Do you want to make money on YouTube? Millions of creators are earning a very good living from the platform by uploading content that drives huge views and engagements. Whether that income is from advertising revenue, merch sales, or brand deals, we keep you updated with best practises and ideas.

How To Make Money on YouTube

Do you know how to do keyword research so you understand what videos people are actually searching for on YouTube? Do you know how to create a custom YouTube thumbnail? Do you know how to create a Playlist on YouTube?

vidIQ has a ton of tips that will help every creator maximise their video content. We publish content every week to keep you up to date with all the best practices.

YouTube Tips & Tricks

YouTube Shorts content is set to explode! 

All the latest tips, tricks, and rock-solid advice you need for this new feature.

YouTube Shorts

Ask any YouTuber and they will tell you that generating significant views and subscribers isn't easy. But with the right strategy and tools, any video creator can build an engaged subscriber base when they understand what those subscribers want to watch.

Appealing to an audience to watch content you are passionate about making is just the first step, you need to know how to reach them and get your videos discovered. Our guides to how to guide more views on YouTube will give you the best tips to succeed on the platform.

How To Get More Views on YouTube

This post is all about how you can monetize your content on YouTube to start generating revenie. The are four golden rules to making money on YouTube, and they are:

You need to have 1,000 subscribers on your YouTube channel

Your videos have generated 4,000 Watch Time hours over the last 12 months

You comply with all YouTube's policies and guidelines

#1 The YouTube Partner Program Requirements

Commonly known as the YouTube Partner Program, or YPP for short, you'll need to hit all four requirements before your channel will be accepted.

Let's start with the 1,000 subscribers. This one is pretty straightforward, it doesn't matter how long it takes you to get to 1,000 subscribers, once you hit that milestone, you've reached that requirement.

As well as 1,000 subscribers, you also need 4,000 hours of Watch Time on your videos over the last 12 months. There is some confusion with this one, so let me try and clarify that. First of all, this is not about how much video content you, the YouTube creator watch. This is all about how much video content is watched on your channel from people all across the world. It’s all those hours of video that people have watched on your channel in the last 12 months (from any given date). You could well have well 4,000 hours of Watch Time over the lifetime of your channel, but it's only the last 12 months that count for YouTube Partner Program requirements.

Another couple of things to tell you about Watch Time. Live streams do count towards that total. Unlisted videos also count towards that total. But if you delete any videos, that Watch Time will be removed from your channel Watch Time hours. And one more final thing, if you are already in the YouTube Partner Program, and if your channel falls below 4,000 hours of Watch Time, YouTube won't automatically remove you from the partner program, but they can do it at their discretion. If you want a much more detailed video on the topic of 4,000 hours specifically, check out this video:

If you want to check the progress of above requirements, you can do so by clicking on your logo in the top right-hand corner of most YouTube pages, and then clicking on YouTube Studio Beta. You can view all of your analytics here, but to quickly check progress on monetization, hover your mouse over "Other features", and then click on "Status and Features". On this screen, you should see a monetization box, and if you click "Learn more", it will tell you exactly where you currently stand with subscribers and Watch Time hours.

But if all of that sounds like too much hard work, then we've got a free tool that will do all of this much quicker and more efficiently. If you 

 on pretty much every YouTube screen, you will see a collection of real-time stats all about your channel. It will show you your channel's views per hour, views over the last 48 hours, and your subscriber count. But the really cool thing is that it will track your progress to 4,000 hours of Watch Time too! Once you hit 4,000 hours, that number will turn green to show you you've reached that monetization requirement.

#2 Following YouTube Rules for Monetization

Next on the list is the rule book. If you want to monetize your content, you need to make sure you stick to it, as YouTube state:

When you apply for the YouTube Partner Program, you'll go through a standard review process to see whether your channel meets YouTube's policy and guidelines. Only channels that meet them will be accepted into the program.

YouTube also constantly check channels in the program to see whether they continue to meet YouTube's policies and guidelines. These policies and guidelines that are very comprehensive, given all of the growing pains YouTube have had of finding the right balance between creators, viewers, and advertisers. I highly recommend familiarizing yourself with these 

 if you want to monetize your content in the future.

However, if you are in a TLDR mood, to summarize, apply common sense. If you think a video might be inappropriate, chances are it is, and you make such content at your own risk.

