How to Make Money on YouTube in 2025: 9 Proven Strategies 

Key takeaways

• You can make money on YouTube through ads, sponsorships, affiliate links, merchandise, courses and fan support. 
• To join the YouTube Partner Program, you need 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours or 10 million Shorts views. 
• YouTube Shorts now allows creators to monetize short-form content with lower eligibility requirements. 
• Most successful creators use multiple revenue streams to build sustainable income on YouTube. 
• Create valuable, audience-specific content for long-term YouTube monetization success. 

Introduction 

If you’ve been trying to figure out how to make money online, building a YouTube channel should be high on your list of options. With over two billion active users each month consuming one billion hours of video content daily, YouTube offers massive potential for content creators. 

Given this scale, it’s no surprise that more people are exploring how to make money on YouTube. According to Forbes, the top 50 creators earned nearly $720 million in the past year.  

Even Goldman Sachs projects the influencer industry will grow to $500 billion by 2027. This offers mid-level YouTubers with dedicated audiences an opportunity to generate substantial full-time incomes through strategic monetization. 

The question isn’t really can you make money on YouTube – it’s how much and through which methods. 

If you’re ready to start earning on YouTube and turn your channel into a reliable income source, understanding all available monetization methods is crucial. This guide explores the nine best ways to make money on YouTube in 2025, combining traditional approaches with newer opportunities. 

What are the requirements to make money on YouTube? 

Before we dive into specific monetization strategies, it’s important to understand YouTube’s basic requirements. While some methods require joining the YouTube Partner Program, others are available to creators of all sizes. 

The YouTube Partner Program requirements include: 

• At least 1,000 subscribers 
• 4,000 valid public watch hours in the last 12 months or 10 million Shorts views in the last 90 days 
• An AdSense account 
• Compliance with YouTube’s policies and guidelines 
• Availability of monetization features in your country 

Also read: How Much Money Does a YouTuber Make? Complete Revenue Guide 

Even if you don’t yet qualify for the Partner Program, several monetization options remain available and we’ll cover those too. But first, here’s a comprehensive comparison table of all nine monetization methods to help you get a quick overview. 

YouTube monetization methods comparison table 

Monetization method	Barrier to entry	Profit potential	Timeline to first income	Best for	Requires YPP*
Ad revenue	High (1K subs + 4K watch hours)	Medium	1-3 months after eligibility	Channels with long-form content	Yes
YouTube Shorts	Medium (1K subs + 4K hours OR 10M Shorts views)	Low to Medium	1-3 months after eligibility	Quick, trending content creators	Yes
Online courses	Medium	Very High	2-4 weeks after creation	Educational content creators	No
Affiliate marketing	Low	Medium	Almost immediate	Review and tutorial channels	No
Channel memberships	High (1K+ subscribers)	Medium to High	Immediate after setup	Creators with engaged communities	Yes
Merchandise sales	Medium	Medium to High	1-2 weeks after setup	Channels with loyal followers	No
Fan funding	Low	Low to Medium	Immediate	Live streamers and community-focused creators	Partially
Content licensing	Low (unique content)	Variable	When opportunity arises	Creators capturing rare/viral moments	No

*YPP = YouTube Partner Program 

You can use this table as a reference to determine which methods might work best for your channel’s current stage and your content style. Let us now cover each option in detail. 

1. How can you earn ad revenue through the YouTube Partner Program? 

Ad revenue is the most common answer when creators first ask how to make money on YouTube. Once you qualify for the YouTube Partner Program, you can activate various ad formats on your videos and start earning from YouTube ads. 

How to join the YouTube Partner Program: 

1. Build your YouTube channel with regular, high-quality content. 
2. Grow your audience to reach at least 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours over the last 12 months. 
3. Enable monetization in your YouTube Studio account settings and agree to the YouTube Partner Program terms. 
4. Set up a Google AdSense account to receive payments (or connect an existing account). 
5. Select your preferred ad formats and monetization preferences. 
6. Track your monthly estimated revenue through YouTube Analytics. 

As a YouTube Partner, your channel must follow copyright law, YouTube Partner Program policies and Community Guidelines. Creating advertiser-friendly content is essential for maximizing revenue. 

Ways to maximize your YouTube ad revenue: 

• Create longer videos (8+ minutes) that can accommodate mid-roll ads. 
• Produce content on topics with higher CPM (cost per mille) rates. 
• Upload consistently to build watch time and subscriber growth. 
• Optimize your titles, thumbnails and descriptions for higher click-through rates. 
• Focus on audience retention to keep viewers watching longer. 
• Target topics with seasonal advertising demand (holiday seasons typically have higher rates). 

