Now, this one, on the face of it, might be more complicated than the parts of this series that came before. But I assure you, it isn't. And this would be a perfect time to introduce one of those golden rule thingamies.
More than skill, specialist knowledge, determination, and motivation, there is one thing that will set you apart from the majority of other people out there, and that one thing is consistency. And to make money from the following idea, all you need is consistency. You'll even get away with producing the odd sub-standard piece of content. But keep that to a minimum.
If you decide to do something every day until it becomes routine and keep repeating that daily routine, you effectively make the routine a stone-cold hard habit that you will not break. That act will bring you more success than anything else you could adopt, learn, or develop.
In this part, I'm going to specifically talk about YouTube. For someone who has never looked at YouTube as anything other than an entertainment channel, this might come as a surprise, but in ad revenue terms, YouTube is really big.
It is, of course, owned by Google, and it produces over 10% of Google's Global revenues. In terms of total ad revenue, only Facebook and Instagram beat it on the numbers, and of course, you could use both of those social media channels to drive traffic to a YouTube channel.
Do you have to get busy on YouTube to make money on YouTube? Not really. If you decide that YouTube is your focus and you get yourself a nice niche going (and that could be anything), all you need to do is do it! Do it until you have 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours.
Then, you can get paid for the ads that link themselves to and appear before your videos on your channel.
Here are some other facts about YouTube's ad revenue:
Audience targeting: YouTube's ad targeting capabilities are considered to be superior to other platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X.
Ad relevance: Consumers generally find YouTube ads to be more relevant than ads on linear TV or other streaming apps.
Ad performance: Skippable ads perform better than non-skippable ads.
Vertical video: Vertical video, which is filmed and viewed in portrait mode, has become increasingly popular on YouTube.
YouTube Shorts: YouTube Shorts is becoming a top video advertising platform.
Revenue split: YouTube keeps 45% of the ad revenue, and creators receive the remaining 55%.
Factors affecting pay-per-view: The amount a creator is paid per view can vary widely and is influenced by their follower count, niche, and location.
Building a YouTube Channel with Ad Revenue
Overview:
YouTube allows creators to earn passive income through ad revenue, sponsorships, and affiliate marketing.
Steps to Get Started:
Pick a content niche (tech reviews, DIY crafts, cooking, or anything really).
Use a smartphone and free video editing apps like DaVinci Resolve to create content.
Upload consistently to grow your audience.
Once you reach 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours, apply for YouTube’s Partner Program to earn ad revenue.
Why It Works:
Well-made videos can continue earning ad revenue for years. For example, a single “How to Bake a Cake” video can generate views and income indefinitely.
Free Resources:
Here's To You! You Tuber You.
John Duncan