#3 Copyright and Monetization Policies on YouTube

Among YouTube's policies and guidelines is the huge topic of copyrighted material. Essentially, if you use other people's work, then you could be using copyrighted material without their permission, and YouTube does not want you to do that. It will almost certainly get you demonetized or prevent you from entering the YouTube Partner Program. Let's look at this in a little more detail.

For most of you, this is the most important monetization policy. You have to make sure that you're adding value to any third party content you monetize, and that your content has significant original commentary, educational value, or editorialized statement. And let's be clear, that still might not be enough. This does not give you a license to use other people's content in your videos all the time, because if you do, YouTube may use this as an argument not to monetize your content.

YouTube confirms that if all or most of your channel is dedicated to reused content, and you're not transforming the original work by adding your own unique value, 

then your channel is not eligible for the YouTube Partner Program.

 The spirit of this policy is to make sure that YouTube are incentivizing unique and original content into the YouTube Partner Program, and that YouTube are protecting and rewarding the creators who work hard on original content.

Now, some may see YouTube's spirit of a policy as an excuse to demonetize channels they don't want in the monetization program, but let's have a look at it from this point of view. You spent days, hours creating a magnificent piece of content, and it goes viral on YouTube. And then a dozen random video creators steal that content, upload it, generate hundreds of thousands of views, and end up profiting handsomely from it. How would you feel if that happened? That's what YouTube is trying to protect - original content from video creators.

Admittedly, reused, duplicate content, and copyright content is a broad gray area on YouTube, and they don't always get it right. And you may look at some channels on YouTube and see that they're clearly flaunting these rules. Well, you don't know what their individual circumstances are, they may have permission to use that content, or they may get caught in the future, and you don't want to follow the examples of channels that are doing this. It's not a road to success.

Ultimately YouTube is the gatekeeper. They hold all of the keys. You are on rented ground, and if you flaunt these rules, and break them, then don't be surprised when YouTube comes after you.

#4 Linking a Google Adsense Account with a YouTube Channel

If you are going to earn money from your videos, YouTube needs a way to pay you, and at least to begin with, this will be done through an AdSense account. A few things you need to know about this, if you already have an AdSense account, you can use that. You can connect multiple channels to one AdSense account, and if you haven't got an AdSense account, you can set one up during the YouTube Partner Program application process.

#5 Applying to the YouTube Partner Program

Let's remind ourselves of those requirements one more time: You need:

1,000 subscribers on your YouTube channel

4,000 Watch Time hours on your videos over the last 12 months

To comply with all YouTube's policies and guidelines

When you've applied YouTube Partner Program, it may take up to a month for the platform to make a decision. That’s because actual humans will review your channel so it’s a manual process. Some channels have been approved in days, so it could be quicker. However, if it does take longer than a month, then your channel will usually be placed in further review. When this happens, unfortunately, the wait times can get very long. Three, six, possibly even 12 months. In some unfortunate cases, YouTube never seems to come to a decision, leaving the creator in monetization limbo.

We appreciate that this can be a very frustrating position to find yourself in as a video creator, as many of you have commented about this on our videos here at vidIQ. Unfortunately, we ourselves cannot help push the process forward for you, so what we recommend you do is to talk to TeamYouTube on Twitter, make sure that everybody knows that you have an issue with your monetization decision.

YouTube say that this will never speed up the process, but at least having some decision is something you should deserve as a video creator.

#6 Being Rejected from the YouTube Partner Program: Next Steps

Now let's say that you've applied for the YouTube Partner Program, but you've been rejected. What can you do?

When you are rejected from the YouTube Partner Program, YouTube will give you a general reason why. Unfortunately, they won't tell you specifically what video or content is causing the issue, so you may be left blindly adjusting your channel. However, the good news is you can reapply for the program in 30 days' time.

Again, this is where you will have to use your common sense. If you think there are videos that are walking the community guideline and policies tightrope, then they most likely are and you need to adjust them. If there are videos that have copyright content on them then those are probably causing a problem with YouTube as well, so you will need to delete them.

Creators have asked when they apply for the partner program, will having a community guideline strike or a copyright strike against my channel prevent me from getting into the program? The answer is probably no, it definitely won't prevent you, but it is going to have an impact.