While ad revenue offers passive income potential, remember that YouTube takes approximately 45% of advertising revenue. This is why diversifying your income streams is crucial for successful YouTubers. 

2. How can you monetize YouTube Shorts? 

YouTube Shorts has emerged as a significant platform within YouTube, offering creators new ways to reach audiences and monetize short-form videos. Unlike traditional long-form videos, Shorts focuses on vertical, short-form content (60 seconds or less) similar to TikTok and Instagram Reels. 

How YouTube Shorts monetization works: 

• Shorts Fund: While YouTube initially launched a $100 million Shorts Fund to pay creators, this has evolved into the Shorts monetization program. 
• Revenue sharing: Creators now earn a share of ad revenue from ads viewed between Shorts. 
• Lower entry threshold: You can qualify with either 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours OR 10 million Shorts views in the last 90 days. 
• Creator pool: Revenue is aggregated and distributed based on a creator’s portion of total Shorts views. 

Tips for maximizing Shorts revenue: 

• Post consistently to build a library of Shorts content. 
• Create highly engaging first few seconds to maximize view completion. 
• Use trending sounds, effects and hashtags to increase discoverability. 
• Cross-promote your Shorts on other social platforms. 
• Encourage viewers to check out your longer content. 
• Analyze performance data to identify what resonates with your audience. 

Also read: What Are YouTube Shorts? A Guide for Beginners 

While Shorts may earn less than longer videos, their viral potential and low production cost make them great for new creators. 

3. How can you create and sell online courses as a YouTuber? 

Online courses represent one of the highest-margin digital products you can sell as a content creator. By packaging your expertise into structured educational content, you can generate significant revenue while providing substantial value to your audience. 

Types of courses that sell well: 

• Expanded, in-depth versions of your most popular YouTube topics 
• Step-by-step skill development programs 
• Technical training for software, equipment or processes 
• Creative skills like photography, design or music production 
• Business and marketing strategies 
• Personal development and wellness 

Steps to create and sell your online course: 

1. Identify a specific problem your audience wants solved. 
2. Create a structured curriculum with clear outcomes. 
3. Record high-quality video lessons, typically more detailed than your YouTube content. 
4. Build a course website using Bluehost and a learning management system (LMS) plugin. 
5. Set appropriate pricing based on value and market research. 
6. Create a compelling sales page and enrollment process. 
7. Promote your course through your YouTube channel with dedicated videos. 

Selling online courses is one of the most powerful ways to monetize your YouTube audience. But setting up a secure, functional course platform can feel overwhelming.  

That’s where Bluehost eCommerce Essentials helps. It comes pre-loaded with WooCommerce Paid Courses, giving you everything you need to create, manage and sell structured lessons—without extra plugin hunting. 

Marketing your online course effectively: 

• Offer free sample lessons to demonstrate value. 
• Create a free mini-course or challenge as a lead magnet. 
• Share student success stories and testimonials. 
• Offer limited-time promotions or payment plans. 
• Create a webinar that teaches valuable content while naturally leading to your course offer. 
• Build an email list to nurture potential students. 

Online courses work particularly well alongside your YouTube content, as viewers already value your expertise and teaching style. This often represents the natural next step for viewers who want more comprehensive guidance. 

4. How can you use affiliate marketing on your YouTube channel? 

Affiliate marketing is one of the most accessible monetization methods, available even to creators who haven’t qualified for the YouTube Partner Program.  

It’s often the first answer to the question: can you make money on YouTube without ads? The answer is yes — and affiliate links are a proven starting point. 

With this approach, you earn commissions by promoting products or services with special tracking links. 

Steps to implement affiliate marketing on YouTube: 

1. Choose a niche or product category that aligns with your content. 
2. Join relevant affiliate programs like Bluehost affiliate program, Amazon Associates, ShareASale or directly through brands. 
3. Create authentic, helpful content featuring affiliate products. 
4. Disclose affiliate relationships clearly in your video and description. 
5. Place affiliate links prominently in your video description. 
6. Track performance and focus on what converts best. 

Best practices for affiliate marketing success: 

• Focus on products you genuinely use and recommend. 
• Create dedicated review or tutorial videos. 
• Compare multiple products to provide real value. 
• Demonstrate products in action rather than just talking about them. 
• Use trackable links and monitor which products resonate with your audience. 
• Incorporate both low-cost and premium products for different audience segments. 
• Remember that conversion rate matters more than traffic volume. 

