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YouTube encourages content creators to make high quality content everyday. There are approximately 65.3 million YouTube creators worldwide, reflecting the platform's expansive role as a global hub for creativity.
Building a community on YouTube can be a tricky thing to achieve. But if you focus on delivering good quality videos on a periodic basis you can make $60,000 up to $1 million every year.
Getting more subscribers is great, but here’s the catch: YouTube doesn’t pay you directly for the number of subscribers you have, it pays for ad views. If you have a well established channel you can make between $4,500 up to $6,000 every month from ads alone.
It’s ok to say that subscribers aren’t the direct source of income. However, they’re key to unlocking more monetization opportunities such as better ads and brand deals, the idea of a trustworthy channel and the possibility of making even more money!
So, how much can a Youtuber with 1 million subscribers realistically earn? It’s a tricky question but let’s say that if you own a trusted channel and have a strategy that combines ad revenue, sponsorships, affiliate marketing, merchandise sales and other monetization opportunities you can take your earnings up to $1 million a year. We’ll break down these numbers in detail below.
YouTube subscribers are the users that are subscribed to your channel. Subscribers are notified every time you upload new material, making it easier for them to catch up with your latest content and engage with your videos on a regular basis.
1 million subscribers on YouTube is a remarkable milestone that shows your content’s impact and popularity. To celebrate this, the YouTube team sends you the Gold Creator Award, a commemorative plate to recognize the hard work and dedication behind your channel and inspire you to keep going.
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Having a large community means lots of people trust your content and are willing to see more and more of it. That's why the average salary of a youtuber that holds 1 million subscribers ranges between $60,000 to over $1 million annually.
Having a million subscribers community enhances your multiple chances of making money on YouTube. However if you are looking for ways to monetize your videos, the first thing you need to do is to be part of the YouTube Partner Program.
Spoiler alert: YouTube is not going to pay you based on subscribers count! But no need to worry, there are different ways you as a creator can take advantage of your big community and monetize your content.
YouTube rewards creativity and gives creators a series of tools and information so they can monetize their content the best way possible.
In order to earn by making videos you need to join the YouTube Partner Program and make sure to follow every policy and guideline.
You can apply by going to YouTube Studio and clicking on the Earn option and follow the instructions. To qualify for YouTube's monetization features, your channel must meet the following milestones:
Once your channel meets these requirements it is going to be reviewed and if everything checks out, you’ll be accepted into the program to start earning!
It’s ok to say that the principal way of making money on YouTube is by the amount of views your videos get. Nevertheless, the platform is not going to pay you directly for video views but for the ad views.
As there are a lot of users using some kind of ad blocker, not all video views will turn into ad views. While ads average out at $0.18 per view, video views can net you between $0.01 and $0.05.
A Google advertising program that allows content creators to earn money by displaying ads on their video or channels. The ads are created and paid by advertisers who want to promote their products.
How do advertisers know what price to pay? They buy ad placements through AdSense auctions using Cost Per Mille (CPM) or Cost-Per-Click (CPC) bidding strategies. CPM ads charge advertisers and pay creators based on impressions, while CPC ads are based on the number of clicks a video ad receives.
The revenue generated from these ads will be split between YouTube (45%) and the creator (55%).
For instance, let’s say an advertiser is going to pay $15 CPM and $0,50 CPC and the video ad gets 200,000 views and 5,000 clicks. Your earning in this case would be:
Having a big community is great for positioning yourself on YouTube and gaining reputation along other youtubers and brands. However, in terms of money making, subs aren’t gonna be that helpful unless all of them watch the ads displayed on your videos.
The average salary of a youtuber that holds 1 million subscribers ranges between $60,000 to over $1 million annually. This is an estimate because your earnings are going to be determined by multiple factors, especially the niche you are working in.
Let’s say that besides your million subs you also get a million views. To estimate monthly earnings by niche we'll use the average CPM (Cost Per 1,000 Views).
A Gaming youtuber with over a million subscribers can make $16,000 a year, considering the $1.40 average CPM while a youtuber working in Finance, a better pay niche, can make $147,000 annually as it holds a much higher CPM of $12.25.
As you can see the total revenue varies a huge deal upon the niche. That’s because the CPM is calculated based on the amount of money brands are willing to pay to showcase their ads on different videos.
Creators in the Beauty and Makeup niche can be making $42,000 a year while those focused on Entertainment can earn almost $33,000.
To keep it simple: YouTube uses an Ad Revenue model where advertisers pay through AdSense, a Google advertisement program, to display ads in your content. Based on the niche you are working in, the different brands that are going to be interested in your videos and pushing to get the best deal.