There is a dedicated support page with advice on what you should do if you are rejected from the YouTube Partner Program, and 

Once you are in the Partner Program, and you want to take your monetization a step further by earning money from Super Chats, membership, and merchandise, take a look at this video on the subject:

If you want to take your YouTube channel to the next level and 

 then make sure to download vidIQ. Join over 1 million other users and use vidIQ to help you research YouTube, analyze videos, audit your own channel, and take actionable steps 

Want to know how to monetize your channel and start making money on YouTube? Take a look at our beginner's guide!

How to Monetize Your YouTube Channel - A Beginner's Guide

As you settle into your journey as a YouTube creator, a simple but curious question may cross your mind: Do any really popular YouTubers follow my channel?

There are plenty of reasons you might want to know something like this. Other than simply being curious, perhaps you want to know if your content is valuable to creators with a larger following. Or maybe, as a growing channel, you want to see if these accomplished YouTubers are direct competitors in your niche. Those are all valid reasons, and you should explore them if you want to 

Before we dive into a tutorial on how to do that via locating your most popular subscribers, watch this video for an overview on the topic:

How to View Your Largest Subscribers on YouTube

 From any YouTube desktop page, click your profile image at the top right-hand corner of the screen and go to the YouTube Studio.

 On this dashboard screen, you should find exactly what you're looking for via the Recent Subscribers panel. Click the ‘see all’ link to access the pop-up subscriber screen.

When the panel expands, you’ll see a pre-sorted list of the most subscribed-to channels who’ve subscribed to you in the last 90 days

However, those are not your most subscribed-to followers, so here’s the next step: Click the time period box and switch it from ‘90 days’ to ‘Lifetime’. And voila! These are your biggest YouTube fans - not necessarily your most important ones, but the ones with the most fans out of all your subscribers.

Notice how the list changes when you switch the period box from ‘90 days’ to ‘Lifetime’. We tried it for ourselves, and it made a big difference in the results. By making that simple distinction, our most popular subscriber of 3.53M (originally) was knocked to the bottom of the list, allowing a channel with 15.2M subscribers to appear at the top:

One thing to keep in mind is that you can subscribe back to any of these channels directly from this page. If you’d like to check out their content first, you can click a channel’s thumbnail icon to jump straight to their YouTube channel homepage. You can even increase the number of channels displayed per page and navigate through the full list, if you have the time.

Alternatively, if you want to see your oldest public subscriber, stay in this expanded panel. From the ‘Subscriber Count’ column, navigate to your immediate left and find the ‘Date Subscribed’ section. Click this column a few times to re-order the list from oldest to newest subscribers.

 to find our longest-serving vidIQ subscriber. We took the time to say thank you to that particular channel (Hi, 

!) for being such an early supporter, way back in 2013.

Improve Your YouTube Channel with Your Largest Subscribers List

Once you have a list of your most subscribed-to followers, you may be wondering what to do with the information. One thing you want to avoid is spamming those channels with messages requesting collaborations. There are better ways to grow your channel, and honestly, any kind of mass outreach might seem a bit spammy. Plus, huge channels get hundreds of messages and yours could easily go unnoticed.

But there is one silver lining in all this. If larger channels are subscribing to your channel, that means you’re making valuable, entertaining content - which should be any creator’s goal!

Knowing this, it can be really useful to study the larger YouTubers who follow you. Discovering what kind of videos they post and what they’re talking about on their channel can give you more insight into why they followed you.

The best way to keep tabs on these creators is with the 

. When you add these channels to your competitors list, you’ll see their uploads all in once place. Then in the future, if your content aligns with anything those channels are posting, you can join the conversation.

In that case, you have a couple options: You could do a reaction video to their content or post your own video adding your thoughts on the topic. And if you time it just right, you may get a decent amount of views, subscribers, or even a nod from the larger channel.

Possible Upgrades to the YouTube Subscriber Panel

Okay, back to our chat about YouTube subscribers. When I talk about these tools, I always like to suggest some ways YouTube could make them bigger and better. Here are a couple of upgrades I'd to see when it comes to finding your most subscribed-to followers:

How many followers my most-subscribed fans and I have in common

The total number of subscribers from all the channels subscribed to me

The first upgrade could reveal some audience cross-over statistics, which is always helpful. Meanwhile, the second one satisfies my inner nerd. I know it would probably be a huge, whopping that doesn't mean much for creators, but I just love that type of data.

