 and have the ability to monetize your video content, you may already know that the threshold for inserting mid-roll ads into videos is now 

So, instead of uploading 4 videos a month at 10 minutes long, could you publish 5 videos at 8 minutes long and still earn the same mid-roll ad revenue? To answer this incredibly hypothetical question; __

This change is retroactive, meaning that any videos you previously published to your channel (that are between 8 and 10 minutes long) are now eligible for mid-rolls. Oh, and YouTube has automatically turned them on for you unless you opted out before the change. For more information, take a look at our video regarding this significant update ⬇️

YouTube Mid-Roll Ads and Your YouTube Audience

Now, this all seems like great news, right? YouTube can earn more revenue from adverts, and creators can place more adverts on videos to generate advertising revenue. Also, advertisers can pick and choose from more videos in a bid to reach their intended target audience.

On the one side, we have creators, and on the other side, we have viewers, and what connects these two is the distribution platform known as YouTube

The moment you as a creator, put an advert in your video, you are creating an obstacle, a potential barrier to the value that the viewer is going to get from your content. But at the same time, you as a creator, want to be able to generate revenue, because can't always make YouTube videos for free.

So, on the one hand, you've got to build your community, and on the other hand, you need to build your YouTube business. It’s a fine balance, but there are ways you can achieve it.

, Tom Martin, about best practices around mid-roll ads, especially know YouTube has updated this feature. Check out Tom’s 

vidIQ: Tom, the move to allow mid-roll ad inserts to videos of 8 minutes and over is new. What should creators know about the change?

 Before the feature went live on the 27th of July, YouTube sent out an email to creators that give them the option to opt-out of the auto insertion of ads across their channel.

At first, I was under the impression that it would only apply to qualified videos uploaded after that date. But from what I've heard from other creators, it applies to all videos that can benefit from monetization. That means that unless creators chose to opt-out before the 27th of July, mid-rolls have automatically been injected.

Now, that’s great for many creators in the 

, because they don’t have to really lift a finger to benefit from the change. But I know others aren’t happy with the placement of ads in their 8+ minute videos and are having to manually update each video. And in some cases, we are talking of hundreds, if not thousands of videos.

I believe there used to be a way to bulk edit ad placements, but I don't think that works anymore, because I could no longer find that option.

vidIQ: Does it really matter where a mid-roll ad is placed on a qualifying video?

 It does to a lot of creators, yes. In fact, many channels choose not to enable mid-rolls at all as they find them too disruptive to their viewers. Yoga videos for example, or music videos where a mid-roll ad would seem really out of place.

As it’s an automated process, YouTube can’t necessarily choose the very best placement for the ad, in the same way a human would. That's why I don't automatically use YouTube’s suggested ad breaks. Instead, I place every one of my midroll ads manually, and I always have done.

vidIQ: Can you change the position of a mid-roll ad after YouTube has inserted it?

 Yes, although it is a manual process. But I do it manually anyway because I think it's a better experience for the audience. Otherwise, there’s the risk that the ad could cut off the presenter mid-sentence, or something equally as jarring.

I believe you can also set up the feature so all future videos don't automatically insert a mid-roll ad on qualifying uploads. It's just that all of your old videos will now have been updated, so you’ll need to go back and turn those off if you want to.

vidIQ: Do you think this is a positive move from YouTube?

 I think, overall, it's really good for creators because it will stop people padding out their videos with extra content just to get past that 10-minute threshold. It must have unlocked millions and millions of videos that are between 8 and 10 minutes, which is definitely more revenue in creators' pockets.

YouTube attracts a lot of criticism regarding a perceived lack of communication about changes, but I actually think this was communicated well. It’s up to all creators or channel management teams to read their emails from YouTube and take the action they need to, so they don’t need to go back in and fix things.

It also makes perfect sense from YouTube's point of view. Obviously, they have lost revenue with a lot of the ‘Adpocalypse’ type events that have happened over the last few years, and with COVID-19, a lot of companies also reduced their ad budget in regard to the platform. With CPMs down, this is probably an attempt to try and get ahead of the curve for increasing revenues.

Think how much more money they will make by automatically turning these mid-rolls on rather than just sitting there letting people realize it’s an option then opting in. It's probably going to generate many, many more millions in the long run for YouTube.

