How to Make Money Vlogging: 25 Top Monetization Tips

Vlogging has emerged as a viable career option for many. But you might be wondering how to make money vlogging?

The answer goes far beyond simply generating ad revenue; it’s about diversifying your income streams to ensure long-term sustainability.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll delve into multiple strategies across different categories such as crowdfunding, merchandising, partnerships, and more, to help you navigate the monetization maze effectively. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned vlogger, this post aims to provide actionable tips and insights to elevate your vlogging career.

Quick Summary:

Here’s a sneak peek on what to expect in this article.

1. YouTube Partner Program: The cornerstone for monetizing vlogs. Requires 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours in a year.
2. Facebook Creator Studio: Another platform offering monetization options like ad breaks. You’ll need 10,000 followers and significant view time.
3. Multi-Platform Streaming: Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Diversify income by streaming across YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, etc.
4. Super Chat: Boost revenue during live streams on YouTube by offering Super Chat, where viewers pay for highlighted messages.
5. Affiliate Marketing: Promote products relevant to your content and earn commissions through specialized tracking links.
6. Cross-Promotions: Partner with similar content creators to mutually grow and diversify audiences.
7. Merch Sales: Sell custom merchandise like T-shirts and caps as an additional revenue stream.
8. Digital Products: Create and sell niche-aligned digital goods like eBooks, templates, or photography presets.
9. Consulting or Coaching: Leverage your expertise for one-on-one paid sessions in your field.
10. Online Courses: Create and sell courses that provide deep, actionable insights into your area of expertise.
11. Paid Newsletters: Offer more in-depth content through premium newsletters to paying subscribers.
12. And so much more…

How to Make Money Vlogging – Content and Platform-Related

1. YouTube Ad Revenue

Join YouTube’s Partner Program and earn money through ad views and clicks. The YouTube Partner Program (YPP) is the most straightforward way to start earning money with your vlogs on YouTube.

To be eligible, you’ll need to accumulate at least 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours over a 12-month period. Once you’re part of YPP, you can start monetizing your videos through ads. YouTube offers different types of ads like display ads, skippable video ads, and non-skippable video ads, among others.

Strategies for Maximizing Ad Revenue:

• Target High-CPM Niches: Content in certain niches attracts higher Cost Per Mille (CPM). For example, vlogs about finance, real estate, or technology usually command higher ad rates. If these areas align with your interests, targeting them can be lucrative.
• Viewer Retention: The longer viewers stay on your video, the more ads they are likely to see, increasing your potential earnings. Create compelling, high-quality content that keeps viewers engaged throughout.
• Call to Action: Encourage viewers to like, share, and subscribe to your channel. More engagement increases the visibility of your vlogs, attracting more views and, consequently, more ad revenue.

2. Facebook Creator Studio

Leverage Facebook’s monetization options like ad breaks if you also post your vlogs on Facebook.

Facebook Creator Studio offers various monetization options such as ad breaks, which are short ads that you can include in your Facebook videos. To be eligible for ad breaks, you must have 10,000 followers and at least 600,000 minutes of total view time from videos over the past 60 days.

Strategies for Facebook Creator Studio:

• Cross-Promotion: Use your YouTube channel or other social media platforms to drive traffic to your Facebook videos. The larger your audience on Facebook, the more you can potentially earn from ad breaks.
• Content Adaptation: Not all content performs the same across platforms. Consider tailoring your vlogs slightly to meet the expectations of your Facebook audience. This could mean shortening your videos or creating unique intros and outros.
• Viewer Interaction: Facebook favors content that promotes interaction. Engage with your audience by responding to comments, asking questions, and encouraging shares to increase the visibility of your vlogs, thus increasing your earning potential.

3. Multi-Platform Streaming

Stream your vlogs live on multiple platforms (e.g., YouTube, Twitch, Facebook) for different revenue streams.

Streaming your vlogs on multiple platforms can diversify your income and expand your audience. Each platform has its own unique set of monetization options and audience characteristics.

For example, Twitch offers subscriptions and “bits” for cheering, while YouTube has Super Chat and channel memberships.

