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Content creators, especially YouTubers, are in high demand and it doesn’t look like this demand is slowing down in the slightest. However, while pretty much anyone can become a YouTuber, in order to be a successful influencer - it takes much more than just filming and uploading content regularly. Let’s take a closer look at what exactly is a content creator, how can you become a YouTuber, how do YouTubers make money and how much money they can actually make.
A content creator is any individual who makes and uploaded digital content. Technically, anyone that posts a photo on Instagram or uploads a hilarious TikTok video is a content creator, but professional creators are those that build an audience on social platforms and ultimately generate revenue from their content. These content creators can otherwise be called influencers, and those that build a large following on YouTube and upload regularly on the video-sharing platform fit under the title - YouTuber.
Obviously, those aspiring to become YouTubers don’t become influential overnight. Most creators aim to reach 10K subscribers, otherwise known as micro influencers.
Micro influencers are defined as content creators with between 10,000 and 100,000 followers. Micro influencers usually succeed in cultivating an intimate and personal connection with their followers, which is what a lot of brands are looking for in a content creator to build a partnership with.
So, although you have quite a ways to go in order to reach the level of influence and success that MrBeast receives, micro influencers are still major players in the influencer marketing game. In regard to landing sponsorships, micro influencers’ authentic engagement is extremely attractive to brands - quality over quantity. Micro influencers obviously have a smaller follower count, but those that opt to subscribe and watch their content on a regular basis, trust the YouTuber and are therefore more likely to engage and ultimately ‘click the link below’. According to reports, micro influencers boast up to a 60% increased engagement rate compared to macro influencers and micro influencers have a 20% higher conversion rate.
Also, keep in mind - micro influencers may have fewer followers because the content they focus on is much more niche, such as crocheting, building lego, or even taste testing military MRE’s (meal ready to eat). So, brands that hope to reach potential customers that would be interested in this content, could reach major success partnering with micro influencers.
Let’s be honest, aside from enjoying sharing the things you love with a growing audience, money is on your mind. As we’ve seen from content creators like MrBeast and Ryan Trahan, it’s entirely possible to make a couple million dollars a year from YouTube alone. And as you watch videos from these creators, you can only ask yourself, “when does it become possible to start making money on YouTube?”. This income comes from two main sources - AdSense and brand sponsorships.
YouTubers can make anywhere between $0.01 to $0.03 per view with AdSense. This is dependent on a few factors: the number of views your video receives, the number of clicks an ad receives, ad quality, and video length. How much money do YouTubers make per 1,000 views? According to the above, YouTubers can receive between $3 to $5 per 1,000 video views. It’s important to emphasize that YouTube does not pay creators based on the number of subscribers a channel has.
Macro influencers, content creators with more than 100,000 followers, can rack up a lot of money through AdSense. During an interview with MrBeast, the uber macro influencer said “YouTube just pays better than you think”. How much money does MrBeast make per video? Well, if MrBeast’s CPM is approximately $20 and the CPM rate measures the average earnings per 1,000 views then this YouTuber brings in over $2M from YouTube ad content alone.
When it comes to brand sponsorships, there isn’t a cookie-cutter answer regarding how much YouTubers make via partnerships:
When it comes to sponsorship rates, it’s important to remember that these deals are flexible and depend on multiple factors. These sponsored videos are negotiated on an individual basis, and there’s no one set price that applies across the board.
The main factors that impact the amount a brand pays for sponsorship include:
Remember that sponsorship rates on YouTube are usually calculated with a CPV (cost per view). Typical CPVs vary from 1 cent to 10 cents at the higher end. The CPV is then multiplied by the channel's “projected views” to calculate a flat rate for the video.
Here’s an example:
MrBeast has over 100M subscribers on his main channel alone and receives an outstanding number of views, so its pretty obvious that brands pay good money to partner with this YouTuber and he receives a lot of money for each sponsorship. According to our YouTube sponsorship calculator, ad placement on this channel is worth $0.021 CPV. That means that with MrBeast’s current average views, a sponsorship on MrBeast’s channel stands between $308,306 to $431,628. So, this YouTuber’s annual earnings reach over 2.4M just from brand sponsorships.
Recommended article: How to start a YouTube channel
As influencer marketing becomes more popular, the demand for authentic and relatable content will continue to rise. Becoming a content creator can be as simple as sharing your own story with the world. Speak about what you know and create something that is uniquely your own. The most important thing to keep in mind is that ‘being a YouTuber’ requires a lot of hustle, time, and creativity - so don’t expect to become influential overnight. As long as you are enjoy what you’re doing, the YouTube-status will come in time.