Use vidIQ’s Subscriber Insight Tool For More Data

Until YouTube makes the improvements listed above, take our subscriber insight tool for a spin. This tool takes a sample size of your subscribers and shows you who they are subscribing to, what videos they are engaging with, and when they are most active on YouTube. The ultimate goal of all of this information is to help you, the video creator, get a better understanding of your target audience. Who are they? What do they watch? And when do they watch it on YouTube?

To reach this tool, click the ‘IQ’ button on your web browser extension and go to ‘Subscriber Insights’. Once you do that, you'll have a wealth of knowledge and resources at your fingertips for analyzing your audience.

Now that you know who your largest subscribers are, it’s time to do two important things. The first is determining whether these channels are competitors, and the second is giving yourself a pat on the back! Because let's be honest. Someone with a larger audience subscribing to your channel? That has to feel good.

If you want to take your YouTube channel to the next level and 

 then make sure to download vidIQ for more subscriber insights. Join over 1 million other users and use vidIQ to help you research YouTube, analyze videos, audit your own channel, and take actionable steps 

And if you’re really serious about growing your YouTube views and subscribers, sign up for exclusive access to the 

 and learn how to launch a successful YouTube Channel in just 30 days.

Which subscribers on your YouTube channel have the most subscribers themselves? We’ll show you how to find out quickly.

How to Find the Most Popular Subscribers to YOUR YouTube Channel

A lot of content in the food space can tend to be either a bit pretentious or a little too vanilla. Autoplay your way through a cuisine-inspired playlist on social media, and you’re likely to find a predictable lineup of overly serious or excessively tame videos.

You might first see Gordon Ramsay pontificating about crème fraîche and scrambled eggs. Next up, Salt Bae charges celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio the amount of your monthly car payment to watch him bounce salt off his elbow and onto a steak that GQ called “somewhat tough and rather bland.” Finally, a 

 mashup runs through some cute variations on sugar cookie frosting.

There’s nothing wrong with these productions, but sometimes even the most serious connoisseurs need a no-frills foodie fix with a NSFW edge. Two of the best YouTube dives for satiating such cravings are Matty Matheson’s how-to cooking shows and Dave Portnoy’s 'One Bite Pizza Reviews.'

Matty Matheson’s Crazy Cooking Hits the Spot

 is a far cry from the typical kitchen tyrant. He’s a jolly ball of comedic energy covered with more ink than a newspaper in a shoal of scared squid. While he’s a formally trained chef who has published multiple cook books, he doesn’t take himself too seriously, loudly extolling the victual virtues of treats like '

,' and 'Naughty or Nice Chorizo Lasagna:'

“I’m putting myself out there as anti-food television,” Matheson said in a 

“I hate ‘Hi, I’m a really good looking guy and this is how you make creme brûlée, and this is perfect.’ It’s so whitewashed and so bull—t.”

Watch enough of Matheson’s content and you’ll hear repeated denouncements of pretentious food talk and using foods like purple cabbage in coleslaw to add flair. Still, he’s able to get fancy by putting foie gras in poutine or making mouth-moistening duck confit crepes—all while staying accessible to the average Joe who knows nothing about fine dining.

Why His YouTube Channel is Cooking With Fire:

 He’s used his passion for cooking as a springboard into non-food related areas of the entertainment industry, growing into an all-around celebrity.

 on his YouTube show with Benny Blanco, exploring North America on 

, or inviting Eric Andre onto his podcast, Matheson has built his brand in whatever direction is available.

 Start with what you know best, what you’re good at, but don’t be afraid to move beyond your comfort zone. There are new subscribers waiting for you wherever you go.

 made his fortune by founding Barstool Sports, but he’s also the king—no, El Presidente—of pizza reviews. Whether he stole the idea from a 

 on NBC sitcom Community or started it as a dare, as he claims, doesn’t matter.

He’s undeniably at the top of the cheesy tomato pie game now with his simple reviews delivered into a camera held by his intern Frankie outside of each pizza shop he patronizes.

However, while Portnoy is critical of the Italian delicacy, he’s no snob about it. No pizza joint is too good, as evinced by his reviews of slices from Costco, 7-Eleven, and Chuck E. Cheese (below), the latter of which he gave a surprisingly high 6.0 on the One Bite 0-10 scale. Portnoy even switched to critiquing frozen pizzas during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Since the reviews usually take place on crowded city streets, wildly entertaining chaos often ensues. From 

 with a confused homeless individual, anything goes in a One Bite production.

