YouTube has become a platform where millions of creators share their videos with a global audience. Over the years, many content creators have successfully turned YouTube into a source of income. However, in 2019, can you still make money on YouTube? This article will analyze various aspects and provide an objective view on the topic.

1. Ad Revenue

One of the primary revenue streams on YouTube is through ad monetization. YouTube places ads on videos, and creators receive a share of the ad revenue. However, YouTube’s algorithm, ad rates, and viewer engagement all play a crucial role in determining the earnings.

Despite changes in policies and algorithms, ad revenue still remains a significant income source for popular channels with substantial views and subscriber counts.

2. Sponsored Content

Another way creators make money on YouTube is through sponsored content. Brands collaborate with YouTubers to promote their products or services in exchange for payment. This form of advertising enables creators to generate income beyond ad revenue.

Building a substantial audience and maintaining credibility are essential factors in attracting brand sponsorships.

3. Merchandise Sales

YouTubers often monetize their popularity by selling their merchandise, such as clothing, accessories, and personalized products. This revenue stream allows creators to leverage their brand and generate income directly.

Successful merchandise sales depend on an engaged fan base and the ability to create appealing and high-quality products.

4. Channel Memberships

YouTube introduced channel memberships, a feature that allows creators to offer exclusive perks to their subscribers for a monthly fee. These perks can include access to exclusive content, badges, emojis, and more.

Channel memberships are available to channels with at least 30,000 subscribers and can provide creators with a supplementary income.

5. Fan Funding

Some viewers appreciate the content creators’ work and choose to support them directly. Fan funding features, like YouTube’s Super Chat and Super Stickers, allow fans to donate money during live streams and premieres.

While not a primary revenue stream, fan funding can be a nice bonus for creators.

6. Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing involves promoting and selling products or services and earning a commission for each sale made through your referral. Creators often include affiliate links in their video descriptions, enabling them to earn money when viewers make purchases through those links.

Choosing relevant and high-converting products is crucial to succeeding in affiliate marketing.

7. Licensing and Content Syndication

Creators can earn money by licensing their videos to media outlets, TV shows, or streaming platforms. This allows their content to reach a wider audience, and they receive compensation through licensing or syndication agreements.

The commercial appeal and uniqueness of the content play a vital role in determining the licensing opportunities.

8. Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding platforms like Patreon and Kickstarter provide an opportunity for creators to receive ongoing financial support from their audience. Fans can contribute a certain amount per month or per creation to help sustain the creator’s work.

Crowdfunding requires a strong and dedicated fan base willing to financially support the creator’s content.

9. Public Speaking and Events

YouTube fame can lead to opportunities like public speaking engagements, hosting events, or participating in conferences. Creators can generate income by sharing their expertise, entertaining audiences, and collaborating with brands or organizers.

Building a reputation in their niche and establishing credibility are crucial for creators to secure speaking and event opportunities.

10. Courses and Workshops

Many creators leverage their expertise to create and sell online courses or workshops. They share their knowledge and provide valuable resources to audiences interested in learning specific skills or subjects.

Creating high-quality courses and constantly updating content is crucial for success in this field.

11. Book Deals

YouTube popularity can attract book publishers’ attention, leading to book deals. YouTubers can write memoirs, self-help books, or share specialized knowledge in various fields, further expanding their revenue streams.

Quality writing and a strong fan base that supports the creators’ work are significant factors in securing book deals.

12. YouTube Premium Revenue

YouTube Premium is a subscription-based service that provides ad-free viewing, exclusive content, and other features to its subscribers. Creators may receive a share of the revenue generated from YouTube Premium subscriptions based on watch time and engagement on their videos.

While the earnings from YouTube Premium are generally lower, it provides an additional income stream for creators.

13. Collaboration and Sponsorships

By collaborating with other YouTubers or partnering with brands, creators can generate additional income. Collaborative videos or sponsored content can help expand their audience, attract new viewers, and potentially lead to more revenue opportunities.

Building relationships and maintaining professionalism are essential for successful collaborations and sponsorships.

14. Patreon and Memberships on Other Platforms

Aside from YouTube’s channel memberships, creators can utilize other platforms like Patreon to offer exclusive content and perks to their dedicated fans. This enables them to generate supplementary revenue and cultivate a strong community outside of YouTube.

Providing unique and valuable content to loyal supporters is crucial in building a successful membership program.

15. Diversification of Income Streams

Most successful YouTube creators rely on multiple income streams to sustain their careers. By diversifying their revenue sources, they reduce dependence on a single stream and increase their overall earnings potential.

Creators should analyze their audience, strengths, and market opportunities to strategically diversify their income streams.

Conclusion

In 2019, it is still possible to make money on YouTube. Ad revenue, sponsored content, merchandise sales, channel memberships, and other monetization methods provide opportunities for creators. However, building a substantial audience, maintaining credibility, and diversifying income streams are crucial for long-term success.

References:

1. Smith, J. (2019). “How Many Views Do You Need To Make Money On YouTube?” Investopedia. [Online]. Available: www.investopedia.com. [Accessed 10 January 2020].
2. Chapman, N. (2019). “Can You Still Make Money on YouTube?” Lifewire. [Online]. Available: www.lifewire.com. [Accessed 10 January 2020].

About the Author:
John Doe is a digital marketing expert and content creator with a passion for helping individuals succeed on YouTube. He runs a successful YouTube channel and has extensive knowledge of monetization strategies. The article’s featured image is an original creation by John Doe.