Running a YouTube channel is not an easy prospect, but it can offer you effective revenue streams. While many YouTubers tend to rely on YouTube partner programs and income from any affiliate link they include in video descriptions, a better option is for you to get YouTube sponsorships.
In this article, we will be looking at how you can get YouTube sponsorships to help you make a living out of your YouTube channel. We will also detail how you can use Indy to help you build a strong YouTube business and earn more money.
Why Start a YouTube Channel?
There are numerous reasons why you would want to start a YouTube business. For one, YouTube videos are a very effective medium to engage audiences. YouTube is known as the second largest search engine based on the number of search queries—only Google has a higher number of searches, and Google owns the social media platform.
Another factor is that YouTube videos can be embedded on websites, shared on other social media platforms, and also included in email marketing. Therefore, there is incredible reach potential for your content.
At the same time, the value of paid YouTube sponsorships can be very lucrative. The average cost for brands utilizing YouTube channels is $10 to $50 per 1,000 views of a video. As the average YouTube video in the entertainment niche gets about 9,000 views, then the average video can earn between $90 and $450.
For the best results on your YouTube channel, you need to be publishing content every single day. So potentially, you can earn somewhere between $630 and $3150 per week or up to $164,000 per year.
What Kind of YouTube Videos Can Make You Money?
Many different types of videos can make you money. Most YouTube brands have deals where they actively recognize a brand and talk about them in videos. They normally include these as 'sponsors of the video.'
Although there are other options for you to include sponsors in your videos.
For instance, potential sponsors might ask you to create a YouTube video where you unbox a package for them or complete a social challenge using one of their products. Numerous options can help you distinguish yourself from other YouTube video creators.
And there are many ways you can build a revenue portfolio too. You can take payment directly for the video, having a set amount the brand pays for. Or you can create tier sponsorship packages where the number of views within a set period determines how much is being charged to the brand.
Another option is to have an affiliate link that connects your videos to the client. Then you get paid a commission for every successful completion.
How to Start a YouTube Business and Get YouTube Sponsorships
Some steps are required for you to build a YouTube channel business and ensure that you're maximizing the potential rewards from video sponsors. These steps are as follows.
Step 1 - Create a YouTube business plan
The first thing you need to do is create a business plan. You need to decide on the style of video that you're going to create. You will also want to include how often you want to publish content, when you're going to publish content, and how you're going to promote the content. You need to clearly identify who your target audience is going to be.
The business plan should also include information about sponsorship deals that you're going to offer. How much are you going to charge per 1,000 views or per video? You might want to have several different options.
Step 2 - Create a YouTube channel
Once you have a business plan, you’re ready to create your channel. Creating a channel on YouTube is free, and it takes just a few minutes. However, to get the channel looking right at the very beginning, you need to create a banner, profile picture, and a YouTube channel trailer.
A trailer should be about 30–45 seconds long and should have an emotional connection to the target audience. You can always replace your channel trailer at a later date, but getting one going to start with can help bring in followers.
Step 3 - Script some starting videos
The next step is to get some scripts for videos you’ll create. All the best YouTube channels have a script for their content. Even if it is loose, it is a set of notes with all the details about what is going to happen in the video. Though, a script of what is to be said can be a vital way to control the video.
You want the starting videos to demonstrate to the target audience what you are about, what you can deliver, and also build trust with them. It also acts as a way to build a portfolio for your sponsorship proposal package.
Step 4 - Get equipment
If you want to be successful on YouTube, you need to make sure you have the right equipment. A video camera and lighting are important elements to ensure you have video quality that will display well on any device. Sound equipment might also be necessary to help with audio quality.
Step 5 - Shooting videos
Now you need to shoot a few of those starting videos. The top-performing video artists on Youtube create videos from two weeks to two months ahead of publishing. Sometimes this means they are shooting holiday video specials months before the actual holiday, but it can also mean that, should something happen, they've always got content to publish.
Therefore, you want to create enough videos so that you are at least two weeks ahead. Research has shown that the minimum publishing schedule should include at least one video every two days. However, the fastest-growing channels have one video every day.
Step 6 - Edit the videos
Now you need to edit the YouTube videos. This specific skill can be learned online with lots of potential courses you can take. Or you can speak to an editor on UpWork or other platforms.
Editors can complete the work within 24–48 hours and charge as little as $10 to $20 per video.
You will also find that the better your video, the more money you can get from YouTube sponsorships. Though there are certainly other aspects that you need to do.
Each video should have:
- Branded intro content.
- A short introduction to the video.
- An end screen.
- Reminders for the audience to subscribe, comment, and like the video. There should be at least two of these within the video.
Step 7 - Upload and publish initial videos
Now you need to get your initial videos uploaded and published over a couple of weeks, as you're creating new videos. Each video should have good video descriptions added to them that follow the best YouTube SEO practices. You might want to use the Ahrefs YouTube keyword tool to help you determine what the best keywords are for Youtube videos.
