10 Proven Ways to Make Money on YouTube by Uploading Videos

YouTube has become a powerful platform where creators can turn their passion into a full-time career. If you’ve ever wondered how to upload your video on YouTube and earn money, you’re in the right place. Many believe that YouTube income is all about ads, but in reality, there are multiple ways to generate revenue. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced content creator, diversifying your income sources can maximize your earnings. In this article, we’ll explore ten proven ways to make money on YouTube and help you build a sustainable business.

1. Earn Money with YouTube Partner Program (Ad Revenue)

One of the most common ways YouTubers make money is through the YouTube Partner Program (YPP), which allows you to earn ad revenue. Once you meet YouTube’s eligibility requirements—1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours in the past 12 months—you can enable monetization and start earning from ads.

How It Works:

• Advertisers pay YouTube to run ads before, during, or after your videos.
• You earn a portion of the revenue based on Cost Per Mille (CPM) or Cost Per Click (CPC).
• The more views your video gets, the higher your earnings.

Tips to Maximize Ad Revenue:

• Create longer videos (8+ minutes) to enable mid-roll ads.
• Choose topics with high CPM rates (finance, tech, health).
• Keep your content advertiser-friendly to avoid demonetization.

2. Promote Affiliate Products in Your Videos

Affiliate marketing is another lucrative way to earn money on YouTube. You don’t need to sell your own product; instead, you recommend other brands’ products and earn a commission for every sale made through your link.

How to Get Started:

• Sign up for affiliate programs like Amazon Associates, ShareASale, or ClickBank.
• Choose products related to your niche (e.g., tech gadgets for a tech channel).
• Add your affiliate link in the video description.
• Encourage viewers to click the link by offering honest reviews and tutorials.

Best Niches for Affiliate Marketing:

• Tech (smartphones, laptops, software)
• Fitness (supplements, workout gear)
• Finance (investment platforms, credit cards)
• Beauty (skincare, makeup products)

3. Get Sponsorships and Brand Deals

If you have an engaged audience, brands will pay you to promote their products. Sponsorships are often more profitable than ad revenue since you negotiate payment directly with companies.

How to Land Sponsorships:

• Build an active audience and focus on a niche.
• Reach out to brands directly or join influencer marketing platforms like FameBit or Grapevine Logic.
• Be transparent with your audience—disclose sponsored content.
• Charge brands based on video engagement, not just subscribers.

Examples of Sponsored Content:

• Tech channel: Reviewing a new gadget from a brand.
• Beauty channel: Creating a makeup tutorial featuring a company’s products.
• Gaming channel: Playing and reviewing a sponsored game.

4. Sell Your Own Products or Merchandise

Many YouTubers turn their channel into a personal brand by selling their own merchandise or digital products. If you have a loyal following, selling products can be a steady income source.

Product Ideas:

• Merchandise: T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, and stickers (use platforms like Teespring or Merch by Amazon).
• Digital products: E-books, courses, templates, or presets.
• Physical products: Handmade crafts, artwork, or tech accessories.

How to Market Your Products on YouTube:

• Create content that naturally promotes your product.
• Use YouTube Live to engage with your audience and showcase your items.
• Add a call-to-action in your video description and pinned comments.

5. Earn Through YouTube Memberships and Super Chats

Once your channel grows, you can earn directly from your subscribers through channel memberships and Super Chats.

Channel Memberships:

• Viewers pay a monthly fee (usually $4.99) to become exclusive members.
• You can offer perks like badges, emojis, behind-the-scenes content, or members-only live streams.

Super Chats & Stickers:

• Available during YouTube Live streams, allowing viewers to pay to highlight their comments.
• The more they pay, the longer their comment stays pinned at the top.

6. Monetize YouTube Shorts with the YouTube Shorts Fund

Short-form content is growing in popularity, and YouTube Shorts is a new opportunity to earn money. YouTube has set up a Shorts Fund that pays creators based on engagement and views.

How to Earn from Shorts:

• Create engaging, high-quality short videos (less than 60 seconds).
• Optimize Shorts with trending music, hashtags, and descriptions.
• Get millions of views to qualify for YouTube’s monthly Shorts bonus payments.

7. License Your Videos for Other Creators & Media Companies

If your content is unique or newsworthy, companies may be willing to license your videos and pay you for usage rights.

Examples of Licensable Content:

• Viral videos (funny moments, unexpected reactions).
• Newsworthy content (events, natural disasters, interviews).
• Stock footage (nature, cityscapes, slow-motion clips).

How to License Videos:

• Upload your videos to stock video platforms like Jukin Media or Storyful.
• Mention in your video description that your content is available for licensing.

8. Use YouTube to Drive Traffic to Your Website or Blog

If you have a blog or a business website, you can use YouTube as a traffic source to generate income through Google AdSense, digital products, or services.

How It Works:

• Create videos related to your blog content.
• Include links to your website in the description and pinned comments.
• Offer free downloads (e-books, PDFs) in exchange for email sign-ups.

9. Earn Money by Offering Online Courses or Coaching

Many YouTubers establish themselves as experts in their niche and make money by offering paid courses, coaching, or consultations.

Platforms to Sell Courses:

• Teachable
• Udemy
• Kajabi

Examples:

• A fitness YouTuber offering personalized diet plans.
• A business YouTuber selling a course on entrepreneurship.
• A tech YouTuber providing one-on-one gadget consultations.

10. Crowdfund Your Channel with Patreon or Buy Me a Coffee

If you have a strong community, you can ask your subscribers to support your channel through crowdfunding platforms.

Popular Crowdfunding Platforms:

• Patreon – Fans subscribe monthly for exclusive content.
• Buy Me a Coffee – Viewers can donate as a one-time tip.

How to Encourage Donations:

• Offer perks like exclusive videos, shoutouts, or live Q&As.
• Genuinely express appreciation for your supporters.
• Mention your crowdfunding link in every video and description.

Conclusion

There are countless ways to upload your video on YouTube and earn money, beyond just ad revenue. By diversifying your income streams, you can build a sustainable and profitable YouTube career. Whether you choose sponsorships, affiliate marketing, selling products, or offering services, the key is consistency, high-quality content, and audience engagement. Start today, experiment with different strategies, and unlock the full earning potential of your YouTube channel!