How to make money off youtube without making videos

Calling all camera-shy entrepreneurs! Check your stage fright, and get to creating a YouTube account – if you haven’t already – because you can make a buck off your presence on the social media platform without ever making a single video. 

Yeah, we know it might sound strange. After all, YouTube is a video content platform, and most users making money from YouTube videos are racking up views with eye-catching content. Then they monetize their channels by hosting or promoting sponsored or affiliate content. 

Believe it or not, you can earn passive income from YouTube without the whole content creation part. All it takes is some time, ingenuity, and strategy. It’s time to step out of the social media spotlight (and into a potentially major money-making opportunity!) by learning how to make money on YouTube without showing your face.

3 ways for the camera-shy to make money on YouTube

Put away the camera – you won’t need it for the following ideas for making money on YouTube. It’s time to start your passive income side hustle without recording even a second of new content. 

1. Become a content curator

This is one of the simplest ways to make money on YouTube. Find a niche – some special topic you’re really into – and curate existing content that ties in with your interests. For example, if you’re a 1990s pop buff, you could create a channel with playlists of the best music videos of the decade. Love film? Curating movie trailers might be perfect for you. As a content curator, you don’t just gain fans of your own – you also build support for the creators of the videos you’re curating. Just take care never to claim someone else’s work as your own. Give credit where credit is due, and don’t use videos without getting written permission from their owners.

2. Post your podcast audio

This option isn’t really about money-making YouTube videos so much as it’s about money-making YouTube audios. If you’re already making audio content elsewhere, you can expand your presence on the web by posting this content on YouTube. Accompany your audio footage with an image of your podcast’s logo to create some visual interest. After all, your listeners will be there for the audio content, anyways. So, how do you make money on YouTube videos that aren’t really videos in the first place? The same way you would with visual content: by hosting affiliate marketing content or sponsored ads on your channel. 

3. Post travel footage or photos

So we know we said this article would be about making money on YouTube without creating videos. But what about posting videos you’ve already made? Think of all those random impromptu travel vids you’ve taken over the years. Perhaps you never even thought about putting them on YouTube, but why not? The same goes for your photos – whether from your last vacation or that roll of black-and-white film you shot – which you can easily compile into slideshows and share on the video platform. Then try monetizing your page to earn ad revenue or income from sponsorships. What’s to lose?

Whichever way you decide to design your YouTube channel, never underestimate the power of also linking to other external content. You don’t have to exclusively promote other brands on YouTube; you can also promote your own. If you have a merch page or another type of online business, don’t miss the opportunity to link to those sites and increase your chances of converting viewers into customers. If you want to link to multiple sites, include a Linktree URL in your video descriptions so you can easily branch out to your other socials, ecommerce site or any other web presence you have.

In today’s gig economy, many people are looking for ways to make extra money online. Having multiple revenue streams can help you better manage your budget during times of high inflation — and give you added security in case of a recession.

You might be considering making money on YouTube as an additional revenue stream or even your primary income. But maybe you don’t like appearing on camera and don’t have video editing skills. The good news is you can still make money on YouTube without ever hitting record on your phone.

How to Make Money on YouTube Without Making Videos

You can make money on YouTube in a variety of ways that don’t involve creating original video content, appearing on-screen yourself or even posting a video. Sharing third-party content and building up enough of a following can earn you money through ad revenue as a YouTube partner. There are also other ways to earn money on YouTube, including becoming a YouTube consultant.

1. Making Money Through Content on YouTube

If you decide you want to post content on YouTube to make money, but don’t necessarily want to show your face on camera, you have plenty of avenues to choose from.

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The first step to making money on YouTube is to set up a YouTube Brand account. A Brand account is free and lets you set up multiple channels, hide your email and choose a different name — so you can put your brand in the forefront instead of your own face, name and personality.

Then, you’ll want to set up a channel based on the topic you’d like to focus on. Some of the most popular YouTube channels that don’t showcase people include the Meditation Mindfulness channel, a Daily Dose of Internet — which is a clip channel of funny and interesting videos from across the Internet — and many podcasts that are audio-only.

2. Curate Content from Other Places

Whether you decide to share funny animal videos, movie trailers or interesting and weird news, you can find people interested in your YouTube channel. The best part of curating content is that you don’t have to get behind — or in front of — a camera at all.

If you’re aggregating third-party content, however, make sure you have explicit permission or rights to share that content. Otherwise, you could get hit with a “Matched Third-Party” notification. If the notification was sent in error, you should dispute it immediately. Always make sure you have permission to share the content you post.

Make Your Money Work Better for You

Often, you can find content posted under a “Creative Commons” license. This gives third parties the right to use the video. Follow the rules for creative commons licensing. Sometimes, you can’t use the videos for commercial purposes or to make money and sometimes you can’t alter the videos. You must also give attribution to the original creator.

You can also search for creative commons photos and artwork and put them together with music to create a montage video.

