Beyond AdSense: 6 Ways You Can Make Money on YouTube
As a YouTube creator, making money on the platform goes beyond relying solely on AdSense. With a growing creator economy, YouTube offers a variety of revenue streams designed to help you monetize your content, build your brand, and engage more deeply with your audience.
Let's dive into six of the most effective ways to earn on YouTube—beyond AdSense.
1. Ad Revenue and YouTube Premium
While AdSense is the primary form of ad revenue, creators can also earn money through YouTube Premium. When viewers subscribe to YouTube Premium, they watch your videos without ads, but you still get a cut of the subscription fee. This allows creators to earn even if their audience prefers an ad-free experience.
Ad revenue is often influenced by factors such as the type of content you create, your audience demographics, and your CPM (cost per thousand impressions). However, YouTube Premium offers an additional layer of income, diversifying your earnings without changing the way you create content.
Tip: Create content that’s binge-worthy or appeals to the kind of viewers who might subscribe to Premium for a more seamless viewing experience.
2. Super Chat and Super Stickers
Super Chat and Super Stickers are features available during live streams that allow your fans to pay for highlighted messages or fun stickers in the chat. This is especially useful if you engage heavily with your audience through live streaming, as it gives your most loyal viewers a way to stand out in a crowded chatroom.
Super Chats can vary in price, and the more a fan pays, the longer their message stays pinned at the top of the chat. It’s a fun and engaging way for creators to interact with their fans while generating extra income. Super Stickers work similarly, letting fans purchase animated stickers to express their support.
Tip: Promote Super Chats and Super Stickers by engaging your audience during live streams. Shout out or directly respond to fans who support you through these features to build a deeper connection with them.
3. YouTube Shopping
With the rise of YouTube Shopping, creators can now link products directly from their videos, allowing viewers to make purchases while watching. This is a game-changer for creators with a brand or merchandise, as it integrates e-commerce with content seamlessly.
Whether you’re promoting your own products or working with partners, YouTube Shopping gives you the opportunity to turn video views into direct sales. The ability to add product tags to videos or livestreams makes it easier for creators to monetize through merchandise, product placements, or affiliate marketing.
Tip: If you’re not already selling merchandise, consider designing a few key products related to your content. This could be branded clothing, accessories, or other items that resonate with your audience.
4. Channel Memberships
Channel Memberships allow your most loyal subscribers to pay a monthly fee for access to exclusive perks, like members-only videos, live streams, or badges. Memberships are a great way to build a steady, recurring income from your channel while offering something special to your biggest fans.
When you set up Channel Memberships, make sure to offer tiers that provide real value. Whether it's early access to videos, behind-the-scenes content, or members-only emojis, these perks incentivize people to join and stay as a member.
Tip: Promote Channel Memberships at the end of your videos or during live streams to encourage fans to join. Consider offering a welcome video or some extra goodies to new members to keep them engaged.
5. YouTube BrandConnect
YouTube BrandConnect is YouTube’s built-in influencer marketing platform, connecting creators with brands for paid partnerships. If you have an engaged audience, brands may want to work with you to promote their products or services. BrandConnect helps facilitate these partnerships, making it easier for creators to find sponsors and make sponsored content.
Brand deals can vary in structure, but they are a lucrative way to diversify your income, especially as your channel grows. Unlike traditional ads, brand deals allow creators to integrate products organically into their content, often resulting in higher engagement from viewers.
Tip: Be selective with the brands you partner with to ensure their products align with your content and audience. Authenticity is key in maintaining viewer trust.
6. Super Thanks
Super Thanks is a relatively new feature that lets your audience tip you directly on any of your uploaded videos, not just during live streams. Viewers can purchase Super Thanks to show appreciation, and their comment will be highlighted in the video’s comment section.
This is a fantastic way for fans to support you even if they don’t catch you live. Super Thanks provides an additional revenue stream and fosters stronger relationships with your audience by giving them a chance to directly contribute to your success.
Tip: Acknowledge and appreciate your audience whenever they send you Super Thanks. The personal connection you build with fans who support you in this way can help strengthen your community.
More Ways to Earn, More Control Over Your Future
As a YouTube creator, relying on AdSense alone may not be enough to grow your channel and sustain your career. Fortunately, YouTube offers a range of other ways to monetize, from community support through Super Chat and Super Thanks to working with brands and selling products. Diversifying your revenue streams helps you stay independent, focus on the content you love, and build a thriving community around your channel.
Take advantage of these tools, and you'll find yourself not only growing your income but also deepening your connection with your fans.
