Table of Contents

How Much Do Small YouTube Streamers Really Make?

The honest answer? It varies wildly. Small YouTube streamers’ income is more like a patchwork quilt than a predictable paycheck. It depends on a myriad of factors, from viewership and engagement to monetization strategies and niche. Some might scrape together a few dollars a month, while others manage to pull in a few hundred. The reality is, making a significant income as a small streamer on YouTube requires dedication, strategy, and a healthy dose of luck. However, with the right approach and a dash of creativity, the potential is there to turn a hobby into a profitable venture.

Understanding the YouTube Income Landscape for Small Streamers

Before diving into specifics, it’s crucial to understand how YouTube streamers, especially the smaller ones, actually make money. It’s not just about racking up views; it’s about strategically leveraging different monetization methods.

Primary Revenue Streams for Small YouTube Streamers

Ad Revenue: This is the most common starting point. YouTube’s Partner Program (YPP) allows creators with at least 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 valid watch hours in the past 12 months (or 1,000 subscribers and 10 million Shorts views in the last 90 days) to monetize their content with ads. Streamers earn a portion of the revenue generated from these ads, typically around 55% of the revenue generated on their channels. This means that for every $100 an advertiser spends, Google pays $55 to the creator. However, ad revenue alone isn’t usually enough for small streamers to live on. This comes in the form of CPM (Cost Per Mille) which is the revenue per 1000 views. This may also come as RPM (Revenue Per Mille) which shows revenue after YouTube’s cut.
Channel Memberships: YouTube allows creators to offer channel memberships at different price tiers, granting members exclusive perks like badges, emojis, and exclusive content. This can provide a stable, recurring income stream, but requires building a dedicated community willing to support you financially.
Super Chat & Super Stickers: During live streams, viewers can purchase Super Chat messages that stand out in the chat window, or send Super Stickers to show their support. This is a direct way for viewers to contribute financially during live streams.
Affiliate Marketing: Promoting products or services and earning a commission on sales made through your unique affiliate link. This is a highly effective strategy, especially for streamers who review products or focus on specific niches.
Merchandise: Selling branded merchandise like t-shirts, mugs, and other products directly to your audience. This requires some upfront investment but can be a lucrative way to monetize your brand.
Sponsorships: Partnering with brands to promote their products or services in your streams. This is typically more accessible to larger channels, but smaller streamers can still find opportunities with niche brands that align with their content. Brand partnerships tend to bring in the most money. They work well because they connect our content with relevant brands.
Donations: Some viewers may choose to donate directly to the streamer to show their support. These can be facilitated through third-party platforms like PayPal or Patreon.

The Reality of Ad Revenue: A Numbers Game

While ad revenue is a common starting point, it’s important to understand the numbers. The average CPM (Cost Per Mille, or cost per 1,000 views) varies significantly depending on factors like niche, audience demographics, and advertiser demand. Generally, a small streamer might earn anywhere from $0.10 to $0.30 per ad view. Therefore, if your video gets up to 50,000 views, you can earn between $5,000 to $15,000 for that content alone.

To put it in perspective, a streamer with 1,000 views on a video might earn between $1.80 and $3. This highlights the importance of maximizing viewership to generate meaningful ad revenue.

Beyond Views: Engagement and Community Building

While views are important, they are not the only metric that matters. Engagement is key to unlocking more monetization opportunities. A highly engaged audience is more likely to become channel members, purchase merchandise, and support you through Super Chat and donations.

Strategies for Boosting Engagement:

Interact with your audience: Respond to comments, answer questions during live streams, and create a sense of community.
Run contests and giveaways: Incentivize viewers to participate and engage with your content.
Create engaging content: Focus on delivering high-quality, entertaining, and informative content that resonates with your audience.
Ask for feedback: Solicit feedback from your viewers to improve your content and understand what they want to see.

Niche Matters: Choosing the Right Content

Your niche plays a significant role in your earning potential. Some niches, like gaming and tech, tend to attract higher CPMs due to strong advertiser demand. However, these niches are also highly competitive. Choosing a niche that you’re passionate about and that has a dedicated audience can be a winning strategy.

Finding Your Niche:

Identify your passions: What are you genuinely interested in and knowledgeable about?
Research potential niches: Look for underserved areas with a dedicated audience.
Consider the competition: Evaluate the competition in your chosen niche and identify ways to differentiate yourself.

The Time Investment: Is It Worth It?

Streaming and creating content on YouTube requires a significant time commitment. It’s not just about going live; it’s about planning content, promoting your channel, engaging with your audience, and analyzing your performance. Before diving in, it’s important to assess whether you’re willing to invest the necessary time and effort.