How to Manage YouTube Mid-Roll Ads and Placements

A simple question for the YouTube viewer is, how many adverts do you think you are willing to go through in an eight-minute video? Our guess would be, at most, two. Also, it's really important to provide the viewer with some real value before you insert any adverts.

So, you're probably looking at your first mid-roll at maybe three or four minutes, and then another one in the five to six minute range.

Now, of course, you can leave all of this to YouTube to automatically insert the mid-roll ads, but if you are really strategic, you can place them exactly where you want to in your videos. This is how to do that:

Click on the ‘Monetization’ link in the left-hand menu

Once the mid-roll chat box is ticked, click on the ‘Manage Mid-Rolls’ link

A new dashboard will open that allows you to place or move mid-roll ads on your video

For the best viewer experience, place them strategically at points where you've created tension in the storytelling, or you've just revealed or about to reveal something integral to why the viewer clicked on the video in the first place.

Also, if you have pre-roll ads enable before your video even starts, don’t insert a mid-roll soon after. But also, don’t leave the ads until towards the end of the video. If half of your audience abandons your video in the first couple of minutes, because of poor audience retention, then they're never going to see those mid-roll ads and you're not going to earn the revenue from them. YouTube itself has some great advice about the placement of mid-roll ads:

How to Manage Mid-Roll Ad Breaks for Multiple Videos

If you want to turn mid-roll ad breaks on or off for multiple videos, just follow these steps:

From the left-hand menu, select ‘Videos’

Then select ‘Ad Settings’ from the ‘Edit’ menu

Toggle ‘Turn on ads during video’ to turn mid-roll ad breaks on or off

Now select ‘Update Videos’ and follow the steps displayed to confirm this change

If you want to take your YouTube channel to the next level then make sure to download vidIQ. It will help you research YouTube, analyze videos, audit your own channel, and take actionable steps 

Checkbox for mid-roll video ads set to 8 minutes with vidIQ and YouTube logos.

If your channel is monetized, YouTube has now made mid-roll ads available to any video that’s 8 minutes or longer. This means YOU can earn more money!

YouTube Updates Mid-Roll Ad Rules to Benefit Creators

Fitness instruction is booming on YouTube. That means health-conscious viewers have a range of personal trainers to follow, whether they’re interested in cardio, muscle building, or any of the body-sculpting workouts one can find online.

While fitness instructors give massive value to viewers, they’re not uploading workout videos just for fun. In addition to helping their subscribers get fit, many are also monetizing their expertise on YouTube.

Fortunately, there’s a concrete method toward YouTube 

, and creators of any niche can embark on the journey. Once a YouTuber attains 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 hours of Watch Time, they become eligible for the 

. This allows creators to place advertisements throughout their videos, and in return, they could earn Google AdSense revenue.

If you’re a personal trainer or fitness instructor, you can reap these benefits too. Many fitness enthusiasts are already doing it, and we want to show you the methods they use to increase their YouTube revenue.

So, are you ready to dive in? Let’s take a look at three fitness YouTubers who’ve found brilliant ways to make money on the platform.

THENX: Making More Money with Paid Memberships

 is a popular YouTube Channel run by Chris Heria, a fitness trainer who specializes in calisthenics. Oh his channel, he uploads tutorials that emphasize using your body weight to train and build your strength.

As a viewer, the first thing you’ll notice about Chris’ workouts is how complex they are. He frequently covers handstands, muscle-ups, and the planche (suspending your body above the ground in a parallel fashion using just your arms).

Because of his advanced talent, Chris’ channel has huge acclaim - 6M subscribers and more than 384M views. To see what I mean about 'advanced talent', check out his shoulder exercise video below:

While THENX has a massive audience, its revenue streams can be repeated by small to midsize YouTubers.

For the first stream, Chris sells various workout merchandise, such as weighted vests, gym bags, and water bottles. For the second, he offers a workout membership plan to his viewers, billed at $9.99 monthly. When customers purchase this upgrade, they get access to a calisthenics workout library, exercise technique guides, and training programs.

