You’re on your couch, minding your own business, when suddenly you realize that Google is paying people to watch your YouTube videos. You think to yourself, maybe I should try this too. You put in the work, trial and error, to see what resonates with audiences and what doesn’t. Then, one day, you wake up and realize that you’re not alone. People seem to appreciate your wit and charm, and they’re willing to pay to access your content.
The key to building a successful YouTube channel, aside from creating high-quality content, is to establish yourself as a thought leader in your industry. People will find your content because they trust your judgment; those who know you have a history of producing authoritative content on the subject matter will want to access your channel because they know it will be valuable to them.
The beauty of YouTube is that you can achieve this without charging viewers. You can use tools like Google Adsense to generate a revenue stream from displaying ads on your channel. However, you don’t always need to rely on ads to make money from YouTube. You can implement various other monetization strategies, all of which are legitimate and safe. In this article, we will discuss five ways to make money from YouTube without having to rely on ads.
1. Create a membership site
A membership site is similar to a freemium model – the paywall is built into the membership itself. This means you don’t have to rely on advertising to fund your channel. Instead, you can engage with your audience through weekly lectures or live chats where you teach them something new.
The key to creating a successful membership site is to look for the right niche. You’ll want to attract members from all over the world, so you choose a niche that appeals to a global audience. You could teach people how to play guitar, but why not take a more targeted approach and teach software developers how to create a website from scratch? You could also create a space for entrepreneurs to come together and gain inspiration.
Once you’ve mastered the art of putting together a successful membership site, you can start to think about how to make money from it. You can sell and merchandise everything from t-shirts to hoodies, to provide a revenue stream for your channel. If you’ve built up a large enough community, you can also conduct seminars and webinars where you teach attendees various tips and tricks for free.
2. Start an affiliate program
An affiliate program is when you recommend a product or service that pays you a commission when someone clicks a link or buys a product that you’ve promoted. You’re not personally benefiting from the sale, but you still get a commission. There are plenty of affiliate programs out there, especially if you specialize in technology, fitness, or dieting.
The beauty of affiliate marketing is that you don’t necessarily need to have a large audience to be able to get started. You can use free platforms like WordPress to set up a blog that’ll soon become a money-generating machine. When someone clicks a product link or buys a product that you’ve recommended, you get a small commission.
Choose your affiliate products wisely. Just because a product is convenient to use or offers some amazing discounts does not mean that it’s a good fit for your audience. Conversely, if you’re recommending a weight loss medication, you may want to reconsider that choice. Don’t ever put yourself in the position of promoting a product that you know is going to be harmful to your audience (or even yourself).
3. Build a brand for yourself
Your brand is how you present yourself to the world. It’s how people perceive you, even if they don’t know you personally. Your brand can be as simple or as complex as you want it to be. If you have a vision in mind for how you want your brand to be, take some time to put together a brand book. This will help you articulate your brand’s purpose and define the personality you’re going to convey to the world.
Creating a brand is a long process that takes a lot of trial and error. It’s important to find a way to express the overall feel you want for your brand. For example, if you want to create a relaxing, calm environment, you may want to use white or cream colored backgrounds with bright soothing colors like green or yellow.
Once you have a brand, you can start to build a customer base. The best way to get started is to use social media to connect with people and allow them to discover your brand. When someone finds value in what you have to say, they are more likely to subscribe to your channel and perhaps even make a purchase. You can also try approaching high-quality blogging sites that have a healthy audience and offer something that can help your brand. For example, if you’re a fashion YouTubber, you may want to try and gain popularity on the StyleBakery blog.
4. Run a competition or giveaway.
A competition or giveaway is a great way to engage your audience and gain new subscribers. All you need is a group of people (most often through social media platforms), a product you’re promoting, and a way for people to enter. Simply put, a competition or giveaway is when you hold a contest or raffle in which you give away a prize. In exchange for entering the contest (for example), you get a chance to win some cool prize.
The beauty of a competition is that it doesn’t necessarily need to have a premium price point to be successful. You can use tools like Google Adsense to gain revenue from promoting a product in a competition. Simply find a product that you think your audience will value, create a website around it, and then enter a competition to win free products or discounts on the item.
5. Start a blog
A blog is a type of website where you can post articles (often in the form of videos) on a specific subject. The beauty of a blog is that you don’t necessarily need to have a huge audience to be able to get started. You can use free platforms like WordPress to set up a blog that’ll soon become a money-generating machine. When someone searches for a topic you’ve covered, they will come across your blog and hopefully learn something valuable.
Blogs are a great way to build credibility with your audience. When you first start, it may seem easy enough to just post whatever you have online. However, if you want to become a successful blogger, you’ll want to find a way to stand out above the rest. This might mean specializing in a certain niche or creating a regular schedule for your posts. If you can drum up enough interest and credibility in your niche, you can then start to look for sponsorships or become an affiliate for a company.
Make Money Online for Free Legitimately
While it’s great to find a way to make money online, it’s important to keep in mind that you’re not alone. There are tons of successful YouTubers who have established themselves as authorities in their industry. Building a brand, running a competition, or becoming an affiliate aren’t easy ways to make money, but they’re all legitimate and safe. If you’re wanting to make money online for fun or as a side hustle, you can use the platforms above to get started.