Strategies for Multi-Platform Streaming:

• Stream Scheduling: Maintain a consistent streaming schedule across all platforms. Your audience should know when to expect new content, regardless of the platform they prefer.
• Platform-Specific Offers: Provide platform-exclusive perks to encourage your audience to follow you across different sites. For instance, offer special emotes on Twitch while providing early access to new vlogs on YouTube.
• Integrated Marketing: Utilize social media to announce upcoming streams and remind viewers about platform-exclusive features or content. This can drive cross-platform engagement, making it more lucrative for you to maintain a presence on multiple platforms.

How to Make Money Vlogging – Engagement and Audience

4. Super Chat

On YouTube Live, viewers can pay to have their messages highlighted, providing you with extra income.

Super Chat is a feature on YouTube Live that allows viewers to pay money to have their messages highlighted during a live chat alongside your video stream. This offers a unique way to interact with your audience in real time while also generating additional income.

The more people pay, the longer their message stays pinned at the top of the chat, thereby gaining more visibility.

Strategies for Maximizing Super Chat Revenue:

• Scheduled Live Q&A or Events: Make it a regular event to host live Q&A sessions, tutorials, or other interactive content that can engage viewers. Announce these events in advance so your audience can prepare questions or comments they might want to highlight through Super Chat.
• Exclusive Shoutouts: Offer to give shoutouts or answer specific questions for viewers who use the Super Chat feature. This encourages more viewers to utilize it.
• Real-Time Engagement: Make sure to acknowledge Super Chats as they come in, expressing gratitude and addressing the viewer’s question or comment. The more involved you are, the more incentivized viewers will be to participate in Super Chats.

5. Viewer Donations

Use platforms like PayPal or Patreon to receive direct donations from viewers.

Viewer donations are an excellent way to earn money directly from your most loyal fans.

Platforms like PayPal make it easy to set up a donation button that you can place in your video descriptions or on your channel homepage.

Patreon offers a more structured way to receive donations by providing tiers of membership with different benefits.

Strategies for Increasing Viewer Donations:

• Transparent Goals: Clearly explain what the donations will be used for, whether it’s upgrading equipment, covering production costs, or funding special projects. Transparency can encourage more donations.
• Exclusive Rewards: Offer unique rewards to people who donate, such as personalized thank-you messages, merchandise, or even credits at the end of your videos.
• Donor Recognition: Regularly acknowledge and thank donors in your videos or social media posts. Some creators even have a “Hall of Fame” for top donors on their channel homepage or website.

6. Community Membership

Create a members-only community offering perks like exclusive content or early access to new videos for a monthly fee.

Creating a members-only community can be an effective way to build a loyal fan base while also generating consistent revenue. Platforms like Patreon make it easy to set up different membership tiers, where fans can pay a monthly fee to access exclusive content, early releases, or even one-on-one time with you.

Strategies for Community Membership:

• Tiered Memberships: Offer different levels of membership with varying perks. For example, lower tiers could get early access to videos, while higher tiers might offer monthly video calls or exclusive merchandise.
• Member-Only Polls and Interactions: Engage your community with member-only polls to choose upcoming video topics, merchandise designs, or other channel-related decisions. This makes them feel more involved and invested in your content.
• Consistent Exclusive Content: Consistency is key. Ensure you’re regularly delivering the exclusive content promised to maintain the value of the membership, which in turn encourages long-term commitments from your members.

How to Make Money Vlogging – Partnerships and Sponsorships

7. Brand Partnerships

Team up with brands for product placements or sponsored content.

Branding partnerships involve collaborating with companies to feature their products or services in your vlogs.

This could mean anything from wearing a brand’s clothing in your video to doing a detailed review or demonstration of a product. Brands pay for this exposure, and the payments can be quite substantial depending on your viewer metrics and the brand’s marketing budget.

Such partnerships offer a win-win scenario; the brand gets visibility, and you get financial support to continue creating content.

Strategies for Brand Partnerships:

• Alignment with Niche: Choose brands that align well with your content and audience. For instance, if you’re a travel vlogger, partnerships with travel gear companies or airlines would be more appropriate and authentic.
• Transparency: Always disclose sponsored content to your audience. Not only is this ethical, but it also helps build trust with your viewers.
• Deliver Value: Create high-quality content around the brand’s product or service. The more effectively you can integrate the brand into your content while still providing value to your audience, the more brands will be willing to partner with you in the future.

