Many creators just assume that the only way to earn money on YouTube is through joining the YouTube Partner Program.
Hence the reason why so many smaller channels were up in arms, when YouTube announced it was changing its partnership requirements.
But there are more ways to earn a living off vlogging than YouTube’s partnership program. Some of them are even more lucrative than the program itself.
Here are four ways you can earn some extra cash off your channel, without having to 1,000 subscribers or over 4,000 hours of viewed videos.
Sponsored Videos and Paid Collaborations
This is probably the most well-known way of earning extra money off YouTube, that doesn’t involve its Partner Program.
If creators can prove they have high rates of engagement and interaction on their videos, then brands may be interested in working with them.
Yes, their rates may be significantly smaller than PewDiePies or KSI’s but many brands are keen to work with microinfluencers. If a creator markets themselves and their channel correctly to brands, this can be a lucrative option to earn extra cash.
Teespring
It’s as simple as putting your channel’s name on a t-shirt.
Teespring lets creators design products on their site, choose a price point and then sell it via their platform.
There is no need to create samples, worry about shipping products or reply to customer queries. Teespring handles all of that and they ship to GCC regions.
If you ever wanted your own branded clothing line, here’s your chance. Try selling your “merch” on your channel and watch the dirhams roll in.
Patreon
If you have more than a few hundred subscribers and your videos get a significant amount of views, you might want to consider signing up to Patreon.
Essentially, Patreon is a membership platform where people support artists and creators by paying monthly fees. In exchange, the Patreon members have early access to the creator’s content or view behind-the-scenes footage. It’s like Kickstarter, but for creative people.
And you don’t have to be a YouTuber to sign up. Anyone who creates content or art of some kind ( authors, podcasters, musicians, etc.) can start a page.
Brave Web Browser
Brave is a web browser that enables YouTube creators to monetize their content.
Simply download the browser, and you’ll have access to the built-in payment system.
Users can purchase “tokens”(called Basic Attention Token or BATs), and tip their favourite creators with the currency. They can either set an amount that they want to give a creator each month (known as“pinning”), or give a creator a share of their monthly token budget (based on how much time they spend vieweing that person’s content).
Pretty handy, if you’re a vlogger with a loyal following.
Either way, if there’s a will there’s a way.
It’s a shame YouTube is making it more challenging for smaller channels to earn an income, but hopefull some of these tips will help micro-creators out…
What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments below.
Photo credit: Shutterstock.