Last Updated on April 30, 2025 by Eric Cantu
Want to learn how to make money on YouTube and instagram? It’s more straightforward than you think and a spectacular way to get traffic to your website as well as build an affiliate marketing business online. Let’s show you how!
How Can I Make Money on YouTube and Instagram?
Start by creating high-quality content that engages your followers. Use calls to action to influence conversions. Then monetize and scale with ad revenue, sponsored content, direct sales and affiliate marketing. Both YouTube and Instagram are gold mines for this!
Training That Delivers!
• Turn your own niche website into revenue
• Step by step training, tools, & support
• Your own AI powered Business Hub
• Get me as your support coach!
• Free test drive to see if it’s a good fit!
Understanding the Platforms
To start, it’s important to understand the unique capabilities of each platform and how they work. YouTube is the mega popular video-sharing platform that allows users to upload and share their videos with a global audience. Instagram is also massive as a photo based platform that utilizes short form video-sharing as well.
I use both of the platforms as part of my affiliate marketing business strategy and can tell you first hand that the content you create in YouTube and Instagram can perfectly pair with your website and help drive traffic to and from each platform.
Follow me on YouTube!
Follow me on Instagram!
Understanding YouTube and Instagram as a Content Creator: YouTube is the world’s biggest video-sharing platform with over 2 billion monthly active users. And when it comes to Instagram, everyone’s on insta! It’s an extremely popular photo and video sharing app that has over 1 billion monthly active users.
Comparing Monetization Requirements on YouTube and Instagram: YouTube monetization is through the Partner Program, including ads, sponsorships, and merchandise sales. YouTube requires 500 subscribers and 3,000 watch hours for monetization, Instagram is monetized through sponsored posts, affiliate marketing, and product sales. Instagram has no follower count requirement for monetizing through sponsored posts and affiliate marketing.
Leveraging Different Content Types for Monetization: YouTube features long-form videos, live streams, and YouTube Shorts. Instagram: features photos, videos, and the super popular Reels. These different content types can lead to more effective monetization strategies on each platform, so know the platform and how other creators thrive (e.g., sponsored posts and affiliate marketing on Instagram, merchandise sales and ads on YouTube).
Staying updated with trends and features on these platforms is crucial for getting the most earning potential as a creator. When your platform releases a new feature, use it!
Creating Engaging Content
To build your audience on both platfoms you need to connect via content that answers your audience’s needs, addresses their pain points, and delivers high value! Here’s the steps to take to accomplish that.
Focus on quality: Your content always needs to be of the high-quality possible and massively engaging. Never phone it in! This means creating videos or posts that are visually appealing, informative, and entertaining. When brainstorming your content ideas, think about what your audience wants to see and what will keep them coming back for more.
Focus on storytelling: People love a good story! Incorporate a narrative your audience can follow into your videos or posts whenever possible.
Connection equals revenue: The connection you build with your audience will keep them invested in your content and translate to more engagement, shares, and revenue potential.
Growing Followers and Subscribers
Now it’s time to grow your following. On YouTube, this means getting subscribers, while on Instagram, it means gaining followers. There are a number of strategies you can use to do this, including:
Consistency: Posting new content regularly is one of the biggest and easiest things you can do to keep your audience engaged and coming back.
Cross-promotion: Promote your YouTube channel on your Instagram, and vice versa, to get more exposure. Share links from both YouTube and Instagram that lead back to your website as well.
Collaborations: If possible, reach out and work with other content creators in your niche to reach new audiences.
Paid promotion: Consider running ads that can build your reach. Paying for shoutouts is another way to extend your reach but I would only do this with channels or influencers your trust. Many times shoutouts don’t lead to sustained growth.
Engagement Strategies
Always follow up with your engagement. This means responding to comments, answering questions, and generally being active on your social media channels.
Host Q&A sessions: This is a great way to connect with your audience and answer their burning questions. It’s super easy to do on Instagram with instagram stories.
Use hashtags: Hashtags can help you reach new audiences and get more exposure for your content. Always add relevant hashtags to your content. Instagram allows for a max of 30 per post. Use 3-5 in your YouTube video descriptions.
Offer exclusive content: Consider creating exclusive content for your most loyal fans to keep them engaged and invested in your channel. On YouTube you can create Memberships that allow your audience to pay for exclusive content.
Show Me the Money! Monetization Strategies on YouTube
Let’s cover some of the most popular monetization strategies that you can use to earn revenue from your YouTube channel.
Joining the YouTube Partner Program (YPP): To monetize your YouTube channel, the first step is joining the YPP. This program enables monetization through ads on your videos. Eligibility requires at least 500 subscribers and 3,000 watch hours over the past 12 months. (Down from the original 1,000 subs and 4,000 watch hours threshold). Meet these requirements, apply, and you’re in!
Exploring Ad Revenue and Sponsored Content: As a YPP member, you earn from ads shown on your videos, receiving a share of the ad revenue. There are several types of ads that can run at the beginning, middle, and end of your videos and YouTube takes care of everything. Additionally, earning from sponsored content is possible, where brands pay you for promoting their products or services in your videos.
Utilizing Affiliate Marketing and Merch Sales: YouTube and affiliate marketing go hand in hand. Affiliate marketing involves promoting products or services and earning commissions on sales via your affiliate links. I do reviews all the time where I leverage my affiliate links to earn commissions. On top of that, you could sell merchandise like t-shirts, hats, stickers, etc., through your channel to help promote your brand.
Memberships and Super Thanks: You can offer exclusive content to your audience for a fee via the Memberships features. You can give early access to videos and other perks to your most dedicated fans. You can also place a button on your video player that allows your audience to give you a “Super Thanks” donation.
