How to Make Money With a Small YouTube Channel

TL;DR

Start by recommending products or services you genuinely use through disclosed affiliate links, then add carefully selected brand deals as your audience grows. A small, focused channel can generate sustainable income because companies value audience alignment, trust, and purchasing interest, while older affiliate videos may continue earning commissions long after publication.

Transcript

So, how do you start making money on YouTube? What are the best monetization strategies? And can you find sustainable income even with a small channel on YouTube? Well, today I'm joined by our editor and fellow content creator Nate at Think Media. And we're going to dive into five different monetization strategies that we have used both as individu... Read More

Key Insights

• Affiliate marketing is a way to earn commissions by recommending a product or service owned by someone else. A creator receives a unique tracking link, places it in locations such as a YouTube description or website, and earns revenue when qualifying purchases are attributed to that link.
• Amazon Associates is one of the easiest affiliate programs discussed for beginner creators. Its commissions are described as roughly 2–4%, and a shopper may generate a commission after clicking even if the final purchase is different from the specific product featured in the creator's video.
• Affiliate income is gradual rather than immediate. One creator recalled an initial payment of about $20, roughly $700 earned during the first year, and later income of around $1,000 per month from older videos despite no longer posting on the personal channel.
• Higher-priced recommendations can produce more commission revenue than inexpensive products when percentage rates are comparable. A 4% commission on a $10 item is much smaller than the potential return from recommending products priced at $100 or $1,000, although actual earnings depend on attributed purchases.
• Direct company affiliate programs may pay higher commission rates than third-party marketplaces such as Amazon. Creators can check whether technology companies, software providers, or subscription services offer affiliate or referral programs, with payments potentially delivered through services such as Stripe or PayPal on a four-to-six-week basis.
• Affiliate disclosure is necessary when promotional links can generate commissions. Creators should clearly identify affiliate links in the description and may also mention the relationship within the video, helping the audience understand that purchases through those links can financially support the channel.
• Brand deals are paid arrangements in which a company places its information within a creator's YouTube content. Common formats include an organic mention, product placement, a 30–60 second advertisement, or a fully dedicated sponsored video, with each level supporting a different price and workload.
• Small creators are valuable to brands when their audiences closely match a product. Nano influencers are described as having fewer than 10,000 followers or subscribers, while micro influencers have fewer than 100,000, and brands may test campaigns across multiple focused creators and renew relationships with strong performers.

Questions & Answers

Q: How can a beginner make money with YouTube affiliate marketing?

A beginner can join an affiliate or referral program, create a unique tracking link, and recommend products or services they genuinely use. The link can be placed in a YouTube description or on a website. When viewers click and make attributed purchases, the creator earns a commission. Income generally starts small and grows as more useful videos, recommendations, and links continue attracting viewers.

Q: How does Amazon affiliate income work for YouTube creators?

Amazon Associates gives an approved creator unique links for products discussed in videos. The creator can place those links in video descriptions and earn a commission when purchases are attributed to a viewer's click. The transcript describes commission rates around 2–4% and notes that the shopper may buy another product, such as groceries or a PlayStation 5, while still generating a commission.

Q: How much can a small YouTube channel earn from affiliate links?

Affiliate earnings vary with traffic, product prices, the number of recommendations, and attributed purchases. One creator described a first payment of about $20 and total earnings of roughly $700 during the first year. Older review videos later produced around $1,000 per month even without new uploads. These examples show gradual potential, not a guaranteed or immediate replacement for a regular job.

Q: What should a creator do after an Amazon Associates rejection?

A rejected creator can continue building the channel, audience, traffic, and online presence, then apply again later. One participant said the first application may have failed because traffic was not high enough. Amazon's exact qualifications can change, so the suggested approach is to keep growing a recognizable personality and channel before resubmitting the relevant profiles for another review.

Q: Are direct affiliate programs better than Amazon Associates?

Direct programs can offer higher commission rates than Amazon, although the available terms depend on the company. Creators can check brands they already use, including technology companies, software providers, and subscription services, for affiliate or referral programs. The transcript says direct payments may arrive through Stripe or PayPal, typically on a four-to-six-week basis, after tracked purchases or referrals qualify.

Q: How should YouTube creators disclose affiliate links?

Creators should make it clear in the description that a link is an affiliate link, and they may also state the relationship during the video. The description for the source content uses this approach by explaining that some product links are affiliate links and that purchases can generate a small commission. Clear disclosure helps viewers understand the creator's financial relationship with a recommendation.

Q: How do brand deals work for small YouTube channels?

A brand deal lets a company pay for promotional space within a creator's content. The placement may be an organic mention, a product placement, a 30–60 second advertisement, or a fully sponsored video. Even a small creator can charge at least a few hundred dollars for some placements when the audience is relevant, although the creator must negotiate deliverables and avoid selling the placement too cheaply.

Q: Why do brands work with nano and micro influencers?

Brands may choose smaller creators because their audiences can be focused, interested, and more likely to respond to a relevant product. The transcript defines nano influencers as creators below 10,000 followers or subscribers and micro influencers as those below 100,000. A company could pay 20 nano creators $1,000 each, test performance across different audiences, and continue working with the strongest performers.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Affiliate marketing lets beginners earn commissions by recommending products or services through unique tracking links. Amazon Associates is a common starting point, but direct company programs may offer higher commission rates. Earnings usually begin modestly, accumulate over time, and can continue from older videos that still attract viewers and purchases.

• Brand deals allow companies to purchase promotional space within a creator's content. Arrangements range from product placement and organic mentions to 30–60 second advertisements or fully sponsored videos. Creators should choose relevant products, verify incoming offers, define deliverables in a contract, and charge according to the promotional value provided.

• Small channels can appeal to brands because their audiences may be focused, engaged, and likely to act on relevant recommendations. Companies can divide a campaign among multiple nano creators instead of relying on one large channel. The broader monetization approach also includes product-for-content arrangements, YouTube AdSense, and selling knowledge.

• Key Insightss