How to make money on YouTube in 2024: 10 methods

In 2024, YouTube remains a vibrant platform for creators looking to monetize their content and passion. With over two billion logged-in monthly users, the potential to earn and impact a wide audience is immense. 

Whether you're a seasoned YouTuber with an established YouTube Studio or new to the scene, understanding the diverse revenue streams available can transform your channel into a lucrative venture.

This guide is designed to help you navigate the evolving landscape of digital content creation, ensuring you can maximize your earnings while doing what you love.

• Explore the top 10 potential revenue streams on YouTube, including merchandising, ad revenue, sponsored content, and partnerships with other influencers.

• Learn how selling merchandise through Gelato, the print on demand service, can add a significant revenue stream to your channel by offering fans custom products created with your own designs.

• Learn how to leverage YouTube's own monetization tools, like the Partner Program, Premium Subscriptions, Super Chat and Super Stickers, and Channel Memberships, to generate a steady income.

• Gain insights into creating engaging, high-quality content and strategies for effectively engaging audiences and optimizing content for better monetization.

• Explore how to avoid content demonetization, understand Content ID claims and dispute process, and learn the importance of incorporating advanced YouTube strategies for long-term success.

YouTube isn't just a video-sharing platform - it's a money-making machine! With the right strategies, your channel can become a profitable venture. 

Let's dive into the top 10 methods for taking your YouTube earnings to the next level in 2024.

1. Selling merchandise through Gelato

If you're a YouTuber, chances are, your fans would love to sport merchandise that represents you and your brand. Here's where Gelato enters, serving up a fresh way to bolster your income.

Rather than branching out alone in the world of merchandising, Gelato simplifies the process by providing a bevy of products for you to print your unique designs.

• T-shirts: From statement tees to stylish tops, keep your audience garbed in the coolest designs, all courtesy of your creative mind.

• Mugs: Whether it's a morning cup of joe or evening hot cocoa, your fans can sip from mugs proudly bearing your logo.

• Wall art: Spice up your audience's living spaces with wall art that speaks volumes about their favorite YouTuber—you!

• Phone cases: With custom phone cases, fans can flaunt their affinity for your brand whenever they reach for their phones (which is, let's admit, quite frequently).

• Photo books: Give your audience an intimate look into your world with photo books filled with your best shots and moments.

2. Joining the YouTube Partner Program

It's a fantastic opportunity for creators who've already built a decent audience base and are ready to earn revenue from their content.

But before you can apply, there are some pretty strict eligibility requirements.  

• To be eligible, you need at least 1,000 subscribers.

• Your channel must have accumulated 4,000 hours of viewing time in the last 12 months or 10 million views of public shorts in the last 90 days.

• You also must have a linked AdSense account, and your channel should be in compliance with YouTube's monetization regulations.

Following your successful application into the program, make sure you routinely optimize monetization features provided within the program.

3. Maximizing revenue from YouTube videos

By diversifying your monetization strategies, you can significantly increase your earning potential on the platform. Here are two effective ways to do so:

• Monetize your videos with ads: Once approved for the YouTube Partner Program, start monetizing your videos with ads. You can choose the types of ads you want to run and where they will appear in your videos, giving you control over your potential earnings.

• Promote affiliate products: Affiliate marketing can be a lucrative addition to ad revenue. Promote products you genuinely like and think your audience will appreciate. Remember, it's key to be transparent about your affiliation to maintain your audience's trust.

4. Earning through ad revenue

Earning through ad revenue is one of YouTube's most common monetization methods, letting creators take a piece of the ad revenue pie. 

Here's how it works: 

Google AdSense

Once you're in the YouTube Partner Program, you can also link your channel with Google AdSense. This is the tool that makes those ads appear and also what allows you to get paid from them. Once your Google AdSense account is set up, ads will start appearing on your videos, and you'll begin earning every time viewers interact with those ads.

Type of ads

There are several types of YouTube ads that could appear on your videos - display ads, overlay ads, skippable and non-skippable video ads, bumper ads, and sponsored cards. Each of them generates different amounts of revenue, with skippable ads tending to earn the most.

Viewer interaction

There are two primary ways viewers interact with an ad - either by viewing it for a certain amount of time or by clicking on it, and both yield earnings for you. Naturally, the more views your videos get, the more likely it is the ads shown will get watched or clicked on, increasing your earnings.

5. Generating revenue from YouTube Premium subscribers

When you hear about YouTube Premium, you might think about ad-free viewing and other viewer advantages. However, as a content creator, this subscription service offers a special way to add to your revenue stream.

Understand how it works

YouTube Premium is a paid service that allows users to enjoy an ad-free YouTube experience. But do not worry; creators still earn a share of the revenue, even for ad-free views. This includes your channel Shorts and potentially opens up a big piece of the overall revenue pie.

Maintain quality content

Just as subscribers value premium, ad-free viewing, they also value high-quality content. Keeping your content visually appealing and engaging encourages viewers to watch, increasing your share of the YouTube Premium revenue.

Keep uploading consistently

Consistency is the difference between an average YouTube channel and the one that stands out. The more often you post engaging content, the better your chances of increasing your portion of the YouTube Premium revenue stream.

6. Creating sponsored content

This strategy entails collaborating with various brands to showcase their products or services within your videos.