You can find Creative Commons content on YouTube, and you can also go to sites like Vimeo, Pixabay, Videvo and others to search for the video clips and photos you need.

3. Post Slide Decks and Presentations

Whether you are trying to teach people something new or promote your business, a slide deck or presentation is a great way to do it.

Homework help YouTube channels also took off during the pandemic, when parents struggled with homeschooling and virtual learning, trying to teach their kids concepts that they didn’t understand themselves or hadn’t studied in decades. Even today, many kids turn to YouTube before they ask their parents or a teacher for help.

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4. Record Audio-Only Reaction Videos

The reaction video genre took off in 2020 when people bored at home during the pandemic wanted to share their thoughts on media and entertainment without getting in front of the camera. YouTuber Jaby Koay garnered 1.7 million subscribers with his reaction videos.

But you don’t have to share your face to share your views on pop culture, news, common everyday situations and more. Just find clips to share and then record your reactions on voiceover.

5. Post Audio-Only Podcasts

Do you have a topic you love? Is there something you could talk about for hours each day? Consider starting an audio-only podcast about it and posting it on YouTube.

Most people think of YouTube for video content. But YouTube is the top platform to listen to podcasts, according to a recent survey from voiceover marketplace Voices, with 57.8% of consumers polled choosing it as their preferred platform, ahead of Spotify, Apple Podcasts and others.

6. Live Stream Your Video Game Play with Voiceovers

Similarly, if you love playing video games, you can live stream — or even record — your video game play with voiceovers.

While many of the top gaming influencers on YouTube have a distinct brand, like DanTDM who even has a Halloween costume patterned after his trademark outfit, some never show their face. H20 Delirious has kept his identity secret, never showing his face and going by the name of Jonathon.

7. Join the YouTube Partner Program

Of course, curating or creating great content is just the beginning. Remember — you don’t have to make the videos yourself. But you will need to aggregate content that people enjoy and then market your channel through social media to get the word out.

Once you’ve gotten some views on your videos and generated a following on your channel, you can apply for the YouTube Partner Program. Joining the YPP offers multiple revenue streams to make money on YouTube.

Once you have at least 1,000 subscribers to your channel, 4,000 valid public watch hours in the past 12 months and have kept your YouTube account in good standing, you can apply to the YouTube Partner Program. As a partner, you can generate revenue from ads, subscribers, merchandise and more.

8. Make Money from Ads on YouTube

Once you link your Google AdSense account to your YouTube account, you can begin making money from ads as a YouTube Partner. Earn roughly 10 to 30 cents per ad view, or an average of 18 cents per ad view. This typically equates to $3 to $5 for 1,000 video views, or $18 per 1,000 ad views.

If you have a high-traffic channel and a highly engaged viewership that watches the ads, you can see how quickly you can make a lot of money through YouTube ads.

You can link your content to your own Shopify store and sell merchandise related to your brand and your content. Plus, you can promote your store on other social media channels to turn your store into another stream of revenue beyond your YouTube content. Your content and your merchandise can complement each other to help build your brand.

10. Sell Items on the Merch Shelf

You will want to keep your Shopify store running strong even after you’ve become a YouTube Partner. But YPP members can also list their merchandise on YouTube Shopping as another way to make money. You can feature your own merchandise or merchandise from other brands. There are multiple ways to display these products, including on a product shelf or overlay below your videos.

11. Set Up a Patreon Account to Support Your Channel

Of course, the content ideas above won’t make you money by themselves without a way to generate revenue. You’ll need to build up your subscribers and watch time enough to apply for the YouTube Partner Program to make money on ads, subscribers, merchandise and more.

But as you’re building up your channel and viewership, you can set up a Patreon account and ask for donations to support your channel. You may want to offer value added content and other perks, such as branded merchandise, to those who subscribe to your Patreon account.

12. Earn Money from Premium Subscribers

YouTube wants to make sure it is supporting its creators. Without content creators, there would be no YouTube. YouTube Premium allows viewers to watch their favorite YouTube channels ad-free. But creators still get paid. You earn a portion of the subscriber’s fee each time a YouTube Premium member watches your channel or downloads it for later viewing.

Good news! When people download your videos, it still counts toward your required watch time for the year.

13. Charge Subscribers to Your Channel

If people like your content enough to pay for it, you can collect membership fees separate from what people pay for YouTube Premium. If you are charging subscribers, you’ll want to offer value-added content, special videos and other extras to make subscribing to your channel worth their while.

14. Earn Money from Super Chat and Super Stickers

Fans love interacting with their favorite creators, and YouTube has capitalized on this while offering creators another revenue stream through the sale of Super Chat and Super Stickers.

Viewers can purchase Super Stickers — digital or animated images that show up in the live chat feed as a way for fans to interact with creators and with each other. They can also purchase Super Chats, which highlights their message within the chat.

