10 Best YouTube Monetization Strategies: How to Make Money on YouTube

Introduction

I’ve spent years as a youtuber and I’ve made a lot of mistakes and learned great lessons. I have as well watched creators turn side‑hustle channels into seven‑figure businesses. The secret sauce has always been the same: strategic, diversified YouTube Monetization. In 2025 the platform offers more revenue levers than ever, ads are just the appetizer. This guide distills the ten most profitable methods, mixes in real‑world examples, and gives you step‑by‑step playbooks to raise your RPM (revenue per mille) without alienating your audience. Whether you’re grinding toward the 1,000‑subscriber mark or already pulling six‑figure monthly views, these tactics will help you squeeze every cent of value out of each upload—ethically and sustainably. Let’s dive in.

What Exactly Is YouTube Monetization & Why It Still Matters

At its core, YouTube Monetization means flipping on the money switch—turning attention into income through ads, fan funding, sales tools, and premium features baked into the platform. July 15, 2025 brought new policy tweaks aimed at shutting down low‑effort, AI‑spam channels while protecting creators who add genuine value, but the eligibility thresholds (1 k subs, 4 k watch‑hours OR 10 M Shorts views) remain unchanged.

That continuity is huge: you can plan long‑term knowing the barrier to entry isn’t moving. What has changed is the menu of revenue streams—and your ability to layer them for compound earnings.

The 10 Best YouTube Monetization Strategies

1. Join (and Optimize) the YouTube Partner Program (YPP)

Why it’s powerful
Display, overlay, and pre‑roll ads are still the broadest, most passive form of YouTube Monetization. Once accepted, you share ad revenue plus a slice of YouTube Premium subscription fees.

Step‑by‑step

1. Clean up your channel: Remove reused content and strike‑risk clips.

2. Enable 2‑Step Verification on your Google account.

3. Apply for YPP once you hit the threshold.

4. Segment playlists so high‑RPM topics run longer ads automatically.

5. Use mid‑rolls sparingly (every 8‑10 minutes) to avoid viewer drop‑off.

Compliance checklist: no active Community Guidelines strikes, live in a YPP‑supported country, follow the monetization policies.

Pro tip: Create “advertiser‑friendly” series—how‑tos, product reviews, business case studies—to boost CPM without stretching video length.

Read Also: How to Create Viral TikTok Ads with Generative AI and Triple Your ROAS

2. Tap the Shorts Ad‑Revenue Pool

Vertical micro‑content isn’t just a discovery hack anymore; it pays. Since 2023, Shorts creators get 45 % of net ad revenue (after music licensing fees). By 2025 that pool includes a chunk of YouTube Premium allocations too.

Execution blueprint

• Film “teaser Shorts” that direct viewers to the full video in your description.

• Keep music to copyright‑cleared library tracks to maximize your share.

• Bundle Shorts into themed series so binge‑watchers boost total views.

3. Super Chat, Super Stickers & Super Thanks

Fan funding isn’t new, but Super Thanks—inline tips on any on‑demand video—lets viewers donate long after live streams end. You keep roughly 55 % after fees.

How to maximize

1. Enable all three features in YouTube Studio ► Monetization ► Supers.

2. Pin top donor comments to incentivize bigger tips.

3. Offer light perks (e.g., Q&A shout‑outs) for supporters.

4. Channel Memberships & Patreon Hybrid

Memberships unlock recurring revenue: badges, custom emojis, members‑only VODs. Pair it with Patreon for physical perks without breaching YouTube’s fulfillment policies.

Quick wins

• Tier stack: ₦1,000 (emoji access), ₦3,000 (monthly AMA), ₦10,000 (behind‑the‑scenes vlog).

• Host exclusive live streams via unlisted links for higher tiers.

• Cross‑promote Patreon merch bundles during member‑only community posts.

5. YouTube Shopping & Merch Shelf

YouTube’s Shopping Affiliate Program lets you tag products in videos, earn commission, and showcase a merch shelf below content. Ideal for tech reviews, beauty tutorials, and DIY niches.

Roll‑out checklist

1. Join the affiliate program in Monetization ► Shopping.

2. Sync your Shopify or Spreadshop store.

3. Insert product tags at the moment of maximum viewer intent (e.g., “See this solar charge controller? Grab it below.”).

