How to Create a Successful YouTube Channel to Make Money Online

Have you ever thought about earning money online as a YouTube content creator?

YouTube boasts over 60 million content creators and more than 2 billion users. (Exploding Topics, 2024) What’s more, between 2021 and 2024, the platform paid out a staggering $70 billion to creators and artists. (Yahoo! Finance, 2024) 

While you might not hit the heights of creators like MrBeast, Emma Chamberlain, or Cocomelon, you can still attract thousands of views with the right content and strategy—and turn a profit in the process. In this guide, we’ll teach you how to create a YouTube channel to make money online.

Getting started with your YouTube channel

Are you excited about the potential of YouTube content creation? You should be—there’s plenty of money to be earned. Here’s what you need to know to get started.

Why start a YouTube channel?

Running a YouTube channel can be a rewarding experience, offering exciting opportunities. Some key benefits include:

• Monetization – As your audience grows, you can apply for YouTube monetization to make money from your content. Depending on your niche and location, you can get paid between $1.61 and $29.30 per 1,000 views. (Business Insider, 2024)
• Creative expression – Share your thoughts, ideas, and creativity with a global audience through videos in gaming, reviews, tutorials, and more.
• Community growth – Build a community of like-minded individuals who share your interests and passions.
• Brand expansion – As your audience grows, so will your recognition, allowing you to expand into other areas like blogging or podcasting.
• Skill development – Running a YouTube channel helps you hone skills in video editing, script writing, marketing, and public speaking.

How to make a YouTube channel: Step-by-step guide

If you’re ready to set up your new YouTube channel, simply follow these steps:

1. Go to Accounts.google.com and click Create Account to set up a Google account.
2. In the same window, visit Youtube.com and click Sign In.
3. Tap your profile picture in the top right corner and select Create a channel.
4. Upload a profile picture and enter in your preferred channel name and handle.
5. Click Create Channel to complete the setup, and your channel’s account will load.

Once your channel is live, you can customize it by adding a banner, description, and links to your website and social profiles using YouTube Studio. Make sure your channel art and description reflect your brand and create a professional, unique look.

Creating engaging content for your YouTube channel

Now that your channel is set up, it’s time to focus on creating content that captures and retains your audience’s attention. Engaging YouTube content typically follows these best practices:

1. Have a compelling idea – Start with a unique or interesting concept that resonates with your target audience.
2. Create a great title – Use clear, concise, and attention-grabbing titles to encourage clicks.
3. Design a high-quality thumbnail – An eye-catching thumbnail is essential for drawing in viewers.
4. Ensure your video is well-edited and well-paced – Avoid unnecessary filler and keep the content engaging throughout.
5. Include links to other videos – Use cards or end screens to guide viewers to more of your content.
6. Ask for likes and subscriptions – Don’t hesitate to prompt your viewers to engage with your content.
7. Follow the data – Regularly review your analytics to refine your approach based on viewer behavior and preferences.

Types of content that perform well on YouTube

Regardless of your preferred niche—whether it’s technology, travel, beauty and makeup, gaming, or something else entirely—certain types of content perform better than others on YouTube. According to the YouTube Culture & Trends Report 2024, the most popular include:

• Tutorials
• Video game walkthroughs
• Product reviews and unboxing videos
• Vlogs
• Challenge videos

Aim to produce at least three to five types of content to keep your channel diverse and engaging. For example, a tech channel might feature product reviews, unboxings, tutorials, explainers, and Q&A sessions.

Tips for producing high-quality content

The success of your new channel largely depends on the quality of your content. Here’s how to ensure your videos stand out:

• Pre-production – Write clear scripts, plan visuals, and create storyboards. Tools like Final Draft and Celtx can help organize your ideas.
• Shooting – Invest in quality equipment like lighting, cameras, and microphones. Film multiple angles and capture B-roll footage for more dynamic editing.
• Editing – Use professional editing software such as Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro to enhance your videos with music, effects, and transitions. Don’t forget to add subtitles and optimize video descriptions.
• Publishing – Optimize your video titles, descriptions, and tags with relevant keywords. Design custom thumbnails to attract clicks and boost engagement.

Before uploading the content to your YouTube account, take the time to review it and make changes where needed. Additionally, aim for a video length of 7-15 minutes for most content, as YouTube prioritizes watch time in ranking videos. However, the ideal length can vary depending on your audience and topic—shorter videos (under 5 minutes) might work for quick tutorials, while longer videos (20+ minutes) are better for in-depth discussions or storytelling. Once you hit publish, encourage shares, likes, and comments from your audience, as these impact your video rankings, too.

Monetizing your YouTube channel

As your channel grows, it’s time to consider how to generate income from your content.

How do you make money on YouTube?

There are several ways to monetize your YouTube channel, including:

• YouTube Partner Program (YPP) – Join once you reach 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours or 10 million Shorts views in 90 days to earn through AdSense.
• Sponsorships – Partner with brands that align with your content.
• Merchandise – Sell branded merchandise like t-shirts or mugs by using Wix to set up an online store.
• Affiliate marketing – Promote products using affiliate links to earn commissions, including through YouTube Shopping, CJ Affiliate, or Amazon Associates.