Chris also has a THENX app filled with calisthenics workouts. It’s free to download and has several tutorials, but there’s an option to upgrade to the membership mentioned above. So altogether, Chris uses his YouTube channel to advertise three money-generating services. He shares these products in the description of his videos, as shown below:

One of the perks of running a fitness channel is that you’ll always have useful, evergreen videos to upload. Because getting in shape is a journey, health-conscious viewers could watch exercise content for years to come.

If you’re willing to help them along the way, YouTube is the place to do it! Stick by these goal-oriented viewers, and you could make some serious money as a fitness YouTuber.

Heart Alchemy Yoga: Live Yoga Classes via Zoom

, a channel with 104K subscribers. As a yoga instructor, she uploads tutorials on almost every iteration of the practice, including Bikram (high heat), yin (slow-paced), vinyasa (flowing postures), and power yoga (vigorous).

When the coronavirus pandemic was officially declared, Michelle responded with more at-home yoga tutorials to help viewers stay safe at home. In the video below, titled “Power Yoga Workout: 30-Min at Home Cardio Flow,” she demonstrates a series of yoga poses:

Amazingly, Heart Alchemy Yoga is a volunteer organization that runs on donations. Therefore, Michelle relies on monetary contributions from viewers and in-person clients alike.

In addition to that, Michelle hosts live yoga classes via Zoom. In the screenshot below, you can see that she encourages viewers to email her about sign-up details. It’s not clear whether she accepts payment for those lessons, but for your business, you absolutely can.

Live-streamed workouts aren’t new, but they’ve gotten more popular due to COVID-19 and recent state lockdowns. For example, fitness studios that temporarily shuttered in March shifted from in-person training to 

When you join YouTube as a fitness instructor or trainer, keep this in mind. Video content is exploding on the web, and people are only going to want more of it in the future. Because of that, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to monetize your video workouts.

Cycling with Gabriella Guevara: Subscribe and Ride for $1

 is a rhythm cycling instructor. On her YouTube Channel of 38.1K subscribers, she uploads spin workouts set to upbeat music, such as pop, hip-hop, and EDM.

For many of her workouts, Gabriella shows up with her stationary bike, neon lights, headset mic, and a playlist of awesome music. Each workout is high-energy, and you can witness that in the 45-minute 'Quarantine Ride' video below. During the workout, Gabriella motivates viewers to push through their fatigue and keep spinning:

Gabriella monetizes such workouts in three powerful ways: merchandise, nutrition coaching, and a subscription service. She includes a link to her website in the description of her videos, which allows viewers to purchase these services.

Of all her offerings, Gabriella’s subscription plan is the most interesting in terms of revenue. For a trial price of just $1, customers can sign up to access all of Gabriella’s spin classes. That amounts to more than 65 rides, and if customers decide to stick around, she receives the post-trial fee of 14.99 per month.

But that’s not all. Her website has a merchandise section, which contains cycling-themed T-shirts of $22 or more. There’s also a section for custom nutrition coaching, and those packages are between $65 and $80.

In total, Gabriella has at least four ways to make money from each video: AdSense revenue, subscriptions, merchandise, and coaching.

As a workout enthusiast, you can achieve the same thing on YouTube. All you have to do is use the fitness knowledge you already have to create valuable content and grow your brand.

Extra Ways Fitness Instructors Can Make Money On YouTube

Now that you know what other fitness channels are doing to make money, let’s boost your income even more. Outside of the platform, there are plenty of ways to monetize your fitness expertise. Those include:

Starting a fitness blog (that’s monetized with ads)

Becoming an influencer to get brand sponsorships

Applying to speak at virtual fitness conferences

Setting up a Patreon of pay-to-view fitness videos

Selling fitness products as an Amazon Associate (affiliate marketing)

As you can see, there are plenty of ways to make money as a fitness YouTuber. To give your business a strong digital presence and cash flow, start your YouTube journey today!

If you want to take your YouTube channel to the next level and 

 then make sure to download vidIQ. Join over 1 million other users and use vidIQ to help you research YouTube, analyze videos, audit your own channel, and take actionable steps 

And if you’re really serious about growing your YouTube views and subscribers, sign up for exclusive access to the 

 and learn how to launch a successful YouTube Channel in just 30 days.

Blue running shoes, dumbbells, towel, and water bottle on white wooden floor

Fitness instructors have a variety of ways to make money on YouTube. Find out what opportunities there are for generating revenue.

