- To begin, log-in to your YouTube channel account.
- In the Channel Settings tab, select “Enable monetization.”
- Follow the steps to accept the YouTube monetization agreement.
- In the Uploads tab, you will see a green box with a dollar sign next to the videos that are immediately eligible for monetization. Videos that are not eligible to be monetized due to copyright will be appear under the Copyright Notices tab.
- Next, you’ll need to associate an AdSense account to your YouTube channel. It is free to set up a new AdSense account. You will need either a PayPal or a bank account and a valid mailing address in order to have your account verified. AdSense will update you by mail once your account has been approved. You can also associate an existing, approved AdSense account to your channel. For instructions on how to associate your YouTube and AdSense accounts, visit the Google support page.
There are Other Other Monetization Options
Monetizing through YouTube is only one of the ways that you can make money on YouTube. There are actually several others, but enabling YouTube monetization is a great, fairly easy entry point. The subscriber and watch time threshold for YouTube ads is pretty low, so it allows your channel to pick up steam when it’s still in its infancy. As you continue to gain more followers and increase watch times, however, you should consider additional monetization options—especially if you have a very loyal and engaged audience.
1. Patronage
Patreon is one of the most popular online patronage platforms for YouTube creators. Patreon allows your loyal followers to pay a certain amount of money each month for access to exclusive content. You can have multiple tiers of patrons, providing them with anything from behind-the-scenes footage to completely new content (that non-paying members can’t see). Some YouTubers give their patrons access to videos a day early, others even throw in some one-on-one time with the creators themselves. Patreon is a fantastic option for creators with a loyal fanbase. More often than not, that loyalty is gained through consistent communication and engagement with your followers.
2. Merchandise
People love merch. But before you start printing 1,000 t-shirts for all 1,000 of your subscribers, test the waters a bit. Ask your audience if they’re interested in buying merchandise from you. You can suggest types of merchandise and even ask them to comment with products that they’d like to buy. Selling merch is especially great if you and your followers use specific lingo, catchphrases, or have inside jokes. Once you start selling merch, you can also include it in contests, giveaways, or even add it to one of your Patreon tiers.
3. Affiliates
The good news is that it’s pretty easy to get into an affiliate program. The earnings are just lower than what you’d receive with a paid sponsorship. Once you sign up for an affiliate program with a specific brand, you’ll receive a unique discount code that your followers can use when shopping with that brand. Every time your code is used, you’ll earn a small commission. Mention the affiliate code in your videos and also include it in your video descriptions to maximize earnings.
4. Product Features
Product features are a great stepping stone toward paid sponsorships, but they may not result in actual cash. As you start gaining a larger following, brands might send you their products to feature and/or review in your videos. Free stuff is great, right? You don’t even have to wait for brands to reach out to you—go ahead and pitch yourself to potential sponsors. Just make sure that you pitch to companies that make sense for your channel (although, you may start receiving random product feature requests along the way).
5. Paid Sponsorships
Paid sponsorships are the goldmine for making money on YouTube. This is when brands pay you to mention or endorse their product in your videos. We’re going to be completely honest with you—this is a hard goal to reach. But it is never too early to start pitching yourself to companies. Engage with them on social media, show them how you would help their brand, and provide examples of successful product sponsorships or affiliate programs you’ve done in the past. Even if you haven’t quite hit the desired subscriber count yet, you’ll still put yourself on brands’ radars. Again, just make sure that the companies you seek out make sense for the content you produce.