How To Earn Money From Making Money Selling merchandise via YouTube (2023)

If you spend enough time online on YouTube it is possible to be aware that some of the most famous YouTubers -- as well as some of the tiniest YouTube creators have entered into selling merch (short of "merchandise").

For example, makeup guru Huda Kattan created her name-brand beauty line Huda Beauty. Jackie Aina created FORVR Mood, a lifestyle brand that offers candle scents and self-care kits. In addition, Emma Chamberlain has her own tea and coffee company, Chamberlain Coffee.

The creators have realized that relying on the traditional means of making money on YouTube is not sustainable and have discovered ways to diversify their earnings. Selling products is an excellent option to accomplish this, in the long run it can turn into a primary source of revenue to YouTube creators. More than that the sale of custom-made merchandise can aid creators in engaging their fan base and keep them up to date with their content on YouTube since that's where they'll typically first make announcements about a new launch.

Contrary to YouTube celebrities listed above You don't require millions of followers to produce and market merch. If you get started early enough selling merchandise can help you grow your YouTube channel.

The proof is in the pudding: Emma Chamberlain and others have shown us that selling merchandise is a significant streams of revenue to YouTubers. If you're a Youtuber who wants to begin selling your own merchandise follow this guide to discover how. In this all-inclusive guide, we'll explain why you should start selling merch through YouTube as well as what you are able to offer as an YouTube creator, and the best way to promote your merch on your channel.

The reasons why you should consider selling merch on YouTube

The lifestyle of YouTubers is often glamorized in part because many think it's true that thousands of YouTube views are thousands of dollars. It's far from reality.

Many creators on the internet (including those who are who are on other platforms such as Instagram typically have to play by certain rules to make money. YouTube requires creators who want to run advertisements. Brands also have guidelines to creators that they are able to work with. Furthermore, YouTube can stop a creator from running ads on their channel at any time, and brands can end deals as they wish.

The most common method of earning cash on YouTube is via the YouTube Partner Program. To join the program You must:

• A minimum of 1,000 members.
• At least 4,000 hours of public watching hours were logged in the past 12 months.
• Living in a country in which the program is readily available.
• To be in compliance with the YouTube monetization policy.
• To have no community guideline strikes on your channel.

If you're able to meet the requirements, you can apply for the program. However, even that, it's not a guarantee that you'll get accepted. And even when you're admitted, YouTube reserves the right to block your ads and even shut down your channel -- or completely in the event that it believes you've violated the rules.

1. Diversify your revenue streams

In the past, ads revenue or brand sponsorships are not the most reliable ways to make money on YouTube due to their risk. You can certainly make money from these options, but you shouldn't place all your eggs into one basket.

Most people don't know how much money YouTube creators earn through selling merch. Consider Ryan Kaji of Ryan's World as an example. The 11-year old boy began as an toy reviewer, but has now created over 55,000 items of merchandise that are branded. In 2020, he reportedly earned 250 million dollars from selling the merch he designed.

The reason he could accomplish this is because the products are his, and only he and his team call the shots on how the products are made, what the store looks like, and the way they'll sell the items for Ryan's intended audience. If you're in charge of the inventory you have, you'll likely reap all of the rewards.

2. Improve the engagement of fans

The main ingredient to running an effective YouTube channel is audience engagement. If viewers don't feel compelled to check out your channel's content and you don't expect to make much money on YouTube. The sale of merchandise is an excellent option to keep your followers interested.

Why? because it provides your followers with a way to support you and get something in return. Robert Hoffmann, the Marketing Manager at CashbackHero summarizes it well: "By selling merchandise, YouTubers are able to build a more personal connection with their audience and increase their engagement," Robert says. "Additionally the site gives viewers an opportunity to direct help the creators of content they follow, creating an opportunity for both people involved."

If you don't have many subscribers at present, there'll always be those who would like to support you. When you begin selling custom merchandise, they'll buy it so long as the styles are appealing. For instance, if you're offering apparel, it has to be comfortable, have broad sizing options as well as be constructed from premium materials. This, along with a strategic marketing are the primary requirements to help you get your customers to buy your customized merchandise.

related: 9 Strategies to Get Your First 1,000 Subscribers to YouTube

One thing to keep in mind is the fact that the group who are most likely to purchase merchandise includes Gen Z (ages 11-26 by 2023) who desire to feel they're a part of some sort of. It's the best method for YouTubers and their fans to get connected to their Gen Z followers in a deeper way. The fans can purchase or wear merchandise that is customized, and experience a sense gratitude for their favourite YouTuber and belonging as an integral part of the larger YouTube crowd.

