With over 2 billion users worldwide, it’s no secret that creating YouTube videos is considered a full-time job nowadays. And with so many different YouTuber channels on the platform, you can fit yours into whatever niche you want.

Whether you’re a vlogger or you aspire to become one in the future, you must have asked yourself how you can start monetizing your YouTube presence. If you’ve been in the YouTube game for some time, then you must be familiar with some of the ways we will be discussing below, like posting sponsored content or making your videos ad-friendly so they can be monetized.

If you’ve ever wondered how to make money from YouTube vlogs, then you’re at the right place. In this article, we will discuss in great detail how to make money vlogging.

Let’s jump right in.

What is Vlogging?

Source: David Drobnik’s YouTube channel

For starters, it’s important to distinguish vlogs from other types of content on YouTube.

Vlogs are videos where you film certain activities, adventures, mundane routines, or you simply share your thoughts and opinions on a subject. Basically, with vlogging, you’re documenting your own life and showcasing your personality to your audience.

If you think that vlogs only appeal to a certain small audience, think again! Vlogs are becoming more and more popular by the day, and statistics show that 44% of internet users watch vlogs every single month.

Companies have noticed the allure of vlogging and are starting to shift their marketing strategies from traditional media to digital media advertising.

If we’ve managed to convince you about the appeal of vlogging, then it’s time to answer the “how to make money vlogging” question.

Sponsored Videos and Product Placements

If you’ve watched vlogs before, then you might have come across many different ways that YouTubers plug in a sponsored product. In some instances, the whole vlog might be sponsored by a company.

How Many Subscribers Do I Need to Get a Company to Sponsor Me?

When it comes to landing YouTube sponsors, two things matter above all: the number of subscribers you have and the number of views you get on your videos. While it’s important not to become too money-focused, it’s in these instances that you need to be aware of your growth as a channel.

The current number of subscribers you have will depend on several different factors like the kind of niche your videos are in when you started your channel, and the strategies you’re employing currently to get more subscribers on your channel. Ultimately, you can get sponsored even if you have only a thousand subscribers, provided that your videos get a lot of views.

There are two ways you can get a sponsored vlog: either a company that wants to collaborate with you will contact you via e-mail or other social media, or you also have the option to contact a company of your choice and make a sponsored video proposal. Certain companies will care about the number of subscribers you have, so be wary of that.

Types of Sponsored Videos

There are several ways you can integrate sponsored content in your videos.

• Incorporate the sponsor in your video by mentioning it throughout the video and subtly plugging it in.
• Make a dedicated video about the sponsor where you only talk about a certain product or products. The company that is sponsoring your video will be the main topic of discussion.
• Include a sponsored post-roll ad at the end of your video.

Don’t Forget to Disclose Your Sponsorship

Whatever way of integrating sponsored content you choose to go for, don’t forget to disclose the sponsorship either in the video itself or in your description box. Not only is it against the law not to do so, but it’s disingenuous towards your subscribers. Your viewers will appreciate transparency and loyalty above else. Some YouTuber creators prefer to change their wording from ‘sponsored’ to ‘brought to you by’ or ‘in collaboration with’. 

Source: Valeria Lipovetsky’s YouTube channel

If you’re unfamiliar with YouTube’s rules and regulations regarding paid product placements and endorsements, you can check out their article on the subject.

YouTube Ads

As you’ve already had the chance to see in pretty much every single video on YouTube, there are many ads that pop up on the platform. Here are the types of ads you can include in your videos:

• Show an ad next to your video;
• Display an add at the beginning, middle, or end of each video;
• Include ads that can’t be skipped;
• Overlay adds at the bottom of each video.

YouTube creators get their videos monetized so that they get a commission from every ad that is being watched.

If you want to be one of those YouTubers, then you will need to become a YouTube partner first. You can become a YouTube partner and start making money from every video you post, in addition to any sponsored content.

