How To Become A YouTuber In 2023

The allure of YouTuber stardom beckons to many. With over 2 billion users worldwide, YouTube offers an unparalleled opportunity for creatives to share their passion, ideas, and skills with a global audience. Last year YouTube's creator economy statistics reported more than $35B to the US GDP and supported more than 390K Full Time Equivalent (FTE) jobs in the US.

If you've ever wondered how to become a YouTuber, your curiosity could be the beginning of an exciting journey. In this article we'll share some insider tips on becoming a YouTuber in 2023. Whether you're a vlogging enthusiast, aspiring influencer, or an entrepreneur looking to expand your brand presence, the path to YouTube success is yours for the taking.

Getting started as a YouTuber

So you want to become a YouTuber? YouTube has been a powerhouse for young talented creators, entrepreneurs and hobbyists to create a full-time income from home. It’s the most disruptive social network completely changing how we consume media.

YouTube has grown to become the world's largest video-sharing network, allowing you to reach a wide range of audiences. With this platform's high level of engagement, it's no surprise that many people try their hand at content creation.

Trends such as vlogging, pranks, talk shows, tips and advice around a certain topic became saturated and competitive. Let’s face it, giving away more cash then you make isn’t sustainable for YouTubers getting started.

How do YouTubers make money directly from YouTube?

YouTube offers 7 ways for YouTubers to earn money directly from YouTube from their videos.

1. Advertising Revenue: Estimated $3 to $5 per 1,000 video views
2. Channel Memberships: 30%/70% Split
3. YouTube Shopping: *Unknown*
4. Super Chat & Super Stickers: 30%/70% Split
5. Super Thanks: 30%/70% Split
6. YouTube Premium Revenue: Distributed to video creators based on watch time of your videos.
7. YouTube Shorts Monetization: 45%/55% Split

You must be a YouTube partner and your channel must reach certain eligibility before it can start earning money from YouTube.

YouTube creators agree, don’t rely on YouTube ads alone. You must diversify your revenue. Sponsorship, partnerships, merchandise, courses, consulting, products and services are common ways YouTubers make money in the early stages.

How do YouTubers make money outside of YouTube?

YouTubers have several avenues to earn money outside of the direct revenue they receive from YouTube. These are often necessary to supplement income, especially given that YouTube's ad revenue can be inconsistent and unpredictable. Here are some popular ways:

1. Brand Partnerships and Sponsorships: Brands often pay YouTubers to feature their products or services in videos, or to produce sponsored content specifically around their offerings. In fact, brands spending on content creator marketing has increased significantly over the past few years.
2. Affiliate Marketing: YouTubers can earn money through affiliate marketing, where they promote a product or service and receive a percentage of any sales made through their unique link or code.
3. Merchandise Sales: Many YouTubers sell branded merchandise, such as t-shirts, mugs, posters, and more. You see this with the Nelk Boys' Full Send clothing drops, Airrack's Pizzafy sauce, and MrBeast's Feastable chocolate to name a few.  This allows fans to support their favorite creators while also getting something physical in return.
4. Crowdfunding and Patronage: Websites like Patreon allow YouTubers to receive direct financial support from their fans. In return, fans often receive perks like early access to videos, exclusive content, or personalized messages.
5. Public Speaking and Appearances: Well-known YouTubers can be invited to events, conferences, or conventions to speak or meet fans. These appearances often come with a fee. For example, business YouTuber Alex Harmozi speaker fee is $100,000.
6. Book Deals and Media Appearaces: Successful YouTubers have leveraged their popularity into book deals, TV appearances, and even roles in films. Some also host podcasts, which can generate revenue through sponsorships and ads.
7. Courses and Paid Content: Some YouTubers create courses or other types of paid content based on their area of expertise. This could range from a makeup tutorials, house flipping, coding classes, or even courses on how to be a YouTuber.
8. Consulting and Freelancing: Depending on the YouTuber's skills and the nature of their content, they could also make money through consulting or freelancing. For instance, a YouTuber like myself who specializes in sales funnels might offer marketing consulting services to businesses.

Remember, each of these methods comes with its own set of challenges and requires a significant amount of work. However, for many YouTubers, these alternate revenue streams can become a crucial part of their income.

How long does it take for YouTubers to make money?

Starting a YouTube Channel is a long term play. Nobody has been an overnight success. Even people who went viral on their first upload still had to continue uploading for years before making a full-time income on YouTube.

As a general rule of thumb is don’t expect many subscribers, views or monetary gains for the first year or 100 videos.

If you can get and keep your viewers attention you can make money on YouTube. If you can do it for a decade, the world is your oyster. MrBeast was reportedly offered 1 billion dollars for his YouTube Channel. This may be the tip of the iceberg of what’s possible when you commit to a YouTube career.  

Is being a YouTuber hard?

Being a real “YouTuber” is hard. Look at what Airrack went through to reach his first 1 million subscribers. The guys at YesTheory have had some emotional ups and downs. Popular vlogger Roman Atwood has to go into protective custody. The original “gold digger” prankster Vitaly ended up in jail. Even the Nelk Boys’ MTV Jesse has taken a step back while Kyle presses on.

Why most YouTubers fail

People are now using YouTube as a marketing tool because it allows them to connect with a variety of people. Some created video content intending to monetize it.

Yet, many YouTubers continue to struggle with creating content. They fail to market their content due to a lack of an effective marketing approach. The following are the reasons why YouTube creators are poor at marketing:

#1 Lack of strategy and technique

YouTube content creation is more than filming yourself doing random stuff with the hopes of garnering millions of views. It's common for YouTube creators to make the mistake of producing video content without the proper strategy or tactics.

A YouTube creator must be strategic and tactical to create good, effective content. It is critical that you understand how to place every detail in the content. This way, you can ensure that you reach your target audiences.

You can follow the trend that’s popular now. Consider a compelling title, keywords, and phrases to use and then rank them. Learn how to do keyword research and have a careful topic selection. Incorporating this content strategy will help you grow as a creator.

#2 Failure to build the right connection with the audience

Many YouTube creators focus on making great video content. They tend to forget about the relationship their content will (or will not) build with the viewers. While creating content can be fun and exciting, a creator must strategically know how to build an audience.

One effective strategy is to make them feel like they know you. Viewers find it important to know who they watch because it will be their basis for watching your videos. If they like the energy you give, they can be your avid viewers.

The vibe you project through your videos can play a significant role in your success on YouTube. Using technical strategies alone isn't enough at this point. You must relate to your audience to connect with them.

#3 Focusing on one skill only

Many people who try to get into content creation assume that being great at video editing is enough, but this is a huge mistake. There are many factors to consider in creating an effective video. A single YouTube skill won’t give you the desired outcomes you want.

It’s vital to have a thorough understanding of how YouTube works. It won't make sense if you can do amazing video effects but can't do keyword research. YouTubers need many skills, including creative video ideas, thumbnail design skills and more.

Concentrating on one skill will not help your YouTube channel develop. There are an increasing number of video creators entering YouTube. It's critical to have a competitive advantage by innovating and developing your talents.

In conclusion

There are many ways to become a YouTuber in 2023. You don’t need to have a marketing background. You need some marketing strategies and the ability to create great videos that connect with your audience over a long period of time.

Be patient - growing a YouTube channel takes time, so be prepared to put in the work and keep creating great content.

For more information, check out the following guides:

• How to Start a YouTube Podcast
• YouTube’s $100M Fund For Creators
• How MrBeast Started YouTube at 12 Years Old
• How to Create a Viral Social Media Contest
• Getting BIG Name Guests On Your Podcast