Artistic creation, such as painting, knitting, and card making, has been an unpaid hobby for millions of people over the years. But today, many expert crafters and artists are using their skills to start lucrative businesses, such as paint and sip companies and shops that sell decorative home goods.
However, this is only the beginning when it comes to diversifying your income as an artist. Once you have a business, taking it to the internet is the next logical step. This is a crucial decision that opens a world of e-commerce perks, such as online selling, affiliate marketing, and brand sponsorships.
Of all the platforms you could use to make this transition, YouTube is undoubtedly the best. The video-sharing platform allows you to connect with like-minded viewers, such as people who want to be better artists. And whenever these viewers watch your videos, you can make money through AdSense revenue.
But to reach this milestone, you have to understand the YouTube space and what it means to be a creator. You have to learn what worked for successful YouTubers, how to monetize a YouTube channel, and much more.
Once you’ve done that, you’re free to start filming, crafting, and making money. If you’re wondering how that last part comes to fruition, check out these three artists and the creative ways they’re making money on YouTube.
Jane Font, who runs the Painting with Jane YouTube channel, specializes in acrylic painting. Nature is her muse, and viewers can watch step-by-step tutorials for painting various outdoor wonders, from cliffside lighthouses to desert sunsets.
However, all of these amazing tutorials were pre-recorded until three months ago. That’s when Jane started going live on YouTube, adding in-the-moment painting tutorials to her video collection. The videos, which range in style from watercolor to acrylic, are compiled in a convenient playlist called “Social Distance Get-Togethers.” In one such video from that playlist (below), Jane shows more than 29,000 viewers how to paint a forest filled with birch trees, in spring:
Due to the current pandemic, Jane streamed this tutorial at home, away from her studio. Nevertheless, she’s still finding creative ways to make money from her YouTube content. In addition to AdSense revenue, Jane has four more income streams attached to the tutorial above: affiliate links, a video sponsor, a Patreon subscription link, and a link to buy her custom paint brushes. In just one video, that amounts to five money-making opportunities.
All this magic takes place in the description section of Jane’s live-streamed videos. In that area, she shares a link to her website, which is where all of her affiliate links are housed. When customers use those links to purchase art supplies, Jane earns a commission.
Her Patreon is also listed to encourage a more consistent steam of income. When viewers navigate there, they’ll find monthly subscription plans that house exclusive content from Jane: bonus videos, more live paintings, Q&As, viewing parties, and more.
Her last two income streams (brand partnership and product line) may take a while for new creators to achieve. After all, Jane has been on YouTube since 2014 and currently has 261K subscribers. However, it’s a goal worth shooting for, and Jane is proving that fine artists can make money on YouTube too.
Jennifer McGuire Ink is a respected crafting channel that currently has 385K subscribers. Jennifer, who is a stamping enthusiast and crafting instructor, uploads videos about how to make handmade greeting cards.
Jennifer has monetized her channel, so she does earn AdSense revenue from her videos. That certainly helps to expand her income, as she shares tons of free tips and tricks about card making each week. But what if you, as a crafting creator, wanted to make even more money? How do you do that when you’re giving away a large chunk of your expertise for free, or are only collecting Adsense revenue?
In Jennifer’s case, the answer was to post general hacks on YouTube and save specific (paid) advice for another platform. For example, in the video below, Jennifer shares general time-saving hacks for two cardmaking processes: die-cutting and stamping.
That video is a general overview of quick tips. However, on Jennifer’s website, she sells courses that cover specific topics in cardmaking, as opposed to her generic instruction on YouTube.
There are courses on color theory for card designers, how to make watercolor designs, and the art of crafting holiday cards. Viewers can access these courses through a website link in the description of her videos, so it’s a great example of how YouTube promotion can fund outside ventures. In that same section, Jennifer even shares affiliate links to purchase the tools and materials used in her videos.
Crafting doesn’t have to be an unpaid hobby. If you’re great with your hands and have an eye for design, teach others what you know on YouTube.
Sarah-Jayne of Bella Coco uploads crochet tutorials. Her channel of 774K subscribers is filled with step-by-step tutorials on popular stitching patterns, such as the double waffle, the granny square, and the spider stitch.
In one such video (below) Sarah-Jayne focuses on the double waffle technique. Chain by chain, she shows viewers how to stitch the intricate pattern using vibrant, powder blue yarn:
But as we saw with Jennifer McGuire, Sarah-Jayne isn’t just crafting for fun. She’s earning Adsense revenue, plus utilizing four extra income streams to make money on YouTube.
The first is a monthly subscription box of knitting supplies. Scroll down to the description section of her YouTube videos, and you’ll quickly find a link to purchase the box. Each one comes with yarn, a crochet hook, a pattern book, and a special surprise for just £14.99. Not a bad way to expand your money pool as a creator, especially if you can get multiple sign-ups.
Sarah-Jayne also sells a how-to-crochet ebook and various knitted creations, such as hats, blankets, cushions, and scarves. And below her videos, there are affiliate links for viewers to purchase the stitching supplies used in each tutorial.
All these products and services are promoted via Sarah-Jayne’s YouTube channel. When you create your own crafting channel, you’ll have the same opportunity to monetize your content, then branch off into various money-making ventures.
Now that you know what other artists are doing to make money on YouTube, let’s explore a few more options. Across the web, there a plenty of ways to supplement your income using your crafting knowledge and expertise, such as:
As you can see, the opportunities for artists are bountiful. Start by creating a YouTube channel to grow your audience, then reap the money-making benefits of video creation!
If you want to get more insights into YouTube then make sure to download vidIQ. Over 1 million creators use vidIQ to help with keyword and competitor research, channel audits, and so much more. Click here to install now for free!
And if you’re serious about growing your YouTube views and subscribers, sign up for exclusive access to the vidIQ Academy. Learn how to launch a successful YouTube Channel in just 30 days.
Lydia Sweatt is a writer who loves balancing her article/blog time indoors with a healthy dose of nature. She bikes, hikes, and identifies edible plants along the way.
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