You might be wondering how many views you need to get paid on YouTube. There are two requirements when it comes to becoming a YouTube Partner:

• Have at least 1,000 subscribers;
• Have at least 4,000 watch hours in the past 12 months.

The next step is creating an AdSense account, assuming you don’t have one already. Sadly, you can’t use AdSense in some parts of the world, so make sure to check if you’re eligible beforehand. Don’t forget to select the ‘Monetize with Ads’ option.

When YouTube approves your channel, your videos will become monetized. YouTubers get paid when their viewers and subscribers watch the ad throughout or click on it. The amount of money you will make from YouTube ads will depend on the type of ad you choose, the length of the content, and the type of videos you make.

During the process of uploading a new video, you will be given the choice to monetize that video or leave it ad-free. On top of that, you will be given the choice of selecting what kind of ads you want to be shown in your video.

Affiliate Marketing

Another popular way to make money on YouTube is through affiliate marketing.

When you have a deal with a certain company and you include an affiliate link in your description box for a certain product, you can get a commission if the sale goes through after someone clicks on your link. The amount of money you make with each sale will depend on the company you’re working with.

Companies will give you a discount code to give to your subscribers. That way, your subscribers can save money while making the purchase, which increases the chances of the product being sold.

Source: Carli Bybel’s YouTube channel

It’s important to remember that when you include an affiliate link, you’re obliged by the law to disclose it to your subscribers. By far the most popular way of doing so is to add an asterisk (*) symbol next to the affiliate link. Don’t forget to tell your subscribers what the symbol stands for in the description box.

Amazon Affiliate Marketing

One of the best places to start with affiliate marketing is Amazon. There is an overwhelming number of products you can choose on Amazon, so regardless of what kind of videos you’re making, you’ll always be able to find a good selection of potential affiliate products.

Once you visit their website dedicated to affiliate marketing, you will be asked to complete the application in order to become an affiliate partner. Once you have answered all the questions and have confirmed your identity, you will be given a unique ID with which you will be identified on Amazon in the future.

You can get paid either with a gift card or directly to your bank account via a check. Keep in mind that you need to make sales in the first few months of creating your account so that you can remain an Amazon affiliate partner.

These are all the steps required in order to become an Amazon affiliate! It’s usually recommended that you have a small following on YouTube before you sign up so that you have a better chance of getting accepted in their affiliate program. You can search for potential affiliate products in the Amazon search bar. The types of products you include in your videos will depend on the types of videos you make.

For instance, travelling vloggers typically include affiliate links for filming equipment, while beauty vloggers tend to include skincare and makeup products in their Amazon packages.

Source: Selina Ozay’s YouTube channel

When you’ve found the product you want to recommend to your subscribers, you can copy and paste that link in your next video. You can also add multiple products or create a favourites folder where you link to all the products you’d like to recommend.

If you’d like a step-by-step guide on Amazon affiliate marketing, you can check out Project Life Mastery’s video.

Patreon

One of the more straightforward ways to make money as a YouTube vlogger is by creating your own Patreon account.

Patreon is essentially a website where YouTube creators and artists can get funding and financial support from their subscribers. It’s incredibly easy to set up a Patreon account, you can either connect it to your Google or Facebook accounts once you go on Patreon.com:

Or insert your information in the spaces provided below on the same page:

You will need to add certain information like the type of work you will be creating or whether you’d like to get paid on a monthly basis or when you upload a video. On top of that, you have the option of creating financial goals and milestones.

Most YouTubers link to their Patreon account in the description of their videos:

Source: Better than Food

Now that you have set up your Patreon account and linked it on your videos, it’s time to decide how you want to give back to your subscribers. You can think of different rewards for different levels of donations. 

For instance, the reward for a $5 donation can be access to a unique YouTube video that’s not available for the public to see, whereas the reward for $50 could be a Skype coffee with your patreon. What kind of rewards you give your supporters is entirely up to you.