Monetization Strategies on Instagram
Now let’s talk Instagram. Here are some of the most effective ways to monetize your Instagram presence:
Monetize your content in stories: When you create content that is engaging it’s an opportunity to get your audience to take action. Use clickable links in your stories for direct product purchases by followers.
Exclusive content: Much like you can do with YouTube, Instagram also allows you to offer exclusive content to followers for a subscription fee.
Brand collaborations and sponsored posts: Collaborate with brands and earn by promoting their products and services to your followers. You can also get paid for posting about specific products and services
Instagram shop and affiliate links: Did you know you can sell your own products on Instagram using the shop feature? And what if you don’t have any products or services of your own? No problem, promote popular products and services you love and earn commissions when your audience makes purchases through your affiliate links. To get the most engagement choose products that tightly fit your niche and brand. This brings relevance to your followers by connecting them with products they have interest in.
What are the Best Actionable Steps You Can Take to Make Money on YouTube and Instagram?
Promote discounts, deals, and special offers: Your audience loves deals that answer their needs. So when you promote a relevant product or service that has a discount or a deal, the conversion rate can be very favorable to you. You can do this in Instagram stories, Instagram posts, Instagram reels, YouTube videos, YouTube community posts, YouTube shorts, Youtube video descriptions, and more.
Hype up a countdown: Do you have new exclusive content around the corner? How about a big review for the latest, greatest product in your niche. Hype that content up! It creates a feeling of anticipation with your audience and can create a boost in engagement. You can use this method in Instagram stories, Instagram posts, Instagram reels, YouTube videos, YouTube community posts, YouTube shorts, Youtube video descriptions, and more.
Partner with creators in your niche: If you want to extend your reach you can try reaching out to influencers in your niche. This can be a win/win for both parties and allow you to gain new followers. This can be applied both on Instagram and YouTube.
Join an affiliate program: Affiliate marketing is in my opinion the most straightforward way to make money online. It goes hand in hand with both YouTube and Instagram. By promoting products and services from the merchants your following knows and loves, you act like the middle-man earning commissions every time a sale is made from your affiliate link. And the best part? There’s no limit to how many affiliate programs you’re a part of.
Link to your blog or website: I’m a major proponent of building a website as a home base. You’re in control of everything on your site and it gives you a way of elaborating on the topics you mention on Instagram and YouTube. Utilizing this strategy can bring your social media followers to your website and vice versa, helping you grow both.
Offer classes and courses: Once you have a following why not share your skills? Do you have strategies your audience could benefit from that are relevant to your niche? Use platforms like Teachable to create classes and courses that your audience will gain immense value from. This can be highly profitable as each course is made just once but will create revenue over and over again.
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
Both YouTube and Instagram are gold mines for creating revenue online. Grow your audience by making your focus creating quality content that delivers value, then take full advantage with strategies like affiliate marketing and more to turn that following into revenue!
What do you think? Have you been using YouTube and Instagram for generating revenue for your content? Any issues or hiccups along the way? Let me know what you think in the comments section below! I always respond and I love hearing from you!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the YouTube monetization requirements in 2025?
To qualify for the YouTube Partner Program, you need at least 500 subscribers and 3,000 watch hours over the past 12 months. You’ll also need to follow YouTube’s community guidelines and apply for review before enabling ads.
How much can Instagram influencers with 100k followers earn per post?
Instagram influencers with around 100,000 followers typically earn between $500 and $5,000 per sponsored post, depending on engagement rate, niche, and brand partnerships.
Which platform is more profitable: YouTube or Instagram?
It depends on your niche and audience. YouTube often brings higher long-term earnings through ad revenue and content longevity, while Instagram can generate quicker returns through brand deals and sponsored posts.
Still Hungry for Growth?
Dive Into These Handpicked Articles! ⬇️
- Important YouTube Metrics Every Creator Must Understand (2025 Guide)
- Affiliate Marketing Strategies For Social Media in 2025
- 5 Proven Ways to Drive Traffic to Your Affiliate Links in 2025
- YouTube Channel Branding: 17 Ways To Make Your Channel Stand Out
- 20 Creative Ideas For Engaging YouTube Video Content
- 17 Tips For Collaborating With Other YouTubers For Channel Growth
Eric, thank you for sharing. I am hoping to get over my reticence and start getting my face on video. I see that you have reviewed Pictory. Reading it got me thinking that I would prefer to use a tool like that and I could see why certain users would feel more comfortable with it. However, I now believe that “If it’s going to be, it’s got to be me.”
What do you think? What is your preference? And then getting back to your consideration of YouTube and Instagram, which one do you prefer? Or is that a leading question 😉
Simon
Give Pictory a try! I’m a firm believe though that you are your brand, so when you put your face to your content your audience will see you with more authority. And yes, both YouTube and Instagram are my go-tos. Thanks for the comment!
Another great, informative, article Eric. Thank you!
As someone who is new to Youtube and Instagram, I am just getting out of my comfort zone when it comes to posting videos of myself. What’s your opinion on using AI to help generate outlines, scripts or even video content using my own voice? I just don’t believe it’s as easy as engineering a creative prompt to post regularly on my behalf – but what are your thoughts?
Thanks again!
Jake
You can absolutely ask GPT to give you a script for any kind of video, whether it be longer form YouTube vid or a short form Instagram reel. It’s amazing what it can do just by asking it. As far as faceless, voiceless YouTube video, I did a review on this platform you can check out that does exactly that. Thanks for the comment!