The basic model of monetization on YouTube looks simple – the author receives money for the ads displayed on his or her video, but this is only possible if your channel meets the terms of the affiliate program and the video does not violate the rules and has been verified after publication. Those who are hoping for quick money should understand that the channel requires long-term maintenance and constant updating of the content of your YouTube channel. To be interesting to direct advertisers as the most profitable way to monetize a YouTube channel, you need to have an even higher reach. I’ve identified 6 methods of monetizing content on YouTube, which I’ll talk about in more detail in this article.

Methods of monetizing a YouTube channel

1 method: Monetization with AdSense (Google AdSense contextual advertising).

Google’s AdSense affiliate service allows you to make a profit from advertising on the channel. Advertisers post their videos on your channel, paying you for each click. To do this, you need to meet the following conditions: have more than 1,000 subscribers and at least 4,000 hours of video viewing on the channel per calendar year. With this method, the channel owner receives profit for advertising in the videos. Revenues are distributed in a 68/32 percentage ratio, with the larger share going to the channel’s author. Also, the possibility of monetizing YouTube shorts has recently appeared. Conditions for monetization on this format 1000 thousand subscribers 10 million valid Shorts views in the last 90 days. This model, like any way of making money, has its pros and cons.

The positive aspects include:

• Ads are displayed automatically, and algorithms usually select relevant advertisers for your audience.
• The money is automatically credited to the specified payment method.

Cons:

• Low profitability.
• The threshold amount for withdrawal is $100.
• The income comes only once a month.
• You must strictly follow the rules of the service, otherwise monetization may be disabled.

Tips for improving your earnings:

• If you can choose a niche, choose the one that is popular with millennials, as this is the desired audience for most advertisers. The most profitable (with the highest CPM) are gadgets, cars, real estate, business, and crypto.
• I advise you to enable all types of advertising to maximize your profits.
• For videos over 10 minutes, YouTube usually puts more commercial breaks.
• The best geographies in terms of advertising revenue are the US and Europe. But keep in mind that competition in almost all niches is higher there.

2 method: Interaction with media networks (MCN)

Multi-Channel Networks (MCNs) are companies that partner with YouTube and offer additional earning opportunities for content creators. Despite the high commissions of 20-50% that are taken after YouTube distributes the revenue, this method has its advantages, after all:

• You will have the opportunity to get exclusive contracts from advertisers of affiliate network partners.
• Assistance in solving problems related to copyright infringement. And get the content id tool.
• Priority support from the YouTube support team. MCN have direct contact with the local office and can receive answers in a few days.
• The payment can be made in any convenient way.
• Usually, MCNs provide additional services and consultations to their partners.

Cons:

• Once you sign the contract, it will be difficult to disconnect from the partner before it expires.
• MCN will take part of the profit for its services.

Tips for cooperation with partner networks:

• Carefully study the terms of cooperation (the term of the contract, the percentage of advertising that MCN takes for itself, and the feedback from other bloggers about working with them).

3 method: Superchats and superstickers

Channel owners are given the opportunity to sell super stickers to their subscribers and use super chats during live broadcasts. To enable these features, you need to have monetization activated. This method is most suitable for streamers. Unfortunately, this method of monetization is not yet available in Ukraine.
By enabling this feature, you agree to its use. You can disable it at any time. But superfunctions have some limitations:

• YouTube strictly controls paid comments, and all the money earned in this way is withdrawn to AdSense.
• You cannot use this feature set with closed comments.
• There is a ban on its use in videos with an 18+ rating and in videos intended for children.

Tips for improving your earnings:

• Interactive broadcasts: Engage viewers with active and interesting broadcasts and motivate them to invest in the development of content on the channel.
• Acknowledge support: Actively thank your sponsors and subscribers for their support during your broadcasts.

4 method: Selling goods and services through the YouTube store or through links.

The most labor-intensive but profitable way is to sell merchandise and goods related to the channel’s theme through your own store. To do this, you need to have more than 10 thousand subscribers, activated monetization, and carry it out in your home region. Links to products automatically appear in the videos and you can get the first results almost immediately.

Tips for improving your earnings:

• Design unique and attractive merchandise for your audience, and don’t forget about its quality.
• Native integration of products into content: Wear a branded T-shirt or add your products to the frame. We want viewers to see them and start asking how to buy them themselves.
• Tag products with special tags in regular and short videos, as well as during live broadcasts.

5 method: Platforms to support bloggers

Programs and platforms for collecting support from the audience, such as Patreon, can be an additional source of income for content creators of any popularity. The most popular ones are: Patreon, Buy Me a Coffee, Diaka, Donatua, Donatello.

Tips for improving your earnings:

• Exclusive content for subscribers: Create content that is only available to subscribers.
• Constant interaction: Actively communicate and collaborate with your followers. Add sponsor lists to your videos.
• Create different offers depending on the level of donations. The higher the donation, the more content or more opportunities to interact with you the sponsor should get.
• Use multiple platforms to increase the likelihood of receiving donations.

6 method: Partnering with brands and budding bloggers

Advertising integrations from brands on YouTube are an effective way to attract audience attention and increase brand awareness. You can also get paid for advertising the channel of another blogger who wants to get a share of your audience. Let’s consider different types of such integrations and their advantages and disadvantages.

Types of ad integrations:

1) Deep integration into content

Advantages: Native look, high efficiency, and profitability.
Disadvantages: Requires a high level of creativity, may look inorganic.

2) Pre-roll and post-roll:

Advantages: wide audience reach, effective with proper markup.
Disadvantages: Some viewers don’t react well to the integration and may turn off the video.

3) Purchase of placement on end screensavers:

Advantages: High visibility, the ability to target video.
Disadvantages: Suitable for promoting videos of other channels, but not popular with brands.

4) Publications in the community section:

Advantages: Attracting an active audience, the possibility of interaction.
Disadvantages: Dependence on community topics, less visibility.

5) Purchase a place in the playlist on the channel’s main page:

Advantages: High visibility, possibility of targeting.
Disadvantages: Suitable for promoting videos of other channels, but not popular with brands.

Advantages of advertising integrations from brands:

High efficiency compared to traditional forms of advertising.
Helps build a partnership between a brand and a content creator.
Provides an opportunity for creativity and individuality.

Disadvantages of advertising integrations from brands:

The risk of advertising looking like a foreign element in the content.
Requires additional efforts to create and coordinate integration with the customer.

Recommendations for improving the results:

In-depth audience analysis: Thoroughly research the audience of the content creator for a particular integration and make sure it matches your target group.
Be creative: Try new and original integration ideas that will set you apart from the competition.
Analyze results: Monitor metrics and analyze campaign performance for further improvement.

Conclusion:

Earning money from YouTube advertising is a real prospect, and with the right approach, it can provide its owner with a high passive income. The main thing is to remember that your videos should always be relevant, interesting, and not violate the terms of the platform.