The best way to promote your Patreon is by linking it at the top of your video description and by mentioning it in your YouTube videos where you’ll also explain why you need the donations and how your patreons will benefit by donating.

The means through which you get paid on Patreon will depend on where you live. Patreon will keep 5% of your donations, and additional fees may be applied depending on which paying method you opt for.

Personal Merch

Subscribers want to own merchandise from their favourite YouTube creators. Whether it’s because a certain YouTube artist has created a cool T-shirt design, or they simply want to buy something that reminds them of the channels they love, creating merch is a win-win situation for both parties. You, as a creator, will get free advertisement whenever your subscribers show their merch to the public, and your subscribers will get to wear your amazing designs and styles.

If you have a large enough following, then maybe it’s time to create your own merch. Some of the most popular YouTubers like Jenna Marbles, Shane Dawson, PewDiePie, and Lilly Singh have come out with their own personalized merch on multiple occasions.

Source: Shane Dawson’s merch store

One of the key things to remember if you want to bring out merch is to start small, with one or two items, and then add to the collection as you gain more subscribers. If you’re known for your creative talent, then make sure you add a unique and personal design on your chosen products. A catchphrase you often use also works well in this regard.

YouTube has a list of approved merchandise sites, so make sure you consult it before deciding where you want your products to sell.

Courses and Ebooks

Apart from regularly uploading YouTube videos, you can offer your subscribers special content in the form of courses or ebooks. This is a pretty easy way to earn extra money, and you can easily include the link to your courses or ebooks in the description of your videos.

Source: Tess Begg’s YouTube channel

Let’s say you’re a food vlogger who posts recipes on a regular basis. Since your videos are free to watch, you can give your subscribers the option of purchasing additional recipes from your ebook if they want more content.

Source: Tess Begg’s YouTube channel

That way, you’ll still be able to create free content for your subscribers, but they can additionally support you by purchasing your ebooks, which normally don’t cost more than $5. 

You can get quite creative with additional content ideas that you can make money from. If you specialize in a certain area, you also have the option of creating a course that your subscribers can sign up for. This will give them additional content for days on end, and they will gain more knowledge in a particular area.

Private Consultations

If you have a job outside YouTube and you are knowledgeable in a particular field, you also have the option of offering private consultations on your channel for a certain price. These are usually one-on-one consultations that you do with your subscribers on apps like Zoom or Skype.

Keep in mind that you need to be an expert in your field in order to go through with these. If you’ve done online consulting before and have gotten positive feedback, include it on your website so that people can see it and be inspired by the results other subscribers have achieved.

For instance, Kelley Rosano is a YouTuber who uploads regular monthly horoscopes to her channel. In addition to her free videos, she offers personalized astrological charts, reports, and one-on-one horoscope readings.

Source: Kelley Rosano’s YouTube channel

More Tips on How to Make Money Vlogging

There are a couple more tips that we think will be of help to any aspiring vlogger out there. By doing these things, you will be indirectly increasing your YouTube income, and improving the quality of your channel at the same time.

Create amazing content. If your content is great and high-quality, it will undoubtedly attract more viewers to your channel. And more viewers always equals more ad revenue. Not only will it attract a new audience, but it will also keep your existing audience engaged, interested, and invested. Posting great content is key when it comes to long-term YouTube success.

Post consistently. Another tip for how to make money vlogging is to post your vlogs consistently. If you have a predetermined schedule and you stick to it, that’s always a plus. YouTube promotes channels that post on a regular basis, so make sure you do your best to keep up with your uploading dates. We know that posting YouTube videos can be quite time-consuming, but it’s an investment that’s bound to pay off at the end. Plus, you create your own schedule!

Watch time. The length of your vlogs matters more than you think. Watch time, or audience retention, stands for the total amount of time a viewer spends watching your videos. If your watch time is high enough, your channel has a better chance of being recommended to viewers. For monetization purposes, the ideal YouTube video length should be around 10 minutes long. One of the best and easiest ways to increase your watch time is to create playlists on your channel. This way, viewers will be more inclined to watch more of your videos in one sitting.

