How Much Money Do 1 Million Views Make?

YouTube, a platform for content creators to share their stories and videos, continues to captivate audiences worldwide. Every day, content producers post around 3.7 million videos.

With billions of users, YouTube has become a goldmine of opportunities for influencers and creators. They were able to monetize their content and forge successful careers.

You might wonder how much a million views can make if you're a starting YouTuber. This is important to consider before diving into this type of career.

In this article, learn the answer to this question and other ways to make money on YouTube. 

The Earning Potential of 1 Million Views on YouTube

How much do you make on YouTube per 1 million views? The average earnings of a YouTuber can be estimated at around $18 per 1,000 views. Additionally, ad views can range from $0.01 to $0.03 per view.

Aside from ad revenue, additional income streams can boost a YouTuber’s overall earnings. The niche of a YouTuber’s channel can also impact their potential for higher profits by attracting more advertisers.

Therefore, reaching a million views could generate up to $18,000 in earnings. However, this ideal scenario doesn’t reflect reality. To get a more accurate picture of potential earnings, here’s a visual representation:

It’s important to note that several factors contribute to your earnings potential.

Factors Affecting How Much You Get Paid For 1 Million YouTube Views

The number of views largely determines YouTube revenues, but this is not the sole determinant. Several other elements, such as the number of YouTube subscribers, also contribute to the final payout.

Here are a few essential factors to consider:

Type of Advertisement

YouTube generates its revenue primarily by selling advertising space on its platform. Advertisers can choose from various ads based on their marketing budget and goals.

You’ll come across different types of ads on YouTube, some of which can be skipped after a few seconds, while others force you to watch the entire ad.

Recently, there has been a rise in the popularity of 15 to 30-second ads that cannot be skipped.

There are two main ways to monetize ads on YouTube:

Per-per-impression (PPM)

YouTube compensates YouTubers for every 1,000 ad views through a system known as the "YouTube Partner Program.”

Depending on those thousands of views, they will be paid if a video receives 100,000 ad views. In this case, it will be 100 times the payment rate. 

It provides content creators with a way to monetize their videos and earn revenue based on their content's ad impressions.

However, the earnings per view are lower than pay-per-click (PPC) ads. Estimating the cost of a view and setting a budget for PPM ads can be challenging. PPM ads are more cost-effective than PPC ads, making them suitable for those with limited budgets expecting more views.

Pay-per-click (PPC)

These ads rely on users clicking on them. They are often the type that can be skipped after 5 seconds. YouTube takes into account users who watch the ad beyond the 5-second mark.

PPC advertising is frequently preferred since it is simpler to determine the cost per click. 

However, estimating how many users will click on the ad remains uncertain. It’s also possible for someone to see the ad, not click it, and visit the site later.

Advertiser

Advertisements displayed on your YouTube channel are usually niche-specific. Companies choose the type of content they want their ads to appear in.

The size and worth of the audience in a particular niche influence the prices advertisers pay for ad space. As a result, the content’s niche can significantly impact how much YouTubers are paid.

Ads related to the content you frequently view will likely target you.

Audience Demographics

The audience demographics also play a role in the ad revenue.

Certain countries or regions are considered more valuable to advertisers, specifically if they target audiences with high-quality leads and more sales.

For instance, promoting a Tiktok tool in a nation where Tiktok is prohibited would be pointless. Instead, advertising is quite valuable in countries like the US with a large Tiktok user base.

Engagement Rate

The engagement rate of your videos is another crucial factor in determining your earnings. Higher engagement rates translate to more valuable views.

Advertisers frequently consider the number of likes, comments, and shares on other platforms and how many people watch and finish the videos.

Ensuring their money is well-spent on ads that reach an engaged audience is vital for advertisers.

YouTube Partner Program

To qualify to run ads on your YouTube channel, you must be part of the YouTube Partner Program. Before anything else, you need at least 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 public watch hours to be eligible.

 

In October 2022, YouTube updated its terms to include users with YouTube “Shorts.” To be eligible, these YouTubers must have garnered over 10 million views in the last 90 days.

There are a lot of content creators and influencers worldwide who use YouTube as their platform. Each influencer is different from the other, and so is their pay. 

Highest Paid YouTubers in 2023

If you want to make an income on YouTube, you’ll find insights and inspiration from the platform’s top earners. These YouTubers are the highest-paid content creators as of May 2023. 

These creators have managed to turn their creativity into profits, proving that YouTube can be a platform for financial prosperity.

Note that this list can change within the year as other influencers may exceed these creators' wealth and popularity.

Other Ways to Make Money on YouTube

While ad revenue remains the main income stream for many YouTubers, alternative methods exist to monetize YouTube content.

YouTube creators have various avenues to make money beyond relying on ads. If you’re serious about earning income on YouTube, consider exploring these strategies:

Ad Revenue

Relying solely on ads may not be the most reliable or accessible way to make money, especially for micro-influencers.

One method is to set up an AdSense account and earn money through views to monetize your channel. AdSense is a Google advertising program that allows content creators to make money by displaying relevant ads to their audience.

With AdSense, you can monetize your channel and earn profits based on the number of clicks or views the ads receive. 

From ad selection and display to payment processing, AdSense manages the entire process. The process makes it more convenient and streamlines ways to generate income through advertisements.

Sponsorships

Creating sponsored videos is another profitable option if you want to make a career out of YouTube.

Brands hire you to promote their products or services to your target audience, and you receive payment for your efforts. The more followers you have, the higher your potential earnings.

YouTube allows content creators to indicate sponsored content in videos using a small tag at the top.

Affiliate Marketing

You can also earn commissions on your videos by promoting products through affiliate marketing on YouTube. Each affiliate is assigned a unique link that directs viewers to the sponsored product or service. 

Popular content types for promoting affiliate links include how-to videos, reviews, and unboxing videos. Remember to include a disclaimer stating you’ll receive compensation for purchases made through your links.

Selling Merchandise

Selling branded merchandise is a widely used method to generate income on YouTube. Many YouTubers offer products like t-shirts, hats, coffee mugs, etc., featuring their brand.

For example, famous gaming influencer PewDiePie and his wife Marzia Kjellberg launched Tsuki Market, an apparel brand. It is inspired by their love for Japanese fashion, art, and culture.

YouTube Shorts

YouTube Shorts are short, vertical videos recorded on smartphones and uploaded directly to YouTube, similar to Instagram Stories. 

These short videos have a maximum duration of 60 seconds, allowing creators to captivate their audience with compelling content. 

YouTube Shorts can quickly grab viewers’ attention and go viral, attracting several views and subscribers to a creator’s channel. Additionally, Shorts can be monetized through advertisements, further boosting creators’ revenue streams.

By diversifying your income streams and engaging with your audience effectively, you can maximize your earnings as a YouTuber.

Wrapping Up

With over 30 billion people visiting YouTube each month, monetizing 1 million YouTube views is a venture that can yield different earnings, ranging from a thousand dollars to $18,000.

Successful creators employ various monetization strategies to thrive in this digital landscape.

Also, aspiring YouTubers can maximize their earnings by creating compelling content and exploring a spectrum of revenue streams.

This action will create a sustainable path to success on YouTube.