How to Make Money Selling Merch through YouTube (2023)

If you're spending enough time on YouTube it is possible to be aware certain of the more famous YouTubers -- as well as more modest YouTube creators -- are now in the business of selling merchandise (short for "merchandise").

For instance, makeup artist Huda Kattan has launched her own beauty line Huda Beauty. Jackie Aina created FORVR Mood, a lifestyle brand that offers scented candles and self-care packages. Additionally, Emma Chamberlain has her own company for tea and coffee, Chamberlain Coffee.

They know that using the standard means of making money on YouTube isn't sustainable and have found ways to diversify their revenue. Selling merchandise is a great option to accomplish this eventually, merch sales can actually turn into a primary source of revenue to YouTube creators. In addition selling custom merchandise could assist creators with engaging their fans audience to stay on top of their content on YouTube since it's the first place they'll usually to announce the launch of a new product.

In contrast to the YouTube stars mentioned above There is no need for millions of followers to produce and sell merchandise. If you begin early enough, selling merchandise could aid in the growth of the popularity of your YouTube channel.

The proof is in the pudding: Emma Chamberlain and others have demonstrated that merchandise sales can become important sources of income to YouTubers. If you're a Youtuber who wants to start selling the merchandise you create take a look at this article to find out how. In this all-inclusive guide, we'll discuss the reasons it's a good idea to start selling merchandise through YouTube as well as what you are able to sell as an YouTube creator, and the best way to market your merchandise through your channel.

Why you should sell merch through YouTube

The lifestyle of YouTubers is often glamorized as a result of many think the thousands of viewers equal thousands of dollars. That couldn't be farther from the truth.

Many creators on the internet (including those who are who are on other platforms such as Instagram -- often have to play by certain rules to make money. YouTube has requirements for creators wanting to create advertisements. Brands also have guidelines regarding creators they may collaborate with. Furthermore, YouTube can stop a creator from running ads on the channel at any moment, and brands can end deals as they please.

The standard way of making cash on YouTube is via it's YouTube Partner Program. For joining the program You must:

• A minimum of 1,000 members.
• An average of 4,000 time-watch hours have been observed in the past 12 months.
• In a nation where the program is available.
• In order to comply with YouTube's monetization policies.
• To have no community guideline is a red flag for your channel.

If you're able to meet the requirements If you meet these requirements, you may apply to the program. However, even then, there's no guarantee acceptance. If you're not approved, YouTube reserves the right to block your ads as well as to shut down your channel -- or even remove it completely in the event that it believes you've violated its rules.

1. Diversify your revenue streams

Like we said earlier, ads revenue or brand sponsorships aren't the most reliable ways to earn money from YouTube due to their volatility. You can certainly accomplish these things, however, you shouldn't put all your eggs in the same basket.

Most people don't know how much money YouTube creators earn from selling merch. For instance, take Ryan Kaji of Ryan's World as an example. The 11-year-old was initially a reviewer for toys, but has now created over 55,000 items of merchandise that are branded. In the year 2020, he reportedly earned $250,000 from selling his custom merch.

The reason he could achieve this is the fact that the product is his and only he and his staff call the shots on how the products are made and what the retail store will look like, as well as how they'll market the products for Ryan's intended audience. When you're in control of the inventory you have it's likely that you'll reap all of the rewards.

2. Improve the engagement of fans

The most important factor in establishing an effective YouTube channel is the level of engagement. If people are not motivated to check out your channel's content and you don't expect to make the most money through YouTube. The sale of merchandise is an excellent way to keep your fans engaged.

Why? Because it gives your fans the opportunity to show their support and receive something back in exchange. Robert Hoffmann, the Marketing Director at CashbackHero says it the best way: "By selling merchandise, YouTubers can establish a more personal connection with their followers and improve participation in the process." Robert says. "Additionally the site gives viewers an opportunity to direct assist the content creators that who they are following, creating an ideal situation for all parties involved."

Although you may not have an abundance of customers at present, there'll always be people that want to support you. So when you start selling customized merchandise, people will buy it so long as the designs are good. For instance, if you're offering clothing, it must to feel comfortable, possess an extensive sizing selection, and be made from top-quality material. And, of course, a well-planned marketing, are the basic requirements to help you get your customers to buy your personalized merchandise.

Similar to: 9 Strategies to Get Your first 1,000 YouTube Subscribers

A second thing to think about is that the demographic most likely to buy merch includes Gen Z (ages 11 to 26 in 2023) that long to feel like they're a part of some sort of. Merchandise is the perfect way for YouTubers to connect with their Gen Z fans at a more intimate level. The fans can purchase or wear merchandise that is customized, and experience a sense satisfaction in helping their favorite YouTuber as well as being part of a bigger group of fans.

