Is it possible to make money on YouTube without subscribers? As a beginner on YouTube without subscribers, you can still earn money through various strategies and increase your chances of success over time. Here’s an elaborate guide on how to get started, what strategies to focus on, and the financial support you can expect at different stages.

How to Make Money on YouTube Without Subscribers

1. YouTube Shorts Fund

• What It Is: The YouTube Shorts Fund rewards creators for producing popular short videos (under 60 seconds). You don’t need subscribers to qualify for the fund.
• How to Implement:
  • Create engaging, snappy, and viral-worthy content with YouTube Shorts.
  • Focus on trends and relatable themes that grab attention in a short time frame.
  • Consistently post Shorts to increase the chances of your video going viral.
• Financial Support: If your Shorts gain traction, you can earn from $100 to $10,000 per month, depending on views and engagement, even without a large following.

2. Affiliate Marketing

• What It Is: You promote products or services in your videos using affiliate links. You earn a commission when viewers click on the links and make a purchase.
• How to Implement:
  • Join affiliate programs like Amazon Associates, ShareASale, or those related to your niche.
  • Integrate product mentions naturally in your content, such as product reviews, tutorials, or “best of” lists.
  • Include your affiliate links in your video description and pin them in the comments.
• Financial Support: As a beginner, you can expect to earn between $10 and $200 per month from affiliate commissions, depending on the products you promote and your audience’s interest.

3. Brand Sponsorships and Partnerships

• What It Is: Companies pay you to promote their products or services in your videos, even if you have a small but targeted audience.
• How to Implement:
  • Start by reaching out to small brands in your niche, offering to promote their products in exchange for a small fee or free products.
  • Use platforms like FameBit, Grapevine, or AspireIQ to find sponsorship opportunities for smaller creators.
  • Create sponsored content that aligns with your audience and doesn’t feel forced.
• Financial Support: For a beginner with a niche audience, you can earn between $50 and $500 per sponsored video, depending on the brand and niche.

4. Crowdfunding and Donations

• What It Is: Platforms like Patreon, Buy Me a Coffee, or Ko-fi allow your viewers to financially support your content through donations or subscriptions.
• How to Implement:
  • Set up an account on Patreon or Ko-fi and create special content (like behind-the-scenes videos or early access) for your supporters.
  • Promote your donation platform in your videos and descriptions.
  • Engage with your audience regularly to build loyalty and increase the likelihood of support.
• Financial Support: As a beginner, you could earn $20–$200 per month through donations from a small, loyal viewer base.

5. Merchandise Sales

• What It Is: Selling your own branded merchandise, such as T-shirts, mugs, or stickers, can generate income.
• How to Implement:
  • Use platforms like Teespring or Merchbar to design and sell your products.
  • Promote your merchandise in your videos, and place links in the description.
  • Make merch that reflects your brand and resonates with your audience.
• Financial Support: You can expect to make around $50–$100 per month when starting out, depending on how well you promote your products.

6. Content Licensing

• What It Is: If you create viral or high-quality content, media outlets may pay you to license your videos for their own use.
• How to Implement:
  • Upload visually compelling, informative, or entertaining content.
  • Use platforms like Jukin Media or Storyful to license your content.
• Financial Support: You could earn between $100 and $1,000 for a single video if it is licensed by a news outlet or another media organization.

7. Monetize through YouTube Partner Program (YPP)

• What It Is: Once you reach 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours, you can apply for YPP and earn money through ads.
• How to Implement:
  • Continue building your content with a focus on long-form videos to reach these thresholds.
  • Use SEO techniques to optimize your video titles, descriptions, and tags for better discoverability.
  • Keep producing consistent content to grow your viewership organically.
• Financial Support: After joining YPP, you can expect to earn around $1 to $5 per 1,000 views from ad revenue. However, this becomes more significant as your channel grows.

How Much Financial Support Can You Expect as a Beginner?

Early Stage (First 6–12 months):

• Earnings from YouTube Shorts Fund: If your Shorts gain traction, you might earn anywhere from $100 to $1,000 in the initial months, depending on virality.
• Affiliate Marketing: With a small, targeted audience, you might earn $10 to $200 per month.
• Sponsorships: For beginner channels, small sponsorships can bring in $50 to $500 per video.
• Crowdfunding and Donations: With a small but loyal fan base, you could earn $20 to $200 per month.
• Merchandise Sales: A few sales each month could generate $50 to $100.
• Content Licensing: If you create viral or niche content, a single licensed video could earn $100 to $500.

Total Potential Monthly Earnings (as a beginner): You could earn anywhere from $100 to $1,000 per month, depending on the effectiveness of your content and the combination of monetization methods you use.

After Gaining Momentum (12+ months):

• As you grow your viewership and engage with a more dedicated audience, these numbers will increase. With consistent effort, you could start earning $1,000 to $5,000+ per month, particularly if you start gaining traction in the YouTube Partner Program or landing bigger sponsorships.

Key Tips to Ensure Success

1. Consistency: Upload regularly (at least once a week) to build momentum and improve your chances of being recommended by YouTube’s algorithm.
2. Content Quality: Focus on producing high-quality content that engages viewers and encourages sharing. Good lighting, clear audio, and professional editing are crucial.
3. Optimize for Search (SEO): Use strong keywords in your titles, descriptions, and tags to increase your chances of ranking in YouTube’s search results and being discovered.
4. Promote Your Channel on Social Media: Share your videos across social media platforms to drive traffic and grow your audience faster.
5. Engage with Your Audience: Reply to comments, ask for feedback, and encourage viewers to like, comment, and share your videos.
6. Experiment and Adapt: Use YouTube Analytics to track which videos perform best and adjust your content strategy accordingly.

By diversifying your monetization methods, optimizing your content for visibility, and maintaining consistency, you can make money on YouTube without subscribers and gradually build up your income over time.