3. Create brand recognition

Offering merchandise helps you improve brand awareness and visibility for your channel on YouTube. If you're selling products emblazoned with the name of your channel or its brand, these will be essentially your own walking billboards.

Selling merch can even assist in reaching individuals who aren't YouTube users. Milo Cruz, the CMO at Freelance Writing Jobs and who has experience writing ad copy for YouTubers' merchandise explains how it operates. "Active users purchase a YouTuber's limited edition T-shirt or hoodie, wear it and show the item to their family and friends," he says. "The situation is similar to the concept of word-of-mouth. YouTubers are able to get advertisements for free from existing subscribers who buy merchandise. This will spark curiosity among those who see the item and convinces them to check the YouTuber's channel."

4. Make yourself stand out from the crowd

As a result, since most products are unique products, with unique designs so you'll stand out from other YouTube channels that are in your field.

"Selling merchandise can help YouTubers stand out from the crowd," says Sreeram Sharma, the Head of Social Media at QikChat. "If YouTubers have an established brand with a large and loyal following, then merchandise could offer a unique and valuable service that distinguishes them from others in their niche."

You can make money as YouTube creators? YouTube creator

There are a few things you can sell as an YouTube creator, including items for your fans, the products you create in addition to fans experiences.

Fan merchandise

The fan merchandise market is the standard method of providing merchandise to the fans. Consider the jerseys people purchase in support of their favorite soccer teams, or branded bracelets that Gen Zers wear for concerts. These items will usually carry the slogans or images associated with your YouTube channel that fans are able to wear to demonstrate their loyalty.

Here are some instances of fan merchandise that is popular:

• T-shirts
• Crewnecks
• Hoodies
• Sweatpants
• Hats
• Scarves
• Socks
• Tote bags
• Mugs
• Enamel pins
• Stickers
• Phone cases
• Bottles of water

Basically, any physical item which you are able to create with your logo qualifies as merchandise.

For example, Ava Jules, an vlogger of beauty and lifestyle who has more than 1.6 million YouTube viewers, is her own merchandise line comprising sweatshirts, T-shirts caps, hats as well as keychains which reflect her experience growing up in Hawaii.

One of the advantages of fan products is that they are easy to make because of the Print-on-demand (POD) possibilities for creators.

All creators have to do is create ideas or slogans and once someone purchases a product that is purchased, the POD company will apply the designs to the item and then ship the product to the purchaser. This means that creators don't have to worry about sourcing items, keeping track of inventory, or shipping products. That way, they'll conserve the time and cash.

The products you design

Creating your own products to sell takes an enormous amount of time and effort, however, they are able to earn more revenue than fan products. There are many ways to make and sell physical products like how makeup YouTubers make their own palettes of makeup, or how Emma Chamberlain sells her own coffee blends and tea powder.

A few physical products that you can produce and sell comprise:

• Handmade craft
• Art prints
• Physical wallpapers
• Gaming accessories
• Beauty products
• Cookbooks

There is also the possibility to make digital items such as:

• Templates
• E-books
• Photo editing presets
• Digital wallpapers
• Printable art and craft patterns

Digital media are beneficial to your audience as they're original materials or information that they only obtain from your company.

Sarah Chrisp (aka Wholesale Ted) is an online entrepreneur with 1 million YouTube customers, sells books and dropshipping classes on her website, The Ecomm Clubhouse.

Making courses at Sarah's level does take time, but you could start by selling something simple like selling printable worksheets and checklists. However, the products you sell must have value and relevance to your audience.

Fan experiences

If you have a sizeable audience on YouTube it is possible to offer special experiences for your followers, such as exclusive merchandise and meet-and-greets or other private special events. You can also set up a membership program and Patreon where your fans will have access to exclusive live streams, individual sessions, or behind-the-scenes footage of your business.

How to promote your merch through YouTube? YouTube

If you choose to create products for fans There are a few strategies that you could employ to inform your customers know that the items are for sale. Below are some suggestions you can implement.

1. Advertise your products through your video

This type of promotion requires you to include the merchandise in your video so that viewers can learn about it and buy some for their own. Below are some methods to promote your video:

Create Your Own Model

The easiest and most obvious way to promote your custom merchandise is to showcase it in your YouTube videos. This way, viewers are aware that the product is available and will be able to see what it is like. If you're selling wearable merchandise by way of example, modelling the designs on your videos can show that you're confident in the products you offer.

