Let's cut straight to it: everyone wants to know how do you make money on YouTube, but most answers are either sugar-coated fairy tales or vague advice that leaves you more confused. I've been in this game six years, and my first $100 took nine grueling months. Today, my channel pays my mortgage. This guide strips away the fluff and gives you the concrete roadmap I wish I'd had.
You won't find generic "build an audience" advice here. We're diving into specific dollar amounts, real payment thresholds, and actual tools that work in 2024. Forget what worked in 2018 – the algorithm changed, advertisers tightened budgets, and viewers got pickier. I'll show you what actually moves the needle now.
Quick reality check: You won't get rich from AdSense alone. My first monetized video (a 15-minute garage woodworking tutorial) earned $1.74. But that same video later landed me a $2,000 sponsorship. The game is about stacking income streams – we'll break down exactly how.
YouTube Partner Program: Your Foundation
First, let's demystify the basics. To even start asking how do you make money on YouTube seriously, you need access to monetization tools:
| Requirement | Threshold | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Subscribers | 1,000+ | Proves audience loyalty (most platforms require this) |
| Watch Hours | 4,000+ annually | Shows consistent content consumption |
| AdSense Account | Approved by Google | Your payment pipeline (set this up early!) |
Getting approved took me three attempts. Why? My "original content" wasn't original enough. YouTube rejected DIY videos showing IKEA hacks because the furniture designs weren't mine. Lesson: Document your unique process, not branded products.
Ad Revenue Breakdown (What You Really Earn)
Stop guessing about RPMs (revenue per mille). Here's what niches actually pay per 1,000 views:
| Niche | Average RPM | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Finance | $15-$35 | High advertiser competition |
| Tech Reviews | $8-$12 | Brands pay premium for targeted audiences |
| Gaming | $2-$5 | Oversaturated, low CPMs |
| Crafts/DIY | $6-$15 | Surprisingly strong for product tie-ins |
| Vlogs | $3-$7 | Generic audience = lower rates |
My woodworking channel sits around $10 RPM. That means 100,000 views ≈ $1,000. But here's the kicker – one sponsorship for that same video earned triple that. Which brings us to...
Beyond Ads: 7 Revenue Streams That Actually Work
If you're serious about learning how do you make money on YouTube, treat AdSense as pocket change. These strategies pay my bills:
1. Sponsorships (The Real Cash Cow)
Brand deals transformed my channel. My first paid partnership was with Squarespace – $500 for 90 seconds in a 10-minute video. Now I charge $3,000-$8,000 per integration.
How to land them:
- Tool: Use Pitchbox ($195/month) to find brand contact emails
- Pricing: Charge $10-$50 per 1,000 subscribers (e.g., 50k subs = $500-$2,500 per deal)
- Contract Tip: Always specify revision limits (I learned the hard way)
2. Affiliate Marketing (Quiet Performer)
That $500 table saw I reviewed last year? It's earned $4,217 in commissions. Here's my affiliate arsenal:
| Program | Commission | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon Associates | 1-10% | Physical products (tools, books, gear) |
| ShareASale | 5-75% | Digital products (courses, software) |
| Impact Radius | 10-50% | High-end brands (NordVPN, HelloFresh) |
Place links strategically: First mention in description, pinned comment, AND verbal call-out at video's peak engagement point (use TubeBuddy's heatmaps to find it).
3. Digital Products (Your Value Engine)
When viewers asked for detailed plans after my "floating desk" tutorial, I created a $37 PDF blueprint. It's made $21k with zero advertising.
Creating sellable assets:
- Low Effort: Checklists or templates (Canva, $12.99/month)
- Mid Tier: Video courses (Teachable, $39/month)
- High Value: 1:1 coaching (Calendly integration)
My rule: If three people ask the same question in comments, turn it into a product.
The Niche Factor: What Works in 2024?
Want to know the brutal truth? Some topics just monetize better. After analyzing my 12 creator friends:
| Niche | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Home Improvement | High affiliate rates (tools), sponsorship potential | Equipment costs, slower growth |
| Personal Finance | Premium sponsors (banks, investing apps) | Regulatory minefield, intense competition |
| Gaming | Massive audience potential | CPMs under $3, sponsor saturation |
| Educational | Strong course sales, loyal following | Requires deep expertise |
My advice? Start hyper-niche. "Woodworking" is crowded but "Japanese joinery for small spaces" isn't. That specificity later lets you expand.
Essential Tools (Without Breaking the Bank)
You don't need a $3,000 camera. Here's my actual 2024 kit:
- Camera: Used Sony ZV-E10 ($600 on eBay)
- Audio: Rode Wireless Go II ($299) – bad audio kills views
- Editing: DaVinci Resolve (free version)
- SEO: TubeBuddy ($9/month for tag research)
- Thumbnails: Canva Pro ($12.99/month)
Total startup cost under $1,000. Upgrade only when equipment limits your quality – not because some guru said so.
Timeline Reality Check
How soon can you expect income? From my experience and polled creators:
| Milestone | Average Time | Realistic Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| First dollar | 3-6 months | $0.50-$20/month (AdSense) |
| Consistent $100/mo | 8-12 months | Affiliate + ads |
| Full-time income | 18-36 months | Sponsorships + products layered |
My month 6: $27.38. Month 18: $2,100. Month 36: $8,400. The curve steepens after crossing 10k subs.
FAQs: Real Questions from Creators
How do you make money on YouTube with under 1,000 subscribers?
Affiliate links and direct product sales. My first revenue came from recommending wood glue – no monetization required. Also sell digital products via Gumroad (no platform cut).
Do YouTube Shorts make money?
Barely. RPMs are 10-20% of long-form videos. But I use Shorts as "trailers" directing to full tutorials. One carpentry Short brought 4,000 views to a $47 course.
How do creators actually get sponsors?
90% of my deals came from direct outreach – not waiting for emails. I search brands my audience buys, find marketing managers on LinkedIn, and pitch specific video integration ideas.
Is buying subscribers worthwhile?
Horrible idea. My friend tested this – 5,000 fake subs. Result? Videos got 50-100 views, killing his credibility. Real sponsors check engagement metrics.
Brutal Truths Nobody Tells You
- Taxes will shock you – set aside 30% immediately
- One algorithm change can slash your income overnight (happened to me in 2022)
- Viewers unsubscribe when you start selling – 5-10% drop is normal
- Equipment fails constantly – have backup mics
Still, I'd do it again. The freedom outweighs the instability. Last Thursday, I filmed in my pajamas. Beat any office job.
Action Plan: Your First 90 Days
- Pick one micro-niche (e.g., "knife sharpening" not "cooking")
- Create 10 search-based videos (use Ahrefs for keyword difficulty under 30)
- Add affiliate links to every description (Amazon + ShareASale)
- At 500 subs, pitch small brands ("I'll feature your sharpening stone for $100")
- Reinvest 100% of early income into better audio equipment
The path to understanding how do you make money on YouTube isn't mysterious – it's about stacking small wins. My first paid product took 14 hours to create and earned $38. Today? That product makes $800/month on autopilot. Start where you are.
Look, I'm just a guy who turned his garage hobby into a livelihood. If I figured out how do you make money on YouTube, so can you. Skip the guru courses – implement this for six months. Then we'll talk revenue.
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