How to get monetized on YouTube without 1,000 subscribers

Here’s how to monetize a YouTube channel if you’re not a YouTube Partner Program member. Get tips on how to qualify for YouTube monetization without 1,000 subscribers.

To monetize YouTube videos, you must be a YouTube Partner Program (YPP) member. You need at least 4,000 watch hours on your videos and at least 1,000 subscribers to qualify.

Wondering “Can I monetize YouTube shorts without 1,000 subscribers?” Yes. YouTube recently made it possible to access limited monetization features with at least 500 subscribers. Plus, there are many other ways to earn revenue from YouTube content before becoming a YPP member. Let’s walk through how to monetize YouTube without 1,000 subscribers.

Get monetized on YouTube with 500 subscribers

Did you know you can get monetized on YouTube before hitting 4,000 watch hours and 1,000 subscribers?

As of 2023, YouTubers with at least 500 subscribers can sell products with YouTube shopping and access features like Super Thanks, Super Chat, Super Stickers, and Channel Memberships.

To qualify, you must meet the following conditions:

• 500 subscribers,
• 3 public uploads in the past 90 days,
• 3,000 long-form video watch hours in the past year OR 3 million Shorts views in the past 90 days

10 ways to monetize YouTube without 1,000 subscribers

If you don’t quite meet the requirements for full YouTube Partner Program membership, there are still ways to earn income from your videos. Check out the following strategies for YouTube monetization without 1,000 subscribers.

Online courses

There’s a lot of money to be made in eLearning. If your YouTube channel focuses on learning and skills development, consider creating an online course to share what you know with your fans.

Depending on where you host your course, learners may pay a one-time fee per course or a subscription fee to access a catalogue of courses (including yours).

Many influencers use platforms like Skillshare and Udemy to host online courses. You can also use BlurBay, a hosting platform designed to help influencers monetize their content. With BlurBay, you can customize a web platform to match your brand. The fee structure is simple – pay 5% of what you earn.

Check out this guide to learn more about BlurBay sales tools for selling online courses.

Affiliate marketing

Even if you’re not officially monetized through the YouTube Partner Program, you can still make money by recommending products and services to your audience. This is known as affiliate marketing.

First, join an affiliate program. Then, you’ll receive a unique link to put in YouTube video descriptions (don’t forget to tell viewers it’s there). When viewers click on the link and make a purchase, you get a small cut of the purchase amount. Commissions often range from less than 1% to 5% or more.

Some companies, like Amazon, have in-house affiliate programs, while others, like Nike and Sephora, operate through third-party affiliate networks. Signing up for an affiliate network lets you manage multiple partnerships through a single portal. But you still have to apply and be approved for individual partnerships.

Popular affiliate networks include:

• ShareASale
• ClickDealer
• Awin
• Impact
• Rakuten

Sponsorships

Don’t assume that brands avoid working with small creators. If your YouTube channel targets a niche subject or you have a small but loyal following, you may still be able to land deals with brands that are relevant to your audience.

Sponsorship amounts are often expressed as cost per mille (CPM) or the cost per 1,000 views. Usually, payments range from $10 to $50 per thousand views. If you get 10,000 views on a sponsored video, you could earn between $100 and $500.

Memberships

Loyal fans who love your content may want to pay a recurring fee to access exclusive content and get a chance to interact with you.

But wait. Don’t you need to be monetized on YouTube to offer YouTube channel memberships? Yes. But you can use other membership platforms without being part of the YouTube Partner Program.

Patreon is one popular option. It’s free to get started and access basic features. To offer monthly or annual subscriptions or multi-tiered memberships, you must sign up for a Pro or Premium plan, which costs around 10% of your earnings.

Recently, Patreon announced that creators can offer free memberships and sell individual videos, podcast episodes, images, and other digital files.

Looking for other options? Alternatives to Patreon include Memberful, Bold Commerce, and Ko-Fi.

Merch

Besides making it possible to do what you love as a content creator, your YouTube subscribers can also be mobile billboards advertising your channel to the world. Let loyal fans display your logo, slogans, or inside jokes on clothing, accessories, bags, water bottles, laptop stickers, or mugs.

Some YouTubers go the extra mile and launch their own brands and companies. Think Chamberlain Coffe by Emma Chamberlain, TSUKI clothing by PewDiePie, or Em Cosmetics by Michelle Phan. Of course, these types of successful empires take years to build. But if you’re steadily growing a loyal subscriber base, why not start now?

Templates, tools, and resources

Another way to make money before your YouTube channel is monetized is to sell templates, tools, and resources online.

Does your channel target an activity (such as gardening, crafting, or woodworking)? Are there any resources you’ve developed to make this activity more efficient? Viewers looking for handy resources and shortcuts might pay to get ahold of something that saves time and mental resources.

Make sure your resources are visually high-quality and easy to download once payment is received. Don’t forget to add your channel branding and use your social channels for promotion.

