Make Money on YouTube: Get Paid For Your Creative Videos (2024)

Most of us who watch YouTube videos have a vague idea of how money flows through the platform. We see YouTube ads at the beginning of videos, in the sidebars, and in sponsored slots on the homepage. But how much do YouTube creators make when these ads appear in videos? It’s more complicated than you might think.

Learn about how YouTube pays creators and how YouTubers can earn money without having to get it directly from the platform.

Does YouTube pay per view?

No, YouTube doesn’t directly pay per video view. The primary way for creators to earn money is through ad views displayed before, during, or after their videos.

A video view, a key metric for YouTubers, is whenever someone watches a YouTube video, regardless of how long they watch it. A high view count can indicate the popularity of a video and potentially attract viewers, advertisers, and sponsors.

However, it’s up to the creator to join the YouTube Partner Program (YPP) to earn ad revenue from their YouTube videos. The amount a YouTuber earns per ad view can vary depending on several factors, such as the type of ad, the audience location, and the advertiser’s budget.

How much money does YouTube pay per ad view?

YouTube doesn’t have a fixed rate for ad views. How much a YouTuber makes per ad view can vary significantly depending on audience demographics, audience locations, ad blocker usage, channel size, and engagement metrics. Most estimates put the average earnings per ad view at 1¢ to 3¢. Videos with higher engagement, such as likes, comments, and longer watch times, are more attractive to advertisers, potentially leading to higher payouts per ad view.

How to get paid for ad revenue on YouTube

Joining the YPP is the key to earning ad revenue on YouTube. The eligibility requirements include:

• Having at least 1,000 subscribers to your channel

• Accumulating 4,000 valid public watch hours within the past year

• Linking an AdSense account to receive payments for ad revenue generated on your videos

Once you meet the requirements, you can apply for YPP within YouTube Studio. YouTube will review your channel to ensure it complies with its policies, but be aware that this process can take some time. If your application is approved, you’ll receive a notification from YouTube and gain access to monetization features.

Other ways YouTubers can make money

While YouTube ad revenue can be a steady way to make money, it can take time to build the requisite audience. Explore these alternatives to diversify your income streams and build a sustainable career on the platform:

Affiliate marketing

With affiliate marketing, you promote products relevant to your content and create passive income streams via affiliate links posted on your profile or in the descriptions of your videos. You earn a commission whenever someone purchases something through your links. Finding high-quality products and building trust with your audience are the keys to successful affiliate marketing.

Brand partnerships and sponsorships

Sponsorships can provide a fixed fee or revenue sharing based on performance metrics. Partner with brands relevant to your niche to promote their products or services within your videos. Do this through product placements, sponsored segments, or dedicated review videos. Brands typically look for YouTubers with an engaged audience that aligns with their target demographic.

Livestreams

Livestreaming allows for real-time interaction with your audience and the potential to generate income through paid features. It can be a fun and engaging way to connect with viewers and create a sense of community. Use YouTube Live or other livestreaming platforms that offer paid features like Super Chat (which lets viewers pay to highlight their messages in a livestream chat) and Super Stickers (which let viewers send animated stickers in the chat).

Merchandise

If you sell merch, you can build a steady income stream and strengthen your connection with your audience. Unique merch also lets you monetize your creativity and brand beyond just video content. Consider dropshipping branded products such as t-shirts, mugs, or phone cases. And, of course, you can leverage your YouTube channel to promote your merchandise.

Channel memberships

Youtube channel memberships can generate a recurring income stream directly from your most loyal viewers. You can offer exclusive content, early access to videos, or other perks. For each membership you sell, YouTube takes a percentage of the revenue. Creators can manage their memberships through YouTube Studio.

YouTube Shorts

YouTube Shorts is the short-form section of YouTube, showcasing videos less than 60 seconds long with various features for user interaction. Similar to regular YouTube videos, there are a few ways YouTubers can make money on YouTube Shorts, and once again, none involve direct payment for watch views. The best way YouTube stars can monetize YouTube Shorts is through brand partnerships and promoted product reviews.