How To Make a Career as a Fitness Instructor on YouTube

OK, let’s talk about channel monetization, a topic close to many creator’s hearts. On YouTube, making good money is all about influence, and you build this influence by creating a channel that's focused on a topic that you are an authority on.

That influence is going to be different, depending on the type of channel you have. A small-town fishing channel is going to have a different measure of influence than, say, a gaming channel that is hoping to reach a global audience.

That local fishing channel isn't going to need tens of thousands of viewers before they can start creating partnerships with local businesses. But for that gaming channel but big ambitions - it’s a different story. Before we take a deeper dive, don’t forget to check out this video that covers the topic of making money as a gaming channel on YouTube:

What New Creators Need to Know About Monetizing Their Video Content

Of course, there are many opportunities to generate revenue on YouTube, but let's take a step back for a moment. Before we even start talking about how to make money as that influential gaming content creator, we need to look at what it takes to monetize your channel.

If you're a gaming channel that gets 500 views or less per video, monetization shouldn’t be your main focus.

Many new creators tend to put the YouTube partnership program on a pedestal, and furiously work towards meeting the criteria needed to apply. They want those 

1000 subscribers and 4,000 hours of Watch Time

We understand the frustration to meet that goal. After all, who doesn’t want a little return on investment for all the time and effort put into video creation? You want to be able to run ads against your content so you can start to earn some money.

On your journey to that major goal, it can be tempting to try to find shortcuts, into monetizing your channel, in the form of Patreon profiles or affiliate links. However, asking your very new audience on YouTube, to make that kind of investment in your channel, should be done very thoughtfully.

The last thing on your mind should be how to make money with a very small YouTube channel that's still growing. Instead, your focus should be on providing value to your subscribers, so you give them a reason to subscribe and continue to coming back. Encouraging that relationship is the key to your audience getting to know you as a creator. We talk about this strategy more in this video:

How to Make Money as a YouTube Gaming Channel

OK, so we’ve about the ‘when’ now let’s talk about the ‘how.’ Let’s assume you've built a sizeable YouTube channel, and you have an audience that cares about you enough to invest in your content. They understand that this investment will likely mean that you can continue making more videos, or perhaps afford better equipment to improve their overall quality.

 so you can now run ads against your content - yay! However, while that revenue is something, it's likely not enough to realize your more immediate goals for your YouTube channel. The good news is YouTube itself offers lots of ways you can monetize your channel now that you’re a partner including:

 are a way for creators to monetize their live streams. Fans can contribute financially to their favorite channels, and catch the attention of a creator in a way that a comment or another form of engagement can't. Find out more about 

. Here's what one looks like in the wild:

 are also a way of monetizing your channel, but only when you’ve grown to a certain size. Generally speaking, you need about 30,000 subscribers to unlock this feature - unless you're a gaming channel, then you only need a thousand subscribers! 

 rolled out earlier this year, and it’s similar to Super Chats but fans can also donate to videos as well as your live streams. Find out more about how you can benefit from this feature as a creator:

How YouTubers Can Make Money With Patreon

Outside of the YouTube Partnership Program, 

Patreon is a crowdfunding website, where you can essentially set up different levels of ‘perks.’ People can subscribe to you, at different dollar amounts, and the amount they pledge determines what kind of perks they get from you.

What kind of perks could you offer? What about access to a private discord server? Or perhaps you could release some of your content early to them. Or you could set up an exclusive Minecraft server just for them.

While Patreon is a fantastic way of generating revenue, it requires some significant work on your part. If for example, you set up that private discord server, there's going to be an expectation that you'll spend some time there.

If you want to release your videos early, that's going to need to factor into your workflow every single time you upload a video. If you've set up a Minecraft server for them to play on, it's going to be expected that you actually play on that a Minecraft server with your audience.

The Benefits of Affiliate Marketing on YouTube

If crowdfunding sites aren't your cup of tea, there is always the option of putting an affiliate link in the description of your videos. Lots of different companies out there utilize affiliate programs to help promote their products or services. As a viewer, you may have seen examples on other videos, including the affiliate program that vidIQ run - 

However, it does pay to be cautious and not to partner with the first company you find, who's affiliate criteria you happen to meet. Instead, give some real thought, into the types of products or services that you and your audience could benefit from. Then see if these companies that you already commonly see around or work with, have affiliate programs and reach out to them.

