Everything You’ve Been Told About Making Money on YouTube is Wrong

If you’re looking to make money on YouTube, you’ve probably been told the same old story: you need at least 4,000 watch hours and 1,000 subscribers to make any money. But what if I told you that’s not true at all?

In fact, you can make money on YouTube without a single subscriber. Sounds unbelievable, right? Well, in this post, I’m going to peel back the curtain and show you exactly how I make money on YouTube every single month—without meeting the YouTube Partner Program requirements.

The best part? You can do this without showing your face. Let’s dive into how.

The Problem with the YouTube Partner Program

The YouTube Partner Program (YPP) is often seen as the holy grail of making money on YouTube, but it comes with its own set of challenges that can make it incredibly difficult for new creators to earn anything.

1. The Content Quality Barrier

In order to qualify for the YouTube Partner Program, your content must stand out among millions of channels. It’s a tough ask, especially when you’re competing against seasoned creators with a massive following.

2. The Challenge of 4,000 Watch Hours

To join YPP, you need to accumulate 4,000 watch hours within a year. For new creators, this milestone can seem impossible—especially if your videos are only gaining 20 views per day. This is one of the biggest obstacles that cause many creators to quit before they even get started.

3. The Subscriber Count Wall

To be eligible for monetization, you also need 1,000 subscribers. When you’re just getting started, growing a subscriber base to this level can feel like an uphill battle.

4. The Ever-Changing Rules and Restrictions

You need to maintain “good standing” with YouTube, which can change over time. Videos that were once acceptable may suddenly be flagged, jeopardizing your chances to join the YouTube Partner Program. And if your content isn’t “advertiser-friendly,” you might miss out on potential ad revenue.

All of these barriers often lead creators to give up on YouTube even before they have a chance to see any success.

Faceless YouTube Channels Making Money Every Month

Now that we’ve discussed the challenges of the YouTube Partner Program, let me show you some of my YouTube channels that make money every month—without meeting the YPP requirements.

Example #1: “Building a School”

Subscribers: 1,700+
Focus: Topics like Clickfunnels and new platforms like Skool.
Income: This channel generates revenue every month, despite not qualifying for YouTube ads.

Example #2: “Little Tikes Review Channel”

Subscribers: 32
Most Viewed Video: Little Tikes Giant Inflatable Slide Bouncer
Monetization Method: Affiliate marketing and partnerships.

Example #3: “Web Hosting Rewind”

Subscribers: 1,800+
Top Video: Web hosting guide video with 6,100 views
Earnings: Consistent monthly revenue from affiliate links.

These examples prove that it’s possible to make consistent income on YouTube without being part of the YouTube Partner Program.

How to Get Started and Get Paid

Let’s dive into how you can do the same, step by step.

Step 1: Identify Your Niche

The first thing you need to do is identify what you want to be known for. This is often referred to as your “niche.” It could be your interests, hobbies, passions, or even professional skills.

For example, if you’re skilled in Microsoft Excel or enjoy teaching basketball basics, these can serve as great niche options. Don’t worry about competition or saturation—every niche has its space if you do it the right way.

Step 2: Find Problems and Tools Related to Your Niche

Once you’ve picked a niche, figure out the problems your target audience faces and the tools they need to solve them. Let’s say you’re in the streaming niche—these are some content ideas you could start with:

Microphone Accessories for Streaming
Camera and Webcam Options for Streamers
Best Streaming Software to Use

Step 3: Create Highly Targeted Content

Instead of making broad, generic content, niche down and create very specific videos. Here’s how:

Product-Focused Videos

Product Reviews: Start by creating review videos for a specific product related to your niche.
Set Up Guides: Make step-by-step guides for setting up the product.
Accessories and Alternatives: Talk about accessories and potential alternatives for the product.

By creating 4-5 videos focused on a single product, you’re establishing yourself as an expert in that product. This helps build trust among your audience.

Comparison Videos (X vs Y)

After you’ve made product-focused content, create videos comparing two similar products (e.g., “Microphone A vs. Microphone B”). These videos are great for people who are in the consideration stage of their buying journey.

Best X Under Y Videos

These videos have more competition, so save them for later when you’ve built some credibility. Examples include:

Best Microphones Under $200
Best Webcams for Beginners

Step 4: Monetize with Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is the best way to start making money without needing watch hours or subscribers. Here’s how:

Find Affiliate Programs

Directly Search for Manufacturer Programs: Go to Google and type in “[Product Manufacturer] Affiliate Program.” Many product manufacturers have their own programs.
Check Big Box Stores: Stores like Amazon and Walmart often have affiliate programs you can join.
Google Search for Related Programs: Type “[Product Type] Affiliate Program” into Google, and you’ll find plenty of lists that you can apply for.

Once approved, you’ll receive a unique affiliate link, which you can include in the description of your videos. When someone clicks on your link and buys the product, you earn a commission.

Start Monetizing Right Now!

Affiliate marketing is one of the fastest ways to monetize your channel because it doesn’t require you to be part of YPP. You can start making money right after uploading your first few videos.

If you want to learn more about how you can make a full-time income on YouTube without worrying about YPP, check out the first link in the description.

Now that you know how to monetize your YouTube channel quickly, watch this next video because YouTube says it’s going to help you grow even faster!