If you're uncomfortable with wearing your merch in your videos all the time It's possible to display it as background when you record and draw attention to it occasionally.

Talk about your merch at the end of your videos

If you're not keen to promote your merch within a video, since it could divert viewers away from the topic matter, you can make mention of it at the conclusion of your video.

One drawback to this it is that only people who view your video until the end will learn about your merch. It is possible to fix this issue by explicitly asking people during the intro of your video to watch through the entire video in anticipation of announcing a special eventor something else to that result.

Do you have a method of unboxing a product?

"Creating videos that show the unboxing process of products lets potential buyers see an in-depth look at the specifications of your products and understand their value better," says Rachel Macfarlane an expert in content marketing at Redfox Visual.

Macfarlane is absolutely right. If you are selling products such as gaming equipment, for instance the unboxing video allows you to talk about all the features and benefits of the product when you take it out of the box. It helps the audience understand exactly how important what you sell is.

Videos of unboxing products are perfect for seasonal and new release collections. However, you are able to make them for almost any product.

2. Include your links to your products in video descriptions

If your video's content is connected to your merchandise or not, you should be sure that you include a hyperlink to your online store or product page(s) in the video's description for everyone who's attracted. Included merch link or store link is especially useful if you have several merchandise you'd like to market.

  3. Make use of the YouTube display feature for merch

Did you have the knowledge that YouTube has a built-in feature which allows YouTubers to market their items directly on their videos? Meet the YouTube Merch Shelf.

The feature of the merch shelf allows creators to market their products directly via YouTube through a variety of locations on the platform, including their storefront, videos end screens, and under live streams and videos.

Thanks to YouTube's storefront feature that allows you to place your merchandise in front of people's eyeballs in real-time when they're watching your content or perusing your channel. This intuitive, in-app feature lets potential buyers not have to go through hoops in order to discover the merchandise they want or to buy it. It's all right there in the YouTube app!

YouTubers looking to use the merch shelf feature must be able to meet certain conditions, and it can be restricted to a certain. But if you're meeting the requirements, it's something you should consider taking advantage of. Currently, you must meet the following requirements to use YouTube's merch shelf feature:

• Your channel is subscribed to by more than 1,000 users.
• The channel you are using is accepted for monetization.
• The channel you are watching isn't marked as "made for kids."
• It is possible to join the YouTube Partner Program is available in your region.

Do you meet all the standards? Great! You can start selling your products on the YouTube merchandise shop. It is possible to learn more about setting up your personal YouTube merch shelf by visiting the YouTube Support page.

4. Make sure you offer discounts on your merchandise

Discounting your products is an excellent method to generate a large amount of sales within a brief amount of time. Garrett Smith who runs local SEO at GMB Gorilla understands that offering special discounts or exclusive deals for your merchandise can give your fans "feel unique."

Smith suggests "Use words that create urgency, like 'limited time offer' or "limited stock readily available', to encourage viewers to make a purchase right away. It kills two birds in one fell swoop since it drives more sales. Additionally, it encourages viewers to subscribe to your channel. It also expands your audience."

5. Make sure to promote your products through social media

Social media is one the most effective methods for promoting any product. As a YouTuber, you'll need to make use of the different social media platforms regardless of whether they're Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and TikTok for promoting your merch to your audience.

You'll have to create articles or posts that showcase your products, organize giveaways and contests, provide exclusive deals to your followers as well as run ads to reach people who don't yet follow your account.

6. Work with other creators within your field of expertise

Collaborating with other YouTubers, social media influencers, or even brands within your area is an excellent opportunity to engage with new audiences that you might not have had access to otherwise.

You can create video content with other artists and include your merchandise in them. You could also develop a limited-edition item with an influencer who is popular -- preferably one who has an audience that is larger than yours. It will ensure that you're reaching new people and building brand recognition during your partnership.

At the end of the day, promoting merch on YouTube is about finding creative methods to keep your viewers interested in buying from you.

Make money by selling merch through YouTube

Being successful being a YouTube creator requires you to create a business that brings in income, no matter what obstacles you have to face on the platform. Selling merchandise is one of the most effective ways of achieving this.

It doesn't require many subscribers or expensive equipment to market your products through YouTube. You just need a good designer, a reliable print on demand firm (if you want to sell clothing) as well as a solid strategy for marketing. Also, since YouTube is able to be integrated into online shops, it's easy for your audience to find your products and then purchase them.

After you've learned all the ins and outs of selling merch through YouTube, it's time to get out there, make that merch, and start making money.

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