Do Your Research Before Accepting a Brand Deal!

After you have ads enabled on your videos, consider these other avenues for making money very carefully. As your channel starts to transition from being just a hobby to becoming an actual business, do your research. For example, don't just say yes to the first sponsorship deal that's offered to you, just because it sounds super exciting to have a sponsor.

Do solid research on any company you consider partnering with, and always read the contracts you're about to sign, carefully.

YouTube channels can eventually become a financially successful business venture, but it does take time. And at the end of the day, don't forget to maintain that respect and trust that you've built with your audience.

There are so many ways you could potentially monetize a YouTube channel, but these are some of the more common ones, especially in the gaming space. If you want to know much more then we have the 'Complete Guide to Making Money on YouTube' course over on the 

Want To Get More Views on a Gamer on YouTube?

If you want to take your YouTube Gaming channel to the next level and 

 then make sure to download vidIQ. Join over 1 million other users (many of them gamers!) and use vidIQ to help you research YouTube, analyze videos, audit your own channel, and take actionable steps 

YouTube logo with gaming controller and dollar signs representing making money gaming

There are so many ways to monetize a gaming channel on YouTube. Let’s take a look at some of the quick wins for creators!

Simple Ways YOU Can Make Money as a Gaming Channel on YouTube

 and now you think that feature should apply to every single video you publish. You don't have to convince us, but you do have to convince YouTube.

The next time you upload a video you may find yourself encountering a new screen as part of the upload workflow. This new step gives you the chance to “self-certify” your content before it goes live. If you are part of the 

 step two will always ask you whether or not you want to monetize the video. If you say yes and save, a new third step will appear labeled ‘Ad Suitability’.

On this screen, you will be quizzed about whether or not the video contains certain content that might make the video not suitable for all advertisers. You can click on each box and answer the questions contained within. And as you do so the revenue potential box to the right will show you how this might affect the revenue on the video. In some cases, you will get the all-clear, indicated by a green dollar icon.

While in other cases your video may only be eligible for limited ads as indicated by a yellow dollar icon. Just to be clear, this doesn't mean that your content is inappropriate for YouTube and that you will get community guideline strikes. But it may be inappropriate for certain advertisers who want to target particular audiences.

There are 8 categories to work through including adult content, violence, drug-related content, sensitive issues and more. If you are 100% confident your content doesn't come close to any of these issues, you can simply check the none of the above box at the bottom of the screen, and move on.

YouTube: Self-Certifying Your Content for Monetization

Why is YouTube now giving creators the ability to self-certify their content? The answer is because YouTube wants to place the burden of responsibility on you, rather than itself, for the content on the platform.

Now this has both its positives and negatives. So let's take a look at both.

It is well known that YouTube uses lots of machine learning and artificial intelligence to automatically review content, but that isn’t always foolproof. So it stands to reason that if you are truthful with your self-certification - and this is confirmed through an automated review - YouTube will start to trust you more. That means it's less likely that your future content will be hit by inappropriate misleading ad warnings when you don't deserve them.

This may also mean that if you have been on YouTube for years, without any issues, you may not see this screen very often, or even have to go through this process.

On the flip side if you're brand new to the YouTube partner program you may have to confirm this screen with every single video you upload. We'll have to see what happens over the next couple of months. Ultimately for all those creators who are doing the right things, this should add an extra layer of comfort.

YouTube Partner Program: Don’t Upload Inappropriate Content!

Now if YouTube decides that your content is doing something wrong, then they're washing their hands of it and saying, "we asked you to fill out this form, you didn't fill it out properly, it's your own fault".

YouTube also says that if you continually misrepresent your content they will review your participation in the YouTube partner program.

In a sense, YouTube is gathering evidence. Like they do with the ‘Made for kids’ question - you have to answer regarding 

So with all of this in mind, here are a couple of tips to follow:

First, and obviously, be honest. If you try and cheat the system, or dodge the questions now, it's going to come back to bite you later.