Portnoy has even shared his platform with some interesting people he’s encountered along the way, including a random Uber driver and a particularly charismatic fan who proved to know his pizza. Both of them now have their own One Bite reviews on the channel.

Why his channel will burn your face off: Portnoy leveraged his Barstool fame to bring in athletes and other celebrities, but he keeps it completely down to earth. Pretty much any passerby can get in on the review and give a score. Most importantly, though, he’s been crazy consistent, putting out daily videos for the past several years to build his pizza empire.

 If you’ve developed a successful brand, be it on YouTube or elsewhere, you can use that as a springboard to monetizing your other interests. Keep it simple, stay consistent, and you just might be able to start the next niche video movement.

Matty Matheson and Dave Portnoy are true heroes of non-pretentious food culture. Take a break from the overly serious or boringly tame cuisine content you’re used to consuming, and give them a taste!

Want To Make a Living from Food on YouTube?

If you want to take your food and drink channel to the next level, 

, then make sure to download vidIQ. Join over 1 million other users and use us to help research YouTube, analyze videos, audit your own channel, and take actionable steps 

Here’s some inspiration and entertainment from a couple of funny YouTubers who deliver an uncut look at the wonderful world of food.

Two YouTube Channels That Serve Up a Satisfying Foodie Fix

If you haven't optimised your YouTube homepage for the viewer, and given them a very clear and enticing first impression of who you are and what content they can expect them you, then how will they ever subscribe to you? Worst still, those potential fans may leave and never come back.

Your YouTube Homepage is absolutely critical to your success as a creator. On this episode of TubeTalk, I chat with vidIQ’s own Dan Carson and Travis McPherson as we dive into this highly underrated topic. It's such a quick win for any creator, but so many aren't ensuring their homepage is all it can be. In this episode you will learn:

How to get the most out of Community posts

Why ignoring your 'About' tab is a big mistake!

How to Get Your YouTube Subscribers to Watch Your Videos!

It can be a struggle to get your subscribers to watch more of your video content. So join the vidIQ team as they bring you the best strategy for bringing those 

TubeTalk has been informing video creators and marketers since 2014, and is one of the most respected and listened to podcasts in the online video industry. Don't foprget to 

 on your favorite podcast application so you never miss an episode!

You can also find the complete list of all the 

Is your YouTube homepage setting you up for success, or is it actually costing you views and subscribers? Find out in this week's episode of TubeTalk.

Is Your YouTube Homepage Losing You Subscribers? Find Out Now!

OK, let’s talk about channel monetization, a topic close to many creator’s hearts. On YouTube, making good money is all about influence, and you build this influence by creating a channel that's focused on a topic that you are an authority on.

That influence is going to be different, depending on the type of channel you have. A small-town fishing channel is going to have a different measure of influence than, say, a gaming channel that is hoping to reach a global audience.

That local fishing channel isn't going to need tens of thousands of viewers before they can start creating partnerships with local businesses. But for that gaming channel but big ambitions - it’s a different story. Before we take a deeper dive, don’t forget to check out this video that covers the topic of making money as a gaming channel on YouTube:

What New Creators Need to Know About Monetizing Their Video Content

Of course, there are many opportunities to generate revenue on YouTube, but let's take a step back for a moment. Before we even start talking about how to make money as that influential gaming content creator, we need to look at what it takes to monetize your channel.

If you're a gaming channel that gets 500 views or less per video, monetization shouldn’t be your main focus.

Many new creators tend to put the YouTube partnership program on a pedestal, and furiously work towards meeting the criteria needed to apply. They want those 

1000 subscribers and 4,000 hours of Watch Time

We understand the frustration to meet that goal. After all, who doesn’t want a little return on investment for all the time and effort put into video creation? You want to be able to run ads against your content so you can start to earn some money.

On your journey to that major goal, it can be tempting to try to find shortcuts, into monetizing your channel, in the form of Patreon profiles or affiliate links. However, asking your very new audience on YouTube, to make that kind of investment in your channel, should be done very thoughtfully.

