These days It’s hard to ignore the success that comes with having a YouTube channel especially among UK Youtubers – as well as those abroad.

For what appears to be a hobby or passion project, many top YouTubers earn a full-time income. Heck 10 times what any 9-5 mid-level corporate job could ever pay.

There’s one thing we know for sure. Making money on a YouTube channel is all about creating videos people want to watch. It could be educational or pure entertainment.

Maybe there’s a subject you like to teach people about.

From fitness enthusiasts to self-development gurus and gamers, from food lovers to influencers just showing us how they get by. Successful Youtube channels vary across niches.

And of course, if we can take a thing or two from their playbook, perhaps we can also make money for ourselves.

One thing ‘ve noticed on YouTube is that it doesn’t even matter if you are a beginner.

With the right content you can grow and succeed. I certainly watched and enjoyed many videos of upcoming YouTubers talk about their struggles. From struggles with starting online businesses or trivial things like getting the right shade of foundation for flawless makeup. There’s nothing more comforting than hearing someone who understands and has similar struggles.

I’ve written this article for those who are just curious about how to make money on Youtube. In addition, this is for people who are considering starting their own YouTube channels and are not sure how they can make money from it. At the end, you would truly understand how to grow and make money on YouTube. I only include ideas on the type of videos you can create for faster growth.

Ready to find out more? Keep reading.

Below are 8 ways UK Youtubers make money on a YouTube channel.

You can also do the same!

1. They make money with Affiliate Marketing

When it comes to making money on a YouTube channel, the very first thing most Youtubers use is affiliate marketing.

If you’re not familiar with affiliate marketing, this is how it works:

• They sign up to an affiliate program that is related to the sort of content they create.
• Next they find a product that will bring value to their audience.
• The affiliate program provides them with a Unique link for the product.
• They add the link to their YouTube video description.
• In their YouTube video they promote the product – directly (by talking about it) or indirectly (by using it passively but in such a way that people spot it and start asking for details)

⁃ When people click on the affiliate link and make a purchase, the youtuber gets a commission.

Many of your favourite YouTubers use affiliate marketing.

“If you want to try this product, the link is in the description box below”.

Sounds familiar? That’s your YouTuber sending you to their affiliate link and it’s a great way to make money while they provide value to you.

Tips for affiliate marketing success

If you decide to try affiliate marketing, here are some great tips:

Tip 1: Ensure the product you recommend is a great fit for your audience.

If your audience is interested in saving money and you are recommending a $100 per month software – nobody is going to buy anything, and you’ll be wasting your time.

Tip 2: Consider buyers intent. When someone wants to buy a product, they are searching for a review about the product to find out more before they make up their minds.

So, if you make that type of content (product review content) you’ll most like have higher sales. Simply because you’re targeting people who want to make a purchase and helping them in the final phase of the decision making.

Tip 3: Recurring products. If you can find things that are recurring i.e., things people pay for monthly, your affiliate income can go bunkers.

With such products, you don’t just get a one-off payment. You get monthly payments.

Tip 4: Make sure you are recommending things you stand behind. If you recommend things that don’t work, you lose your credibility. People won’t take your recommendations anymore. If you recommend great product, people take you seriously and keep coming back to for recommendations. This means more affiliate sales and commissions for you!

To get guidance on affiliate marketing, check out Ana’s course . Ana makes 6 figures a year on affiliate marketing. She takes you through how you can get your first sale.

2. They sell Merch on their Youtube channel

Whilst most youtubers don’t go down this route for fear of backlash, those who do say it’s worth their effort.

Merch can be anything from hoodies, to mugs to T-shirts, or journals.

Youtubers can use graphics they design on apps like Canva. It can be their favourite quote or slogan or anything that resonates with their audience.

All they have to do is to set up their Merch in an online store such as spreadshop. And then add the link in their video description.

3. They make money selling Digital products

These are electronic products people can download and use. Some youtubers make guides, ebooks, or package their videos in a course like format.

The great thing about digital products is that they create it once and it keeps selling. No inventory, no physical products. They may need to update the information in the digital products as tines change. However, it takes only minimal effort and is a very great source of passive income.