Secondly, if you're not sure if your video falls into any of these categories, you can play it safe. Set one of the categories, unlist the video and then request a manual review so that human reviewers can check on the video.

Over the past year, YouTube has been experimenting with running adverts against edgier content. That's because in part if YouTube knows the nature of the content, advertisers can target those particular videos with the right target audience.

YouTube has a dedicated support page on advertiser-friendly guidelines that does include broad examples, so that's definitely worth checking out. 

If you would like to learn more about monetizing your YouTube channel then make sure to check out this 

Green dollar sign versus yellow dollar sign on blue and red background for money comparison

YouTube wants you to earn revenue from your videos so it has introduced a new step to confirm your uploads are ad-friendly. Read more about this new feature for creators in the YouTube Partner Program.

How to Monetize Your YouTube Videos (and Keep Them Monetized!)

In theory, how-to creators should be making tons of money on YouTube. As of July 2016, instructional videos were among the 

With stats like that, one would think how-to creators are the most popular, well-paid people on YouTube. After all, if so many viewers come to the platform to learn something new, shouldn’t that mean how-to creators are bound to be successful?

Here’s the surprising truth about how-to channels: Running a profitable one is harder than it looks. In the beginning, instructional creators can harness the power of SEO, but eventually, that benefit might wane. After you upload dozens of videos addressing viewers’ search-related queries, getting them to watch all your videos can suddenly become a challenge. Once a viewer gets the tutorial they need, they’re likely to move on, unless you find a way to keep them coming back for more.

If you want to know how to attract repeat viewers to your channel, just keep reading. We’re going to share three ways any how-to creator can build a profitable YouTube audience.

#1 Build an Authentic YouTube Community by Livestreaming

Community-building is an important part of any creator’s journey, especially if you want to make money on YouTube. Luckily, there’s an easy way to make subscribers fall in love with your personality, and that’s by hosting a live stream on your channel.

If you need a good example to follow, check out 

. Every week, the financial investment channel hosts a live stream to share stock market trends with like-minded viewers. While stocks and bonds don’t exactly sound entertaining, VectorVest doesn’t adhere to the stuffy reputation of wealth building. In the video below, the company’s live stream host jokes about how major airlines are handling COVID-19. Surprisingly, his analysis of this stock market news comes with wacky sound effects:

So how does this down-to-earth content make VectorVest more money? It’s very simple. In the description of the live stream, as well as the chat, VectorVest shares a link for viewers to try their investment tool for free. It’s a 30-day trial, but if viewers sign up for longer, that leads to more money in the bank. However, getting those initial sign-ups is less about the features of the tool and more about producing a fun live stream that effectively can sell it.

In terms of live video, we do something similar here at vidIQ. On YouTube, we’re a how-to channel that goes live frequently to connect with our viewers. Currently, one of our most anticipated live streams happens to be our weekly channel audits, where we tell budding YouTubers how to improve their channels.

Our audits are hosted by Rob Wilson (YouTuber in residence), Travis McPherson (customer success), and Dan Carson (executive producer). The first thing you’ll notice about these three is that they are not afraid to have fun. In fact, they have so much fun that they invite our viewers to make embarrassing memes of them. The funnier ones are displayed in the live stream every week, like this one:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PhotoshopBattles?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PhotoshopBattles</a> Get creative &amp; send us your best photoshop using this pic of Rob. We&#39;ll pick the best one and they will receive a GUARANTEED <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChannelAudit?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ChannelAudit</a> on tomorrow&#39;s Livestream! We&#39;ll Retweet the winner tomorrow at 9am PST! <a href="https://t.co/I6PWME4XXr">pic.twitter.com/I6PWME4XXr</a>&mdash; vidIQ 📈🚀🎉 (@vidIQ) <a href="https://twitter.com/vidIQ/status/1272559583349932032?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 15, 2020</a></blockquote>

But of course, the point of all this fun is to encourage people to sign up for vidIQ. So whenever possible, we highlight vidIQ tools during our live streams. In the meantime, we also get 

, which are donations viewers can make during a live broadcast on YouTube. To unlock this feature, you’ll need to be at least 18, have a monetized channel, and live in one of the 

. If you have all three, the ability to get paid via Super Chats makes live streams worth the extra effort.