The more expensive the product or service promoted on an ad, the more money the brand is willing to pay for that space. That’s why niches such as Finance or Educational, that might advertise some long term courses or capacitations, have higher CPM that the Gaming niche where brands mainly showcase video games.
Graham Stephan, Andrei Jikh and Nate O'Brien are among the best personal finance youtubers out there. PewDiePie, Markiplier and Jacksepticeye are known for their incredible gaming content. Due to the niches they work in, each of them holds a different CPM impacting a great deal on their monthly earnings. However, the views and outreach each of them has, is also going to impact their numbers.
All of them make a great deal of money out of YouTube. Finance has a higher CPM but Gaming channels may attract more viewers as they are open to a broader audience. Nonetheless, in both cases the exact earnings are not easy to calculate. There are estimations based on views and ad revenue only but in order to get a clear picture we must also consider other monetization methods available for YouTube creators.
If you are starting your YouTube path and are wondering which niche is better to get more money, you can take this average CPM as a reference. However, you must know that viewers value authenticity and sense if you are being fake. So find the niche that best fits you! Take your passion, create content out of it and work from there.
Besides earning money through the ads displayed on your content, you as a creator have other ways to explore the possibilities of your community and monetize your videos.
Quick note: Let's not forget that every channel and number of subscribers is unique and that rates are influenced by a series of factors. You can dive deeper into the factors that determine your rate and get ready to make the most out of your content and subscribers!
These are ads that usually involve the creator speaking about a product or service directly in one of their videos. Rates are negotiated between the creator and the brand. YouTube doesn't take a share of these deals.
The brand approaches the creator, or vice versa, to make a deal where both parts gain something. The brand gets brand awareness and sales and the creator finds another way of monetizing the content they make.
MrBeast often collaborates with Current, a partnership launched with MrBeast’s biggest fan giveaway of a $100,000 prize for 100,000 fans on Current in his video ‘I Got Hunted by a Bounty Hunter,’ which gained over 18 million views in 24 hours.
Creators can develop their own line of custom merchandise. Products like T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, phone cases, skincare and sweets are popular choices.
Youtubers design merchandise, list it on an e-commerce platform (like Shopify), and promote it to their audience.
MrBeast operates a merchandise line called Beast Merch, featuring branded clothing and accessories. His merchandise is often promoted in his videos, appealing directly to his fanbase. Casual clothes, sports gear, accessories and chocolate bars are often shown in his videos for loyal fans to purchase and strengthen the community connection while significantly contributing to his overall revenue.
Promoting a product with a unique link or discount code lets you earn a commission on each sale, with rates varying by product category and retailer policies.
Creators can join different affiliate programs like Amazon Associates or ShareASale and then promote the products with a trackable link on their videos. Then they get a percentage out of every sale made through their unique link.
He promotes products and services through affiliate links in his video descriptions earning commissions for each referred user. He collaborated with Shopify by encouraging his followers to launch a store on Shopify with the promise that he would buy from 100 random stores that do so using his link.
Youtubers can offer exclusive content to paying subscribers.
Youtubers set up a membership page where subscribers gain access to exclusive perks like behind-the-scenes content, early product releases, private Q&A sessions, and more.
For his enormous hit of subscribers he made a special video only available for those who purchase from a special list of merch. It is not a direct membership but in order to get access to brand new material, you had to make a specific purchase.
YouTube Premium is a subscription service where users pay a monthly fee for an ad-free experience, offline viewing, and exclusive content. Creators benefit from this service through a revenue-sharing model.
YouTube collects subscription fees from YouTube Premium members and a portion of this pool is distributed to creators based on watch time.
Estimating MrBeast earning through YouTube Premium Revenue is hard to do as there are no public figures disclosed.However, with one of the most-watched channels on the platform, consistently amassing billions of views, it's clear that a significant portion of his income stems from Premium subscribers who engage with his highly captivating content.
Earning money on YouTube is going to be influenced by a series of factors. Getting to know them will help you better define the type of content you want to create in order to attract the right audience and then find the best ways to monetize.
As AdSense automatically connects ads to your videos the type of audience you hold is going to be what determines what kind of brands / products are aligned with your content. It´s not the same to be in a more micro niche like technology gadgets than being in beauty and fashion where there’s probably more brands involved.
How often users engage with your content (views, comments, shares) as a percentage of total users. As the ad revenue works primarily based on CPC and CPM, the way your subscribers react to your content is going to be key in defining your monthly earnings.
