We all know YouTube as the most visited video-sharing platform, with over 2 billion monthly active users. For this reason, it offers various opportunities for people to earn money online. However, most people think the only way to make money on YouTube is by making and sharing videos of themselves. While this is the most common method, not everyone can do that. Making good videos takes time, equipment, and skills.
Thankfully, there are several alternative ways to generate income on YouTube without the need to create videos. We are going to explore some of those ways and show you how you can still earn money from YouTube even if you can't or don't want to make videos.
Here are five ways to make money on YouTube that are better than making videos.
To get started, you can create a free blog on WordPress and embed YouTube videos to enhance your content. However, while you can use videos created by other people, you must give credit to the original creator. The best practice is acknowledging who made the video and linking back to their YouTube channel.
Aggregation can attract viewers who are interested in the content you're sharing. Since you're not spending time making videos, you can focus on finding and sharing interesting videos that fit your channel's niche. This can lead to more views and potentially more income through YouTube's monetization programs.
If you're a skilled designer, you can turn that talent into cash by creating channel art and thumbnails for other YouTubers. Many content creators on YouTube are willing to pay for high-quality visuals that make their channels stand out.
For instance, if you run a weekly audio podcast, you can upload the podcast recordings to your YouTube channel and add visually appealing background images to keep your audience engaged.
Also, if you own a business, you can share educational content with your audience by posting audio presentations accompanied by PowerPoint slides. This can attract subscribers to your channel and open up advertising opportunities.
1. Start a Blog and Embed YouTube Videos
Blogging is a great way to earn money with YouTube without creating your own videos. If you’ve ever visited a blog and noticed a YouTube video embedded in it, chances are the owner is making money from it. Essentially, they're integrating videos into their written content to enhance it and potentially generate income. This means you don't necessarily have to create all the content yourself; you can curate existing videos to enrich your blog and attract more viewers.To get started, you can create a free blog on WordPress and embed YouTube videos to enhance your content. However, while you can use videos created by other people, you must give credit to the original creator. The best practice is acknowledging who made the video and linking back to their YouTube channel.
2. Post Videos From Other Content Creators
You can Make money on YouTube without creating your own videos by sharing videos made by other creators. YouTube allows this through a process known as aggregation. This means you don’t have to spend hours filming and editing—you can just find cool videos that others have made and share them on your channel.Aggregation can attract viewers who are interested in the content you're sharing. Since you're not spending time making videos, you can focus on finding and sharing interesting videos that fit your channel's niche. This can lead to more views and potentially more income through YouTube's monetization programs.
3. Create YouTube Channel Art and Thumbnails for Other YouTubers
Making money on YouTube doesn't always involve being in front of the camera. One method is by creating YouTube channel art and thumbnails. Channel art is the large banner displayed at the top of a channel's page, while thumbnails are the smaller, clickable images that represent each video. These elements play a crucial role in branding and attracting viewers to a channel.If you're a skilled designer, you can turn that talent into cash by creating channel art and thumbnails for other YouTubers. Many content creators on YouTube are willing to pay for high-quality visuals that make their channels stand out.
4. Post Alternative Content like Audio, Images, and Presentations
You can post different types of content on YouTube besides traditional videos that feature someone speaking directly to the camera. Instead of video, you can upload audio files, compilations of albums, or even images of slide decks and presentations. This way, you can earn money on YouTube through views on your content without having to film yourself.For instance, if you run a weekly audio podcast, you can upload the podcast recordings to your YouTube channel and add visually appealing background images to keep your audience engaged.
Also, if you own a business, you can share educational content with your audience by posting audio presentations accompanied by PowerPoint slides. This can attract subscribers to your channel and open up advertising opportunities.
5. Become a YouTube Consultant
Making money on YouTube isn't as easy as it might seem. Many people start YouTube channels, only to discover that it's a tough journey that takes a long time to earn significant income. This reality leads many creators to give up before they reach that point of success. For this reason, there's a growing demand for YouTube consultancy—another opportunity to make money on YouTube without making videos.As a YouTube consultant, you will use your proficiency with the platform to assist Youtubers and companies in improving their channels' performance. You can offer services such as helping people with on-camera presence, developing content strategies, crafting voiceover scripts, and conducting analytics and SEO keyword research.
You can start your journey as a YouTube consultant by promoting your services on platforms like Fiverr, or reaching out to businesses within your network and offering to manage their YouTube channels for a monthly fee. The amount you can charge depends on the complexity of the services you provide. Around $50 per hour is a reasonable starting point, provided you have a solid understanding of YouTube dynamics and your clients have a marketing budget to support your services.