Is YouTube A Good Side Hustle? (Here’s The Reality In 2023)

If you’re looking for a way to be making money from home, starting a YouTube channel could be a great option and a very good side hustle that you can scale.

You really don’t need any highly-technical skills or expensive equipment to create videos, and there’s still great potential to make money online by creating several income streams on this video platform.

So, in short, is YouTube a good side hustle?

YouTube is a good side hustle that enables you to earn money from several income streams at once. Through one YouTube channel, you can generate income from ads, sponsorships, product promotions, and donations. Running a YouTube channel is a location-flexible side hustle that you can scale easily.

Did I mention that it’s a fun and creative way to express yourself while gaining followers? Well, keep reading to find out the pros and cons of a YouTube side hustle career!

The yellow text Is YouTube a good side hustle over blue background.

Is YouTube still a good way to make money?

With over a billion users, YouTube is a great platform to reach a wide audience. And while the competition is stiff, there are still opportunities to make money here and it is likely to continue to be a great income source.

You just need to produce engaging content that will keep your viewers coming back for more.

So, if you’re thinking about starting a YouTube channel, go for it! It could be a great way to make some extra cash on the side, and it’s still not too late to get started.

However, YouTube isn’t always a goldmine. The algorithm changes constantly, which can make it difficult to grow your channel as fast as you may have wanted to…

Additionally, like with any other creative side hustle, you also need to be willing to put in the work, as success on YouTube doesn’t happen overnight…

With that said, let’s take a closer look at how this video platform can become your next profitable thing!

Is it worth starting a YouTube channel?

There are a lot of reasons why starting a YouTube channel can be beneficial.

For one, YouTube is a very popular platform with a ton of users. This means that there is a lot of potential for your channel to gain traction and grow. Plus, people tend to watch more videos online than ever before!

Additionally, creating videos can be a fun and creative way to express yourself and connect with others. Along the way, you’ll learn plenty of new skills! (Money-generating skills!).

And lastly, YouTube can be an awesome way to make money. Not only extra money, but you could also turn your YouTube channel into a full-time job if you wanted to.

Hell, you could even start multiple YouTube channels once you get the hang of it!

Is YouTube a stable career?

Like with any creative side hustle, your YouTube career may go through some ups and downs. The algorithm is always changing, which can impact your views and growth.

For example, YouTube often changes its algorithm to favor certain types of content over others, so your traffic may decline suddenly if you’re not producing the type of content that the algorithm favors at the moment.

Additionally, you have no control over how much advertisers on YouTube are willing to pay, which can also impact your earnings.

You also need to keep in mind that you do not own your YouTube channel, you are merely just allowed to showcase your videos on YouTube.

This means that YouTube has the right to shut down your channel, should they feel they have the right to. This is not very common, but it does happen for a variety of reasons.

By all means, YouTube has a lot going for it and can be a stable career. But, if you want to have complete control of your business online, I’d recommend you consider starting a blog that makes you money, as you will be owning your blog/website.

Is becoming a YouTuber hard?

A home YouTube video editing studio desk with red walls.

Image from Pixabay

It really depends on the type of YouTube channel you want to create. For instance, if you want to start a vlogging channel, you’ll need to be comfortable in front of the camera.

But if you want to start a channel reviewing products or teaching people how to do things, those skills might be more important than being camera-ready.

That said, becoming a YouTuber is not difficult, but it takes a lot of hard work and dedication to grow an audience and keep them engaged.

The good news is that there are many resources available online for learning video editing, content creation, improving sound quality, etc. Everything you need to learn can be found on YouTube!

How do you earn money by posting on YouTube?

There are a few different ways to earn money on YouTube, the main ones include ads, sponsorships, donations, and affiliate marketing (product promotion through affiliate links).

Let’s take a closer look at each one of the YouTube monetization options:

Ads

One option is to run ads on your videos. You’ll get paid every time someone watches an ad, and the amount will depend on a number of factors, such as the length of the ad and the topic of your video (YouTube will insert these automatically once you have been approved for the YouTube partner program. You need to create a Google Adsense account, which is free).

