Make Money on YouTube without Monetization (9 Lucrative Methods)

YouTube is not just about AdSense revenue.

In fact, there are several ways to earn with your channel without ever relying on video ads or any of the YouTube Partner Program avenues, which I will show you here.

Each method however comes with its own limitations and risks, which is why I will also tell you about a more sustainable alternative that you can grow further, at the end of this article.

Without further ado, here are nine fantastic ways to make money on YouTube with Monetization through YPP:

1. Done-for-You & Done-with-You Services (DFY & DWY)

Done-for-you services refer to completing tasks for someone else, essentially doing the work on their behalf.

Done-with-you, on the other hand, means working alongside the client to achieve the desired outcome.

By showing your expertise in a certain industry through your YouTube videos, you can offer your services to your YouTube viewers either through the DFY model as a freelancer, or the DWY model as a mentor.

You can earn with this method without monetizing your channel with the YouTube Partner Program, where you take your prospects from YouTube to your website or any platform where you sell your services.

Steps:

1. Identify the services you’re proficient in or passionate about.
2. Create content around these services to showcase your expertise.
3. Advertise your services in video descriptions, pinned comments, and channel banners.

Cost to Start: Minimal, mainly your time and any equipment or software you may need.

Time to Start Earning: Depending on your audience size and demand, anywhere from a few weeks to several months.

Pros:

• Direct income source.
• Ability to set your own prices.
• Diversify income streams.

Cons:

• Time-consuming.
• Requires hands-on effort for each client.
• Potential for difficult clients.

2. Coaching Packages

This involves offering personal or group coaching sessions where you impart your knowledge and expertise.

This method helps you generate consistent income working with the same clients, which gives more stability and less headache.

You can offer monthly or quarterly packages with little discounts, in order to encourage your clients to sign up for longer periods of time and ensure a more stable income for yourself.

This is a great method to monetize your YouTube channel even without 1,000 subscribers.

Steps:

1. Identify a niche or area you are proficient in.
2. Design packages or modules for your coaching sessions.
3. Promote these packages in your videos and through other social channels.

Cost to Start: Minimal, mainly your time.

Time to Start Earning: 1-3 months, depending on your audience size and demand.

Pros:

• High earning potential.
• Direct interaction with followers.
• Establishes you as an expert.

Cons:

• Requires consistent time and effort.
• Pressure to deliver value.
• Can be exhausting.

3. Build a Paid Membership Program on Substack or WordPress

For a small monthly fee that could range from $5-$30 per month, depending on the niche and on the effort to be given, you can earn a consistent income from your YouTube channel subscribers and viewers.

Inside the membership, you can offer exclusive advice, group video calls and masterminds, brainstorming sessions, useful tools or templates, and so on.

People love small and targeted communities with other people that they associate with, away from distracting platforms like Facebook and YouTube.

To build a partnership program, you can do it through specialized WordPress plugins if you have a website, or through platforms like Substack that allows you to earn in different ways without even creating your website.

Steps:

1. Choose a platform for building a membership program like Substack or WordPress.
2. Design exclusive content or benefits for members.
3. Promote the membership program on your channel.

Cost to Start: Free to $50/month (depending on platform and plugins).

Time to Start Earning: 2-4 months.

Pros:

• Recurring revenue.
• Builds a close-knit community.
• Flexibility in content delivery.

Cons:

• Need to consistently deliver value.
• Pressure to maintain subscriber count.
• Initial setup and learning curve.

4. Sell Merchandise with POD Platforms

Print On Demand (POD) platforms such as Zazzle and TeePublic allow creators to sell custom-designed merchandise without managing inventory.

You can create designs that resonate with your channel and audience, upload them to products on these platforms, such mugs, t-shirts, and hoodies, add your margins to the original price, and promote them on your YouTube channel.

When you get an order, the POD platform will fulfill it directly to the buyer and they will send you your profits.

Steps:

1. Design merchandise related to your channel’s theme.
2. Set up a store on POD platforms like Teespring.
3. Promote products in your videos.

Cost to Start: Free (most POD platforms take a commission from sales).

Time to Start Earning: 1-3 months.

Pros:

• No inventory hassles.
• Fans get tangible products.
• Good profit margins.

Cons:

• Highly competitive.
• Reliant on design quality.
• Platforms take a percentage of sales.

5. Affiliate Marketing

With this model, you promote products or services that are relevant to your videos and useful for your audience, and earn a commission for every sale made through your referral link.

This method is beginner-friendly because you don’t need to create a product or service of yours.

You just find what products and services are helpful for your audience, and promote them in order to earn money from your YouTube videos without monetization.

Steps:

1. Join affiliate programs related to your niche.
2. Recommend products in your videos.
3. Place affiliate links in video descriptions.

Cost to Start: Free.

Time to Start Earning: Immediately to a few months.

Pros:

• Passive income potential.
• Wide range of products to promote.
• Flexibility in choosing products.

Cons:

• Requires trust from viewers.
• Sales not guaranteed.
• Can be viewed as less authentic if overdone.