Here is how you can capitalize on sponsored content: 

Natural fit

This means choosing sponsorships that resonate with your audience and won't feel like an overly intrusive advertisement.

Disclosure

As per the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines, it’s mandatory to disclose when your content is sponsored. This can be accomplished by implementing a simple statement at the beginning of your video, making it clear that it contains sponsored content.

Influencer marketing agencies

Instead of reaching out to brands and media outlets one by one, you can sign up with influencer marketing agencies like Viral Nation and Fanbytes by Brainlabs. They can help you land brand deals based on how many subscribers you have and overall engagement levels.

Google's ad policies

Be wary of Google's advertising policies, especially if you're also monetizing through ad revenue. When you label your videos as a paid promotion, YouTube can limit the types of ads they show on your video, impacting your ad revenue.

7. Utilizing channel memberships

Channel Memberships enable you to offer your fans some exclusive perks in exchange for regular payments.

Here are some ways to maximize your revenue through YouTube Channel Memberships: 

• Offer unique benefits: It's not just about getting your audience to pay; it's about giving them value. Exclusive Q&As, behind-the-scenes content, early access to your regular content — these perks can entice your viewers to become paid members.

• Engage with your members: Keep your members happy by regularly communicating with them, responding to their comments, or even hosting members-only live chats. Engaging with them often will make them feel valued and encourage them to continue their membership.

• Incorporate membership milestones: Recognize and celebrate when members reach certain milestones, like their membership anniversary. This can motivate your members to stay and entice others to join the ranks.

8. Earning from Super Chat and Super Stickers during live streams

YouTube has innovatively added features known as Super Chat and Super Stickers that let your audience support you monetarily during these live sessions.

Let's take a deeper look into these. 

Super Chat

This feature allows viewers to pay for their comments to be highlighted and pinned at the top of the chat box during live streams or premieres. The size and duration of the highlight depend on the contribution made by the viewer, creating a sort of bidding war for attention and direct engagement with the streamer.

Super Stickers

An enhanced version of the Super Chat feature, Super Stickers introduces an engaging and fun aspect to the chat. Viewers can purchase animated stickers that appear in the chat section. Like Super Chats, Super Stickers can be pinned depending on the donation size, adding extra flair and interaction to your live sessions.

The beauty of these features lies in their quick, easy, and fun approach to live donations. Plus, YouTube plays a significant part in making these visible, thereby encouraging viewers to engage more. 

9. Offering exclusive content through YouTube Channel Memberships or Patreon

Giving your audience access to unique, premium content is a fantastic strategy for not only boosting your revenue but also building a stronger rapport with your viewers. This can be achieved either through YouTube Channel Memberships or Patreon, two platforms designed to help artists and creators earn money in exchange for exclusive content. Here's how: 

YouTube Channel Memberships 

YouTube Channel Memberships allow you to offer different levels of membership to your subscribers. Each level grants different perks, which could include behind-the-scenes footage, early access to new videos, special badges, and a lot more. 

Here's how to do it: 

• Decide the price and perks for each membership level. Keep it varied, accessible, and compelling for different viewers.

• Continually promote your Channel Memberships in your videos and social media posts, reminding viewers of the exclusive benefits they'll gain.

• Stick to your commitment. If you promise weekly behind-the-scenes updates, be sure to deliver. Fan loyalty is built on trust.

Patreon 

Patreon is a crowdfunding platform used by many YouTube creators, artists, writers, musicians, among others. It's a way for fans to support their favorite creators through a subscription-based payment model. 

Here's how to monetize your content with Patreon: 

• Create specific tiers of membership, each with its own set of rewards, such as early access to content, personalized messages, or exclusive live streams.

• Promote your Patreon page at the end of your YouTube videos or in your video descriptions. Let your viewers know that their patronage can help make your channel better.

• Keep engaging with your Patreon supporters. Acknowledge their support in your videos, respond to comments on your Patreon posts, and always show gratitude for their help.

10. Partnering with influencers for cross-promotion

Working with influencers within your niche for cross-promotion is a highly effective way to grow your audience and, ultimately, monetize your YouTube channel in 2024. 

Here's how to navigate this rewarding strategy: 

• Identify your ally influencers: Start by identifying influencers who align with your brand, content, and target viewers. Ensure they have a sizable and engaged audience. The focus should be on the quality of their fanbase rather than the quantity so that your viral video can become a source of revenue for you.

• Establish a cross-promotion strategy: Cross-promotion can be in multiple forms. It could be getting featured in each other's videos, sharing social media posts, leveraging each other's subscriber base, or endorsing each other.

• Disclose the collaboration: It's important to label all promotional content as 'paid promotion' right at the beginning of the video, ensuring complete transparency with your audience. This is not only ethical but also complies with YouTube and Google's ad policies.

• Measure and optimize: Like any other marketing strategy, measuring your success is crucial in influencer collaborations. This will let you understand the efficacy of your strategy, fine-tune it where needed, and ensure you are getting the best return on your investment.

Boosting monetization on YouTube doesn't end with ads and content creation. Capitalize on your brand's potential by offering your fans something tangible and personal with Gelato’s print on demand service. 

Enrich your revenue streams by selling merchandise like t-shirts, mugs, wall art, phone cases, and photo books embellished with your unique designs. 

Ready to get started? Sign up for Gelato today and pick the subscription plan that aligns with your needs and goals.