8. Affiliate Marketing

Promote products through affiliate links and earn a commission on sales.

Affiliate marketing involves promoting products through specialized tracking links.

Whenever someone makes a purchase using your link, you get a commission on the sale. This can be a great way to make passive income, as these links can be included in video descriptions, comments, or even within the video content itself, depending on the platform’s policies.

Strategies for Affiliate Marketing:

• Product Relevance: Only promote products that you genuinely believe in and that are highly relevant to your audience. Irrelevant or low-quality products can erode your viewers’ trust.
• CTAs and Placement: Use effective Calls to Action (CTAs) to guide viewers toward clicking the affiliate links. Also, consider the placement of these links; they should be easily visible but not overwhelming.
• Track and Tweak: Use analytics to track the performance of your affiliate links. This will allow you to understand what your audience prefers, helping you optimize your future affiliate marketing efforts.

9. Cross-Promotions

Partner with other content creators to cross-promote each other’s channels.

Cross-promotions involve teaming up with another content creator to promote each other’s channels.

This is generally a cost-effective way to grow your audience because it’s a mutual exchange of value. You get to tap into their audience, and they get to tap into yours.

This strategy works best when both channels are of similar size and cater to a similar demographic, even if the content itself differs.

Strategies for Cross-Promotions:

• Audience Compatibility: Choose a partner whose audience has interests that overlap with yours but isn’t an exact replica. This way, both channels can benefit from fresh eyes without causing viewer fatigue.
• Collaborative Content: Create special joint episodes or series that provide unique value, making the cross-promotion feel organic rather than forced.
• Reciprocal Shoutouts: Use your platforms to give each other shoutouts or feature each other’s content in a manner that is engaging and beneficial to your viewers.

How to Make Money Vlogging – Merchandising

10. Merch Sales

Sell custom merchandise like T-shirts, caps, and stickers. Selling custom merchandise can add a whole new revenue stream to your vlogging business.

From apparel like T-shirts and caps to accessories like stickers and keychains, the possibilities are vast. Not only does this strategy allow you to monetize your brand further, but it also promotes community engagement.

When fans wear or use your merchandise, they become walking billboards for your brand, potentially attracting new viewers to your channel.

Strategies for Merch Sales:

• Quality and Design: Invest time and resources in creating high-quality, attractive designs that genuinely resonate with your brand and appeal to your audience.
• Limited-Edition Drops: Create a sense of urgency by offering limited-time or limited-edition merchandise. This can drive up sales and make your merchandise more appealing.
• Community Involvement: Involve your community in the design process by hosting polls or contests where they can vote on upcoming merchandise designs.

11. Digital Products

Create and sell digital goods like eBooks, templates, or photography presets relevant to your niche.

Digital products like eBooks, templates, and presets offer another avenue for revenue. Because these are digital, the overhead costs are usually low, and the profit margins can be high.

For example, if you’re a travel vlogger, selling a downloadable travel guide or a photography preset package can add value to your audience while also increasing your income.

Strategies for Selling Digital Products:

• Niche Alignment: Your digital product should align with the content of your vlogs. This ensures that the product is relevant and provides value to your audience.
• Quality and Utility: Make sure the digital product is of high quality and genuinely useful to your viewers. A poorly made digital product can harm your brand reputation.
• Upsell and Bundles: Offer package deals or bundles that include your digital product along with other offerings like merchandise or exclusive videos, adding extra value to the purchase.

12. Print-on-Demand Services

Use platforms like Teespring or Redbubble to create and sell custom designs without holding inventory.

Print-on-demand services can be a fantastic option if you want to sell custom merchandise but don’t want the hassle of holding inventory, shipping, and fulfillment.

Websites like Teespring allow you to design your products, set your prices, and handle everything else.

Strategies for Print-on-Demand Services:

• Design Versatility: Since you don’t have to hold inventory, you can experiment more freely with designs and products to see what resonates with your audience.
• Pricing Strategy: Since print-on-demand can be more expensive on a per-item basis, make sure your pricing strategy balances both profitability and affordability.
• Marketing and Promotion: Utilize your vlogging platform to showcase the merchandise in action. Consider wearing the merch in your videos or featuring them in the backdrop.

