Discover how you can start earning money on YouTube without waiting for the YouTube Partner Program. This simple, 3-step method can change your income game today!
If you’re like most YouTubers, you’re grinding away at creating content, eagerly waiting to reach 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours to finally join the YouTube Partner Program and earn that sweet ad revenue. But what if I told you there’s a better way—one that allows you to start earning long before you hit those milestones? You don’t have to sit around and wait for YouTube to hand you a paycheck. In fact, there are three easy steps you can take right now to start making money from your channel, even if you’re still small and growing.
In this post, we’re going to explore a 3-step method that will put you on the path to earning, regardless of your current subscriber count. By the end, you’ll see that monetization is just one piece of the puzzle—there’s so much more you can do to generate income from your channel starting today!
Step 1: Tap Into Affiliate Marketing Early
The first step to start earning before you’re monetized on YouTube is to dive into affiliate marketing. Now, before you think, “I don’t have a big enough audience for that,” hear me out. Affiliate marketing doesn’t require a massive audience to work. In fact, some of the most successful affiliate marketers on YouTube have relatively small but highly engaged audiences. The key is engagement, not size.
What is Affiliate Marketing?
Affiliate marketing is when you promote a product or service through your content and earn a commission whenever someone clicks on your affiliate link and makes a purchase. It’s simple: you get a unique link from the affiliate program, recommend a product, and if your viewers click that link and buy, you earn a percentage of the sale. The beauty of affiliate marketing is that it doesn’t rely on YouTube’s monetization rules—it works regardless of your channel size or view count.
How Affiliate Marketing Can Work for You
When I first started exploring affiliate marketing, I was shocked at how easy it was to get started. The key is to promote products that your audience will actually use and benefit from. For example, if you run a tech review channel, you can promote gadgets, software, or even courses that teach coding or digital skills. If you’re in the fitness niche, you can recommend workout gear or fitness apps. The more relevant the product is to your audience, the higher the chance they’ll click on your link and make a purchase.
How to Get Started with Affiliate Marketing
- Sign up for Affiliate Programs: The easiest place to start is with affiliate programs like Amazon Associates, ShareASale, or Impact. They cover a wide range of products and services, so you’re bound to find something that fits your channel’s content.
- Mention Affiliate Products in Your Videos: Once you’re signed up, start mentioning affiliate products in your videos naturally. You don’t need to force it. Just share products you genuinely use and love, and explain how they can help your viewers.
- Include Affiliate Links in Your Descriptions: Make sure to place your affiliate links in the description of your video. For example, you could say, “If you’re interested in trying out this software, I’ve linked it in the description below. It’s the tool I use to edit my videos, and I can’t recommend it enough!”
By leveraging affiliate marketing, you can start earning commissions long before you’re eligible for YouTube ads.
Step 2: Sell Digital Products for Passive Income
The second step in this method is selling digital products. Digital products are a goldmine for YouTubers because they provide value to your audience while offering a source of passive income that doesn’t rely on YouTube’s algorithms or ad revenue. Once created, digital products can sell over and over again, generating consistent income.
What Are Digital Products?
Digital products are downloadable items that your audience can purchase and use right away. These could be anything from ebooks, guides, templates, or even online courses. The key is to create something that solves a problem or offers value to your audience.
For instance, if you have a channel about personal finance, you could create a budgeting template. If you’re a fitness YouTuber, you could sell workout plans or meal prep guides. If you teach video editing, you could offer downloadable presets or step-by-step editing tutorials.
Why Digital Products Work
Digital products work because they provide instant value. Your audience gets something they can immediately use, and you get the benefit of passive income with no ongoing work. Plus, digital products are scalable—whether you sell 10 or 10,000 copies, your workload stays the same.
How to Get Started with Digital Products
- Identify a Problem You Can Solve: Think about the questions or problems your audience has and create a product that addresses them. For example, if you constantly get asked about how you edit your videos, you could create a video editing guide.
- Create Your Product: You don’t need fancy software to create a digital product. You can make a simple ebook using Google Docs or Canva, or create an online course using platforms like Teachable or Gumroad.
- Promote It in Your Content: Once your product is ready, promote it in your videos. For example, you can say, “If you want to take your editing skills to the next level, I’ve created a guide that walks you through my entire process. You can grab it using the link in the description!”
Step 3: Land Sponsorships, Even with a Small Channel
The final step in the 3-step method to start earning on YouTube before monetization is to land sponsorships. A common misconception is that you need to be a massive creator with millions of subscribers to land sponsorship deals, but this isn’t true. Many brands prefer working with smaller, niche creators because their audiences are often more engaged and loyal.
How Sponsorships Work
With a sponsorship, a brand pays you to promote their product or service in your video. This could be through a dedicated video, a product review, or even just a shout-out. The amount you get paid depends on factors like your niche, audience size, and engagement, but even smaller channels can score sponsorship deals that pay well.
Why Smaller Channels Can Land Deals
Smaller channels often have more engaged audiences, and brands love this. A highly engaged audience is more likely to trust your recommendations, which means more sales for the brand. Plus, niche creators often have audiences that align perfectly with specific products, making sponsorships a win-win for both the creator and the brand.
How to Get Started with Sponsorships
- Pitch to Brands in Your Niche: Don’t be afraid to reach out to brands directly. Start by making a list of companies whose products you already use or align with your content. Craft a personalized pitch explaining why your channel is a great fit for their product and how your audience would benefit from it.
- Highlight Your Engagement: Even if your subscriber count isn’t huge, focus on your engagement rate when pitching to brands. Show them that your audience is highly interactive and likely to take action based on your recommendations.
- Be Authentic: Only work with brands that align with your content and values. Your audience will appreciate your authenticity, and brands will see better results if you genuinely believe in their product.
Final Thoughts: Start Earning Before You’re Monetized
The journey to monetization on YouTube doesn’t have to be a long waiting game. With the right strategies, you can start earning money from your channel before you ever qualify for ads. By tapping into affiliate marketing, selling digital products, and landing sponsorships, you’ll not only diversify your income streams but also put yourself on the path to financial success sooner.
The key is to take action. Don’t wait for YouTube to hand you monetization on a silver platter. Start using these three steps today, and you’ll be amazed at how quickly your channel can turn into a profitable venture—no matter the size of your audience.