Here’s a great video from YouTube themselves, explaining what it takes to monetize your videos with ads and “super-chats” etc.

Sponsorships

Another option is to secure sponsorships from companies or brands that are interested in reaching your audience. This can be a great way to get a steady stream of income, but it can be harder to land sponsorships than it is to run ads. The more subscribers you have, the easier it will be to find sponsorships.

Donations

You can also try asking for donations from your viewers. If you have a PayPal link set up, viewers can donate as little or as much as they want. You could also use a service like buymeacoffee.com, which will facilitate the collection of donations.

Affiliate marketing

Finally, you can also make money through affiliate marketing. This involves promoting products or services within your videos and receiving a commission on any sales that you generate.

There are many ways to make money on YouTube, so it’s simply a matter of finding the right method for you, your audience, and your niche. If you have other social media accounts, then you can use these to invite people to view your YouTube video content.  

Pro tip: You can also use YouTube as a marketing tool to drive traffic to your website or blog where you’ll be able to sell merchandise or create digital products such as e-books or online courses. Many content creators are using this option to double or triple their income.

How much can you make from YouTube?

Some YouTubers are able to make a great living by leveraging ads, sponsorships, and affiliate marketing. Others make very little. It really depends on the YouTuber’s niche, audience size, and engagement levels.

For example, a YouTuber with a large following in the beauty niche is likely to make more money from ads and sponsorships than a YouTuber with a smaller following in the gaming niche.

However, the gaming YouTuber may make more money from affiliate marketing if he or she can promote products that the audience is interested in.

Ultimately, it is possible to make a lot of money from YouTube, but it requires hard work and dedication.

How to make YouTube videos without filming

There are a few ways to make faceless videos for YouTube without having to film anything.

  • One option is to create or buy ready-made animations. You can buy lots of animated videos on Fiverr for a decent price.
  • Another option is to record your screen while you work on something. This is great for tutorials or “how-to” videos. You can use a program like Camtasia or Screenflow to record your screen, and then edit the video however you like.
  • Finally, you can also use pictures or infographics to create slideshows or video montages. This is a great way to repurpose old content or create something new from scratch.

Whichever method you choose, there’s no need to worry about filming anything – you can still make great YouTube videos without ever having to pick up a camera! 

Conclusion: is YouTube a good side hustle?

To conclude, is YouTube a good side hustle? -it can be. But it’s not as easy as just setting up a channel and uploading videos. You have to keep improving your videos and upload them regularly for a long period of time before you might see any success.

There are several different ways to make money on YouTube, but you have to actually start a YouTube channel and put in the work to find which options will work for you and then optimize your content and traffic for those methods.

With some effort and perseverance, though, you could create an income with this platform. It’s definitely not impossible to become a YouTuber, but it does take a lot of hard work and dedication. Keep creating videos and improve your skills, and eventually, you’ll find success!

P.S. If you’re still not sure about starting a side hustle on YouTube, then take a look at my list of other creative side hustle ideas that you can launch from your home.

Frequently asked questions

How can I make $100 on YouTube?

The best way to make $100 on YouTube is by creating informative or entertaining videos that people will want to watch. Once you have built up a following, you can then start monetizing your videos with ads by becoming a YouTube partner.

You could also make $100 on YouTube by promoting products and services through your YouTube channel.

Does YouTube pay monthly?

YouTube pays its partners ad revenue monthly. You can check YouTube’s Partners Help Centre for more information on payment dates and methods. Keep in mind that if you’re new to the platform or don’t have a lot of views, your payments may be delayed until you reach a certain threshold.

How many views do you need to make a living on YouTube?

It really depends on the niche and the content of your channel. If you have a popular channel with millions of viewers, you could probably make a living off of ad revenue alone. However, if your channel has fewer views, you may need to supplement your income with sponsorships or affiliate marketing links.

The good news is that YouTube is a very diverse platform and there are many ways to be earning money from it.

Is YouTube a side hustle?

YouTube is definitely a side hustle – many YouTubers earn thousands of dollars per month from their channels. You can monetize your videos through advertising, sponsorships, or affiliate products. You can also sell merchandise or create digital products such as e-books or online courses.