3. Create brand recognition

Offering merchandise helps you create brand recognition and boost the visibility of your YouTube channel. If you're selling merchandise featuring the name of your channel or its logo, they'll essentially become the walking billboards you need to be.

Selling merchandise could help you reach individuals who aren't YouTube users. Milo Cruz, the CMO at Freelance Writing Jobs, who has the experience of writing advertisements for YouTubers' merch explains how it is done. "Active customers purchase a limited edition T-shirt or hoodie, wear it and present the merchandise to their family and friends," he says. "The situation is similar to word-of-mouth, where YouTubers receive free ads by existing subscribers who purchase the merch. This will spark curiosity among people who view the product and convinces them to check the YouTuber's channel."

4. Stand out from competitors

Because merchandise usually comprises customized products that have unique designs and unique, you'll distinguish yourself from the other YouTube channels within your particular niche.

"Selling products can allow YouTubers to stand out from the crowd," says Sreeram Sharma, the Head of Social Media at QikChat. "If a YouTuber has an established brand with a dedicated fan base, merchandise may offer a unique and valuable offering that sets them apart from other YouTubers in their field."

What you can sell as a YouTube creator

There are a few things you can sell as an YouTube creator, including merchandise for fans, products you develop and experience for fans.

Fan merchandise

Fan merchandise is the standard approach to offer products to fans. Imagine the kind of jerseys fans buy to support their favorite football teams, or bracelets Gen Zers wear to attend shows. These items will usually carry the slogans or images related to your YouTube channel . Fans are able to wear to demonstrate their loyalty.

Here are some instances of popular fan merch:

• T-shirts
• Crewnecks
• Hoodies
• Sweatpants
• Hats
• Scarves
• Socks
• Tote bags
• Mugs
• Enamel pins
• Stickers
• Phone cases
• Water bottles

In essence, anything you can make with your brand's logo is regarded as merch.

Like, Ava Jules is a lifestyle and beauty vlogger who has more than 1.6 million YouTube viewers, is a merch line of T-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, sticker packs and keychains that represent her life in Hawaii.

The great thing about fan-made merchandise is the fact that it's simple to create due to the print-on-demand (POD) possibilities that are available to creators.

All they have to do is develop slogans or designs, and once someone purchases a product and the POD business will print the designs on the product , and deliver them to the buyer. That means creators do not need to think about finding supplies, maintaining an inventory, or shipping products. This way, they'll save time and money.

Products you create

Producing your own product to sell takes a lot of time and effort, however they can be a great way to generate greater revenue than fan products. There are many ways to make and sell physical products like how beauty YouTube stars create their own makeup palettes, or how Emma Chamberlain sells her own coffee blends and tea powder.

The physical items you could produce and sell comprise:

• Handmade craft
• Art prints
• Physical wallpapers
• Gaming equipment
• Cosmetics
• Cookbooks

There is also the possibility to make digital items for example:

• Templates
• Ebooks
• The photo editing presets
• Digital wallpapers
• Printable art and craft patterns

Digital media are beneficial to the people who use them due to the fact that they're exclusive materials or information that they only obtain directly from your company.

Sarah Chrisp (aka Wholesale Ted) is an online entrepreneur with 1 million YouTube subscribers sells ebooks and dropshipping programs on her site, The Ecomm Clubhouse.

Making courses at Sarah's level isn't easy, however it is possible to start by offering the simplest of things like making printable worksheets and checklists available for sale. It is important to note that your products have to be useful and relevant for your target audience.

Fan experiences

If you have a sizeable fan base on YouTube it is possible to provide special events for your followers like exclusive products and meet-and-greets or other private occasions. Additionally, you can create a membership plan or 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 on YouTube

If you choose to create products for fans you can use a variety of strategies you can employ to notify the people who purchase your products are available for sale. Here are some strategies that you could try.

1. Promoting your merchandise on your YouTube videos

This type of promotion will require you to place your merch somewhere in the video to ensure viewers are able to learn about it, and then purchase some to them. There are several ways to do in-video promotions:

Be Your Own Model

The simplest and easiest way to promote your custom merchandise is to showcase it on your YouTube channel. That way, your subscribers are aware that the product exists , and they can view what it is like. If you're selling wearable items, for instance, modeling the designs in your videos will help show that you're confident in your product.

