A lot of people think YouTube money = ads.
But honestly, ads take time. You need 1k subs + 4k watch hours just to get in, and even then it shouldn’t be your only income stream anyway.
What works way better is just layering extra income on top of what you’re already doing.
What I’d do:
- add simple affiliate / creator links
- mention tools I already use
For example, if you’re doing travel content (or just vlogging your trip), it’s actually really easy to layer in. You’re already using stuff - just include it naturally.
I recently tried Saily’s creator program (eSIM). Signing up is quick and easy - no waiting or extra steps. You get a code right away and can start using it immediately.
I just mention it briefly, nothing forced, and it’s around $5 per signup. I’ve already got 10+ signups from just casually mentioning it a few times, so it works as a nice little add-on without changing the content.
It’s not huge money per video, but it adds up over time.
That’s really the idea - don’t rely on one source. Just stack a few simple ones into your content and let them build.