Alternative Platforms: Twitch and Kick

While YouTube is a viable platform, it’s important to consider alternatives like Twitch and Kick. Twitch is still king in terms of live streaming, particularly when it comes to gaming. Kick’s revenue split is 95% to the streamer and 5% to the platform, among the most generous in streaming.

Making the Algorithm Work for You

YouTube’s algorithm favors streamers with a bigger following. YouTube’s algorithm allows small content creators to have a chance at being seen by potential viewers, while Twitch’s algorithm favors streamers with a bigger following.

Top 8 Mistakes Small Streamers Should Never Make:

Staying Silent While Playing.
Not Engaging With the Audience.
Playing Oversaturated Games.
Streaming Whenever You Feel Like It.
Switching Between Different Platforms.
Sticking to One Platform.
Accepting Bad Deals.
Not Investing in a Setup.

Conclusion: Patience and Persistence are Key

Making money as a small YouTube streamer is a marathon, not a sprint. It requires patience, persistence, and a willingness to learn and adapt. By focusing on creating high-quality content, building a strong community, and strategically leveraging monetization methods, you can increase your earning potential and turn your passion into a profitable venture.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Do small streamers get money from subs on YouTube?

Yes, similar to Twitch, YouTube offers channel memberships that viewers can subscribe to for exclusive perks. Streamers receive a portion of the subscription revenue. How much does a streamer get from 50 subs? Twitch Partners and their subscription payments normally result in streamers taking home a generous 50% of the $4.99 per month cost. The other 50% is collected by Twitch itself. There are also monthly contributions of $9.99 and $24.99 per month.

2. How many viewers do you need to make money on YouTube?

To start earning money directly through YouTube, you must have at least 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours in the past year, or 1,000 subscribers with 10 million valid public Shorts views within the past 90 days.

3. Is YouTube better for small streamers than Twitch?

If you’re the kind of creator that wants to upload on-demand content as well as post live streams, then you’ll almost certainly do better on YouTube. But, if you’re totally new to the game and you just want to broadcast some gameplay, then Twitch is probably the better site for you.

4. How much does a streamer with 100 average viewers make on YouTube?

The average streamer with 100 viewers could earn around $1,500 per month on their Twitch channel. YouTube’s algorithm allows small content creators to have a chance at being seen by potential viewers, while Twitch’s algorithm favors streamers with a bigger following.

5. Is it profitable to stream on YouTube?

Sponsors often pay between $15 to $50 per 1,000 views. So, if your streams are regularly getting 5,000+ views you can earn a solid income as a live streamer.

6. How do YouTubers get paid? Is it based on subscribers?

YouTuber income is not based on how many subscribers follow a channel. Ad viewership is the primary way you’ll be paid on YouTube, at least through Google’s YouTube Partner Program. However, subscribers are valuable because they’re the ones who will most likely comment, like and share your videos with even more people.

7. How much does Kick pay compared to YouTube?

Kick’s revenue split is 95% to the streamer and 5% to the platform, among the most generous in streaming. YouTube taking a 30% cut from live streamers.

8. How much do YouTube streamers pay per ad view?

On YouTube, a streamer mainly gets paid based on the ads, which is $0.10 to $0.30 per ad view. Therefore, if your video gets up to 50,000 views, you can earn between $5,000 to $15,000 for that content alone.

9. What is the biggest mistake small YouTube streamers make?

One of the biggest mistakes is not engaging with their audience. This includes responding to comments, answering questions, and fostering a sense of community.

10. What should a beginner streamer do to maximize their income?

Set Goals Before You Begin. Select Your Streaming Hardware. Select Your Peripherals. Download Streaming Software. Plan to Create Good Content.

11. How many viewers do you need to make money on Kick?

The easiest way to start earning money on Kick is by joining the Kick Creator Program. To qualify, you need to have at least 75 followers and have streamed for at least 5 hours. Once you’re a Kick Creator, you’ll receive a 95% share of the revenue from your channel’s subscriptions.

12. Is it worth it to stream on YouTube in 2024?

It’s impossible to give a definitive answer as to which platform you should stream on. Both YouTube Live and Twitch are great platforms for live streaming all sorts of content.

13. How do small streamers make money on YouTube besides ads?

Donations (viewers can send monetary donations to streamers during their streams) Bits (viewers can purchase and use “Bits”—Twitch’s virtual currency—to interact with streamers) Ads (streamers can play ads during their streams to earn revenue).

14. Is it too late to start a YouTube channel?

No, it is not too late to start a YouTube channel. The platform is always evolving, and there is still plenty of opportunity for new creators to find their niche and build an audience. For more information about the changing landscape of digital media and its effect on educational outcomes, visit the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.

15. What is the monthly income of a small YouTube streamer?

Small Twitch streamers can earn anywhere from $50 to $1500 per month, depending on the number of average viewers they have.

How much do small YouTube streamers make?