If you're uncomfortable with carrying your merchandise in your videos continuously It's possible to display it on the background as you shoot and draw attention to it occasionally.

You can talk about the merchandise you have purchased at the end of your videos.

If you do not want to advertise your merchandise within a video, since it may cause viewers to lose focus on the of the video, it is possible to mention it at the end of your video instead.

However, the downside of this it is that only the people that watch the video to the very end will be aware of the merchandise you sell. This can be fixed by prompting people at the beginning of your intro to watch your video until the very end in anticipation of announcing a special eventor something similar to effect.

Do a product unboxing

"Creating product unboxing videos lets potential buyers see an in-depth look at the features of your products and better understand the value of your products," says Rachel Macfarlane who is a strategist for content marketing at Redfox Visual.

Macfarlane is right. If you're selling items like gaming gear, for instance the unboxing video allows you to explain all the advantages and functions of the item as you open it up. This helps your audience see exactly how important what you sell is.

Videos of unboxing products are perfect for new releases and seasonal collections. However, you are able to create them for nearly any product.

2. Put your product links in video descriptions

No matter if your video's subject to your product or service make sure to add a hyperlink to your online store or product page(s) in the video description box for anyone that is interested. Included merch link or store's link is particularly helpful in the case of multiple products you want to promote.

  3. Make use of the YouTube Merch Shelf feature

Did you have the knowledge that YouTube has a built-in feature that lets YouTubers sell their items directly on their videos? Take a look at YouTube's Merch Shelf. YouTube Merch Shelf.

The merch shelf feature allows creators to sell their merchandise directly via YouTube through a variety of places on the platform, including their channel's store, video ends, and even below videos and live streams.

Thanks to YouTube's storefront feature it allows you to display your merchandise before people's eyes in real time, while they're watching your video or browsing your channel. This intuitive, in-app feature means that potential customers don't need to jump through hoops to find your merch or buy it. All it takes is the YouTube app!

YouTubers looking to use the merch shelf feature must meet a specific set of requirements, which can be restricted to a certain. If you're able to meet the requirements, it's something that you ought to take advantage of. At present, you have to meet the following conditions to be eligible for YouTube's merch shelf feature:

• Your channel is subscribed to by more than 1,000 users.
• The channel you are using is authorized to be monetized.
• Your channel's channel has not been classified as "made for kids."
• The YouTube Partner Program is available in your region.

Do you have all the requirements? Great! It's time to start selling your products via the YouTube merch shop. It is possible to learn more about the steps to set up your personal YouTube shelves for merch through the Support page.

4. Make sure you offer discounts on your merchandise

Discounting your merchandise is an excellent option to increase the number of sales in a short period of time. Garrett Smith who runs local SEO at GMB Gorilla is aware that providing discount coupons and special offers on your merch can make your followers "feel special."

Smith advises "Use words that create urgency, like 'limited time offer' or "limited stock in stock,' which will encourage readers to purchase now. This hits two birds with one stone since it drives more sales. Additionally, it encourages viewers to subscribe to your channel. It also expands your reach."

5. Advertise your merchandise on social media

Social media is one the most effective ways to promote any product. If you're already a YouTuber, you'll want to take advantage of other platforms on social media, whether it's Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or TikTok, to promote your merch to your audience.

It is necessary to write posts or stories featuring your product, hold giveaways and contests, and offer exclusive deals to your followers and then run advertisements to reach people who don't yet follow your account.

6. Create a collaborative environment with other creators who are in your field of expertise

Working with other YouTubers social media influencers, or other brands that are in your field is a fantastic method to connect with new audiences that you might not have reached in the past.

You could make videos with other creators and feature your merch in them. Also, you can create a limited-edition product with an influencer who is popular -- preferably one with a larger audience than you. This ensures that you're reaching new audiences and increasing brand recognition during your partnership.

At the end of the day, marketing merch via YouTube involves finding innovative ways to get your followers excited about buying your products.

Earn money selling merchandise on YouTube

Achieving success as a YouTube creator requires you to create an enterprise that generates income, no matter what challenges you face when you use the platform. Selling merchandise is one of the best ways to achieve this.

You don't have to have a ton of customers or costly equipment to sell merchandise through YouTube. All you require is an experienced designer, a reliable print on demand firm (if you plan to market clothes) and a sound marketing strategy. And since YouTube is able to be integrated into online stores, it will be effortless for people to find your products and purchase them.

Now that you know all the ins and outs of how to sell merch on YouTube now is the time to take to the streets and create that merch and make that money.

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