YouTube Secrets: The Ultimate Guide to Growing Your Following and Making Money as a Video Influencer

by Sean Cannell

However, the production value is still important, so if your content is interesting, we also encourage you to level up your production value.

Make a list of things you’d like to upgrade and improve when it comes to your content.

Let this be a guiding principle: always start with what you have and then work to improve it over time. That applies to both your content and your production quality.

Ask people to provide feedback in the comments.

Community: Engage with Your Audience

‘The Internet is becoming the town square for the global village of tomorrow.’

It’s not enough to simply publish content on YouTube. You need to build a community.

Find Your Community

First, and most importantly, your community is composed of your YouTube subscribers.

In a way, people watching your videos is kind of like going on a date. If you can get them to subscribe, you’ve gone from the first date to a relationship.

If people follow you on the social media platforms connected to your YouTube channel, that creates another level of community.

Get your channel on the radar of everybody you know and ask them to help support you.

Include links to your YouTube channel in all of your social media profiles, in your email signature, anywhere that will let you post it.

Continue to Build Your Community

After uploading content on YouTube, the best way to build your community is asking people to subscribe. Always remind your viewers to subscribe to your channel.

A second way to build community is by encouraging people to leave comments on your videos. When they do leave a comment, always take the time to respond, especially when you’re just getting started.

The more comments and conversations the algorithm sees on your video, the more relevant the video will appear to be. This will help it rank higher in search results.

Go above and beyond to engage with people on other social media platforms.

Yes, it’s hard, and it takes a lot of time. We know you’re busy, but you should never be too busy for your fans. No YouTube channel succeeds without regular viewers, so we believe every creator should commit to connecting with their community in every way possible.

Name Your Community

Create Deep Connections

If you want to connect with viewers at a deeper level, you can message them directly or reply to them in a video. We often reply on Twitter with a Twitter video, and the response has been amazing.

Become a Judy

Develop True Fans

From the very first video you upload, begin creating your community through engagement.

To make a living as a craftsperson, photographer, musician, designer, author, animator, app maker, entrepreneur, or inventor, you only need a thousand true fans.’

Cash: Monetize Your Content

“Chase the vision, not the money, and the money will end up following you.”

We encourage you to stay grounded in your reason, mission, and motivation for building your influence on YouTube. Whether your purpose was to impact people around the world, build a community, entertain and inspire, or provide for yourself and your family, you need to keep that reason at the forefront of your mind as you adventure further into the process.

Monetizing on YouTube

We want to share with you ten ways to build your income on YouTube, but we advise you to never chase the money. That’s a recipe for frustration. Chase your focus, your mission, your passion, and your purpose, and allow money and income to stem from that.

AdSense

AdSense is our least favorite monetization strategy. It’s not practical for most video influencers,

There are several other ways to monetize your content, even without a ton of views.

Affiliate Marketing

The most common affiliate program is Amazon Associates, which you can join by applying online.

Once approved, you can create your own links to Amazon products, and anytime a viewer clicks on a link, you receive a percentage of the product’s price, which could be anywhere between 4 to 10 percent.

If there’s a product related to your niche—physical, digital, service, or live event—there may be an affiliate program for it.

Your Own Product or Service

Many YouTubers have created their own lines of merchandise, such as t-shirts, coffee mugs, hats, and other apparel.

You can also create digital products, such as educational services or eBooks.

You can even offer consulting or coaching, especially if it’s relevant for your niche and vision.

Free Product Trade

You can find brands, companies, or businesses that will send you free products in exchange for a review or promotion.

Your Existing Business

YouTube can also be used as an external arm and outreach for an existing business.

We believe every smart business owner and brand should leverage tools like YouTube to expand their reach and revenue online.

Crowdfunding

On YouTube, Patreon is the top choice, widely used by many popular channels because it encourages regular support.

Remember, we recommend you focus on building your influence first before focusing on building an income.