As the new year rolls in, many creators reflect on their journey and earnings throughout the past year. In this piece, I will take you through my financial experience as a small YouTuber. Sharing my insights and earnings isn't something many do, especially among larger influencers, who often sidestep these questions. However, I believe there's value in transparency, especially for aspiring creators who wish to understand the revenue possibilities on the platform.
With 4,555 subscribers, my channel might be small, but it has been steadily growing. As for my revenue over the last 28 days, YouTube estimates my earnings to be $178.60. This figure is quite consistent with my expectations and shows a noticeable increase in momentum, particularly over the past four months. I attribute this progress to refining my video quality and overall content strategy, which has resulted in better engagement and improved viewership.
Tracking video performance is crucial for YouTubers. YouTube ranks the last ten videos uploaded by their view count, serving as a benchmark for creators to gauge success. Currently, my latest video ranks 4 out of 10—not bad at all for an average performance, especially considering it's a review of a free item. It’s worth noting that historically, certain content categories, such as my chemistry videos, haven’t yielded much traction. This year, they even performed significantly worse than expected, reinforcing the notion that not all videos resonate equally with audiences.
Financial Breakdown
To remain organized, I maintain a spreadsheet tracking various revenue streams from my channel and related ventures. Let's delve into the specifics of my income sources:
AdSense is the backbone of most YouTube income. Payments are not issued until reaching a predetermined threshold—I’m estimating it to be around $150 to $175. In the first half of the year, the earnings fluctuated, often requiring a build-up before payout. By the end of the year, I found myself earning approximately $1,400, which falls in line with estimates provided by platforms like Social Blade, suggesting that I’m neither particularly low nor exceedingly high compared to other creators.
In addition to AdSense revenue, I also participated in the Amazon Affiliates program, generating affiliate income with links shared in video descriptions. Over the past year, I earned roughly $135 in the form of gift cards. The income is modest; typically, affiliate programs yield a small commission, often a meager percentage of sales.
Etsy Sales
Creating and selling a custom Dash panel for my CRF450 RL motorcycle opened another avenue for earnings through Etsy. Monthly sales vary, averaging one or two per month, with notable spikes in certain months. For instance, July was particularly lucrative, netting almost $100, though sales have slowed since then.
Throughout the year, I engaged with various companies for affiliate partnerships. These collaborations often involve promotional codes or referral links shared in videos. The most promising partnership has been with Motion Factory Racing, which provides specialized foot pegs for motorcycles.
This year, I brought in around $150 from this venture. Additionally, I recently started working with two new companies regarding Android Auto and CarPlay motorcycle dashboard units. So far, I've earned $25 from one successful sale, and while some partnerships didn’t yield significant revenue, the potential remains.
Lastly, I discovered a side income stream through a wholesale arrangement with a seller, netting an unexpected $287. This venture has opened doors for more opportunities and financial diversity.
Conclusion
In total, my earnings for the year tallied up to $2,539.31. This reflects the diverse revenue streams available to content creators on YouTube beyond just AdSense. While my journey may be modest compared to top-tier YouTubers who rake in six figures annually, it’s encouraging to see how my passion can generate various income streams. I hope this insight helps those considering or currently navigating the YouTube creator space. Cheers to another year of growth and new opportunities!
Part 1/7:
A Year in Review: My Earnings as a Small YouTuber
As the new year rolls in, many creators reflect on their journey and earnings throughout the past year. In this piece, I will take you through my financial experience as a small YouTuber. Sharing my insights and earnings isn't something many do, especially among larger influencers, who often sidestep these questions. However, I believe there's value in transparency, especially for aspiring creators who wish to understand the revenue possibilities on the platform.
Channel Overview
Part 2/7:
With 4,555 subscribers, my channel might be small, but it has been steadily growing. As for my revenue over the last 28 days, YouTube estimates my earnings to be $178.60. This figure is quite consistent with my expectations and shows a noticeable increase in momentum, particularly over the past four months. I attribute this progress to refining my video quality and overall content strategy, which has resulted in better engagement and improved viewership.
Video Performance
Part 3/7:
Tracking video performance is crucial for YouTubers. YouTube ranks the last ten videos uploaded by their view count, serving as a benchmark for creators to gauge success. Currently, my latest video ranks 4 out of 10—not bad at all for an average performance, especially considering it's a review of a free item. It’s worth noting that historically, certain content categories, such as my chemistry videos, haven’t yielded much traction. This year, they even performed significantly worse than expected, reinforcing the notion that not all videos resonate equally with audiences.
Financial Breakdown
To remain organized, I maintain a spreadsheet tracking various revenue streams from my channel and related ventures. Let's delve into the specifics of my income sources:
YouTube AdSense
Part 4/7:
AdSense is the backbone of most YouTube income. Payments are not issued until reaching a predetermined threshold—I’m estimating it to be around $150 to $175. In the first half of the year, the earnings fluctuated, often requiring a build-up before payout. By the end of the year, I found myself earning approximately $1,400, which falls in line with estimates provided by platforms like Social Blade, suggesting that I’m neither particularly low nor exceedingly high compared to other creators.
Amazon Affiliates
Part 5/7:
In addition to AdSense revenue, I also participated in the Amazon Affiliates program, generating affiliate income with links shared in video descriptions. Over the past year, I earned roughly $135 in the form of gift cards. The income is modest; typically, affiliate programs yield a small commission, often a meager percentage of sales.
Etsy Sales
Creating and selling a custom Dash panel for my CRF450 RL motorcycle opened another avenue for earnings through Etsy. Monthly sales vary, averaging one or two per month, with notable spikes in certain months. For instance, July was particularly lucrative, netting almost $100, though sales have slowed since then.
Affiliate Partnerships
Part 6/7:
Throughout the year, I engaged with various companies for affiliate partnerships. These collaborations often involve promotional codes or referral links shared in videos. The most promising partnership has been with Motion Factory Racing, which provides specialized foot pegs for motorcycles.
This year, I brought in around $150 from this venture. Additionally, I recently started working with two new companies regarding Android Auto and CarPlay motorcycle dashboard units. So far, I've earned $25 from one successful sale, and while some partnerships didn’t yield significant revenue, the potential remains.
Miscellaneous Income
Part 7/7:
Lastly, I discovered a side income stream through a wholesale arrangement with a seller, netting an unexpected $287. This venture has opened doors for more opportunities and financial diversity.
Conclusion
In total, my earnings for the year tallied up to $2,539.31. This reflects the diverse revenue streams available to content creators on YouTube beyond just AdSense. While my journey may be modest compared to top-tier YouTubers who rake in six figures annually, it’s encouraging to see how my passion can generate various income streams. I hope this insight helps those considering or currently navigating the YouTube creator space. Cheers to another year of growth and new opportunities!