How to Make Money on YouTube as a Complete Novice
Some years ago, I posted my first YouTube video hoping that it would magically become popular. I spent some time editing it, prepared a cool thumbnail, pressed the "Publish" button and waited...
After a week, the video got 18 views...
It was depressing. I started feeling that YouTube was simply too saturated to succeed there. In reality, the problem wasn't in the saturation of YouTube but rather in my lack of knowledge about the platform.
I've discovered that making money on YouTube is not a matter of luck. It involves producing valuable videos on a regular basis, knowing the platform, and fulfilling YouTube's criteria for monetization. If you are just a beginner or want to make money with YouTube, then this guide will prevent you from the same mistakes I made.
What Is Monetization on YouTube?
Monetization on YouTube just means that you are earning money through your content.
A lot of people think that YouTube only earns from advertisements, but nowadays, there are different ways to make money through the platform. These include memberships, affiliates, sponsorships, and even selling your products.
The thing you have to remember is that:
YouTube rewards creators that offer value to its viewers, not the ones trying to get some fast money.
YouTube Monetization Requirements
First off, you need to be able to meet all requirements before becoming eligible for YouTube ads monetization and join the YouTube Partner Program (YPP).
Typically, you will need:
Adhere to all YouTube monetization policies.
Two-step verification set up on your Google account.
No active strikes against Community Guidelines.
Be living in a country that has the YouTube Partner Program available.
In order to get access to the ad revenue share, you will usually need:
At least 1,000 subscribers.
4,000 valid public watch hours in the past year or 10 million valid public Shorts views in the past 90 days.
These requirements may vary, so always look at the updated information inside YouTube Studio.
Step 1: Select a Topic You Like
A common mistake that newbies often make is following any trend.
One day they create gameplays.
Another day, they create cooking videos.
The very next day, they review mobiles.
This confuses their audience and YouTube.
So, select one niche instead of switching between many topics.
Some popular YouTube niches are:
Technology
Gaming
Educational
Cooking
Travelling
Finance
Health and Fitness
Beauty
DIY projects
Making money online
Select the one topic which you can discuss all your life, not only a couple of months.
Step 2: Produce High-Quality Videos
You do not require an expensive camera to record videos.
Most successful YouTubers started with smartphones.
You should emphasize:
Great audio
Quality lighting
Quality video
Informative content
Simple edits
People forgive poor video quality.
But they never forgive poor audio quality.
Tools That Can Help
Here are some tools that I have found useful when creating content:
Editing
CapCut
DaVinci Resolve
Adobe Premiere Pro
Filmora
Thumbnail Creation
Canva
Adobe Express
Recording Screen
OBS Studio
Research Keywords
TubeBuddy
vidIQ
These tools can significantly simplify the process of making videos, even for beginners.
Step 3: Upload Consistently
Uploading one video every two months is not enough for growing your channel.
Consistency is what counts.
One reasonable plan would be:
Two videos per week
One longer video during weekends
Three to five Shorts per week
Do not try to upload something just for the sake of uploading.
Step 4: Know Basics of SEO
YouTube is also a search engine.
Your video will be seen in search results if you optimize it right.
Use:
Title that explains video in brief.
Description of the video.
Keywords.
Tags.
Eye catching thumbnail image.
For example, rather than using:
“My New Phone”
Use:
"Samsung Galaxy S25 Review After 30 Days – Is It Worth Buying?"
It always works better if you use specific title.
Step 5: Get More Time from Viewer
Watch time is one of the most important parameters for growth of your channel.
There are some easy tips for increasing it:
Start with an interesting intro.
Don't make a lengthy introduction.
Stick to your topic.
Explain with images.
End by asking viewers to see another video related to your video.
The longer the viewer stays, the more YouTube knows that the viewer enjoys your video.
Step 6: Build Trust with Your Viewer
No one subscribes for fancy videos.
They subscribe because they trust you.
Be honest.
Mention the negative points of any product if there are any.
Talk about your failures.
Different Ways to Earn Money from YouTube
Most creators use only AdSense.
This is not always the case.
Here are other sources of income:
1. Ads from YouTube
After being accepted to the YouTube Partner Program, your eligible videos can get ads.