How to Make Money Vlogging – Value-Added Services

13. Consulting or Coaching

Offer personal advice or coaching sessions in your field of expertise.

If you have particular expertise that aligns with the content of your vlogs, offering consulting or coaching services can be incredibly lucrative.

This can be particularly effective if you have built up a significant level of trust and authority within your niche.

Strategies for Consulting or Coaching:

• Niche Expertise: Your consulting topics should align closely with the subjects you vlog about. This ensures you are leveraging your established credibility.
• Time Management: Be sure to balance your consulting/coaching commitments with your vlogging schedule. Both require time and energy, so it’s essential not to overcommit.
• Payment Structure: Decide on a payment structure that reflects your time’s value and the depth of the expertise you offer. Options include flat fees, hourly rates, or package deals.

14. Online Courses

Develop and sell online courses or webinars. Creating and selling online courses can be an excellent way to monetize your expertise.

If you’re an expert in a particular field that aligns with your vlogging content, this can be a natural extension of your brand.

Strategies for Online Courses:

• Curriculum Planning: Carefully plan the curriculum so that it provides genuine value and insights, moving the student from a beginner to a more advanced level.
• Production Quality: Just like your vlogs, the production quality of your courses should be high. Clear audio, good lighting, and structured content are crucial.
• Marketing and Launch: Consider pre-selling the course to your most loyal fans at a discounted rate, and use the funds to improve the course based on initial feedback.

15. Paid Newsletters

Send out premium newsletters to paying subscribers through platforms like Substack or Beehiiv.

A paid newsletter can provide an additional revenue stream and serve as an outlet for more in-depth content that might not fit within the format of your vlogs.

If you have expertise in a specific field, providing deeper insights through a newsletter can be invaluable to your audience.

Strategies for Paid Newsletters:

• Content Depth: Unlike free newsletters, paid versions should offer in-depth analysis, tips, or insights that the audience can’t get anywhere else.
• Frequency and Consistency: Decide on a publishing schedule and stick to it. Whether it’s weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly, consistency is crucial to retain paying subscribers.
• Tiered Offerings: Consider offering different subscription tiers with varying levels of access to you or additional types of content like webinars or Q&A sessions.

How to Make Money Vlogging – Events and Appearances

16. Live Events

Host paid webinars or online workshops. Hosting live webinars or online workshops can be a lucrative way to engage with your audience while teaching them something valuable.

This also adds a layer of interactivity, as attendees can ask questions and receive immediate responses. Your vlogs can serve as a promotional platform where you can talk about these events, provide teasers of the content, and encourage people to sign up.

Strategies for Live Events:

• Topic Relevance: Choose a webinar or workshop topic that aligns closely with the themes you discuss in your vlogs to ensure that your audience will find it valuable.
• Promotion Timing: Start promoting your event several weeks in advance. Use a multi-channel approach, including teasers in your vlogs, social media posts, and email newsletters to maximize reach.
• Quality and Interactivity: Make sure the webinar or workshop is well-structured, informative, and allows for interaction, such as Q&A sessions, to increase attendee engagement and satisfaction.

17. Public Speaking

Leverage your expertise and visibility to get paid public speaking gigs. If you’ve built a reputation as an expert in your vlogging niche, you may be invited to speak at industry events, seminars, or conferences.

Public speaking gigs can be a significant income stream and offer networking opportunities, as well as the chance to promote your vlogging channel to a new audience.

Strategies for Public Speaking:

• Showcase Expertise: Use your vlog as a portfolio of your knowledge and expertise on a subject, making it more likely that you’ll be considered for speaking engagements.
• Negotiation Skills: Learn how to negotiate speaker fees and travel expenses. Research industry norms so you know what to ask for.
• Audience Takeaways: Make sure to provide real value to your audience when speaking. Offering actionable insights will improve your reputation and lead to more gigs in the future.

18. Fan Meetups

Charge a small entry fee for special meet-and-greet events. Fan meetups add a personal touch to your vlogging brand and let you interact with your audience in real life.

