5 Best Revenue Streams for Video Creators | Ep. 34

What are the most effective revenue streams for YouTube creators?

​In this episode, I break down affiliate marketing, YouTube ad revenue, brand collaborations, service offerings, and digital products.

Discover the five key revenue streams that can transform your YouTube channel into a thriving business. Learn how to diversify your income and gain control over your financial future as a content creator.

VIDEO: 5 Best Revenue Streams for Video Creators

Some product links in this post are affiliate links, and I will be compensated when you purchase by clicking our links. Read my disclosure policy here.

The Importance of Diversifying Revenue Streams

Before diving into the specifics, it’s crucial to understand why diversifying your revenue streams is essential. Relying solely on one source of income, like YouTube ad revenue, can be risky. Changes in algorithms, policy updates, or technical glitches can significantly impact your earnings. By diversifying, you not only mitigate these risks but also create a more stable and sustainable income flow.

1. Affiliate Marketing: The Fastest Way to Generate Revenue

I consider affiliate marketing one of the fastest ways to generate revenue because it doesn’t require a large audience. For instance, I recently reviewed an AI tool called Poppy in a video. By becoming an affiliate and sharing it with my audience, I earn a commission whenever someone clicks my link and becomes a paying customer. This model allows me to promote products I genuinely like without handling customer service.

However, it’s important to note that while you can choose what to promote, you don’t control the commission structure or terms, which can change at any time. Therefore, it’s wise not to rely solely on affiliate marketing for your income.

Related: Affiliate Marketing on YouTube

2. YouTube Ad Revenue: The Easiest Way to Earn

YouTube ad revenue is perhaps the easiest way to earn money as a video creator. Ad revenue is based on views and watch time rather than subscriber count. Once you’re part of the YouTube Partner Program, you earn money based on the watch time and views your videos receive. However, it’s not dependent on your subscriber count. Even though I have around 86,000 subscribers, my payout can vary significantly based on how much watch time my videos generate, my ad revenue is around $700 a month.

There are people with far fewer subscribers than I have, yet they’re earning thousands of dollars a month. This proves that success on YouTube isn’t about the number of subscribers but about the amount of watch time you generate on the platform.

YouTube ad revenue, in my view, is one of the easiest ways to earn as a video creator. All you need to do is make videos. Is it the fastest way to generate income? Not necessarily. If you’re creating long-form content, you need to meet specific milestones to qualify for the YouTube Partner Program. These include reaching 1,000 subscribers and accumulating 4,000 hours of watch time. While there are additional requirements, these two are the most significant. For some, reaching these milestones can take quite a while.

Shorts monetization operates differently. Personally, I don’t create shorts because I don’t believe they’re the best way to grow an audience for a business. I’m not entirely sure about the specific milestones for shorts in the YouTube Partner Program, but I know they’re quite steep—something like a million views in the last 90 days. It feels extreme.

It’s also important to keep in mind that, just like affiliate marketing, YouTube has the power to change its terms at any time. Ultimately, YouTube controls how much revenue your videos can generate. Therefore, it’s best to view ad revenue as a bonus rather than a primary income source.

3. Sponsored Content: A Lucrative but Challenging Option

Working with brands can be rewarding but also comes with challenges. When a brand wants to sponsor a video, it can feel like I’m managing a client relationship with deadlines and negotiations involved. It’s crucial for me to only partner with brands that align well with my content and values

Working with brands for sponsored content can be lucrative, especially if the product aligns with your content and audience. However, it can also be time-consuming and complex. Brands become your clients, and you’re on their timeline, which can involve negotiations, deadlines, and revisions.

To make this revenue stream work for you, be selective about the brands you partner with. Ensure that the collaboration is a win-win for you, your audience, and the brand.

4. Offering Services: A High-Control Revenue Stream

One of my favorite revenue streams is providing a service, whether as an agency or a freelancer. This is highly niche-specific and depends on your area of expertise. Services like web design and video editing are great examples, but the truth is, no matter your niche, if you’re creating video content, you already possess marketable skills. You know how to edit, create thumbnails, upload videos, and navigate YouTube—that’s valuable.

If your content revolves around teaching or providing information, even with a small audience or email list, there’s likely a segment of your community that wants someone to do it for them. Whatever you’re teaching, some people simply prefer to pay for the convenience of having it done professionally. This creates an opportunity for you to offer services in your area of expertise.

For example, web design and video editing come to mind because I used to be a freelance web designer. It’s not something most people wake up wanting to do themselves. Few individuals are eager to install WordPress, design a website, or tweak CSS code on their own.

Offering services gives you much more control compared to affiliate marketing, brand partnerships, or YouTube ad revenue. You decide what services to offer, set your prices, and choose the clients you want to work with. It’s a revenue stream where you have the power to shape your business and income.

5. Digital Products and Courses: My Favorite Revenue Stream

One of my favorite revenue streams as a video creator and online business owner is creating and selling digital products, courses, or programs. Like services, these offer complete control over what you create, who you create it for, and how you present it. But the added benefit is that you don’t necessarily have to deliver the product repeatedly—it’s there, ready for your audience whenever they need it.

Digital products can take many forms: a workbook, a course, a template, or even something innovative like an AI chatbot trained to think like you. For example, I created “30 Days to Thriving YouTube Channel”, a course that helps anyone get started with YouTube. It’s a complete package of videos and a workbook that people can access anytime. They go at their own pace, with no need to schedule anything. It’s always available for those discovering me for the first time or for long-time audience members ready to take the leap.

What I love about digital products and programs is the ability to diversify within this revenue stream. You can create different products to serve different purposes and provide unique experiences for your audience. This diversification helps ensure sustainability and gives you more control over your income.

Of course, control is always relative—just like a job doesn’t guarantee absolute stability. Companies can shut down, and roles can be eliminated. But with digital products and multiple revenue streams, you have the flexibility to adapt, grow, and diversify even further. As your audience grows and engages more with your content, your revenue grows too. This creates a compounding effect that builds momentum over time.

Conclusion: Building a Sustainable Income

Diversifying your revenue streams is crucial for building a sustainable income as a YouTube creator. By exploring different options like affiliate marketing, ad revenue, sponsored content, services, and digital products, you can create a stable and thriving business. Remember, the goal is to have control over your income sources and ensure that your efforts are rewarded.

As your audience grows, so will your revenue. Keep creating valuable content, and watch your business flourish!

If you’re curious about diving deeper into this approach, I’ve shared more in a video about building both your audience and your business on YouTube. You’ll also find links to my membership program and the “30 Days to Thriving YouTube Channel” course in the description. The possibilities are endless, and I’m excited to see where this journey takes us!

Related: Consistent Sales of Your Online Course with YouTube

If you have an online business with a course, program, or any other kind of offer, and you’re not currently generating consistent sales on autopilot, I’d like to introduce you to the hands off youtube funnel that has made me over $20k on a $147 course! That way, you too can make consistent sales of your offer, with the beauty and simplicity of organic, evergreen traffic from YouTube! Start here with my free “AIT Method” training.