The last thing on your mind should be how to make money with a very small YouTube channel that's still growing. Instead, your focus should be on providing value to your subscribers, so you give them a reason to subscribe and continue to coming back. Encouraging that relationship is the key to your audience getting to know you as a creator. We talk about this strategy more in this video:

How to Make Money as a YouTube Gaming Channel

OK, so we’ve about the ‘when’ now let’s talk about the ‘how.’ Let’s assume you've built a sizeable YouTube channel, and you have an audience that cares about you enough to invest in your content. They understand that this investment will likely mean that you can continue making more videos, or perhaps afford better equipment to improve their overall quality.

 so you can now run ads against your content - yay! However, while that revenue is something, it's likely not enough to realize your more immediate goals for your YouTube channel. The good news is YouTube itself offers lots of ways you can monetize your channel now that you’re a partner including:

 are a way for creators to monetize their live streams. Fans can contribute financially to their favorite channels, and catch the attention of a creator in a way that a comment or another form of engagement can't. Find out more about 

. Here's what one looks like in the wild:

 are also a way of monetizing your channel, but only when you’ve grown to a certain size. Generally speaking, you need about 30,000 subscribers to unlock this feature - unless you're a gaming channel, then you only need a thousand subscribers! 

 rolled out earlier this year, and it’s similar to Super Chats but fans can also donate to videos as well as your live streams. Find out more about how you can benefit from this feature as a creator:

How YouTubers Can Make Money With Patreon

Outside of the YouTube Partnership Program, 

Patreon is a crowdfunding website, where you can essentially set up different levels of ‘perks.’ People can subscribe to you, at different dollar amounts, and the amount they pledge determines what kind of perks they get from you.

What kind of perks could you offer? What about access to a private discord server? Or perhaps you could release some of your content early to them. Or you could set up an exclusive Minecraft server just for them.

While Patreon is a fantastic way of generating revenue, it requires some significant work on your part. If for example, you set up that private discord server, there's going to be an expectation that you'll spend some time there.

If you want to release your videos early, that's going to need to factor into your workflow every single time you upload a video. If you've set up a Minecraft server for them to play on, it's going to be expected that you actually play on that a Minecraft server with your audience.

The Benefits of Affiliate Marketing on YouTube

If crowdfunding sites aren't your cup of tea, there is always the option of putting an affiliate link in the description of your videos. Lots of different companies out there utilize affiliate programs to help promote their products or services. As a viewer, you may have seen examples on other videos, including the affiliate program that vidIQ run - 

However, it does pay to be cautious and not to partner with the first company you find, who's affiliate criteria you happen to meet. Instead, give some real thought, into the types of products or services that you and your audience could benefit from. Then see if these companies that you already commonly see around or work with, have affiliate programs and reach out to them.

Do Your Research Before Accepting a Brand Deal!

After you have ads enabled on your videos, consider these other avenues for making money very carefully. As your channel starts to transition from being just a hobby to becoming an actual business, do your research. For example, don't just say yes to the first sponsorship deal that's offered to you, just because it sounds super exciting to have a sponsor.

Do solid research on any company you consider partnering with, and always read the contracts you're about to sign, carefully.

YouTube channels can eventually become a financially successful business venture, but it does take time. And at the end of the day, don't forget to maintain that respect and trust that you've built with your audience.

There are so many ways you could potentially monetize a YouTube channel, but these are some of the more common ones, especially in the gaming space. If you want to know much more then we have the 'Complete Guide to Making Money on YouTube' course over on the 

Want To Get More Views on a Gamer on YouTube?

If you want to take your YouTube Gaming channel to the next level and 

 then make sure to download vidIQ. Join over 1 million other users (many of them gamers!) and use vidIQ to help you research YouTube, analyze videos, audit your own channel, and take actionable steps 

There are so many ways to monetize a gaming channel on YouTube. Let’s take a look at some of the quick wins for creators!

Simple Ways YOU Can Make Money as a Gaming Channel on YouTube

Fitness instruction is booming on YouTube. That means health-conscious viewers have a range of personal trainers to follow, whether they’re interested in cardio, muscle building, or any of the body-sculpting workouts one can find online.

While fitness instructors give massive value to viewers, they’re not uploading workout videos just for fun. In addition to helping their subscribers get fit, many are also monetizing their expertise on YouTube.

Fortunately, there’s a concrete method toward YouTube 

, and creators of any niche can embark on the journey. Once a YouTuber attains 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 hours of Watch Time, they become eligible for the 

. This allows creators to place advertisements throughout their videos, and in return, they could earn Google AdSense revenue.