15. Become a YouTube Consultant

Once you’ve learned solid strategies for making money on YouTube, you can share your knowledge with others as a YouTube consultant for brands. You can create a profile on MarketerHire or other marketplaces where people look for marketing professionals.

You can also advertise your services through LinkedIn or other social media channels. The best way to land gigs as a YouTube consultant may be through word-of-mouth. Network in your community and online and let companies know you can help them boost their YouTube presence to promote their brand.

16. Watch Videos for Nielsen

Nielsen, the consumer research company that has tracked people’s TV habits for nearly a century, will pay you for allowing it to track your viewing habits on YouTube and other streaming networks. Simply visit the Nielsen website to sign up and then download the secure Nielsen app or computer software anywhere you watch videos, including your smartphone and computer.

You most likely won’t get rich watching videos for Nielsen, but you can earn up to $60 in gift cards from retailers or in cash deposited to your PayPal account. You’ll also get instant win game tokens that could increase your earnings, and you’ll be entered into a $10,000 monthly sweepstakes. If you don’t mind Nielsen tracking your viewing habits, this is a good way to earn some extra, easy cash on YouTube.

17. Invest in YouTube’s Parent Company

Another way to earn money passively on YouTube is to invest in stocks from Alphabet Company, the parent company of Google and YouTube. Right now, Alphabet Company stock is selling for roughly $88, down from its 52-week high of $152.10. Expert investors are calling the stock a “Strong Buy.”

FAQ

  • Can you make money on YouTube without creating videos?
    • You can make money on YouTube in many ways without creating videos. You can share audio files, presentations or third-party content. You can create a Shopify store with merchandise and share third-party videos related to the merchandise you're selling.
    • If you have enough viewers from curated content, you can become a YouTube Partner and take home a hefty sum when people watch the ads in your videos.
  •  How can I make money on YouTube without content?
    • You can make money on YouTube with no content by investing in Alphabet stock, which is the parent company of Google and YouTube, or becoming a YouTube consultant to help other brands make money off YouTube.
  • Can you make money on YouTube with views only?
    • The average ad on a YouTube channel earns about 10 cents to 30 cents per ad view, which works out to as much as $5 per 1,000 video views. If a video gets 1 million views, that could lead to $5,000 in income. To place ads on YouTube, you must first become a YouTube Partner.
  • How many views do you need to start making money on YouTube?
    • To apply to the YouTube Partner Program, you must have at least 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 "valid public watch hours" in the past 12 months. Your YouTube account must also be in good standing, and you'll need a linked Google AdSense account. YouTube Partners have expanded options to earn money on YouTube through ad views, merchandise shelves, subscribers and more.

Editorial Note: This content is not provided by any entity covered in this article. Any opinions, analyses, reviews, ratings or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author alone and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any entity named in this article.

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  • Voices. 2022. "2022 Podcast Advertising Report."
  • Make Tech Easier. 2022. "10 Websites to Find Creative Commons Videos."
  • Influencer Marketing Hub. 2022. "Top 20 Gaming Influencers (on YouTube)."
  • Influencer Marketing Hub. 2022. "How Much do YouTubers Make? – A YouTuber’s Pocket Guide [Calculator]."
  • Scalefluence. 2022. "How to Use Patreon to Get Paid on YouTube."
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How to make money off youtube without making videos

By Dawn Allcot

November 8, 2022

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About the Author

How to make money off youtube without making videos

Dawn Allcot

Dawn Allcot is a full-time freelance writer and content marketing specialist who geeks out about finance, e-commerce, technology, and real estate. Her lengthy list of publishing credits include Bankrate, Lending Tree, and Chase Bank. She is the founder and owner of GeekTravelGuide.net, a travel, technology, and entertainment website. She lives on Long Island, New York, with a veritable menagerie that includes 2 cats, a rambunctious kitten, and three lizards of varying sizes and personalities – plus her two kids and husband. Find her on Twitter, @DawnAllcot.

Can you make money on YouTube without making videos?

The only way to make money from YouTube without creating videos is to re-use other people's content. Not many people know this, but YouTube has a library of videos that fall under the “Creative Commons license.”

Can you make money on YouTube with views only?

You don't get paid per video view. Rather, you're paid for the times when someone watches or clicks on an ad shown on your video. Influencer Marketing Hub says that while payment varies, the average YouTube channel can expect to make about $18 per 1,000 ad views.

What is the minimum views on YouTube to make money?

To get paid by YouTube, you first need to reach a balance of $100 or more from views. This means you'll need to garner 20,000 views if you receive $5 per 1,000 views. To make this happen, YouTube created the YouTube Partner Program, which allows you to get paid through advertisements on your page.

How do you make money from a YouTube channel without monetization?

How to Monetize on YouTube Without the Partner Program.
Affiliate Revenue. An affiliate marketer makes money by persuading others to buy products online. ... .
Paid YouTube Sponsorships. ... .
Video Memberships. ... .
Online Courses. ... .
Digital Products..