The main keyword for the YouTube video should be included in the YouTube video title, the video description at least once, and also within the captions of the video.
You can hire someone to write and publish the captions for you. Videos with captions are ranked higher in the YouTube algorithm.
By ensuring that you are maximizing the YouTube SEO quality of your videos, you can get the best views on a video. And it is the views that are going to be important to potential sponsors.
Step 8 - Build a great audience on social media sites
The next step is to ensure you can promote the content across lots of different platforms. Starting on other platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok can be very important for the success of your brand.
You should also use these platforms to promote your channel and get users from that platform to YouTube.
You can pay to advertise your Facebook page. For just a couple of hundred dollars, you could have a couple of thousand followers. And this is a good start for those looking to get media sponsors.
Step 9 - Reach out to potential sponsors
When it comes to getting your first paying client, you might need to reach out to some brands. You can send cold emails offering your services to include them in video content and see what they say.
Cold emails do get a relatively low response rate, so you might need to send out quite a few to get the response you want. However, you can improve the chances of getting a response with a few quick tips:
- Include follower count statistics for your social media accounts.
- Showcase how many subscribers your YouTube channel has.
- Demonstrate how many video views you get.
- Include an engagement rate.
You can get a lot of information from social media analytics. You can buy specialized tools for this, or you can use the free tools that you have access to on the social media platform.
Step 10 - Build a website
You might also need to build a website that can help you get YouTube sponsorships from brands looking to work with influencer marketing brands. On the website, you should include a portfolio to demonstrate the value of the sponsorship opportunity.
There should be a page that is designed to display all the sponsor incentives. This can include the details of the sponsorship deals like what they get, how long it takes, and payment details.
And you can also include a contact form for them to get in contact with you about the potential opportunities.
Remember to always include a mission statement on your website and a media kit. These can help you look more professional.
Step 11 - Negotiate with potential sponsors
Regardless of whether or not someone gets in touch with you or you get the YouTube sponsorship from an outreach campaign, you need to negotiate with a potential sponsor. You need to get lots of information from them to determine what you can do for them. For instance, you will need to know that you're speaking to the right person such as the key decision makers.
You also need to know the goals of the campaign. Are they looking for product sponsorships, promotion of digital products, or passive income?
You also need to get a feeling for their budget. Small channels tend to get sponsored by companies with limited budgets because it is deemed more affordable. And sometimes you might get paid less when the company is offering a free product to use in the sponsored videos.
However, you need to be confident. You know all the vital statistics, like the subscriber count and the value of your videos. Don't be scared to walk away from a deal because one brand is trying to sponsor you for a knockdown price.
Most negotiations take several phone calls, but by being prepared, you can sometimes get everything sorted with just one call.
Remember that when you've finished the sponsorship details, you should send a professional contract to the client.
Step 12 - Create the branded content
After you land sponsorships, you need to think about creating branded content for your YouTube channel. Sponsored content always looks best when the influencer marketing content creator writes a script. Remember to keep the goals of the brand focused. And if there is a product involved, camera work should center on the product.
All videos should be edited. You might want to include a step where the brand would like to view the video before it is released. If they want their logo and certain language used within the branded content, be sure to get a copy of their media kit.
Step 13 - Create campaigns to promote content
Now you need to create campaigns to promote the sponsored videos. This includes email marketing, social media, and more. The video content can be embedded within all marketing channels. Though you might want to shoot and release sponsored video trailers that are uploaded on Facebook and Instagram as this increases reach on the platform.
Step 14 - Get paid
Finally, you need to get paid. If you're results-based, then you need to collect and show evidence of the results. You can easily send invoices that look professional and include lots of different ways to make payments.
How Indy Can Help YouTube Creators
Being a YouTube influencer is an exciting and thrilling adventure. But we know how hard it can be to manage this new career with all the different activities required to make it a success with a full-time income. You might be sending multiple proposals to potential clients, writing and managing contracts, and sending invoices to clients you’ve worked with. Indy can help in all three areas.
- Using Indy’s proposals tools allows you to create, edit, and manage pitches to brands, allowing you to set expectations for campaigns.
- Write and get signed contracts with Indy’s contract creator that includes a signature tracker and secure document storage.
- Get paid faster with Indy’s invoicing tool. You’re able to generate an invoice in just a few minutes, send it to partners, and offer multiple payment options.
And there is even more to help you on the Indy platform. Create work schedules using the project organization tools, linking client and project information to make working on collaboration projects easier. You can also store client information in a CRM system that is detailed, but easy-to-use.
Conclusion
Sponsors pay YouTubers for creating content on their channels and promoting it to their audiences. To get the best results on YouTube, you need to post consistently with a personal brand that matters to the audience. But you also need to find people to purchase sponsored videos from you. The above tips can help a small channel grow large and have a good revenue with brand sponsors and good quality videos.
Being a YouTube influencer is hard work, but Indy can help you manage your workload better with several tools, templates, and lots of advice on their app. Try the app for free today.
