Creating content on YouTube isn’t just about sharing your passions—when done right, it can be a serious revenue stream.
Many people overlook how powerful YouTube can be, even for channels with smaller subscriber counts.
With 65,000 subscribers, my channel may be smaller compared to my TikTok (2.2M) and Instagram (900K), but when it comes to video, YouTube is king, and I’m here to show you why.
In this article, I’ll break down how I earned $20,000 from just three YouTube videos, outlining the different ways you can monetize your content and maximize your earnings.
If you’re just starting out or looking for ways to scale your YouTube revenue, this guide will give you practical insights.
The Breakdown of my Earnings From 3 Videos
First, let’s take a look at the numbers and sources of income I pulled from my top three most viral videos. The views ranged from 200,000 to 330,000—pretty moderate in comparison to viral sensations with millions of views, but the income is where it gets interesting.
Here’s how much each video made, and how I generated the revenue:
- Video 1: 330,000 views
- Earnings: $1,800 from YouTube AdSense
- Subscribers gained: 2,000
- Total earnings: $8,000 (including other revenue streams)
- Video 2: 200,000 views
- Earnings: $2,700 from YouTube AdSense
- Total earnings: $4,500 (including other revenue streams)
- Video 3: AI logo generator tutorial
- Earnings: Less from AdSense despite higher views
- Total earnings: $8,400 (due to sponsorship and affiliate marketing)
In total, these three videos brought in $20,000 from various income streams, not just from AdSense alone.
The Multiple Revenue Streams: How the $20K Came Together
Here’s where things get really interesting. The money I earned from AdSense (the ads that run on your videos) only accounts for part of my total earnings. The real trick is in diversifying your revenue streams, and here’s how I did it:
1. YouTube AdSense
This is the most common way to make money on YouTube. Once you hit the eligibility requirements of 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours, you can enable monetization and start earning from the ads that YouTube places on your videos.
- AdSense Earnings: For these three videos, the AdSense earnings alone brought in around $4,500.
- High CPM Niches: I focused on topics like digital marketing and making money online, which have higher CPM (Cost Per Mille) rates. These topics attract higher-paying ads because they cater to an audience that’s willing to spend money.
Tip: Always aim for high-CPM niches. Topics like finance, digital marketing, and tech tend to generate more revenue than entertainment or lifestyle content.
2. Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing played a huge role in boosting my earnings. In my video descriptions, I included affiliate links to platforms and tools I mentioned, such as:
- Renderforest: A platform for video creation.
- SEMrush: A popular SEO tool.
Each time someone clicked through one of my affiliate links and made a purchase, I received a commission. For these three videos, affiliate commissions accounted for a significant portion of the total income.
- Affiliate Earnings: Approximately $4,000 came from affiliate marketing. These commissions came passively as viewers clicked on the links while watching my videos.
3. Sponsored Content
One of the three videos included a sponsorship deal with an AI platform that generates presentations. They paid me $2,200 to feature their tool in my video.
- Sponsored Content Earnings: Sponsored deals are an excellent way to increase your video’s revenue, especially when your niche aligns with a product or service.
Tip: If you create content in a high-value niche, brands are often willing to pay for exposure to your audience. Even with smaller channels, if you have a targeted and engaged audience, you can land lucrative sponsorship deals.
4. Product Sales
In the descriptions of each video, I included links to my own products, including:
- Private coaching community: A monthly subscription where I help people learn how to make money online.
- Video course: A 4-hour course on how to master short-form video content, with thousands of students enrolled.
- Consultation services: 1-on-1 calls where I help clients with content creation, business growth, and more.
From these three videos, I earned a combination of course sales, community memberships, and consultation bookings.
- Product Sales Earnings: These brought in over $8,000 in total revenue. Tracking links helped me identify that the majority of these sales came directly from these specific videos.
5. Evergreen Content
One of the major advantages of YouTube is the evergreen nature of the platform. Unlike TikTok or Instagram, where content often has a short lifespan, YouTube videos continue to generate views and income over time.
Even after months of being posted, my top three videos still pull in views and revenue. This steady flow of income is what makes YouTube such a valuable long-term platform for creators.
What I Learned: How You Can Earn on YouTube
Now that I’ve broken down my income, let’s talk about how you can start earning from YouTube, even if you’re just getting started:
- Consistency Is Key
- YouTube rewards creators who post regularly. If you want to grow and earn consistently, set a realistic posting schedule and stick to it.
- For me, posting one video per week has proven to be effective. Anytime I slack off, my views and earnings take a dip.
- Focus on High-CPM Niches
- Some niches naturally pay more than others. If you want to maximize your AdSense revenue, focus on high-CPM categories like finance, digital marketing, and tech.
- Example: My video about digital products earned more with fewer views than a video in a lower-paying niche like AI logos.
- Leverage Affiliate Marketing
- Affiliate marketing is one of the easiest ways to add an extra income stream to your videos. Simply recommend tools or products you already use, and include your affiliate links in the description.
- Be transparent with your audience about affiliate links to build trust.
- Create and Sell Your Own Products
- If you have valuable knowledge to share, create digital products like courses, eBooks, or membership communities. These products can bring in passive income while you sleep.
- Use YouTube’s Analytics for Inspiration
- YouTube gives you all the tools you need to succeed. The Analytics dashboard shows you exactly what your audience wants to see. Follow the data, and create content that meets your viewers’ needs.
Conclusion: $20K from 3 Videos and the Power of YouTube
YouTube offers incredible opportunities to earn a living from your content, even with a modest following.
Through AdSense, affiliate marketing, sponsored content, and selling my own products,
I was able to generate $20,000 from just three videos. The key to success lies in consistency, selecting the right niches, and using YouTube’s tools to your advantage.
If you’re not already creating content on YouTube, now is the time to start.
The potential for growth and earning is massive, and it all begins with that first upload. Keep hustling, and you’ll see the rewards.