4. Use live‑shopping pins to rotate featured items during streams. YouTube

6. Brand Sponsorships & Integrated Ads

With brands shifting 33 % of their digital budgets to creator partnerships in 2025, sponsored segments often eclipse AdSense earnings.

Approach tactics

• Craft a one‑pager media kit with past RPM and conversion screenshots.

• Pitch “story‑based integrations” instead of 60‑second hard sells.

• Negotiate hybrid deals: flat fee + affiliate link + performance bonus.

7. YouTube Premium Revenue Share

When Premium subscribers watch your content, you split their subscription fee pool—ad‑free to them, passive cash to you. Average CPM here trends 25 % higher than standard ads.

Leverage points

• Produce binge‑able series; Premium users watch longer sessions.

• Optimize for “watch next” by maintaining consistent titling patterns.

• Target evergreen topics (coding tutorials, language lessons) that age well.

8. License Your Content & Sell Clips

Viral moments, drone B‑roll, or niche tutorials can be syndicated to news outlets, stock libraries, or other creators. A single 10‑second clip licensed at $200 can outperform 100 k ad views.

Steps

1. Watermark and list clips on marketplaces like Story blocks.

2. Use YouTube’s Copyright Match tool to spot unauthorized re‑uploads.

3. Include a business‑inquiries email in your About tab.

9. Launch Paid Courses Directly on YouTube

The Courses feature (expanded beyond beta in late 2024) lets you package videos into structured, paid learning paths—no third‑party LMS fees.

Action plan

• Build a 6‑module beginner‑to‑pro playlist.

• Price competitively (₦9,999 instead of ₦50,000) to leverage impulse buys.

• Offer a free‑to‑paid funnel: first module public, rest behind the paywall.

• Drip future updates to keep completion rates—and reviews—high.

10. Sell Digital Products & Services

Think e‑books, presets, templates, Zoom consults, or even AI prompts. Use cards, end screens, and pinned comments to drive clicks to your Gumroad or Paystack checkout.

Conversion framework

1. Identify the intersection of audience pain points and your expertise.

2. Demo the product live in a tutorial video.

3. Add scarcity (“First 200 buyers get a private audit”).

4. Upsell during live workshops: “Buy the template pack and I’ll review your channel.”

Actionable Blueprint: Stack Strategies for Maximum RPM

1. Anchor your income with YPP ads and Premium share.

2. Augment with fan funding (Supers, memberships) for high‑engagement superfans.

3. Scale through brand deals and Shopping affiliate links once you hit 50 k subs.

4. Diversify into Courses and digital products to own the customer relationship.

5. Pulse Shorts daily for reach; funnel Shorts traffic to long‑form videos monetized by higher CPM ads.

By layering these methods you smooth revenue volatility and raise lifetime viewer value.

FAQs About YouTube Monetization

Q1. How long does it take to get approved for the YouTube Partner Program?

Most applications are reviewed within 30 days. Speed depends on backlog and whether your channel has potential policy flags. Uploading original, well‑categorized content helps.

Q2. Can AI‑generated videos be monetized?

Yes—provided they offer transformative, original value and comply with YouTube’s reuse and spam policies updated July 2025.

Q3. What’s the revenue split on Super Thanks?

Creators keep roughly 55 % after fees, mirroring Super Chat splits.

Q4. Do Shorts views count toward the 4,000 watch‑hour requirement?

No, but 10 M qualifying Shorts views in 90 days is an alternative threshold for YPP.

Q5. Is there a minimum subscriber count for the Shopping affiliate program?

You need at least 20 k subs and a channel free of strikes to apply.

Q6. How much can you earn from YouTube Premium?

CPMs vary, but creators typically report 20–40 % higher rates than standard ads because Premium audiences skew engaged and ad‑free.

Q7. Can I enable multiple monetization features at once?

Yes, and you should. Each feature layers on additional revenue without cannibalizing the others.

Q8. Do I need a business license to sell merch through YouTube Shopping?

You must register a verified merchant account (Shopify, Spreadshop, etc.) that complies with local tax laws, but a formal corporation isn’t mandatory in many regions.

Conclusion

YouTube Monetization in 2025 is no longer a single switch—it’s a control panel. Master the ten strategies above, stack them intelligently, and you’ll transform fickle ad revenue into a stable, multi‑channel income engine. Keep testing, keep providing real value, and remember: every monetization feature is ultimately powered by trust—between you, your audience, and the platform. Protect that trust, and the revenue will follow.