Steps to monetize your YouTube channel

YPP is the primary way to monetize your channel, but you must meet certain requirements to join the program. In YouTube Studio, go to the Earn area and click Notify me when I’m eligible, and you’ll receive an alert once you’ve met the eligibility thresholds. These include:

• Gain 1,000 subscribers with 4,000 valid public watch hours within the last 12 months, or
• gain 1,000 subscribers with 10 million valid public Shorts views in the last 90 days.

Once you’re eligible, go to YouTube Studio and click Earn in the left menu. Tap Apply Now to review and Accept the terms. Click Start to set up Google AdSense or connect to an existing one. Once done, an In Progress message will show, meaning your application is pending.

YouTube subscribers are key to monetization. Take the time to grow your channel before applying to the program—at least three to six months. If unsuccessful, you’re free to apply again after 30 days.

Using a website to boost your YouTube revenue

A website complements your YouTube channel by showcasing your brand and driving additional revenue.

Name.com makes it easy to register a domain name and build a professional website using tools like Wix Website Builder. Choose a domain extension like .online, .studio, or .pro to reflect your brand, and sell merchandise or integrate affiliate links to increase your income.

A website enhances your credibility, helps grow your community, and opens doors to partnerships and sponsorships. You can also use it to sell products, display ads, and share more content.

Maximize earnings on your YouTube channel

Your YouTube revenue depends on your engagement, niche, and location. To maximize your earnings:

• Optimize your content for YouTube SEO to increase visibility
• Use calls-to-action (CTAs) to encourage subscriptions and video shares
• Engage with your audience through live streams, Q&As, and contests
• License your video content to media outlets to expand your reach

Most YouTubers make between $1.61 and $29.30 per 1,000 views, with the most profitable niches being finance, investing, business, education, and technology.

Case studies: Successful YouTube channels

Founded in 2005, YouTube has grown into one of the most powerful social platforms, with over 2 billion monthly users. This growth can be attributed to its creators who continue to attract a huge following while generating revenue. Let’s look at a few of the most notable.

Emma Chamberlain: Redefining relatable content

Emma Chamberlain, a U.S.-based content creator, rose to fame for her authentic and humorous vlogs. Starting her YouTube channel in 2017, Emma quickly gained a following due to her candid editing style and relatable personality. By 2018, she had over 8 million subscribers and established herself as one of YouTube’s most influential creators. Her impact extends beyond YouTube, as she now collaborates with major brands and has her own coffee company, Chamberlain Coffee. (The New York Times, 2022)

MrBeast: The YouTube philanthropist

At 13,  James “Jimmy” Donaldson created his first YouTube channel under the username MrBeast6000. (Business Insider, 2019) This was in 2012, and his attempts to grow his channel were futile for the first few years, gaining only 30,000 subscribers by mid-2016.

It was not until 2017 that he became a YouTube sensation after a video titled “I Gave My Friend $100,000” went viral. He followed up with more exciting challenges and outlandish stunts, including “spending 50 hours buried alive.” 

Today, he runs the most subscribed channel on YouTube with over 300 million subscribers and over 59 billion views.

Lessons from top YouTube creators

The key lesson from top YouTubers is that you can turn your passion and interests into a lifelong career. You also don’t need to get it right the first time—success on YouTube is mostly a result of years of experimentation and honing strategies.

It took MrBeast almost five years to make his channel work, experimenting with different content from Let’s Play gaming videos to estimating other YouTubers’ wealth. 

The secret is to find the content your audience loves and deliver it—consistently.

Start your YouTube journey today with Name.com

Creating a successful YouTube channel is a journey that involves strategy, experimentation, creativity, and discovery. Finding a niche and building an audience relies on your ability to craft a unique digital identity that resonates with others—a key part of which is having a website that adds credibility to your channel and enhances your online presence.

Fortunately, Name.com can help with our best-in-class products. Use our domain name search tool to find and register your new web address, build your website, and enhance your assets with professional business email hosting solutions and more. 

Register your domain name today and set up an intuitive site that complements your YouTube channel.

 

Sources:

Yahoo! Finance. YouTube creators raked in $70 billion in the past 3 years. The video giant just revealed its plan to grow even bigger. finance.yahoo.com/news/youtube-creators-raked-70-billion-140000112.html

Exploding Topics. YouTube Content Creator Statistics (2024). explodingtopics.com/blog/youtube-creator-stats

Business Insider. How much money YouTubers make and can earn, according to creators. africa.businessinsider.com/news/how-much-money-youtubers-make-and-can-earn-according-to-creators/yb1n8wm

Google. YouTube Shopping affiliate program overview & eligibility. https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/13376398?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroid

Business Insider. 21-year-old YouTuber MrBeast was one of the most-viewed YouTube creators in 2019 — check out how he got his start and found success with elaborate stunts and giveaways, africa.businessinsider.com/tech/21-year-old-youtuber-mrbeast-was-one-of-the-most-viewed-youtube-creators-in-2019/q6qpf73

The New York Times. Emma Chamberlain Stays Cool While the Coffee Heats Up. nytimes.com/2022/04/18/style/emma-chamberlain-coffee.html