The factors that determine how much money you earn include:
Audience location
Type of video
Demand from advertisers
Watch time
Channels dedicated to finance and technology generally make more from advertising than entertainment channels do.
2. Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is one of the simplest means to earn money even before monetization.
Here's how it works:
Advertise a product.
Place your affiliate link.
Make money through commissions on sales.
Many tech YouTubers make lots of money through this method.
3. Brand Partnerships
As your audience grows, brands might approach you with offers.
Here's how it works:
If you review laptops, then a brand selling laptop accessories might sponsor your videos.
Remember to disclose sponsored content.
4. Channel Memberships
Once you are eligible, your subscribers will be able to become members and get exclusive rewards every month.
Here's what you can offer them:
Members-only videos
Access to early content
Q&A live sessions
Unique badges
Special posts
5. Create & Sell Digital Products
Some people also create and sell:
eBooks
Templates
Presets
Courses
Guides
Printable items
Digital products tend to be a continuous revenue stream for many creators.
6. Merch
Once you build your community, consider selling:
T-Shirts
Hoodies
Mugs
Stickers
This is particularly effective for creators who have their personal brand.
Real Life Example
Take two creators for example.
Creator A
Posts whatever video he wants.
No thumbnails.
No description.
Lack of consistency.
One year later:
250 subscribers.
Creator B
Posts regularly.
Creates thumbnails that add value.
Responds to audience questions.
Improves his editing gradually.
One year later:
5,000 subscribers.
Monetization eligible.
Getting sponsored offers.
There isn't a difference in terms of talent.
There is a difference in terms of consistency.
Common Mistakes by Beginners
I fell victim to many of them myself.
Thinking Quick Success is Possible
The majority stop after uploading five videos.
YouTube success normally requires patience.
Imitating Other Content Creators
You should learn from successful channels.
But you shouldn’t copy them.
Make sure to develop your own style.
Neglecting Thumbnails
Even the best videos aren't clicked.
Pay special attention to creating attractive thumbnails.
Uploading Bad-Quality Audio
Your audience might tolerate average videos.
Poor-quality audio, however, will drive them away.
Purchasing Fake Subscriptions
You should never buy views or subscriptions.
They will ruin your engagement rates and prevent growth.
Pay attention to actual views instead.
Neglecting Analytics
YouTube Studio gives you lots of useful data.
Take into consideration:
Audience retention
Click-through rate (CTR)
View time
Returning audience
All of these metrics will help you create better videos in the future.
Tips that Helped My Channel Grow
A couple of small things helped a lot.
Answer all the comments you can.
Ask the viewers questions.
Make playlists.
Promote your channel using Shorts.
Fix one little detail with each video.
Inspire yourself from other content creators rather than copy them.
Learn more about editing and story-telling.
Little things will accumulate and make a big change.
How Long Does It Take to Monetize?
There is no one answer.
For some creators, it takes several months to achieve monetization.
For others, it takes a year or even longer.
This will depend on the following factors:
Quality of the content
Upload frequency
Viewer engagement
Level of competition in your field
Search engine optimization
Retention rate
Forget about gaining subscribers and think about making videos that your viewers will enjoy watching.
Is It the Time for YouTube?
Definitely, yes.
Millions of active users use YouTube every day and there are many channels appearing.
The primary advantage nowadays is that you don't have to invest too much money in becoming popular.
The only thing you need to possess is a smartphone, quietness, some editor software and ideas.
None of your videos will ever be perfect because it is quite a natural thing.
After all, everyone started with somewhere, right?
The only thing you need to do here is to learn how to evolve, improve and upload.
One good video can get you thousand views and subscribers, but you need to be consistent in order to reach this point.
Don't think of YouTube as of something simple for earning money.
Conclusion
First of all, when talking about learning the YouTube process, there is one rule that always works – patience brings success. Everybody starts without followers and views. However, the difference is that successful creators do not give up and keep trying to make an interesting video even after several unsuccessful attempts – they develop their skills.
Do not focus only on the profit from YouTube. Make interesting and valuable videos for people who will watch them either for gaining useful information or simply for entertainment. This will make other people subscribe to your channel and then monetize it.
Think outside the box, do different experiments, take into account your subscribers' preferences, and check your results in YouTube Studio. Each of your projects provides you with experience.
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