Affiliate marketing works particularly well for product-focused channels in niches like tech, beauty, fitness, home and gaming. The key is authenticity—your audience needs to trust your recommendations for this method to be effective. 

5. How can YouTube channel memberships help you make money? 

Channel memberships allow your most dedicated fans to support you through monthly payments in exchange for exclusive perks and benefits. This creates a recurring revenue stream that can be more stable than ad revenue for YouTube creators. 

Requirements for channel memberships: 

• At least 1,000 subscribers 
• Membership to the YouTube Partner Program 
• Age 18 or older 
• Located in a region where the feature is available 
• No strikes on your channel for Community Guidelines violations 

How to set up effective channel memberships: 

1. Access the Monetization tab in YouTube Studio. 
2. Enable the Memberships feature if you qualify. 
3. Create multiple membership tiers with increasing value (typically $1.99-$49.99). 
4. Design compelling perks for each tier. 
5. Promote your membership program in videos and descriptions. 

Popular membership perks that drive subscriptions: 

• Custom badges and emoji for live chats 
• Members-only live streams and premieres 
• Exclusive videos or early access to content 
• Behind-the-scenes content and updates 
• Discord server access 
• Monthly Q&A sessions 
• Input on future content 
• Name recognition in videos 

Remember that YouTube takes 30% of membership revenue. However, this revenue stream often grows with your channel and provides predictable monthly income, making it valuable for long-term sustainability as you continue making money on YouTube. 

If you want to go beyond YouTube’s built-in membership tiers, you can offer premium content directly on your site. Our eCommerce Essentials includes YITH WooCommerce Membership plugin so you can create gated content, member-only articles or digital exclusives—all under your own brand. 

6. How can you secure brand partnerships and sponsored content on YouTube? 

Brand sponsorships often represent the largest income source for established creators. Unlike affiliate marketing where you earn per sale, sponsorships typically pay a flat fee for content creation and exposure to your audience. 

If you’ve been wondering, “can you make money on YouTube with a small audience?”, sponsorship deals tailored to niche audiences prove that you absolutely can. 

How to attract and negotiate brand sponsorships: 

1. Create a media kit highlighting your channel statistics, audience demographics and content style. 
2. Reach out directly to brands that align with your content. 
3. Join influencer marketing platforms like Upfluence, Grapevine Village or Channel Pages. 
4. Set reasonable rates based on your audience size, engagement rates and niche. 
5. Negotiate clear deliverables and expectations. 
6. Always disclose sponsored content using YouTube’s disclosure feature. 

Also read: How Much Do Sponsors Pay YouTubers? Complete Rate Guide 2025 

Typical sponsorship rate factors: 

• Audience size and demographics 
• Engagement rates 
• Content niche (some industries pay significantly more) 
• Exclusivity requirements 
• Usage rights 
• Production quality 
• Platform cross-promotion 

Remember that while sponsorships can be lucrative, maintaining audience trust is paramount. Only partner with brands you genuinely believe in, and maintain a reasonable ratio of sponsored to organic content to avoid alienating viewers. 

7. How can you sell physical and digital merchandise through YouTube? 

Selling your own branded products is another proven path if you’re exploring how to make money on YouTube beyond ads. Creating and selling your own products provides complete control over pricing, margins and customer relationships. For established creators, merchandise can become a substantial revenue stream when making money on YouTube. 

Types of merchandise to consider: 

Physical products: 

• Branded clothing (t-shirts, hoodies, hats) 
• Accessories (phone cases, stickers, pins) 
• Books or physical planners 
• Custom products related to your niche 

Digital products: 

• E-books and PDF guides 
• Templates and presets 
• Digital art and designs 
• Music and sound effects 
• Software tools or apps 

Setting up your merchandise store: 

1. Design products that resonate with your audience and brand. 
2. Choose between on-demand services (like Printful or Teespring) or handling inventory yourself. 
3. Create a dedicated website using Bluehost WordPress hosting for complete control. 
4. Set up your YouTube merchandise shelf (available to eligible YouTube Partners). 
5. Promote your merchandise naturally within your content. 
6. Create dedicated launch videos for new product lines. 

With Bluehost’s WooCommerce integration, you can easily set up a professional online store that connects directly to your YouTube channel. This gives you more control over the customer experience and higher profit margins than using third-party merchandise platforms. 

8. How can you leverage fan funding and crowdfunding? 

Direct support from your audience can provide both reliable recurring income and larger one-time funding for special projects. Several options exist for creators at different stages who want to earn revenue through fan support. 