4. They offer services to their Youtube channel viewers

Youtubers know their audience using analytics and based on comments. So its usually not too difficult to think about a service their audience needs and offer it at a price.

For instance, people reading this article may be considering YouTube as a way to make money online. I know that most people are not great with video editing, or they just don’t have time for it. Therefore, I can start offering a video editing service to help new YouTube content creators.

They offer consulting.

This is where they give people advice based on their experience.

The more successful a youtuber is, the more they can make money with consulting. This is because people will trust that whatever advice they give is what has worked for them.

5. They create sponsored videos

Brands can sponsor the content youtubers create. In a sponsored video, the youtuber will need to talk about and promote the sponsor’s product.

Sponsorship often comes to those with decent number of views. Hence it can be the long-term game plan. Not something youtubers start off with the day they launch their channel. But something they can achieve in some weeks/months.

6. UK Youtubers sell Physical products through their channel

Apart from Merch, YouTubers can sell physical products. The most common being books.

All they have to do is upload the digital version of their book to Amazon KDP. Once someone makes a purchase, Amazon prints it and sends it to them. Depending on their niche, physical products will need some investment to create the product and to make the stock available.

7. UK Youtubers license their Content

This is not talked about often but youtubers can get paid for your content. Companies can pay to license their videos. This allows the companies to use the youtubers content on their websites, tv shows, training programs etc. Never underestimate the benefit of quality professional looking content that adds value.

8. They Join the YouTube partner program

This is probably the one everybody knows about. Once youtubers meet 1000 subscribers and 4000 watch hours, and meet all the terms and conditions of Youtube, they can apply to the YPP to have your channel monetised. Once they are accepted, YouTube will open their Channel to Ads monetisation. You see those Ads that sometimes annoy us? Well, your fave needs to get paid for their content, so it’s inevitable. If you have the time, watch the ads to support them.

Steps to build your own youtube channel

If you’ve decided Youtube is something you would like. Here are some basics.

My favourite quote when it comes to anything online is “monkey see, monkey do, monkey doesn’t invent the wheel”.

1. Do your Research

Check out what other people in your niche are doing. What products are they promoting. What sponsors do they have. What topics have the highest engagement. These should give you some ideas.

According to Nick Nimmin, you should be looking at small and large channels. From channels with 1000 subscribers to those with millions. So you can better understand what is working.

Also reading through the comments of popular videos you can identify areas that people need help with. You can create content to meet those gaps.

Don’t have a niche yet? Then explore all the niches you are thinking about getting into.

2. Document your research in a spreadsheet

I made the mistake of not taking notes while researching topic ideas for my blog and it cost me a lot of time.

A simple spreadsheet with channel name, number of subs, topic, sponsors, affiliate products, physical products will be a valuable resource you can always come back to.

3. Your own content plan in a spreadsheet

Now write all the topics and niches you have found interesting, based on your research. Also write topics that you would like to create content about.

Having a YouTube channel is a long game. You’re going to be putting in the hours to create videos about topics. It has to be a topic you enjoy as much as one that can make you money. Having it all written out is good to assess your interest.

Popular content types for YouTube growth.

Here are some content types that have proven to be effective in driving growth and attracting a larger audience. The type of content you create will obviously depend on your niche.

1. Tutorials and How-To Guides.

2. Product Reviews and Recommendations

3. Vlogs and Behind-the-Scenes Footage

4. Challenges and Collaborations

5. Top 10 Lists and Roundups

6. Q&A Sessions and FAQ Videos

7. Educational and Explainer Videos

8. Hauls and Unboxing Videos

9. Storytelling and Personal Experiences

10. Livestreams

Remember, the key to successful YouTube growth is to create content that aligns with your niche, resonates with your target audience, and showcases your unique personality or expertise. Experiment with different content types, analyze your audience’s response, and refine your strategies based on what works best for your channel.

Final thoughts on how UK Youtubers make money online with YouTube

Building a successful YouTube channel requires dedication, consistency, and a willingness to adapt to the changing landscape. It’s not an overnight success, and it may take time to grow your audience and see significant results. But with passion, perseverance, and a commitment to providing value, may youtubers in the Uk and abroad are making a killing.

Thanks for stopping by!