A higher subscriber count can lead to more views. More views can lead to better engagement and increase your ad revenue. Loyal subscribers often watch more content and interact with ads so take care of your community and find ways to keep the interactions going.
Your track record on the platform and previous collabs with other creators or brands can boost your value. Brands are more likely to be interested in your channel when they see your whole trajectory. Additionally, YouTube’s AdSense algorithm often favors established creators with consistent engagement, aligning more relevant and higher-paying ads with your videos.
Longer videos can include more ads, increasing potential earnings. However, the content must be engaging to retain viewers until the end of the video.
The first thing you need to understand to make your YouTube journey better is that growth doesn't happen overnight.
MrBeast, one of the most known youtuber out there, launched his channel in February 2012. Five years later, in 2017, his videos started getting attention and over 100,000 views. By mid 2018 his subscriber count had risen to approximately 5 million. Today he holds the title of one of the few content creators to surpass 100 million subscribers on YouTube and holds over 342 million subscribers following along all his craziness and philanthropic ideas, games and challenges.
Growing your YouTube channel is achievable by combining good quality content, consistency and interactions with your audience. Here are the main best practices to follow in order to build a good subscriber base.
The best way to stand out from the millions of creators on YouTube is by your content. Good quality videos are going to make the user stay, watch your entire video and, if you are lucky, come back from more.
A good video is mainly made by the quality of the film so pay attention to this and try to have good equipment so you are able to create relevant content and visually appealing videos.
Make your content in a way that makes the user stay until the video is over. Use different cliffhangers or hooks in order to get their attention at the beginning and keep them entertained during the video. Keep the narrative engaging with relatable moments or surprises adding value to your material and standing out from other creators.
Every extra information surrounding your video is going to be a complement for getting the attention of your audience. Search for keywords that best describe the topic of your video and don't be afraid to add them into your titles, descriptions and thumbnails. Don´t forget that SEO is also present on YouTube and by using the proper words you can get the right users to come along your channel.
You can also add subtitles for accessibility, ensuring a better user experience for viewers with hearing disabilities or those watching in public spaces.
Take every chance you have to interact with your audience. Answer their questions and comments, address their concerns, talk directly to them in your videos and take recommendations for new material coming up. Creating a sense of community and closeness will help you gain subscribers. When viewers feel connected and loyal to your content, they’ll naturally subscribe and keep coming back for more.
Make videos and upload them regularly. Set weekly or monthly goals and try to keep up with them.
Check what other people are watching and how many videos similar youtubers are posting to have as a guideline. The more content you produce, the easier it is for users to find you and your content.
Maintaining a consistent structure in your videos is key. Use appealing titles, visually intriguing thumbnails, and concise descriptions to capture attention and keep your viewers engaged.
Use the playlist resource to categorize your content by theme and suggest related videos, guiding viewers seamlessly to their next watch.
Once you build a community, don’t hesitate to ask directly for subscriptions. YouTube users understand their value, and if they enjoy your content, they’re likely to subscribe to support you.
Include a subscription button in your videos, add the link to your description, and actively encourage subscriptions on YouTube and your other social media platforms.
The key to a loyal fanbase is being true to yourself and your content. Find what works best for you and your audience and keep it real. Discover your niche and present new vlogs, reviews, recipes, hacks of DIY. Everything is valid as long as it has your essence.
What makes you unique is what will drive your subscriber growth. Once you identify the reason people are drawn to your content, stay true to it, and the results will follow.
Check out who is out here that aligns with your style and content and co-create videos with them. Viewers really like collabs when they get to see their favourite youtuber together.
This is also a great way to gain subscribers. A collaboration creates a win-win scenario as both creators introduce their subscriber base to each other. There is a new audience involved for both parts and if viewers enjoy the other creator's content, they’re likely to subscribe, benefiting everyone involved.
Success doesn't happen overnight. There are lots of people doing YouTube content so standing out is going to take time. But YouTube is big enough to fit everybody. Find what moves you, find a way to connect with your viewers and create a community.
Be patient and remember that even MrBeast had to start at some point and it took him years to get to where he stands today.
Success on YouTube requires consistency, authenticity and patience. Reaching 1 million subscribers can get you the Gold Plate but you need to remember that earnings are driven by ad views, not subscriber count.
However subscribers play a key role in determining the quality of your content, the size of your loyal audience and therefore, attracting brand deals and ad opportunities that can turn your channel into a thriving income source.
The opportunities are endless. So you need to understand how YouTube monetization works and start from there. As you continue to grow your channel and explore new monetization opportunities, stay authentic to your niche and focus on delivering value to your audience.
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