So you want to be a YouTuber? Not just any YouTuber, but a content creator who could earn income much like the profitable YouTubers MrBeast or PewDiePie. It’s good to aim high and have a goal to go after, but it’s also good to be realistic about this target. Because before you learn how to make money from social media, you need to learn how to be on it first.
Is It Hard to Be a YouTuber?
Anyone can be on the world’s most popular video platform. So to be a YouTuber isn’t hard.
All you need is to follow these steps to getting your account set up:
- Sign in to YouTube
- If you don’t have an account, click Sign In, then click Create Account
- Choose to create an account as an individual or as a business
- Click the user’s icon and scroll to Create a Channel
- Add your name and click Create
- Fill out your profile and provide an enticing description of your channel. Let your potential viewers know what they should expect from your videos.
- Add a cover photo; YouTube suggests a maximum file of 4MB and 2560 x 1440 pixels. Your photo should not only grab attention but also work for the content on your channel.
You’ll then be asked to verify your account. Why? So you can upload videos over 15 minutes long, do livestreams and add thumbnails. It’s a crucial step to earning money when you become a YouTuber.
How do you verify your YouTube account?
- Click the gear icon
- Then click View Additional Features
- Next, click Verify
- Choose your country in the dropdown menu
- Choose how you want the verification code sent to you: phone call or text
- Provide your phone number, and be ready to input the six-digit verification code
Now that you’ve created your channel and verified your account, how do you post on YouTube?
- In your account, click Create then Create Post
- Type a message in the box at the top to make your post, or
- Pick create a video, poll or image post
- Then pick Post
And here’s where the tricky part about becoming a YouTuber enters: the content creation.
Yes, it looks easy enough to create videos — about anything. But average people like MrBeast and PewDiePie are making a killing with their YouTube careers because they do more than just create average videos. They didn’t just learn how to make a post on YouTube; they learned how to monetize their posts by focusing their content on a particular market.
How Do You to Get Paid After Starting a YouTube Channel?
YouTube stars have made a living out of posting videos because they’ve been able to create content about what they love, from videogaming to makeup to toys. Their dedication and passion for their favorite subject has translated to good content that viewers not only consume but share, embedding YouTube videos on Twitter, Facebook and other sites.
To become a YouTuber who earns from the platform you need to be eligible for the Partner Program. The program provides income-earning opportunities if you meet the following:
For merch shelf (you can showcase your branded merchandise)
Over 10,000 over subscribers on your channel
For ad revenue
Content that meets ad-friendly content guidelines
For channel memberships (allows monthly payments for members-only perks)
More than 1,000 subscribers
For YouTube premium revenue
Content created for viewers subscribed to YouTube Premium
At the very least, you could market your video channel well enough that it starts to earn some money from ads. It may not reach the five- or six-figure incomes of influencer YouTubers, but it’s a start to building your income from social media.
If you’re going to be a full-time YouTuber who earns, you need to develop a content plan that allows you to meet viewer demand. Your video postings have to be consistent. The videos have to be creative as well, which means it can’t have just you in front of the camera. Most YouTubers use graphics to keep their videos enticing; some even look like they’ve been professionally produced.
When you want to test a video, you can put park it unlisted for a friend to look over. Unlisted videos on YouTube aren’t shown on results; anyone who has a link to it can view your videos.
Now how much would a YouTuber with a million subscribers earn? Reportedly about $50K a year, a figured based on ad revenues. When you want to earn like the superstar YouTubers, you have to rely on more than ads. You also need a well-developed brand around your channel, so you can parlay your YouTube career into merchandising, sponsorships or brand partnerships and, in the case of more infamous YouTubers, TV stints. Those are where the million-dollar paychecks come in, especially if your influence is far-reaching.
To become a YouTuber with the potential to earn millions isn’t easy. It takes dedication and time. But when you’ve hit your goal, all the thousands of hours and thousands of content ideas will be worth it once you earn comfortably.
