Influencers with millions of followers aren’t the only ones who can earn money on YouTube. In reality, anyone who creates impactful content can do it—whether you're a freelancer, entrepreneur, digital artist, online educator, and more.

Opportunities exist for those who know how to take advantage of them. Of course, you must meet certain requirements to monetize on YouTube and understand the different ways to turn it into a real income source.

That’s why we recommend reading this post.

Here, we explain how to make money on YouTube, the requirements you need, and some tips to help grow your channel.

How to Make Money on YouTube: A Practical Guide for Independent Creators

How to Make Money on YouTube

There are many effective ways to make money online, and one of them is creating your own channel on platforms like YouTube.

It all starts by turning your knowledge or talent into content that provides value and attracts an audience. Now, to monetize it, you need to apply to the YouTube Partner Program and meet its requirements.

Once your application is approved, you can earn income in different ways—from the ads shown on your videos to views through YouTube Premium.

You can also complement your earnings with sponsorships, affiliate marketing, or by selling your own products or services.

Ways to Make Money on YouTube

Through the YouTube Partner Program, you can access various tools to monetize your content, such as:

Ads

This feature lets you earn money by showing ads on your videos and Shorts. Your income increases based on the number of views you get.

But it’s not just about how many people watch—it depends on a combination of factors. Including ad type, watch time, and how competitive your niche is.

The more valuable your audience is to advertisers, the higher the payment.

YouTube Premium

This is a passive way to generate income that rewards both the watch time and quality of your content.

How to make money with YouTube Premium?

It’s simple—every time a user (with a Premium subscription) watches your videos, you receive a share of their monthly payment. That’s why many YouTubers encourage viewers to subscribe.

YouTube Shopping (Own or Affiliate Products)

This feature lets you sell your own products or promote third-party ones. You can do this directly from your videos or during live streams.

That means your channel can serve as a storefront to advertise your freelance services or sell courses and digital resources—whether from your website or through platforms like LinkedIn, TikTok, or Instagram.

This option is also available on TikTok, so you don’t have to wait until you meet the follower threshold to monetize.

Memberships

If you already have an active community, this is a great alternative.

Memberships allow your most loyal followers to support your work with a monthly payment. Of course, you must offer them exclusive benefits in return—like early or more personalized content, live sessions, or discounts.

Super Chat, Stickers, and Super Thanks

These are other ways you can make money on YouTube. They’re a direct source of income based on real-time interaction with your audience.

How do they work?

With Super Chat and Stickers, viewers pay to highlight their messages or send animated stickers during live streams.

With Super Thanks, fans support your content by leaving a paid comment. It’s like a digital tip—and it can be received during live streams or on any video, even older ones.

Affiliate Marketing

If you’re looking for part-time jobs that generate extra income, this option is ideal. Unlike YouTube Shopping, affiliate marketing gives you the freedom to choose what best suits your audience. Though it’s an alternative outside the official partner program tools.

How to make money on YouTube with affiliate marketing?

By promoting products or services from other brands using personalized links. Simply add them to your video descriptions or pin them in the comments.

You can recommend tools, platforms, or useful products for your audience and earn a commission for each sale—especially if you make reviews or comparisons.

Crowdfunding

Do you know what crowdfunding is? It’s a way to fund your creative projects or ventures without relying on banks or traditional loans.
It’s ideal if you want to launch new ideas with the direct support of your audience.

Through platforms like Patreon or Ko-fi, you can invite your community to support your work with small contributions.

As with memberships, you’ll need to reward them with special benefits.

What Are the Requirements to Start Monetizing on YouTube?

In general, the requirements to monetize on YouTube are:

• Have an active Google AdSense account linked to your channel.

• Comply with all of YouTube’s monetization policies.

• Enable two-step verification on your Google account.

• Live in a country or region where the YouTube Partner Program is available.

• Have 1,000 subscribers on your channel and meet one of the following two thresholds:

1. 4,000 valid public watch hours in the last 12 months.

2. 10 million valid Shorts views in the last 90 days.

If your application is approved, you can start earning revenue from your content.

Requirements by Monetization Methods

Each available monetization method within the Partner Program also has its own eligibility requirements.

Below, you'll find them categorized:

Channel Memberships, Shopping, Super Chat / Stickers, and Super Thanks

Ad Revenue, YouTube Premium, and Shopping (Third-Party Products)

Tips to Grow on YouTube and Earn More Money

Now that you know the requirements to monetize on YouTube and how to make money, we want to close with a few tips to help you grow on this platform.

• Use the Shorts format to grow quickly. If you're just starting or have limited time, post Shorts. They're easy to produce, go viral fast, and allow you to showcase your talent or expertise from a mobile screen.

• Understand your audience as potential customers. Review your channel’s analytics to identify new viewers, returning subscribers, and when they are most active. This will help you post strategically and tailor your content to their actual habits.

• Create content for your followers, not the algorithm. Instead of obsessing over “pleasing the algorithm,” focus on understanding what your audience wants. If your videos resonate with people, the algorithm will reward you.

• Refresh to attract new visitors. Even if you have a loyal community, there are always new users to reach. If you want to attract people who don’t know you yet, update your topics, formats, and even thumbnails.

• Don’t forget to review metrics like CPM and RPM to understand what type of content advertisers value most. This will also help you know how much you earn per thousand views.

Bonus Tip:

If you’re already earning income on YouTube or working with international clients, consider using DolarApp.

By activating a digital dollar account through the app, you can receive international payments—from YouTube, freelance platforms, or direct clients. Then, just convert your earnings from USDc to your local currency quickly and at a fair exchange rate.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does YouTube pay for 1 million views?

This depends on many factors such as content type, country, audience, engagement, and retention. For example, in Latin American countries like Mexico, Argentina, Peru, and Colombia, the estimated range is $500 to $2,500 USD.

At how many views do you start earning money on YouTube?

You don’t earn from isolated views. You must enable monetization. To start making money from your videos, you need 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours or 10 million Shorts views.

What do you need to become a YouTuber and earn money?

Create original content and upload it regularly, meet the YouTube Partner Program requirements, and build a loyal audience. You should also understand the monetization tools and make the most of your channel’s analytics.