Source: Casey Neistat’s YouTube channel

Learn about SEO and other marketing strategies. SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization and it’s a useful tool for helping your videos rank higher in the search bar. If you want to get more views, and make more money, your vlog titles need to be SEO-friendly. This means investing in an SEO tool or app that will help you optimize your titles, or learn how to do it yourself. Also, you need to pay attention to your thumbnails – do they stand out in a good way? Are they appealing to your audience? If yes, you have a higher chance of getting more views since more people will be inclined to click on them. Adding relevant tags to your videos will also help with ranking high. 

Encourage your subscribers to like and subscribe. Some viewers forget to click the like/subscribe button even if they like the channel they’re watching. Make sure you’re reminding your audience to click like and subscribe at the beginning or at the end of your videos, but without being too pushy.

How Much Money Do Vloggers Make?

It’s hard to estimate precisely how much money vloggers make because we have to take certain variables into account like how many sponsorships they include in their videos, the number of subscribers they have, and how many views they get per video.

That being said, we do have rough estimations as to how much money some popular vloggers make.

For instance, FunForLouis is estimated to have earned around $381 in the month of February 2020, whereas his income in February for 2019 is estimated at around $1.15k. As you can see, the amount of money vloggers make fluctuates from month to month. According to Vogue, Louis earns $5,487 per sponsored post.

Another popular vlogger whose income we will look into is Casey Neistat. His net worth is estimated to be around $22 million, and around $5,600 per YouTube video. He also makes money through his company Beme, as well as through various sponsorships deals. Like other YouTube vloggers, his vlogs might be demonetized every once in a while, a subject he joked about on his Twitter:

Source: Casey Neistat’s Twitter account

One YouTuber who is constantly in the spotlight when it comes to financial gains is Pewdiepie. According to Wealthy Gorilla, his estimated net worth is $30 million as of 2020. If we take into account the amount of money his colleagues earn per uploaded video, it’s safe to assume that he earns from $10,000 to $12,000 per video, not including any sponsorships or affiliate links.

How to Avoid Getting Demonetized on YouTube

Learning how to avoid being demonetized on YouTube will save you from a lot of headaches and worrying later on. 

Basically, by being demonetized you won’t be able to make money from your video, regardless of how many views it has or how many subscribers you have. 

The first step for avoiding this disaster is to read YouTube’s community guidelines thoroughly. There are a few strict rules you should always follow in order to decrease your chances of getting your videos demonetized. For instance, you should avoid posting any sexual content in your videos or thumbnails at all costs. This is probably the surest way to lose your ad revenue. 

On top of that, avoid violent and graphic content that can potentially disturb your viewers, as well as any hate speech in your videos or thumbnails.

Mistakes do happen, and you already know this if you watch YouTube videos on a regular basis. If you do get demonetized, you will be sent an email where YouTube will let you know which video has been demonetized and for what purpose. If you think they’ve made a mistake, you can always appeal. 

A Few Words Before You Go

Always be transparent and honest with your subscribers. Regardless of what means you choose to make money from vlogging, always be transparent with your audience about it. This is the key to keeping your subscribers happy and loyal in the long run.

Know your audience. In order to be successful on YouTube, you need to know your audience. Put yourself in their shoes and think about what you would like to see if you were in their place. Alternatively, you can always research your target audience and be perceptive in your comment section.

Mix it up. Combining all the mentioned methods is a great way to increase your YouTube revenue. Just don’t do it all in one video, since it can be quite the overkill.

We hope you enjoyed our guide about how to make money vlogging and found it helpful. Which one of these methods will you be trying out next on your YouTube channel?

FAQs

Last update on 2024-11-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API. Our editors may earn a small commission if products are purchased via our external partner links.