Charging a small entry fee can help you cover the costs and even make a profit, especially if you also sell merchandise at the event.

Strategies for Fan Meetups:

• Location and Venue: Choose a location that is accessible to the majority of your fans and offers the facilities you need.
• Limited Tickets: Offering limited tickets can create a sense of exclusivity and urgency, encouraging more immediate sign-ups.
• Merchandise and Upselling: Use these events to sell merchandise or offer exclusive content, adding another layer of monetization.

How to Make Money Vlogging – Utilizing Content

19. Syndication

License your popular vlogs to media outlets. Once your vlogs have accumulated enough views and gained popularity, you can license them to media outlets, websites, or even educational platforms.

This gives your content another avenue for revenue and exposure.

Strategies for Syndication:

• Identify Target Outlets: Research and make a list of platforms or media outlets that align with your content.
• Legal Know-How: Understand the legal aspects of content licensing to ensure that you are adequately compensated and protected.
• Quality Control: Make sure that your content maintains its quality and integrity when syndicated.

20. Content Repurposing

Convert your vlogs into podcasts or blogs and monetize them separately.

Repurposing your vlogs into other content formats like podcasts or blog posts can help you reach audiences who prefer those mediums.

You can monetize these platforms separately through ads, sponsorships, or premium content.

Strategies for Content Repurposing:

• Platform Suitability: Choose the best platforms for your repurposed content, considering where your target audience typically consumes similar material.
• Optimization for New Medium: When converting vlogs to blogs or podcasts, ensure that the content is optimized for the new format. For example, a blog post may need more detailed explanations, while a podcast needs clear and engaging audio.
• Cross-Promotion: Use each content medium to cross-promote the others. If someone enjoys your blog post, they may be interested in watching your vlog or listening to your podcast, and vice versa.

How to Make Money Vlogging – Crowdfunding and Investments

21. Kickstarter Campaigns

Crowdfund special projects or ideas related to your vlogging content. Kickstarter is a platform where you can raise funds for a specific project or idea, from creating a feature-length documentary to launching a new series on your channel.

With Kickstarter, you can set a financial goal and offer rewards to backers based on the amount they contribute, thus allowing your audience to invest in your future content.

Strategies for Kickstarter Campaigns:

• Compelling Narrative: Create a persuasive campaign pitch. Explain why your project is unique and why people should support it. Use your vlogging skills to make an engaging video pitch.
• Tiered Rewards: Offer different levels of rewards for varying contributions. These could range from shoutouts in your vlogs to exclusive merchandise.
• Promotion: Use your vlogging platform and social media channels to continually promote your Kickstarter campaign. Don’t rely solely on Kickstarter’s internal audience.

22. Equity Crowdfunding

Offer shares in your vlogging business to raise capital. With equity crowdfunding, you’re not just asking people to donate money to a project; you’re offering them a stake in your vlogging business.

This could provide the capital needed to upgrade your equipment, hire a team, or expand your content strategy.

Strategies for Equity Crowdfunding:

• Legal Counsel: Before diving into equity crowdfunding, consult with legal professionals to understand the complexities involved in selling shares of your business.
• Valuation and Shares: Accurately value your business and decide the number of shares you are willing to offer, and at what price.
• Transparency: Be transparent with potential investors about how the funds will be used. A detailed business plan can instill confidence.

How to Make Money Vlogging – Special Skills

23. Stock Footage

Sell high-quality footage from your vlogs as stock video. If you have excellent quality video footage that you’ve used in your vlogs, consider repackaging it and selling it as stock footage.

Filmmakers, advertisers, and other creators often pay good money for stock footage.

Strategies for Stock Footage:

• Quality Control: Ensure that your video footage is of high quality—clear, steady, and well-lit.
• Licensing: Understand the licensing options you can offer. More flexible licenses often command higher prices.
• Platform Choice: Choose stock video platforms that have a wide reach and offer reasonable commission rates.

24. Photography

Sell photos related to your vlogs on stock photography websites. Your vlogging endeavors might take you to exotic locations or allow you to capture unique moments.

These can be transformed into high-quality photographs that you can sell on stock photography websites.