Consulting

Offering consulting services is another good option for YouTubers who focus on knowledge and skills development. To get up and running, network with similar professionals and potential clients on and off YouTube. LinkedIn and Facebook are great places to find people who can benefit from your expertise.

Stay on top of trends, technology, and demands related to your field. You might want to have your own website to showcase your work portfolio and client testimonials.

Funnel viewers to a monetized website or blog

A nonmonetized YouTube channel can be a powerful funnel directing viewers to a monetized platform like a website where you sell products and services. Depending on the web builder you use, you may also be able to show ads on your site and earn a little extra side income.

A website is also a great place to give an overview of what you offer, show off your projects, and highlight your achievements.

Influencers looking for total customization might be interested in WordPress, which lets you build your website from the ground up. If getting into the nuts and bolts of running a website isn’t for you, check out more user-friendly platforms like Wix, Squarespace, Weebly, and BlurBay.

Podcasting

Podcasting is an intuitive next step for many YouTubers. Use a podcast to expand your videos or focus on specific content in more detail. Some podcasters may choose to script their content, but you don’t have to. If you’re using good-quality recording equipment, editing can be straightforward.

Make your show stand out by telling stories. Don’t stick to rote interviews and sharing bland facts. Weave information together into a narrative that draws in listeners and makes them want to hear more. Go beyond speaking and enrich recordings with sound effects. Find ambient music that creates the right mood. Use audio tracks to emphasize humorous and unexpected moments.

As a podcaster, you can make money from sponsorships, donations, ads, and merch. If your show takes off, consider offering additional, premium content behind a paywall for members.

Clip YouTube videos into shorts for other platforms

You don’t have to create unique content for each of your social channels. Repurpose entertaining, insightful, and informative moments from your YouTube videos into short videos for other platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram.

Like YouTube, you’ll probably have to meet certain requirements to get monetized on other platforms. But the requirements may be easier. If you’ve been posting regularly, you may already qualify.

Be quick and concise. Aim for videos between 30 seconds and 2 minutes long. Make your visuals stand out with eye-catching graphics, high-quality images, and attractive colors. Text overlays can keep viewers’ attention even when their audio is low or muted. As with podcasts, use music and sound effects to spice up your content.

Never leave viewers wondering what to do next. Ensure you always include a call to action. This could be an invitation to view your YouTube channel, visit your website, or check out your other socials.

4 tips for getting monetized on YouTube faster

Doing the YouTube grind is tough when you can’t yet monetize your videos and earn rewards for all your hard effort. Here are a few tips for getting qualified to join the YouTube Partner Program in as little time as possible.

Post consistently

The YouTube algorithm will start to favor you if you post regularly. Create a content calendar to outline video ideas and keep your production schedule on track.

Commit to a realistic, regular upload schedule so viewers know when to expect your new content. A HubSpot report showed that Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays are the best days to upload. But keep an eye on your YouTube analytics and stick to a schedule that works best for your audience.

Batch produce videos

Batch producing is more efficient and will help increase your output. Aim to make multiple videos at once instead of one at a time. Film several videos at once (but consider changing outfits between takes to keep your content looking fresh). Editing can be a beast, so handling several videos one after the other gives you a nice break between batches.

Follow SEO best practices

Search engine optimization (SEO) makes your content stand out to search engines so that more people can see your work. Following SEO best practices gives your videos the best chance at reaching your target audience, which will subsequently grow your channel.

• Use keywords. Make sure your title and video description contain keywords and phrases viewers are looking for.
• Optimize your tags. Add appropriate tags to your videos to help YouTube better understand your content and show it to relevant viewers.
• Add closed captions and subtitles. Give viewers more options for enjoying your videos. Captions and subtitles are helpful for people using assistive devices or those with low or muted volumes. Additionally, subtitles are crawlable by search engines.
• Encourage engagement. We’ve all heard YouTubers do it before. As cliched as it may seem, don’t forget to ask viewers to like, share, and subscribe to your channel. Respond to comments and encourage viewers to share their opinions. YouTube considers engagement when ranking videos, so this strategy is critical for growing your channel.

Get help

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Bringing on an editor, assistant script writer, or thumbnail artist can relieve some of the stress and help you meet your deadlines. You might eventually be able to leverage other people’s work to increase your production schedule and rack up more subscribers and watch hours.

Conclusion

Making money from a YouTube channel takes time, patience, and lots of creativity. Being unmonetized doesn’t mean you can’t earn revenue.

It’s now possible to enjoy limited YouTube monetization without 1,000 subscribers—in fact, all you need is 500 subs! Sponsorships, memberships, merch, and podcasting are just some ways to monetize YouTube without 1,000 subscribers, before you qualify for full membership in the YouTube Partner Program.

Another great option is to funnel viewers to a monetized website on a less restrictive platform like BurBay that lets you earn money from your content right away. Learn more about BlurBay here.