If you’re a personal trainer or fitness instructor, you can reap these benefits too. Many fitness enthusiasts are already doing it, and we want to show you the methods they use to increase their YouTube revenue.

So, are you ready to dive in? Let’s take a look at three fitness YouTubers who’ve found brilliant ways to make money on the platform.

THENX: Making More Money with Paid Memberships

 is a popular YouTube Channel run by Chris Heria, a fitness trainer who specializes in calisthenics. Oh his channel, he uploads tutorials that emphasize using your body weight to train and build your strength.

As a viewer, the first thing you’ll notice about Chris’ workouts is how complex they are. He frequently covers handstands, muscle-ups, and the planche (suspending your body above the ground in a parallel fashion using just your arms).

Because of his advanced talent, Chris’ channel has huge acclaim - 6M subscribers and more than 384M views. To see what I mean about 'advanced talent', check out his shoulder exercise video below:

While THENX has a massive audience, its revenue streams can be repeated by small to midsize YouTubers.

For the first stream, Chris sells various workout merchandise, such as weighted vests, gym bags, and water bottles. For the second, he offers a workout membership plan to his viewers, billed at $9.99 monthly. When customers purchase this upgrade, they get access to a calisthenics workout library, exercise technique guides, and training programs.

Chris also has a THENX app filled with calisthenics workouts. It’s free to download and has several tutorials, but there’s an option to upgrade to the membership mentioned above. So altogether, Chris uses his YouTube channel to advertise three money-generating services. He shares these products in the description of his videos, as shown below:

One of the perks of running a fitness channel is that you’ll always have useful, evergreen videos to upload. Because getting in shape is a journey, health-conscious viewers could watch exercise content for years to come.

If you’re willing to help them along the way, YouTube is the place to do it! Stick by these goal-oriented viewers, and you could make some serious money as a fitness YouTuber.

Heart Alchemy Yoga: Live Yoga Classes via Zoom

, a channel with 104K subscribers. As a yoga instructor, she uploads tutorials on almost every iteration of the practice, including Bikram (high heat), yin (slow-paced), vinyasa (flowing postures), and power yoga (vigorous).

When the coronavirus pandemic was officially declared, Michelle responded with more at-home yoga tutorials to help viewers stay safe at home. In the video below, titled “Power Yoga Workout: 30-Min at Home Cardio Flow,” she demonstrates a series of yoga poses:

Amazingly, Heart Alchemy Yoga is a volunteer organization that runs on donations. Therefore, Michelle relies on monetary contributions from viewers and in-person clients alike.

In addition to that, Michelle hosts live yoga classes via Zoom. In the screenshot below, you can see that she encourages viewers to email her about sign-up details. It’s not clear whether she accepts payment for those lessons, but for your business, you absolutely can.

Live-streamed workouts aren’t new, but they’ve gotten more popular due to COVID-19 and recent state lockdowns. For example, fitness studios that temporarily shuttered in March shifted from in-person training to 

When you join YouTube as a fitness instructor or trainer, keep this in mind. Video content is exploding on the web, and people are only going to want more of it in the future. Because of that, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to monetize your video workouts.

Cycling with Gabriella Guevara: Subscribe and Ride for $1

 is a rhythm cycling instructor. On her YouTube Channel of 38.1K subscribers, she uploads spin workouts set to upbeat music, such as pop, hip-hop, and EDM.

For many of her workouts, Gabriella shows up with her stationary bike, neon lights, headset mic, and a playlist of awesome music. Each workout is high-energy, and you can witness that in the 45-minute 'Quarantine Ride' video below. During the workout, Gabriella motivates viewers to push through their fatigue and keep spinning:

Gabriella monetizes such workouts in three powerful ways: merchandise, nutrition coaching, and a subscription service. She includes a link to her website in the description of her videos, which allows viewers to purchase these services.

Of all her offerings, Gabriella’s subscription plan is the most interesting in terms of revenue. For a trial price of just $1, customers can sign up to access all of Gabriella’s spin classes. That amounts to more than 65 rides, and if customers decide to stick around, she receives the post-trial fee of 14.99 per month.

But that’s not all. Her website has a merchandise section, which contains cycling-themed T-shirts of $22 or more. There’s also a section for custom nutrition coaching, and those packages are between $65 and $80.

Fitness instructors have a variety of ways to make money on YouTube. Find out what opportunities there are for generating revenue.

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