YouTube Super Chat and Super Thanks: 

• Available to eligible YouTube Partners. 
• Allows viewers to pay to highlight their comments during live streams. 
• Super Thanks enables monetary appreciation on regular videos. 
• Creates interactive moments and recognizes supporters. 

External membership platforms: 

• Patreon: The leading membership platform with flexible tier options 
• Ko-fi: Lower-barrier platform with both one-time and subscription options 
• Buy Me a Coffee: Simple platform focused on small, frequent contributions 

Project-based crowdfunding: 

• Kickstarter: Ideal for specific, larger creative projects with tangible outcomes 
• Indiegogo: More flexible funding options, including partial funding 
• GoFundMe: Better suited for personal causes or needs 

Tips for successful crowdfunding: 

1. Clearly articulate the value proposition for supporters. 
2. Create attractive, exclusive rewards for different contribution levels. 
3. Be transparent about how funds will be used. 
4. Set realistic funding goals. 
5. Promote your crowdfunding campaign heavily on your channel. 
6. Provide regular updates to maintain momentum. 
7. Deliver on your promises to build trust. 

Fan funding works best when you’ve developed strong community engagement. Your most dedicated viewers often want to support your work directly, especially when they understand how it enables you to create better content. 

9. How can you license your YouTube viral video content? 

If you capture unusual, newsworthy or highly entertaining footage, content licensing can generate additional revenue with minimal effort. News outlets, TV shows and other creators may pay to use your content. 

How video licensing works: 

1. Create or capture unique, high-quality video content. 
2. Make your business contact information easily accessible in your channel’s About section. 
3. Consider registering with video licensing platforms like Jukin Media or Storyful. 
4. Respond promptly to licensing inquiries. 
5. Negotiate fair usage terms and compensation. 

Types of content most likely to be licensed: 

• Newsworthy events and rare happenings 
• Unusual animal behavior 
• Extreme weather phenomena 
• Happy accidents and unexpected moments 
• Heartwarming human-interest stories 
• Extraordinary skills or talents 
• First-person footage of significant events 

Even if licensing isn’t your primary revenue strategy, having systems in place to capitalize on viral opportunities can lead to substantial unexpected income. Just ensure you maintain appropriate rights to any content you offer for licensing. 

Also read: How Many Views Is Viral? Proven Tips to Go Viral in 2025 

Why shouldn’t ads be your only source of YouTube revenue? 

While YouTube ad revenue provides passive income, relying solely on this source comes with significant risks: 

• Algorithm changes: YouTube regularly updates its algorithm, which can dramatically affect views 
• Advertiser policies: Content may be demonetized if it doesn’t meet advertiser-friendly guidelines 
• Seasonal fluctuations: Ad rates vary significantly throughout the year 
• Industry trends: Overall ad rates can decline due to market conditions 
• Limited control: You have little say in what video ads appear or how much you earn per view 
• Revenue sharing: YouTube takes 45% of ad revenue 
• YouTube Premium: While YouTube Premium subscribers generate revenue, it’s still controlled by Google 

Successful creators typically combine multiple monetization methods from this list. This diversification creates a more stable income and often leads to higher overall earnings than ads alone could provide. 

How does Bluehost help YouTube creators monetize effectively? 

After exploring these nine ways to make money on YouTube, you might be wondering how to implement multiple revenue streams efficiently. This is where having the right technical infrastructure becomes crucial. 

Bluehost eCommerce Essentials is built specifically for creators who want to monetize beyond platform limits. Here’s how it supports the revenue strategies we’ve discussed: 

Complete monetization hub 

With eCommerce Essentials, you get a centralized platform to manage multiple income streams: 

• Membership areas: Create tiered access to exclusive content, similar to but more customizable than YouTube channel memberships 
• Course delivery: Sell and deliver online courses with integrated WooCommerce Paid Courses functionality 
• Digital product sales: Easily sell downloadable products without marketplace fees 
• Physical merchandise: Full WooCommerce integration for selling branded items 
• Affiliate marketing tools: Built-in affiliate link management and tracking 

Everything—from hosting to WooCommerce to creator-specific tools—is included in one plan. There’s no need to stitch together third-party plugins or platforms. 

Final thoughts 

Remember, once you learn how to make money on YouTube, don’t rush. Building a profitable channel takes time, strategy and consistency. Focus on consistent value creation and audience building first, then strategically layer in monetization methods as you grow. 

Want to turn your YouTube traffic into paying customers?  

Launch your own website with Bluehost and unlock powerful monetization tools like digital product sales, course hosting and fan memberships.  

Contact us at (888) 401-4678 and our experts will walk you through the right setup for your goals. 

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