Most people know that YouTubers with millions of subscribers are able to live off their content, but how much money can a smaller channel of 50k subscribers generate?
With 50k subscribers, you can make between $300 and +$10,000 per month, depending on actual views, niche, sponsorships, and whether you sell merchandise.
In this article, I will walk you through various ways you can monetize your YouTube presence and factors that may affect how much you make.
We will also examine how YouTubers make money to understand how we can take advantage of this opportunity.
If you want to skip reading – I made this video about my own channels, and the factors that determines revenue on youtube.
How Subscribers Affect Revenue
The money you earn on YouTube depends on how many people view a particular video. – And what niche your are in
Having many subscribers does not automatically mean you will make a proportional amount of money.
subscribers dont actually play a vital in growing a YouTube channel, they do not directly affect the amount of revenue – only your possibilities to sell sponsorships.
Nonetheless, subscribers can help boost engagements.
If they actively interact with the channel’s content and share it with friends and family, increasing viewership.
You might make a fortune if you have 50k loyal subscribers who diligently view your videos every time you put them up.
However, since this rarely happens, subscribers are not a reliable metric for determining the anticipated revenue.
How Pay Rates Are Determined
As I just explained, the number of subscribers does not impact the passive income gained from online content. Let’s explore exactly how the pay rate for YouTube videos is determined.
Before delving into the topic, it is essential to note that YouTube does not pay content creators directly. YouTubers get paid through Google Adsense, which monetizes the app’s content.
Adsense is one of the most valuable Google assets, with a fine artificial intelligence that ensures spammers don’t generate fake traffic and earn undeserved revenue.
Adsense also incorporates a sophisticated method for paying content creators according to the number of viewed ads. The system utilizes a Cost Per Mille (CPM) formula, meaning YouTubers are paid per 1000 impressions. Thus, if the CPM is $2, the amount is paid for every 1000 impressions generated on an ad.
Currently, CPM varies as advertisers pay different rates. These rates are determined by factors such as:
- Location
- Viewership patterns
- The type of content on the YouTube channel
Typically, a higher CPM is available for people with informative content on topics like business, language, and law than people with lifestyle vlogs.
Depending on the mentioned factors, CPM can vary from $0.1 to $50. Using an average CPM of $5, a YouTuber with 50k views earns approximately $250 per video.
Steps to Enable Monetization of Your YouTube Videos
Making money from your YouTube channel is not as simple as posting videos and hoping they earn you some cash—even if the post goes viral. There are a few steps you have to take before you are allowed to monetize your content.
In this segment, I will take you through the various steps if you are looking to make a living off your content.
- Set up your account. Authorize the monetization of your account by clicking on the monetization option presented on your account and consenting to the agreement. You are not required to pay any amount at this stage; all you need is to meet the minimum qualifications.
- Attach an Adsense account. Connect your channel to an existing Adsense account. If you don’t have one, create an account on Google and attach it.
- Evaluate the ad formats and video criteria. YouTube is strict about the type of content you can earn money from. You can only monetize advertiser-friendly videos that do not violate copyright laws or contain violence and nudity. During this stage, you also get to choose the type of ads that will appear on your videos.
- Upload videos. Post videos on your channel so you can start making money on the platform.
After completing these steps, you can begin making money from every thousand views. Ensure you post fun content that resonates with your target audience to increase your viewership and potential revenue.
Other Ways to Make Money on Youtube
Unless your subscribers range in the millions, you can’t solely rely on ads if you want to make a living with your YouTube channel. Sometimes you may upload a series of videos that fail to hit enough views.
I recommend that you build a business around your channel and make sales whenever possible. Let’s explore some ways you can turn your channel into a profitable enterprise.
Merchandising
Selling merchandise can earn you much more than ad views on YouTube. Once you build a loyal following and have created a brand, you can sell them branded products such as:
- T-shirts
- Hoodies
- Caps
- Mugs
Although producing such products may cost extra, their high demand from your fan base may result in huge profits.
Sponsored Products
Companies are always on the lookout for ways to market their products. If you have a large enough following, a company may approach you to advertise or mention their product in your videos for a fee.
The larger the numbers you garner from views and subscribers, the more your bargaining power with corporations. For instance, with 50k views , you could earn $500 for a sponsored video.
Final Thoughts
Even though subscribers are essential in supporting content creators, their number does not directly translate to commercial success.
However, there are other avenues to make money from your channel. With 50k followers, you can earn substantial revenue from merchandise sales and sponsored content.
