself and make sure to disclose all affiliations to your audience. This not only ensures compliance with YouTube’s guidelines but it also maintains your viewers’ trust.

Keep your finger on the YouTube pulse: Always stay informed about YouTube’s evolving monetization tools and policies to make sure you take full advantage of them effectively. By doing so, you continue to cater to your audience’s interests while exploring new ways to support your channel financially.

Want training that delivers? Check out my detailed review and full walkthrough of the affiliate marketing training platform I owe all my success to! The training is straightforward, affordable, and you can test drive it first to see if it’s a good fit. Click here to check out my full review!

Final Thoughts

It’s not just about the money, it’s about building genuine connections with your audience that translate into consistent revenue, even as a small YouTuber. Stay true to yourself and your viewers, that’s the strategy I like to leverage.

What do you think? Have you had a difficult time monetizing your channel as a small YouTuber? Are you following me on YouTube? What’s the main hurdle? Is it reaching the subscriber threshold? The watch time? Let me know in the comments section below! I’d love to hear your perspective and I always reply!

Frequently Asked Questions

How many subscribers and watch hours do I need to monetize my YouTube channel?

For new YouTube channels to monetize, you need at least 500 subscribers and 3,000 watch hours over the past 12 months.

Why is choosing a tight niche important for a small YouTube channel?

Choosing a tight niche is crucial for a small YouTube channel as it helps attract and retain a very loyal audience by creating hyper relevant content, specifically made for their interests.

What are some ways to diversify income on YouTube?

You can diversify your income on YouTube through affiliate marketing, selling merchandise, offering paid memberships, and creating exclusive content for fans.

How does engaging with my community help in monetizing my YouTube channel?

Engaging with your community builds relationships and loyalty, which can lead to support through methods like Super Chats during live streams and direct fan contributions.

Is it important to maintain integrity while monetizing my YouTube channel?

Yes, maintaining integrity is vital; only choose sponsorships that align with your channel’s values and be transparent with your audience to maintain trust.

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