As you can see, being likable on YouTube leads to a profitable fanbase. So if you don’t mind telling a joke or two, go ahead and fire up those live streams.

#2 Share General How-To Advice on YouTube, Monetize Elsewhere

Does your how-to niche lend itself to deeper instruction? Perhaps it’s so complex that you’d need courses, one-on-one sessions, and other educational services to teach it to your audience?

If that’s the case, you can make more money by selling your full expertise outside of YouTube.

 is a great example of this. He has a very focused YouTube Channel, and most of the videos he uploads are mixing tutorials. Pick one to watch at random, and you’ll see that Baywood isn’t sharing all of his technical music knowledge. Instead, he gives his subscribers general tips and guidance from the perspective of a skilled audio engineer and producer.

Baywood doesn’t stray from this formula often, and that’s probably for the best. In the description of his videos, he shares links for viewers to purchase the rest of his skill set, which are mixing services and custom vocal presets.

YouTube is a great platform to establish yourself as a subject matter expert. Just don’t forget that your expertise can be monetized off the platform as well!

#3 Treat Your Expertise As a Service to Generate Revenue

If you’re a how-to creator that just wants to focus on video creation - no fancy business websites or portfolios - that’s OK too. You don’t always have to sell your expertise off YouTube because there are ways to do it within the platform. After all, people pay for things that make their lives more enjoyable, regardless of where those things are sold.

Your how-to niche is no exception to this rule. Several creators are finding ways to fund their instructional content on YouTube, and their methods go beyond traditional 

, for example. For years, Oliver Brotherhood ran this gaming space as a how-to channel. He’d post Minecraft tutorials at the beginning of his YouTube journey, and that earned him a fairly large audience.

However, when he expanded his videos to include gameplay walkthroughs, he started getting PayPal donations from his viewers. In the video below, you can see Oliver shouting out his donors. To make them feel extra special, he put their names plus their donation amount on some of his Minecraft buildings:

MumboJumbo has 6.23M subscribers today, but videos like the one above depict his humble start as a how-to creator. The key lesson to grasp is that as early as 2013 (the video’s publish date), creators could use their YouTube community to make money via donations. The same thing can be done in 2020.

We’ve talked about this channel before on the blog, but 

 is another how-to creator who makes money from donations. In our blog, 

How to Make Money on YouTube As a Musician

, we explained how subscribers pay this creator (via PayPal) to upload piano tutorials of their choice.

While AdSense revenue is nice, not every how-to channel attracts enough views to see its earning power. If you aren't getting a sizable YouTube check, use these three methods to build a community and make more money.

Want to Succeed as a Video Creator on YouTube?

If you want to get more insights into YouTube then make sure to download vidIQ. Over 1 million creators use vidIQ to help with keyword and competitor research, channel audits, and so much more. 

And if you’re serious about growing your YouTube views and subscribers, sign up for exclusive access to the 

. Learn how to launch a successful YouTube Channel in just 30 days.

Woman recording video blogging at home with dog lying on couch behind her

Not getting enough repeat views or revenue from your how-to or tutorial YouTube channel? Here are three ways to change that for good.

3 Ways to Make Money as a How-To YouTube Channel

For most people, the memory of their first pet never goes away. Whether their animal friend had wings, scales, or fur, there’s something about animals - perhaps they way they love and play - that makes them nearly unforgettable to us.

If you’re a pet enthusiast or a pet professional, you understand this connection more than anyone. Cats, dogs, and other animals must be cared for if kept in captivity, and the owners who love them need the knowledge and skills to do so.

That’s why there’s a strong need for this type of content on YouTube.

 Like humans, animals get sick, need consistent attention and grooming, and can benefit from learning new behaviors. So if you, a passionate animal lover, can share that information on YouTube, you can make money while also living your ultimate purpose.

While there are tons of things to think about before 

, such as how to be absolutely great at it, it’s also important to learn the common money-making methods before diving in.

If you’re ready to monetize your passion for animals, we've pulled some examples of people who're doing it right now. From a licensed veterinarian to a revered dog trainer, here's how pet enthusiasts are making money on YouTube.

Pets are not only wonderful and amazing but if you have enough knowledge about a certain animal you can turn that expertise into revenue via YouTube 🐈 🐕 🦝

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