Strategies for Photography:

• Versatility: Capture a variety of shots that could have wider applications beyond your vlog content.
• Editing Skills: Invest time in post-production to enhance the quality of your photos.
• Niche Focus: If you have a specific niche for your vlogs, consider that when taking photos; a specialized niche often attracts higher-paying customers.

25. Virtual Goods

If you stream on platforms like Twitch, viewers can purchase virtual goods to tip you.

Streaming on platforms like Twitch allows for real-time interaction with your audience. Viewers can purchase virtual goods like emotes or badges that appear during the live stream, giving them a way to tip you financially.

Strategies for Virtual Goods:

• Exclusive Content: Offer exclusive virtual goods that can only be used within your community, making them more appealing to your dedicated followers.
• Engagement: Use these virtual goods as an opportunity to engage with your audience. Acknowledge the tips during the stream to encourage more participation.
• Monetization Options: Understand the various ways these platforms allow you to monetize virtual goods and optimize your settings to take full advantage.

How to Make Money Vlogging- Summary

The landscape of vlogging offers diverse opportunities for monetization. From leveraging platforms like YouTube and Twitch to creating exclusive communities and entering into lucrative brand partnerships, there are multiple avenues to explore.

One key takeaway is the importance of diversification: don’t rely solely on one source of income. Whether it’s selling merchandise, hosting paid webinars, or even licensing your content, the more revenue streams you have, the more financially sustainable your vlogging career will be.

Another critical aspect is audience engagement—methods like Super Chats, memberships, and crowdfunding not only add direct income but also deepen your relationship with your viewers, fostering a more loyal community.

If you’re interested in learning more about entrepreneurship or other money-making strategies, be sure to check out our other articles in our blog, such as;

• A Beginners Guide to Starting and Growing a Successful Vlog
• 31 Video Blogging Tips for Beginners
• How to Make Money Travel Blogging (From Anywhere in the World)
• Top 10 Best Cameras for Travel Blogging in 2023

Your journey to becoming a successful vlogger is just a click away.

How to Make Money Vlogging – FAQs

How do vloggers make money?

Vloggers have various ways to generate income. They can earn ad revenue by partnering with platforms like YouTube, getting sponsorships from brands, using affiliate marketing, selling merchandise, and even getting viewer donations or memberships. Other methods include hosting paid webinars, offering online courses, and crowdfunding for special projects.

How much money can you make by vlogging?

The amount of money you can make by vlogging varies greatly depending on factors such as the platform used, the number of viewers and subscribers, the type of content, and how many income streams you have. Some vloggers earn just a few dollars a month, while others make six figures or more annually. It’s essential to diversify your income streams for a more sustainable vlogging career.

How do beginners start vlogging?

Beginners can start vlogging by first deciding on a niche or topic they are passionate about. Next, get the basic equipment like a good camera and microphone. You don’t need high-end equipment to start; even smartphones with good cameras will suffice. After that, create a content plan, start recording, and then edit your vlogs for publishing. Consistency and quality are key to gaining viewers and monetizing your vlogs.

What platforms are best for vlogging?

YouTube is the most popular platform for vlogging, but others like Facebook, Vimeo, and Twitch are also gaining traction. The choice of platform can depend on the type of content you produce and where your target audience spends most of their time online.

How do I join the YouTube Partner Program?

To join the YouTube Partner Program, you must have at least 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours in the past 12 months. Once you meet these criteria, you can apply for the program, and after approval, you can start earning money from ads shown on your videos.

What equipment do I need for vlogging?

To start vlogging, you’ll at least need a good-quality camera and microphone. As you advance, you may want to invest in additional lighting, a tripod, and professional editing software to enhance your video quality.

Can I make money vlogging without showing my face?

Yes, you can make money vlogging without showing your face, but it may require a creative approach. You can make videos focusing on animation, and screencasts, or use voice-over while showing different visuals or activities.

How can I grow my subscriber base?

Growing your subscriber base involves producing high-quality, consistent content that resonates with your audience. Engage with your viewers by responding to comments, and consider collaborations with other vloggers to tap into their audiences.

What is affiliate marketing and how can it help me make money?

Affiliate marketing involves promoting products or services and earning a commission for any sales made through your unique affiliate link. You can include these links in your vlog descriptions or mention them in your videos to earn extra income.