YouTube is one of the best ways to make money online and earn a decent income. It's well known that YouTube has become a hub for content creators worldwide, offering videos on various topics and earning thousands of dollars.
If you're interested in making money online through YouTube, this guide will take you through creating your channel, developing strategies, generating ideas, and finally making profits.
No matter your educational level or technical skills, what matters is your commitment and following the step-by-step instructions provided.
What are the steps to making money on YouTube?
To start working on YouTube and earning money online, you need to follow these 7 key steps:
1. Creating the channel:
Before creating a channel, you need a Gmail account.
Choose an attractive name related to your channel's niche.
Write a short description that appears on the channel's front page, explaining what your channel is about and its goals.
Don’t forget to add a logo and a banner image for your channel.
For those unfamiliar with some terms:
- Gmail: An email service by Google, created for free with your personal information and phone number.
- Channel Name: This is your brand on YouTube, playing a crucial role in how users find you on Google and YouTube. You can change your channel name in YouTube Studio under customization and basic info.
- Channel Description: Important for explaining your content. Found in YouTube Studio under customization and basic info.
- Channel Logo: Like a sports team's logo, it identifies your channel and its content. You can update this in YouTube Studio under customization and brand identity.
2. Quality Content:
Share engaging videos in your field that spark viewers' curiosity.
Focus on creating eye-catching thumbnails as they serve as the video's front cover, playing a major role in viewers’ decisions to watch your video.
Additionally, use compelling titles to attract more views.
3. Building an Audience:
Gaining a targeted and interested audience is a primary goal for every content creator.
To achieve this, share videos regularly, whether daily, weekly, or monthly, and interact with your audience.
Example:
Some content creators expand their audience by partnering with others in the same niche. For instance, two creators can make joint videos, exposing each other to their respective audiences and thereby increasing viewership and subscribers for both.
4. Following YouTube's Rules and Guidelines:
Regularly review YouTube's updated content and monetization guidelines to ensure your channel complies, avoiding strikes or closures.
5. Enabling Monetization:
Once you consistently create content and achieve the required views and subscribers, apply for monetization on your YouTube channel. Read YouTube's Community Guidelines.
6. Evaluating Your Channel:
Analyze your channel's statistics and content preferences. Focus on the type of content your viewers enjoy the most.
7. Developing Your Channel:
To keep your channel successful, avoid making your audience bored.
Experiment with new presentation styles and video formats. It’s okay to take inspiration from competitors to stay updated with YouTube trends.
How to Find YouTube Channel Ideas?
Before you start making money on YouTube, you need a solid idea for your channel.
Many struggle with finding a successful idea that attracts many views and followers.
Here are some successful YouTube channel ideas to consider:
1. Real-Life Stories
Channels that share real-life stories captivate audiences as people are curious about the details from beginning to end. This type of content often garners high views, helping creators earn money through YouTube.
2. News Channel
News channels are a great way to make money on YouTube. This type of content doesn’t require much effort to find video ideas.
Simply follow the latest news in your niche, like politics, economics, or sports, and create videos based on that news.
News channels grow quickly because viewers are always eager to learn the latest updates.
To succeed with a news channel, stay updated with the latest developments in your field and create videos quickly to capitalize on viewer interest.
Use tools like Google Trends to find trending content.
3. Book Summaries
Many book lovers look for summaries because they can’t always read the entire book but are curious about the key points.
As a content creator, you can create a channel focused on book reviews and summaries, earning money through Google AdSense.
4. Educational Channel
Creating an educational channel is a fantastic idea. Share your expertise by creating lessons on academic subjects or technical skills like:
- Web design
- App development
- Video editing
- Language learning
- Drawing
- Digital marketing
- Math
Identify your passion and expertise, and share your knowledge through YouTube videos.
5. Travel and Vlogs
Travel content is popular with all age groups. People love exploring new places through videos before visiting themselves.
If you love traveling, you can make money by sharing your travel experiences on YouTube. This type of content has a high success rate.
6. Sports Content
If you're into sports, create a sports channel where you share training tips, rules, and nutritional advice related to your sport.
Some sports you can focus on include:
- Bodybuilding
- Running
- Swimming
- Football
- Martial arts
7. Podcast Channel
Podcasts have gained high viewership since YouTube allows audiences to choose what they want to watch.
Set up a small studio to interview experts and share their experiences with your audience. Podcasts often have longer watch times, increasing viewer engagement.
8. Gaming Channel
Gaming is a rapidly growing niche on YouTube. Create a gaming channel, record gameplay videos, and share tips and tricks.
Consistently publishing videos can lead to quick monetization due to the high interest in gaming content.
9. Cooking Channel
If you enjoy cooking, this is a great YouTube channel idea. You don't need many tools; simple kitchen utensils and a phone camera will suffice.
Cooking channels grow quickly as people love practical cooking demonstrations and tend to share them widely.
10. Product Reviews
Many people search for product reviews before making purchases.
Review electronic or household products and form partnerships with stores to showcase their products on your channel in exchange for financial compensation or commissions on sales.
11. History Channel
Channels focusing on historical events attract high viewership. This content requires extensive research and good storytelling skills to keep the audience engaged.
Despite the effort needed, history channels grow quickly if done well.
What Do You Need to Make Money on YouTube?
Before you start earning from YouTube, you should master some essential skills to create high-quality videos that stand out from the competition.
Here are four key skills every content creator should have:
1. Public Speaking
Good public speaking helps you communicate smoothly with your audience and deliver information clearly.
2. Filming
Filming is crucial as the quality of your videos influences viewers’ decisions to watch your content.
3. Video Editing
Editing is vital for creating polished content. Learn to edit your videos to enhance their quality using editing software.
4. YouTube Channel Marketing
After publishing your videos, promote them on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok to attract viewers.
Utilize YouTube SEO by incorporating strong keywords in your video descriptions and tags. Tools like Google Keyword Planner and Google Trends help you find popular keywords.
What Are the Requirements for Monetization on YouTube?
To join YouTube's Partner Program and monetize your channel, you must meet these requirements:
- Your videos must comply with YouTube's policies.
- Your channel needs at least 1,000 subscribers.
- Your videos must accumulate 4,000 watch hours within a year.
- You need a Google AdSense account linked to your channel.
After meeting these criteria, apply to join the YouTube Partner Program. Make sure to:
- Carefully read YouTube’s terms and agree to them.
- Join Google AdSense and link it to your channel.
- Choose the types of ads and their placements.
- Submit your application and wait for YouTube’s team to review your channel.
Approval can take up to a month. Once approved, you can start earning money from your videos.
What Affects YouTube Earnings?
YouTube earnings vary between channels based on three main factors:
1. Viewer Location
Earnings range from $1 to $3 per 1,000 views. Views from first-world countries like the U.S., Europe, and Gulf countries are more valuable than those from third-world countries.
2. Channel Niche
The type of content influences ad earnings.
Advertisers target ads based on the channel’s niche. For instance, a channel focused on real estate will have ads related to real estate, leading to higher earnings.
3. Watch Time
The longer viewers watch your videos, the more YouTube will promote your content.
Focus on producing high-quality videos and initially create shorter videos to build a loyal audience.
Conclusion
Working on YouTube is one of the best ways to make money online. It requires continuous effort, commitment to posting videos, and providing value to your audience. Keep developing your skills to come up with new video ideas and professional filming techniques to grow your channel and increase your earnings.
