YouTube, as a source of entertainment, also pays off your passion. Yes, anyone, regardless of being a big creator, can earn money by going live on YouTube through gaming, educating, chatting, and many other ways.
If you start with small channels, you can use Super Chats, memberships, or sponsorships to get started.
The main thing is keeping your audience engaged and happy. Viewers who feel linked to you will donate or join your channel. It ultimately converts YouTube live sessions into a money-making machine.
Though you would hear multiple methods of earning to turn views into dollars, we have found 11 proven strategies to monetize YouTube Live. With these methods, your live streams can become a fun way to make money while doing interesting things you love to do.
Ways to Make Money on YouTube Live
YouTube monetization is an effective way of making money while keeping your audience engaged. Here are 11 effective ways to make money on YouTube Live.
1. Join the YouTube Partner Program (YPP)
If you want to make money from your YouTube Live videos, first, you must enroll in the YouTube Partner Program (YPP). Here you will get an opportunity to make money with ads, memberships, Super Chats, and other great features.
To get into YPP, you have to meet some simple rules. The prerequisites are to have 1000 subscribers and 4000 hours of watch time or 10M views on YouTube shorts during the last 12 months. Plus, your channel should follow YouTube’s rules.
It’s perfect for high schoolers or anyone who wants to turn their hobby into a paycheck. So, grow your channel, hit those goals, and join YPP to cash in.
How to Apply for YouTube Monetization
- Sign in to YouTube Studio to manage your channel.
- Click Earn in the left-hand menu to get started.
- Select Apply Now and agree to the YouTube Partner Program rules.
- Set up a Google AdSense account so you can get paid.
- Wait for YouTube to say yes. It might take a few days or weeks.
- Once they approve you, you can make money from your live streams and cash in.
2. Enable Super Chats and Super Stickers
Super Chats and Super Stickers are a super-easy way to make money while streaming live. Viewers want to highlight and stand out with their messages, and they pay for it or send fun animated stickers in the chat. The visibility and top positioning of their message depend upon the amount of money they pay.
How to Enable Super Chats & Stickers
To enable the super chats and stickers, go through the following steps.
- Go to YouTube Studio and click Earn.
- Select Supers and turn ON Super Chats & Super Stickers.
- Encourage viewers to use them by engaging with paid messages first.
Best Practices for Increasing Super Chats
- Thank viewers for their Super Chats in real-time.
- Offer shout-outs or answer paid questions first.
- Use a donation goal bar to encourage higher contributions.
Super Chats work best when you build an interactive and engaged audience.
3. Earn Through Channel Memberships
YouTube lets you give something extra to fans who pay through Channel Memberships. These members get special badges, fun emojis, private live chats just for them, and secret videos only they can watch.
How to Enable Channel Memberships
- Go to YouTube Studio
- Then click the Earn button.
- Select Memberships and set up different price options for your fans to pick.
- It offers absolute perks like behind-the-scenes content, Q&As, and members-only streams.
- Give them surprising things like hidden videos, live Q&A talks, and streams just for them.
How to Motivate Viewers to Become Members
After enabling channel membership, the next step is convincing your viewer to become your loyal member in the following ways:
- Increase memberships during live streams and in video descriptions.
- Offer custom emojis and loyalty badges for live chat.
- Host exclusive Q&A sessions for members only.
This method creates a steady and recurring income from loyal viewers.
4. Run Ads on Your Live Streams
YouTube lets you put ads on your live streams to make money from how many people watch or click them. Let’s discuss the types of YouTube ads first.
Types of YouTube Ads
- Pre-roll Ads– Shown before your stream starts.
- Mid-roll Ads– Played during longer live streams.
- Overlay Ads– Small banner ads that appear on your video.
How to Enable Ads on Live Streams
To enable ads on live streams, go through the following steps:
- First, go to YouTube Studio and click on content
- After that, select Live Streams.
- Now, click monetization and turn ON ads.
- Manually trigger mid-roll ads during your stream.
Important Tip: Longer live streams (over 10 minutes) perform better with ads.
5. Sell Merchandise Using the YouTube Merch Shelf
If you’ve got cool stuff like T-shirts, hoodies, or mugs, YouTube lets you use the feature Merch Shelf to sell your signature items to your loyal fan base.
Types of Merchandise You Can Sell
If you have a loyal fan base, selling merchandise can be a highly effective way to make money on YouTube Live. You can sell the following types of stuff:
- T-shirts, hoodies, and caps with your branding or catchphrases
- Custom mugs, phone cases, and accessories
- Limited edition or exclusive items for fans
How to Set Up the Merch Shelf
Setting up your Merch Shelf on YouTube Live is quick and simple. Here’s how to show your items to people watching your streams.
- First of all, join the YouTube Partner Program.
