The latest data shows from Statista shows that as of 2024, YouTube is the most popular video platform in the world, with 2.5 billion monthly users.
In fact, data from CompariTech indicates that YouTube is now the second biggest search engine overall, behind only Google.
One of the best things about video websites like YouTube is that they're completely open to new content creators. Anyone can start their own channel, make any kind of content they want, and then try to make money from it on the platform. Today, YouTube has become one of the biggest platforms for making money online.
A lot of people think the only way to make good money on YouTube is by having a huge audience and getting advertisers to work with you directly. And it's true, the YouTube stars making the big bucks usually have channels with millions of subscribers. But the reality is, you can still make decent money on YouTube even if your channel is much smaller – like under 10,000 subscribers.
The trick is to work with "partner programs" or "media networks." Basically, they act as the middleman between you and the advertisers. They handle all the complicated business stuff so you can just focus on making your videos. And they're willing to work with smaller channels that might not be able to get ads on their own.
In this article, we're going to dive into the details of how these media network partnerships work, and how you as a YouTube creator can use them to start earning real money – even if you're just starting out with a small following.
A partner program helps content creators make money by connecting them with advertisers. It makes it easier for advertisers to find partners and for creators to earn money from ads. Partner programs are one of the easiest ways to monetize your online content.
On YouTube, there are two types of partner programs:
Requirements for AdSense
Before you can start making money with AdSense, your channel needs to meet these requirements:
Once enrolled in AdSense, you can start earning money from your content. Payment depends on the number of ad clicks and views. Ads are automatically added to your videos, so all you need to do is keep making high-quality content and stay active on your channel.
Here are the step-by-step instructions on how to join the official YouTube Partner Program:
If Google approves your monetization, you’ll become a YouTube partner. You can then decide if you want to stick with Google AdSense or use other third party media networks.
Here are some pros and cons of Google Adsense to consider:
Pros of AdSense
Cons of AdSense
So when should you use AdSense? Use AdSense if you’re ready to handle your own promotion, deal with strikes, fight for copyrights, and invest a lot of money in promotion. If you want an easier way, consider media networks.
Media networks, also known as multichannel networks (MCNs), are alternatives to AdSense. They act as a middleman between you, the content creator, and advertisers, and they take a small percentage of your earnings. Here’s what media networks do:
Example scenario:
Imagine you’ve been using YouTube's official music library for six months. It has 3,000 tracks, but only 25-30 of them fit your style. Your viewers start complaining about hearing the same music in every video. You decide to use a track you found online to mix things up. An hour after you upload the video, you get a copyright strike, and your monetization is disabled for 6 months. To remove the strike, you need to prove that you have permission to use the music. If you don’t, the strike stays.
Now, let’s say you joined a media network as soon as you hit 1,000 subscribers. They give you access to a music library with 25,000 tracks that you can use without worrying about copyrights. If you get a copyright strike for using music from this library, the media network managers will handle it. They’ll contact YouTube’s support with the necessary documents, and the strike will be removed in a few days. Your monetization stays on.
To join a media network, follow these steps:
If you meet their requirements, you’ll be accepted.
We've put together a list of 10 popular YouTube media networks. These networks are frequently chosen because they have a track record of success, official partnerships with YouTube, and useful technical features.
One of the oldest and most respected performance marketing networks, operating since 2004. Unlike traditional e-commerce stores, MaxBounty offers both Cost-Per-Sale (CPS) and Cost-Per-Action (CPA) models. Creators can earn commissions simply when a viewer takes a specific action, such as signing up for a free trial, downloading an app, or testing a software version. This is an excellent fit for tech review channels and software tutorials.
A massive and reliable affiliate network that features over 25,000 merchants, primarily focusing on retail, fashion, home goods, and mid-sized tech brands. Alongside standard revenue-share models, the network offers Pay-Per-Click (PPC) and Pay-Per-Lead (PPL) programs, providing creators with flexible monetization angles for their video integrations.
The world's largest online retailer and a go-to starting point for beginners. Amazon offers hundreds of millions of products across every category imaginable, making it easy to adapt to any niche. To get started, creators just need an active account with at least 500 subscribers.
A global marketplace that originally built its reputation on digital goods (online courses, e-books, software) but has since expanded into physical products, particularly in health and fitness. ClickBank is known for offering exceptionally high commission rates, though creators should vet products thoroughly to ensure they deliver real value to their audience.
YouTube’s native affiliate solution, available to creators who are already members of the YouTube Partner Program (YPP), reside in supported regions (primarily the US), and have at least 20,000 subscribers. Its main highlight is seamless, on-screen integration. Instead of forcing viewers to open the video description, creators can tag products directly in videos, Shorts, or live streams, prompting a convenient "View Products" overlay.
The official affiliate network for one of the internet's oldest and largest marketplaces. It is a fantastic option for creators who review second-hand gear, rare collectibles, vintage fashion, or automotive parts. Joining is straightforward, provided the channel features high-quality, authentic content.
A dominant e-commerce platform that allows entrepreneurs to build and manage online stores without coding. This program is highly lucrative for channels focused on business, digital marketing, dropshipping, or software reviews. Affiliates earn a large, fixed bounty once a referred user signs up and activates a paid plan.
A premier multi-merchant affiliate network connecting publishers with massive global brands across tech, finance, software, and retail. Unlike traditional systems, CJ utilizes cookieless tracking, which avoids browser limitations and ensures highly accurate tracking for clicks originating from mobile apps.
A massive global marketplace dedicated to handmade goods, vintage items, and custom craft supplies. Because these products are unique, they are easy to recommend naturally in creative niches like DIY, interior design, and arts and crafts. Keep in mind that the program only applies to independent creator items and does not support mass-produced commercial goods.
A premium network built specifically for style, beauty, and lifestyle digital creators. LTK connects influencers with high-end fashion and cosmetics brands, enabling them to generate shoppable content. Viewers can click a single customized link to view and purchase an entire outfit or look featured in a video. It requires a consistent schedule of high-quality content to gain approval.
If you're just starting out on YouTube, joining a multichannel network can be a big help. These networks assist newbies with promoting and protecting their content. Plus, they allow you to make a pretty good income even if you only have around 10,000 subscribers.
There are loads of networks to choose from, so if the ones mentioned in the article don't seem like a good fit, no worries – you've got plenty of other options. Sure, the networks take a cut of your earnings, but the support they provide in creating, promoting, and safeguarding your content makes it totally worth it in my opinion.
Now, if you're looking to get some high-quality traffic right away that goes beyond what you can pull in from YouTube, MyBid can help. We offer traffic from over 200 geos and have 6 different ad formats to work with. As an added bonus, you can earn some extra cash by monetizing your traffic through our affiliate network thats filled with exclusive CPA offers.