6. Brand Partnerships

Also known as Influencer Marketing.

Collaborate with brands to promote their products or services inside your videos or give shoutouts to them as sponsors in exchange for payment.

You can either reach out to brands that you think are good fit to promote to your audience, or, list your YouTube channel on any of the online influencer directories in order to get noticed.

Steps:

1. Build a sizable and engaged audience.
2. Reach out to brands or wait for them to approach you.
3. Collaborate on content that showcases their product/service.

Cost to Start: Free.

Time to Start Earning: 2-6 months, depending on channel size.

Pros:

• Direct income.
• Provides content ideas.
• Builds relationships in the industry.

Cons:

• May come off as inauthentic.
• Pressure to deliver results for brands.
• Possibility of alienating audience if overdone.

7. Create a Paid Course on Udemy & Promote it on YouTube

If you’re an expert in a certain field, create and sell a course on platforms like Udemy and Skillshare, and use YouTube to promote it.

You need to create videos that show your expertise such as tutorials for doing specific tasks or using a certain software, and upload them to your YouTube channel, and in these videos, you promote your paid course for those who want to dive deeper into the subject you teach.

When your course gets sales and positive reviews on Udemy and Skillshare, it will get noticed by other learners on these platforms who might buy it as well, which helps maximize the money you generate from YouTube without the monetization program.

Steps:

1. Identify a topic you’re proficient in.
2. Create a comprehensive course.
3. List it on Udemy and promote on YouTube.

Cost to Start: Free to $100 (for course creation tools).

Time to Start Earning: 1-3 months.

Pros:

• Passive income.
• Establishes authority.
• Can reach a wide audience on Udemy.

Cons:

• Requires upfront effort.
• Udemy takes a percentage of sales.
• Continuous updates may be required.

8. Sell Digital Products Related to Your Niche

Create and sell digital products like tools, templates, checklists, or eBooks that are relevant to your niche and useful to your viewers.

With this method, you can earn passive income from a YouTube channel without monetization, as digital products need little to no maintenance and fulfillment effort.

Steps:

1. Identify a need or gap in your niche.
2. Create the digital product and publish them on marketplaces or platforms like Etsy, CreativeMarket, Sellfy, …etc.
3. Promote and sell through YouTube.

Cost to Start: Varies, usually minimal to a few hundred dollars.

Time to Start Earning: 1-3 months.

Pros:

• Passive income potential.
• High-profit margins.
• Scalability.

Cons:

• Upfront time and effort.
• Need to manage sales and delivery.
• Can be replicated by competitors.

9. Help Others with Their Channels

Leverage your experience to assist budding YouTubers in growing their channels.

You can either reach out to YouTube creators who seem to have good knowledge in their niches, but are unable to grow their channels, or you can list your services on freelancing marketplaces such as Upwork and Guru.

From video editing, thumbnail design, SEO optimization, to channel management – the possibilities are endless.

Leveraging these services or offering your own can be a game-changer.

Steps:

1. Establish your expertise and success on YouTube.
2. Offer consultancy or channel management services.
3. Promote your services on YouTube and freelancing platforms.

Cost to Start: Minimal, mainly your time.

Time to Start Earning: 1-3 months.

Pros:

• Direct income.
• Leverages your existing knowledge.
• Helps grow the community.

Cons:

• Time-consuming.
• Pressure to deliver results.
• Potential for overextension.

Risks of Relying on YouTube without Monetization for Income

It’s risky to rely solely on platforms like YouTube without the monetization program for income.

Algorithms can change, policies can shift, and platforms can shut down or ban creators without notice.

Diversifying income streams and building on platforms you control, like personal websites or blogs, is essential for long-term stability.

My Recommended Sustainable Alternative

One of the most sustainable, flexible, and beginner-friendly ways to generate income is affiliate marketing through blogging.

Here are simple steps:

1. Choose a Niche: Select a topic you’re passionate about. (Could be the same as your YT channel).
2. Build a Blog: Use platforms like WordPress.
3. Write Content: Create valuable content targeting specific keywords.
4. Promote Products: Integrate affiliate links naturally within your content for related and useful services and products.
5. Drive Traffic: Use SEO and social media to attract readers, or even make use of your existing YouTube channel to get readers to your blog.
6. Earn Commissions: As readers purchase through your links, you earn!

For those who want to explore this alternative, Wealthy Affiliate can be really helpful as a one-stop-shop for everything they need in order to learn and build an online business with this method.

They offer training, web hosting, research tools, content editing tools, and a supportive community.

It’s an ideal place for both beginners and experienced marketers.

Conclusion

Diversifying your income streams, especially on platforms like YouTube, is not just wise but essential for long-term stability and growth.

While YouTube offers a vast audience, relying solely on it can be unpredictable even with the several ideas I gave you in order to earn without the YouTube Partner Program.

By exploring various monetization methods, you fortify your financial foundation.

Let me know in case that you still need help, or if you have other ideas to make money with YouTube without monetization.

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