- After that, go to YouTube Studio and click on Earn
- Then select Shopping and connect your store (Teespring, Spreadshop, or Merchbar).
- Showcase and promote your merch during live streams.
Best Practices for Selling Merch
- Wear or showcase your merchandise on camera.
- Offer limited-time discounts for live viewers.
- Create exclusive merch for loyal fans.
6. Earn with Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing makes you talk up products and get paid a bit every time someone buys them using your special link.
How to Utilize Affiliate Links in Live Streams
Adding affiliate links to your live streams can multiply your income with less effort. You can earn money via these special links in the following ways.
- Chat about stuff that fits your stream, like gaming gear, apps, or workout tools.
- Stick your special links in the live chat and video description for everyone to see.
- Share discount codes to get viewers excited to buy.
This is a great passive income method for YouTubers.
7. Secure Sponsorships for Your Live Streams
During your live stream, if you talk about products, the company pays you. This can be reviewing products, giving shoutouts, or sharing special deals for your viewers.
How to Get Sponsorship Deals
Finding sponsors can add an income stream to your revenue as a creator.. Here’s how to get brands to pay you for showing their products on your channel.
- Find the companies that fit your style, like gaming, fitness, or tech ones.
- Join websites like FameBit or Upfluence to team up with brands.
- Put your email in your YouTube bio so businesses can reach you.
8. Earn from YouTube Premium Views
YouTube premium subscribers pay a fee to YouTube to save their time by not watching the ads and enjoy premium content. If they watch your content, you get paid a % of the fee they pay to YouTube for subscriptions.
This method is automatic- no setup is required.
9. Charge for Exclusive Paid Live Streams
You can create exclusive live streams that viewers can only access by paying for a ticket or subscription. This could be a special event, Q&A session, concert, or exclusive behind-the-scenes content.
How to Set Up Paid Live Streams
- Use YouTube’s “Paid Content” feature to set up pay-per-view events.
- Set up a special event where viewers must purchase access to attend the live stream.
Tips for Successful Paid Live Streams
- Offer high-quality, exclusive content that justifies the ticket price.
- Promote your paid events in advance to build anticipation.
- Provide value through unique experiences that can’t be found in your free streams.
10. Repurpose Live Stream Content for More Views
After a live stream, edit and repurpose it into shorter videos, clips, or YouTube Shorts. To set it up:
- Turn highlights into YouTube Shorts.
- Upload key moments as separate videos.
- Create a “Best of” compilation for new viewers.
This method increases engagement and revenue.
11. Donations via Third-Party Platforms
This is also a way to make money on YouTube Live by using third-party donation platforms such as Patreon, Streamlabs, or Ko-fi. These platforms allow you to accept donations from viewers in exchange for perks, shoutouts, or exclusive content.
How Donation Platforms Work
- Patreon: Viewers can become patrons of your channel and support you with monthly payments. You can offer premium content, early access to videos, and other perks for patrons.
- Streamlabs/Ko-fi: These platforms integrate with your live stream and allow viewers to donate directly during the stream. You can show on-screen alerts when someone donates, increasing the engagement.
How to Integrate Donation Platforms with YouTube Live
- Create a donation page on platforms like Streamlabs or Patreon.
- Add the donation link in your live stream description and make it easy for viewers to donate during the stream.
- Use live stream alerts to thank your donors in real-time, encouraging others to contribute.
Frequently Asked Questions
What equipment do I need to stream on YouTube Live?
You need a good camera, a mic, steady internet, and streaming software like OBS. Good lighting will also make your stream look better for viewers to watch.
How do I increase viewer engagement during my YouTube Live stream?
Talk back to viewers. Answer their notes. Use votes. Ask them things. Run games where they can win stuff. Be lively and fun to keep them watching.
How do I set up a donation link for my YouTube Live stream?
Use third-party platforms like Streamlabs or Ko-fi to set up a donation link. Add the link to your stream description and promote it during your live stream.
Can I make money on YouTube Live without being part of the YouTube Partner Program?
Yes, through third-party donations, sponsorships, and selling merchandise. YPP isn’t required to monetize with these methods.
How do I ensure my YouTube Live streams are not taken down for violating YouTube’s policies?
Follow YouTube’s rules. Don’t use others’ work. Watch chat for bad messages.
How do I know if my YouTube Live stream is successful in terms of revenue?
Look at YouTube analytics for revenue data. Count gifts and paid chats. See how ads work and if people keep watching to check how well you’re doing.
Conclusion
Earning money on YouTube Live is not only for big creators; anyone who engages their audience and employs smart monetization strategies may do it. Every stream, whether Super Chats, subscriptions, ads, or sponsorships, can turn your passion into money.
The key to success is consistency and audience participation. Keep your audience’s attention, present relevant information, and encourage them to support you. Selling things, using affiliate links, and repurposing live content can all help you grow your income over time.