How Small YouTube Channels Make Money Without Ads

Can small YouTube Channels make money without Google Adsense? In this article, we share three uncommon strategies we used to monetize our YouTube channel with less than 1000 subscribers.

YouTube has become an increasingly popular platform for creators to make millions producing videos. While many people may think of YouTube as a hobby or a way to share their passions with others, it is also possible for small YouTube channels to make money.

In this article, we explore the various ways that small YouTube channels can monetize their content and earn an income without relying on shared advertising revenue from YouTube.

So if you want to become a YouTuber and turn your passion into a career, keep reading to learn more about the various ways you can make money on YouTube without ads.

How to get more views on YouTube?

Simply uploading a video on YouTube is not enough to generate views. That being said, there are strategies you can use to appear higher in search and recommended results and increase your views.

YouTube videos, like your content, must be SEO optimized in order to rank in google results.

Here’s our complete guide on How to Rank YouTube Videos Fast

How can small channels make money on YouTube?

One of the fastest ways to monetize your audience is to grow your email list. And one of the fastest ways to grow your email list is by writing articles that rank on Google.

Creating a website or blog and hiring writers to create written content based on the videos you create is one of the fastest ways to start earning money as a small YouTube channel.

This may sound counterintuitive for a YouTube monetization strategy, but we’ve done it, and it works. Your website can earn money from banner ads, affiliate links, and promotional offers to your email newsletter.

How to add your own banner ads to your website?

Banner ads are a common way for websites and online content creators to monetize their content and make money.

There are many ad networks that can help connect you with advertisers who are interested in placing banner ads on your website or content. However,  in order to be considered for most ad networks, you need at least a few thousand page views per month.

That being said, there is nothing stopping you from placing your own banner ads on your website. You can advertise your own products and services or use affiliate links to products and services your audience would be interested in.

You can add your own banner ads to your website using ConvertBox. Using ConvertBox, you can place an embed code to your banner ad anywhere on your website and upload up to 5 variations of the ad. ConvertBox will automatically rotate the ads for you using A/B split testing.

As visitors click on the banner ads on your website, you'll earn a percentage of the sale. The exact amount you'll earn will depend on the affiliate program and the terms of your agreement with them.

How to find affiliate programs to promote on your blog?

There are several ways you can find affiliate programs to promote on your website or blog. Start by researching companies and products that are relevant to your content niche or topic. Focus on finding affiliate offers for subscription-based businesses that pay monthly or annual commissions.

You can join an affiliate network that connects affiliates with product and service providers. Some popular affiliate networks include:

  • Partner Stack
  • ShareASale
  • ClickBank
  • CJ Affiliate
  • Flex Offers
  • Amazon Associates

By joining an affiliate network, you'll have access to a wide range of affiliate programs and products to promote on your website or blog.

You can also use Google to find affiliate programs. Simply search for terms like "affiliate program" or "product name + affiliate program" to find companies that offer affiliate programs in your niche. I recently did a search on “most popular affiliate programs” and discovered Fiverr as one of the best, which I had previously not considered.

If you can't find an affiliate program for a company or product that you'd like to promote, consider reaching out to the company directly and asking if they have an affiliate program or if they'd be willing to work with you as an affiliate.

How to make money from an email newsletter?

Email marketing is one of the most profitable forms of marketing, and there are several ways you can make money from an email newsletter.

If you have your own products or services to sell, you can use your email newsletter as a platform to promote and sell them to your subscribers. You can also promote links to affiliate products and services or sell sponsored emails and banner ads to companies.  

Another way to monetize your email newsletter is by offering a paid subscription. This can give subscribers access to exclusive content or perks, such as early access to new content.

It's important to note that making money from an email newsletter requires a significant amount of time, effort, and resources, and it may take some time to build up a large and engaged email list. However, for those who are able to build a strong and loyal following, an email newsletter can be a powerful tool for monetizing their content and driving revenue.

In Conclusion

Making money with your small YouTube channel doesn’t mean you need to rely on Google Adsense or gaining a massive amount of viewers or subscribers.

While it can be challenging for small channels to make a significant amount of money on YouTube alone, with the right strategies and dedication, it is possible to build a loyal and engaged audience and generate a meaningful income from your content.

See the video below from our discussion on our show Good Morning Marketers about how we started monetizing our small YouTube channel with less than 1000 subscribers.

Clips from Good Morning Marketers Episode 18