Intro — quick summary
YouTube remains one of the most powerful platforms to build an audience and earn money. In 2024–2025 the platform evolved: YouTube Shorts, AI-assisted production, and deeper creator tools mean there are more routes to revenue than ever — but YouTube also tightened rules to favor original, high-quality content. This guide shows 9 practical monetization methods, how to use them together, the exact eligibility rules you need to know, and the best tools to speed up production in 2025.
Quick update on eligibility and important policy notes
- YouTube’s current Partner Program eligibility and tiers changed in 2024/25: to apply for YPP channels need ≥500 subscribers + 3 valid uploads + either 3,000 public watch hours in the last 12 months or 3 million valid Shorts views in the last 90 days. For unlocking ad revenue there are higher thresholds (see the official page for details). YouTube
- Shorts monetization follows advertiser-friendly guidelines; only eligible Shorts views (that comply with those guidelines) are considered for revenue sharing. support.google.com
- YouTube is expanding community-style features (Posts / Communities) to more creators — these are increasingly useful for retention and conversion. The Verge
9 Practical Ways to Make Money on YouTube (and how to start)
Each method works best together — don’t treat them like separate silos.
1) Ad revenue (YouTube Partner Program)
What: Ad revenue from in-stream ads, Shorts ads and YouTube Premium revenue.
How to start: Apply to YPP once you meet eligibility (see above). Optimize videos for watch time and advertiser-friendliness. Use the Self-Certification tool in YouTube Studio to speed up monetization reviews. YouTube
Quick tips
- Focus on longer watch sessions (playlists, chapters, end screens).
- Avoid policy-ineligible content; get familiar with advertiser-friendly rules.
- Track RPM and geography in YouTube Analytics.
2) Channel memberships & recurring revenue
What: Monthly payments in exchange for perks (badges, members-only video/shorts, exclusive live chats).
How to set up: Enable once you meet the channel’s membership eligibility; create clear, valuable member perks (early videos, members-only shorts, exclusive polls).
Pro tip: Use community posts & members-only posts to surface exclusive content and keep retention high. The Verge
3) Super Chat, Super Stickers & Super Thanks
What: Fan tipping during live streams and on videos.
How to use: Host regular live Q&A, premieres, or product launch streams; promote tipping by offering shoutouts or small perks.
4) Affiliate marketing (high-conversion strategy)
What: Recommend products and earn a commission when viewers buy via your links.
How to do it effectively:
- Make honest reviews and real demos (adds value and reduces refund/claim risk).
- Include links in first two lines of description and pinned comment.
- Use affiliate disclosure (FTC rules).
Tools: Use link managers (Pretty Links / ThirstyAffiliates for WordPress) and shorteners that preserve tracking.
5) Sponsorships & Brand Deals
What: Brand pays you to promote products or services.
How to land deals:
- Build a media kit (audience demographics, top-performing videos, CPM/RPM ranges).
- Pitch small brands in your niche first; demonstrate historical ROI (conversion examples).
- Use BrandConnect or third-party marketplaces.
Negotiation tip: Offer bundled packages: pre-roll, mid-roll, community post, short clip, and a pinned description link.
6) Merch & Print-on-Demand
What: Sell branded apparel/items via Merch shelf or external POD services (Printify, Printful).
How to set it up:
- Once eligible, enable Merch shelf; or link store in YouTube Shop/description.
- Promote using product demos and dedicated merch videos.
Pro tip: Limited runs and seasonal collections drive urgency.
7) YouTube Shopping & direct product sales
What: Tag products in videos and let viewers buy directly from YouTube Shopping.
How to use: Integrate Shopify or supported commerce platforms with your channel; tag products in videos and use product cards.
8) Courses, paid content & digital downloads
What: Sell online courses, templates, presets, or eBooks to your audience.
How to do it: Use landing pages (Link in bio), promote via videos and pinned comment, give discount codes for members.
9) Repurpose long-form content to Shorts (Shorts monetization & traffic funnel)
What: Use Shorts to grow subscriber base and funnel viewers to long form where ads and conversions are higher. Shorts can massively scale reach — but make sure short clips add original value. YouTube provides specific revenue-sharing for Shorts and has strict policies about eligible views. support.google.com
Shorts strategy
- Post consistent Shorts (3–10 per week) with hooks in first 1–2 seconds.
- Add a CTA to watch the long form or join membership.
- Re-use long-form chapter highlights as Shorts teasers.