How to Make Money on YouTube Without Making Videos

Pondering how to make money on YouTube without making videos? We like your thinking! YouTube has become a platform where you can make a ton of money by sharing your videos with millions of people around the world.

Typically, you can make money on YouTube by creating your own videos, but as you’re about to find out, there are indeed other ways to make money on YouTube without making your own videos.

How To Make Money on YouTube Without Making Videos

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It's fair to say that the majority of people who create videos for YouTube want to earn money from their work at some point.

You can earn money by being on-screen and appearing on YouTube or not, and even by posting a YouTube video you did not create yourself. Ways to do so include sharing third-party YouTube content, working to build yourself a following around it.

You earn money by becoming a YouTube partner and monetizing your videos through ad revenue or e-commerce. By becoming a YouTube specialist, you can also make money as a consultant for other users and brands seeking your expertise.

In this post, we'll highlight some of the ways you can make money on YouTube without creating your own original videos.

Become an Affiliate Marketer on YouTube

One way you can start learning how to make money on YouTube without making videos is to use affiliate marketing. To do this, you'll first need to identify a niche or topic that has a substantial audience on YouTube.

Next, research and select products or services related to that niche that offer affiliate programs, for example on platforms like Digistore24, ClickBank, Rakuten, etc. Create a YouTube channel dedicated to that niche, and then curate and upload videos that feature these products or services.

This is what the YouTube policy says about reusing videos uploaded by other creators:

“YouTube allows creators to mark their videos with a Creative Commons CC BY license. If you've marked your video with a CC BY license, you retain your copyright. Other creators get to reuse your work subject to the terms of the license.”

“By marking your original video with a Creative Commons license, you’re granting the entire YouTube community the right to reuse and edit that video”.

For instance, many videos using public domain images wind up being marked “Creative Commons”.

So, the first thing you want to do is filter the video by entering your search item in the Search bar, then clicking “Filter” top right of the page that opens. On the form that will appear, you will see “Creative Commons”, if the video is marked as such.

Monetizing the Videos

In the video descriptions and through call-to-action overlays or cards, include your affiliate links. As viewers watch your videos and click on your affiliate links to make purchases, you earn a commission on those sales.

It's essential to provide value, create high-quality content, and offer relevant content to your audience, build trust, and disclose your affiliate relationships transparently to comply with YouTube's policies and maintain viewer trust.

How to make money on YouTube without making videos decidedly includes e-commerce and particularly affiliate marketing.

You’ll want consistency, audience engagement, and effective SEO practices to help drive traffic to your channel, increase your chances of generating income.

Create Playlists of Carefully Selected Content

Another option to consider when learning how to make money on YouTube without making videos is to make playlists of already-posted YouTube videos. 

Making these playlists with a particular theme or subject in mind is known as curing content. It is quite possible to use this strategy, not only hoping for financial results, but to help you grow a strong subscriber base. This will in turn increase traffic to your website, affiliate links, and other income-generating resources.

The following are effective playlist curation techniques:

  • Pick a Topic: Decide on a topic that fits your interests and target market.

  • Find High-Quality Videos: Look for videos that are of a high standard, are instructive, and are interesting to watch.

  • Create playlists on your channel by classifying these videos into well-organized groups.

  • Share your playlists on forums, social media, and other relevant sites to increase viewership.

When your channel has a sizeable fan base, you should think about making money additionally by using affiliate marketing, selling products, or other strategies.

Provide YouTube Channel Management Services

There are quite a good number of content producers that do not have the time or knowledge to effectively manage their YouTube channels.

This opens the door for you to market your channel management services, which may include tasks like video editing, search engine optimization (SEO), thumbnail creation, and audience engagement.

Steps to launch a YouTube channel management business:

  • Assert Your Skills: Proclaim and promote what you can do. Fiverr and Upwork are renowned freelancer platforms where you can get started painlessly.

    If you don’t have the required level of expertise, consider acquiring the abilities you need to effectuate channel optimization, keyword research, video editing, etc. Online tutorials and courses can facilitate that process for you.

  • Exhibit Your Work: Although the YouTube channels you manage or optimize are not yours, if you have done significant work with them, you are entitled to use them to develop a portfolio of your accomplishments.

  • Promote Your Services: Through social media platforms, forums, or freelance marketplaces, connect with YouTubers who could be interested in your services. Offer introductory low-ball prices to attract new customers.

Re-upload and License Content

This method involves finding videos or footage that are in the public domain, under creative commons licenses, or available for licensing, and simply uploading them to your own channel. Re-uploading and licensing existing content can be a passive yet profitable way to make money on YouTube.

A new angle, compilation or presentation style can set you apart and revive under-exploited or passé content. You might then be able to monetize these videos to your advantage. It is critically important to make sure that you have the necessary rights or licenses to use the content you upload and to adhere to YouTube's copyright policies.

Implementation steps:

  • Research Licensing Options: Find websites or platforms offering royalty-free footage, or where you can purchase or license videos.

  • Upgrade Metadata: Create compelling titles, descriptions, and tags for your videos to attract viewers and optimize search visibility.

  • Monetize Your Channel: Join the YouTube Partner Program and enable monetization for your videos to earn ad revenue.

Here are 10 Additional or Ancillary Methods on How to Make Money on YouTube Without Making Videos

1. Video Editing

Offer your video editing skills to YouTubers. Many content creators are willing to outsource the editing process to skilled and talented individuals.

This is a top freelance gig and it can work for you if you apply yourself.

2. Thumbnail and Graphic Design

It is a well-known fact that thumbnails are really what sells a video.

Design engaging thumbnails and channel banners for YouTubers to help their videos stand out and you could be in high demand and keep growing.

3. Transcription and Subtitling

Same as with thumbnails, providing transcription and subtitling services for content creators is an essential element because subtitles can help make videos accessible to a broader audience. There is a demand for this.

4. Music and Sound Effects

Are you a music afficionado? Or maybe you’re into sound effects? You can create or license music and sound effects for YouTubers to use in their videos.

Websites like Audiojungle and Epidemic Sound can help with this.

5. Channel Branding and Logo Design

Whether you do it by creating logos artistically yourself or by using logo design apps, you could create unique branding and logos for YouTube channels to help make them more recognizable.

Branding is an important part of marketing in general, as well as video promotion.

6. Social Media Management

Are you a social media butterfly and well versed in how these platforms work?

Why not offer to manage a content creator's social media accounts, promoting their videos and engaging with their audience.

7. YouTube Ads

If you have expertise in digital advertising, you could help content creators run effective YouTube ad campaigns to promote their videos, or go to the next step and set up your own online advertising agency.

8. YouTube Analytics and Data Analysis

Many YouTubers are looking for data-driven insights into their channel's performance. You can specialize in providing analytics and recommendations.

9. Online Courses and Workshops

If you have specific expertise in a YouTube-related field (e.g., video editing, SEO, channel growth), consider creating online courses or workshops, and sell them on platforms like Udemy, Teachable or Koji.

10. Merchandise Sales

If you have a strong online presence, you can sell merchandise related to your niche.

Using YouTube as a promotional tool or advertising platform to accomplish this is another angle to explore on how to make money on YouTube without making videos yourself.

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